With all the caterwauling about the TTT, I went back and did a re-calc. With or without, the top ten is still the top ten, AC still wins followed by AS. Lance and Frank are tied for third* and Wiggins drops to fifth. Nibali and Kloden switch places to sixth and seventh. Le Mevel moves up to 8 from 10 with Vande Veld and Kreuziger dropping on place each.
But the argument set forth by those against the TTT fail to consider that it would only be replaced by an ITT. ANd unless it's a wicked mtn one, the time-trialers are still going to do well. Certainly replacing it would affect several team and rider strategies, but so does getting caught out in crosswinds (which also favors strong TTTeams, or an idiot fan with an unleashed dog along side the route. In the end, I suspect that much of the complaining had to do with Menchov, Sastre, and Evans' poor team performances - but it is quite clear that they were way off their game anyway.
As for Ventoux the day before the Paris promenade, the only thing I see wrong with it is the nasty long rail transfer the teams (particularly all the support) have to do. We say a hotly contested race with all the top riders performing at the level they should, and all the predictable tactics as well. Really, the only marginally questionable tactic was that of Saxo's Andy Schleck. But he may not have had the legs to put in a sustained attack on Contador, or may have felt that he couldn't make up the 4.11 time deficit - and therefore working for Frank was entirely understandable. Liquigas, with high places for both Nibali and Kreuziger, and a jersey tomorrow, rode a heck of a race.
And seeing Garate win was just icing on the cake. (I frequently scream at Phil for how poorly he sees who is where in a race, and the implications thereof. He said early on there was noone in the break that had a chance, and I yelled what about Martin and Garate
)
In all, it seems the success of the Tour is as much a reflection upon who one roots for. I found the Indurain years as boring as many find the Armstrong years. The all-out doping years in between were not boring. But ultimately, the race is more exciting if there is someone you are actively rooting for, be it for over all, fourth place, the Green Jersey, or even for up and coming French riders like Brice Fellieu.
*dont know the sub-second time splits