Tour de France - Stage 9

Holy muscles on fire Batman! What a finish! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

I decided to skip all the in-between crap and go straight to the good part. First, there was the excitement of the break Landaluze and Simeoni being caught within seconds of the finish. They attacked 38 km into the stage and maxed out their lead at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>10:05. The typical routine of the peloton reeling them in began. It seemed one of them might actually win the stage even though the peloton was breathing down their necks. Then it happened, the big guns blasted to the line in typical sprinter fashion! I didn?t know who won and didn?t care because I appreciated the drama of the finish. Although it wasn?t the most suspense filled stage, it was the most exciting. Oh yeah, McEwen nips Thor at the line.

Here are a few other tidbits. Virenque must be getting jealous of Voeckler as Mr. Polka Dot was out in front getting some climber?s points. Mr. Attack (Jakob Piil) decides to sit in. Maybe he?s finally getting tired! Kirsipuu withdraws. Ullrich leisurely stops to fix his seatpost and saddle.   Kroon gets stuck in no man?s land while trying to bridge to the leaders.

There was only one crash today with about 10 km to go. It appears CSC rider Kurt-Asle Arvesen takes the worse of it. The report was someone ran into a sign in the median of the road. Using my spy satellite, the sign actually read, ?Attention cyclists, beware of this sign in the middle of the road!?

Tyler Hamilton had mixed emotions in his interview with Roadcycling.com. He said he was happy with how today's stage went but received sad news on his rest day. His beloved pet dog of nine years has cancer and will be put to sleep. As with many of us pet owners,
Tyler said his dog is his "best friend" and "tomorrow I'm going to lose one of my family members."   There is no doubt that the unconditional love from a pet is a difficult loss and the staff at Roadcycling.com understands his sorrow.

Phonak team doctor Thomas Klimaschka even mentioned that
Tyler is probably more hurt emotionally than physically. Dr. Klimaschka said
Tyler "has a little pain in his back" and otherwise is in "normal condition." Oscar Pereiro has an injured finger on his right hand but Dr. Klimaschka said it isn't broken. The doctor added that  "other riders are ok."

I think the real Tour has begun. Tomorrow should contain suspense and excitement. It?s Independence Day in
France so the locals will want Voeckler to fight for the yellow jersey. However, two things make this unlikely. The longest stage and some significant climbs.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com as the Tour continues!

Dave

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LAST CHANCE: Roadcycling.com and the Tyler Hamilton Foundation have joined forces to run a Tour de France auction in which you can bid on Tyler Hamilton?s Phonak jersey as used in