RE:

This sums up the Tour right here:  Frank Schleck was second Thursday, trailing his brother by 2 minutes, 7 seconds. Cadel Evans of Australia was third over the 125-mile route from Pinerolo.

 

That’s how the final podium’s gonna look.  Although, cadel might be in 2^nd and Frank might get 3^rd.

 

Contador was the day's biggest loser, trailing in 15th place - 3:50 behind. Overall, he trails the French leader by 4:44 in seventh place.

I bet Contador realized he can’t dope anymore so he didn’t, and look at how he does, now. Owned.

Everybody knows that Andy is the better Shleck – always has been.

 

 

96 degrees out today.  I won’t experience it until 430.  Frickin’ hot, though, I can guarantee you that. 

You should go to the pool, man.  Take a book with you, that’s what  I do.  Even better, print off magazine articles and read them there.  Beats bein’ inside.  Can’t do it all the time, but it works.  I usually go outside for at least 3 hours a day.. yesterday was from 1230 to 4 and then 430 to 6.  If I’m not reading, I can’t be outside. It’s too lifeless.

 

Dang, talk about teamwork: The stage showed how teamwork and strategy can be essential. Leopard Trek sent out two riders in the breakaway so they'd be available to escort Schleck in case he could shake his rivals.

With 56.6 kilometers left in the stage, Schleck chiseled out a lead of more than a minute against the contenders and caught his teammate Joost Posthuma, one of the breakaway riders who welcomed Schleck into his wake to go up Izoard.

 

Interesting: you have a seemingly blunder by not attacking on the first hill while Contador is hurt (then again he isn’t even really in contention anyway at that point), wait for the next mountain and take off with nobody following.  HUGE blunder on everybody’s part except Frank’s, ‘cause he’s a teammate. 

Agnel, the day's first big climb, wasn't the site of the showdown. At one point there, Contador drifted back to the race doctor for a check, though it wasn't immediately clear why.

Instead, Andy Schleck took his chance on Col d'Izoard. After riding behind Leopard Trek teammate Stuart O'Grady, he sped from the main pack about midway up, with 13 breakaway riders ahead.

Contador moved up to the front of the pack but didn't chase. Neither did Voeckler or Evans, possibly a tactical error that could cost them victory in Paris on Sunday.

 

 

Look at the race map: looks like they’re in Afghanistan.  No civilization around anywhere.  http://www.letour.fr/2011/TDF/LIVE/us/1800/videos.html