Tour talk -- Spoiler alert

[Aggie_Ama]

And Phil and Paul keep saying that if he doesn't think he can win, he doesn't bother to try. This is too anti-Jens for my tastes. And it is not the way to win a green jersey.

I said the same thing to my husband! He won a lot of stages last year but green jersey is "most consistent". So you can't pout and not try for a high placing or intermediate points and win. He will learn, I guess.

[AMP]

Farrar may be back in the race for real in the next week. Can you imagine riding sprints with his injuries?
Cavendish is mighty talented, but emotional--snarling one moment, crying the next. Must be hard on his team, who really showed their depth yesterday. His lead out train is the best. As much as Cavendish is a tool, his team has such heart that I find yself cheering for him.
Plus I shallowly like their HTC-Columbia helmets.
How about those naked guys-? The unfortunately-kitted Footon-Servetto. They keep showing up in the breakaways, probably for advertising their sponsor, but if I were their sponsor, I'd fire the designer.
Guess evaluating the kits is how I've handled the time-suckage.

[ny biker]

Possegal, are you still in France? I am dying to know what color underwear these women are wearing under their polka-dot umbrellas, er um I mean skirts.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...r-de-france-10

It's pretty clear that anyone standing on the ground near the podium already knows the answer to this question. My money is on red.

OMG and I just noticed the shoes. Not sure how I feel about the hearts.

[ny biker]

So, I feel really bad for Robbie McEwen. First he gets a bad cut on his elbow in a crash. Then he finds he's allergic to the medicine they gave him to prevent tetanus (he posted that on twitter a day or so ago). Then today this happens.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...-mishap_127622

He was doing pretty well in the sprints, and now they're not sure he can start tomorrow. Really too bad.

[redrhodie]

There is no fighting in cycling! If you want to fight, play hockey.

Too bad for McEwen. That sucks.

[Possegal]

Possegal, are you still in France? I am dying to know what color underwear these women are wearing under their polka-dot umbrellas, er um I mean skirts.

I am, but we never got that close to the podium. My big regret - I got chatty with our bartender in Rotterdam and he gave me wrist bans for the start and finish lines of the Prologue. But I was meeting a friend from the US who was in Holland visiting her in-laws and so we didn't use them. I will never have that close access again, I am sure of it.

Just makes me determined to come over again soon and follow along for many more stages.

[malkin]

Possegal, are you still in France? I am dying to know what color underwear these women are wearing under their polka-dot umbrellas, er um I mean skirts.

It's pretty clear that anyone standing on the ground near the podium already knows the answer to this question. My money is on red.

Matching pois rouge undies maybe?
They are in France, after all!

[berkeley]

There is no fighting in cycling! If you want to fight, play hockey.

My DVR cut out right as that broke out. What the heck happened?

[PinkBike]

apparently costa elbowed barredo about 20k back. so barredo went after him. they got fined 400 swiss francs. barredo later apologized to costa.

as to cav, he was very nice when he signed my bicycle at the tour of california. yes he's young and brash and cocky -- how soon we forget -- robbie mcewen was young and brash and very cocky once.

i love the tour. every minute, every day.

[Dogmama]

So, I feel really bad for Robbie McEwen. First he gets a bad cut on his elbow in a crash. Then he finds he's allergic to the medicine they gave him to prevent tetanus (he posted that on twitter a day or so ago). Then today this happens.

He was doing pretty well in the sprints, and now they're not sure he can start tomorrow. Really too bad.

I just saw on Velonews that he will start today (Saturday.)

[tulip]

Oh, what a great stage! I really like Chavanel and his genuine happiness at the whole thing. He's been at this for 10 years; he's finally in yellow--twice! Terrific attack and he really stayed out there. It was a good day for the French, and I hope there will be more! It might kinda make up for the soccer debacle, ya' know.

I watch on Eurosport and there's nary a mention of Armstrong. He's just one of many in the peleton. I find it refreshing, but I also wonder what the story is. Seems like Radio Shack isn't doing much of anything so far. Perhaps tomorrow they will show their colors, but with Kloden falling off the back today, I kinda doubt it.

[redrhodie]

Oh, what a great stage! I really like Chavanel and his genuine happiness at the whole thing. He's been at this for 10 years; he's finally in yellow--twice! Terrific attack and he really stayed out there. It was a good day for the French, and I hope there will be more!

I agree! 2 great rides by Quickstep! Chavanel was really amazing today.

[malkin]

I like it when the French do well at the Tour.
'Root, root, root for the home team...'

[redrhodie]

This is cool--pics of the making of the yellow and polka dot bikes that Chavanel and Pineau are riding:

http://picasaweb.google.be/113435145...lvainChavanel#

[redrhodie]

I just watched the whole slideshow. That's it...I'm moving to Belgium. Beautiful men, with frites for lunch.