MightyMitre, welcome back! I hope you can share your impressions once you've had a chance to unpack and settle back in.

I was afraid to talk too much about the Tour while it was still going on since if I rooted for one more person who subsequently crashed and burned I would be in a million (more) depressions.

I was up every single morning watching the OLN live feed on the West Coast. We also TiVo'd the 'expanded' coverage and zipped through that in the evening to catch any interviews or special segments that didn't show up in the early live broadcast. ( I got very adept at fast-forwarding whenever Al Trautwig opened his mouth, and stopping in time to hear Bobke's reply )

Favorite Lance moment: When he sprinted past Klöden to take the win on Stage 17. That was other-worldy.

Favorite non-Lance moments: Ah, there are many ...

But my absolute fave moment had to be (of course!) Bobby Julich's splendid performance in the stage 19 ITT, after it looked as though he was going to be limping his way through the rest of the tour after his crash on Stage 13. I had noticed during stage 17 that he was starting to look mighty sprightly again and that maybe he might do something special for the TT but I dared not hope. On Saturday morning had to leave the house right after we saw his run (to meet up with snapdragen - to whom I gave a little Happy Dance of Joy) but when I returned home I picked up right where I left off on the broadcast. Then - horrors - it looked like Floyd was beating him. Oh, the angst !! How could I not root for Floyd? Well, as it turned out, Floyd finished 4th on the stage, Bobby finished 5th (yes!), and a happy camper was I.

Honorable mention #1: Ivan Basso (heretofore referred to as "bleep bleep" for fear that my wretched karma would bring him down too) sticking like gum on the soles of LA's shoes through most of the mountain stages. Bravissimo! I'm thrilled he hung on to a podium spot.

Honorable mention #2: Jan Ullrich on l'Alpe d'Huez. How gutsy. We got to see probably the first glimmer all tour of the competitor he is.

Sweetest moment: Thomas Voeckler laughing in delight with the 'club cyclists' keeping pace with the very relaxed peleton on stage 8, just before the rest day. He looked like he was having fun.


This morning was the first morning sans Tour in three weeks. Whatever will I do with myself?

- Jo (Olympics are in August .. whee)