greeting sfrom Andorra-la-Vella. after getting my **** kicked on Col du Granon two days ago and facing a 25km/hr headwind on the Lauteret yesterday, I escaped the Alps, driving 10 hours down here this morn. Looking forward top an early morning "jaunt" and an interminable wait for the fireworks. Hoping there is a big screen atop Arcalis like Tignes had in '07.
Anyhoo - wow... this will be interesting. MellowVelo, I haven't has a chance to check the threads, but I have to imagine you are none too happy with the state of affairs - understandable. The fact that the Schlecks, Cadel, Denis and Carlos are in dire straits kinda $uck$, even for me. I was hoping for tomorrow to be the kick-off of a wide-open affair. Now it's primarily going to be a intra-squad sociological case study, like '85, and '86. I do hope that ASch or Sast can pull off a one-day exploit, but I fear that's all it will be.
Few thoughts to get caught up.... tired of reading Brunel's drivel in l'Equipe.... amused by the utter jublilation displayed by the race organizers on France2 when LA came up .22 short - sadly goofy, they were... loving Aldag and Stapleton's daily lash-outs and the *** at the back of the peloton... "if they don't want to win, they'll suffer"... "I'm not sure if some teams are actually racing the Tour this year"... LA was 100% justified in being in the echelon... shame on AC for riding like Danielson that day... good on JV for his TTT strategy - very unique approach... chapeau to the little chunk-meister Voeckler, though when Jensy basically told him pre-stage that they would not chase, welllll... sad to see Tyler can't even get out of the slipstream of the Manxman - not a reflection on TF, more just a statement about Cav's scary strength...
OK - time for bed. Look for the Voeckler-sized dude in red and white about 2km from the finish. I'll be holding a "ThoughtforFood for WADA President" sign!!