Stage 18 (Spoiler, for what it's worth)

[VeloVT]

What, no tour results thread? I know this stage wasn't terribly consequential, but it was exciting to see Sandy Casar, who had a nasty open wound on his rear visible through torn shorts (sustained in a hard dog-related crash), and who had appeared to be seriously tiring, steal the lead at a median break and, even though he was caught in the last seconds, just hold on for first.

And interesting/sad/somewhat refreshing to see Axcel Mercxx (sure I've mangled the spelling), dissolve into tired, not very coherent tears just after the race, when asked to reflect on his last tour.

No changes of great consequence in the GC standings (though Cadel gained 3 seconds on Contador).

I got a kick out of the posturing in this article on tomorrow's race:
http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/new...s/12980.0.html

[Kalidurga]

What's with the dogs this year? Got a kick out of this in the velonews.com live coverage today:

5:15 PM Reader note
One of our readers, David H, was apparently there at the canine crash. We cannot confirm any of this, so take it for what it's worth:
The dog was last seen being lead away by French police. He was rumored to have been a dog licensed to chase in Mexico, subsequently seen chasing in Italy, and had been being seen by a vet in Spain. Rumor has it that the Iams team is set to withdraw from all future chasing events.

Also, for the Stuart O'Grady fans out there, there was this update on his condition:

4:14 PM Stuart O'Grady
We have received a few letters from readers wondering how Stuart O'Grady is faring since that awful crash nearly two weeks ago. This is from his web-site:
Stuart has left his France hospital and has been transported to Monaco where's he's based. It was a four hour road trip in a special ambulance with a floating bed. In his words "a bloody good taxi like the Hilton hotel on wheels". He expects to be resting in his Monte Carlo hospital bed for another two weeks or so.
The next stage is a series of tests and an operation on his left shoulder. So these are the injuries, two bung shoulders, a punctured lung (now going at 85%) and a heap of broken ribs and a few busted vertebras'. "In all, not my best day at the office I'm afraid". "When I do something I do it big time"

On a happier note my wife Anne Marie is about to give birth to our second child, next week I hope". So something special happening in my life apart from hitting posts".

Sounds like Stuart's maintaining good spirits! After this, I'll definitely pay more attention to him next season. "Harden the F Up", indeed!

[Tri Girl]

I KNOW- what's with the dogs??? Dadblasted dog saboteurs...
Seriously- keep your pets on a leash (and that includes the Basques in the mountains ).

I think I was pulling for all 4 of the lead group guys to win- for various reasons. Casar because he crashed, Merckx because it was his last tour, Boogerd because I wanted him to bring good press to Rabobank (and the team name is just fun to say), and Lefevre because he's French.

Good stage- can't wait until the TT tomorrow...

[Trekhawk]

Sounds like Stuart's maintaining good spirits! After this, I'll definitely pay more attention to him next season. "Harden the F Up", indeed!

I love Stuey. At least he can replay his Paris Roubaix win from this year while he recovers for next year. He is definitely one tough cookie.

[Zen]

Of all the places not to have your dog on a leash. What's wrong with these people?
"But he's such a good dog"

I did enjoy seeing the lab with the KOM cap.

[Kalidurga]

Of all the places not to have your dog on a leash. What's wrong with these people?

Heck with the dogs, half of the people along the Tour stages should be on leashes

[SadieKate]

I think Sandy Casar pulled a cheeky-boo today.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

And for the video recap...

http://versus.com/?artID=40192&catID=566&playerID=1

OUCH! This is why we wear helmets, folks! YEEEOOOOWWW

[maillotpois]

I did enjoy seeing the lab with the KOM cap.

Yes! He was darling.

Okay. Here's the question: Did anyone else see George peeing yesterday - front and center?

[Kalidurga]

Thanks, BabyBlue, for that link. I didn't watch yesterday and I hadn't really looked at the Vs site, so I didn't realize they had re-cap videos like that. Casar didn't even hesitate, he just jumped right up and went for his bike! That's a serious rider.

I'll tell you one thing about this year's Tour: Between no Lance and all the hoopla of the scandals, I'm beginning to pay a lot more attention to all the names that I've heard but ignored over the years. By this time next year, I'll be watching the moves of a whole buncha' guys, instead of just one or two key players

And where's the Vs re-cap video of George's nature break, hmmmmmm????

[margo49]

Poetry in motion.
The last 5 km was just beautiful. Cycling at it's best.
By the end I didn't mind who won - they all deserved it.
Casar's nice little dig was perfectly timed and the other 3 had no answer to him.

[jeannierides]

Poetry in motion.
The last 5 km was just beautiful. Cycling at it's best.

<<<what she said!