Stage 8 and it's a new day!

OK. Not really a new day. The overall standings are the same and the stage to watch is still 11 a few days from now.

The only real changes were that the green jersey of Cavendish moved to Thor Hushovd.

I took a breather from watching to go for a scooter ride and think about getting a new bike.

Have you seen the fantastic equipment these guys are on?

Lust!!

What are you riding and have you ever seen the Tour in person?

Tomorrow, there is a category 1 and an hors categorie climb. That should be the stage that shakes up the pack.

Then there's a rest day on Monday and they ride again on Bastille Day.

Chat tomorrow!

Contador Breaks from the Team

OK, he didn't break from Team Astanà entirely, but he certainly paid no mind to the direction of the manager when he attacked and jumped a few seconds ahead of Lance into second place.

The Stage 7 results proved that Alberto is a bit miffed at how well Lance is riding and the next few days will show us all who's going to be the rider for Astanà.

I can't believe that Bruneel would allow this infighting to continue. He soon has to choose the team leader. And if not on Stage 8 or 9, it's got to happen before the Alps.

What do you think?

Here's how they were lined up after Stage 7...

1. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 44' 32"
2. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 25h 44' 38" + 00' 06"
3. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 25h 44' 40" + 00' 08"
4. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 25h 45' 11" + 00' 39"
5. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 45' 18" + 00' 46"
6. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 25h 45' 26" + 00' 54"
7. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 45' 32" + 01' 00"
8. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 45' 56" + 01' 24"
9. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46' 21" + 01' 49"
10. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 25h 46' 26" + 01' 54"
11. PINEAU Jérôme 156 QUICK STEP 25h 46' 42" + 02' 10"
12. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 46' 53" + 02' 21"
13. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 25h 46' 57" + 02' 25"
14. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 25h 47' 12" + 02' 40"
15. SASTRE Carlos 1 CERVELO TEST TEAM 25h 47' 24" + 02' 52"
16. FRÖHLINGER Johannes 184 TEAM MILRAM 25h 47' 26" + 02' 54"
17. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 25h 47' 35" + 03' 03"
18. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 25h 47' 39" + 03' 07"
19. MARTINEZ Egoi 64 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 25h 47' 42" + 03' 10"
20. KIRCHEN Kim 75 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 47' 48" + 03' 16"
21. RIBLON Christophe 88 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 47' 52" + 03' 20"
22. GUTIERREZ José Ivan 115 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48' 14" + 03' 42"
23. KARPETS Vladimir 161 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 48' 21" + 03' 49"
24. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 48' 42" + 04' 10"
25. ZUBELDIA Haimar 29 ASTANA 25h 48' 46" + 04' 14"
26. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 27 ASTANA 25h 48' 52" + 04' 20"
27. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 25h 48' 52" + 04' 20"
28. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 48' 57" + 04' 25"
29. FEILLU Brice 174 AGRITUBEL 25h 48' 58" + 04' 26"
30. EFIMKIN Vladimir 81 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 25h 49' 08" + 04' 36"
31. URAN Rigoberto 119 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 25h 49' 19" + 04' 47"
32. ASTARLOZA Mikel 61 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 25h 49' 28" + 04' 56"
33. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 162 TEAM KATUSHA 25h 49' 32" + 05' 00"
34. MENCHOV Denis 41 RABOBANK 25h 49' 34" + 05' 02"
35. ZABRISKIE David 59 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 25h 49' 50" + 05' 18"
36. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 25h 49' 57" + 05' 25"

As with past years, I'm cutting the standings sharings off wherever big George Hincapie is slotted. Sadly he's 5+ minutes behind now.

Overall and Stage Results

Here are the stage results for Tour de France Stage 6...

1. HUSHOVD Thor 6 CERVELO TEST TEAM 4h 21' 33"
2. FREIRE Oscar 44 RABOBANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
3. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 117 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
4. CIOLEK Gerald 182 TEAM MILRAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
5. PELLIZOTTI Franco 91 LIQUIGAS 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
6. POZZATO Filippo 167 TEAM KATUSHA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
7. BALLAN Alessandro 131 LAMPRE - N.G.C 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
8. NOCENTINI Rinaldo 87 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
9. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
10. CANCELLARA Fabian 33 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
11. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
12. ROCHE Nicolas 89 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
13. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
14. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
15. ROSSELER Sébastien 157 QUICK STEP 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
16. CAVENDISH Mark 71 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
17. MILLAR David 56 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
18. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
19. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
20. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
21. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
22. VAN AVERMAET Greg 16 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
23. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
24. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
25. SCHLECK Frank 36 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
26. BOTCHAROV Alexandre 162 TEAM KATUSHA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
27. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
28. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 118 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
29. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
30. SASTRE Carlos 1 CERVELO TEST TEAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
31. LE MEVEL Christophe 106 FRANCAISE DES JEUX 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
32. PEREIRO SIO Oscar 111 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
33. DEAN Julian 52 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
34. MAASKANT Martijn 55 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
35. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
36. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
37. VOIGT Jens 39 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
38. LARSSON Gustav 34 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
39. KNEES Christian 185 TEAM MILRAM 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
40. KIRCHEN Kim 75 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
41. EFIMKIN Vladimir 81 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
42. URAN Rigoberto 119 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"
43. BRUSEGHIN Marzio 133 LAMPRE - N.G.C 4h 21' 33" + 00' 00"

And here are the top 18 in this year's race...

1. CANCELLARA Fabian 33 TEAM SAXO BANK 19h 29' 22"
2. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 19h 29' 22" + 00' 00"
3. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 19h 29' 41" + 00' 19"
4. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 19h 29' 45" + 00' 23"
5. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 19h 29' 53" + 00' 31"
6. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 19h 30' 00" + 00' 38"
7. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 19h 30' 14" + 00' 52"
8. MILLAR David 56 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 19h 30' 29" + 01' 07"
9. VANDE VELDE Christian 51 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 19h 30' 38" + 01' 16"
10. LARSSON Gustav 34 TEAM SAXO BANK 19h 30' 44" + 01' 22"
11. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 19h 30' 51" + 01' 29"
12. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 19h 30' 53" + 01' 31"
13. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 19h 30' 58" + 01' 36"
14. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 19h 30' 58" + 01' 36"
15. SCHLECK Andy 31 TEAM SAXO BANK 19h 31' 03" + 01' 41"
16. ZUBELDIA Haimar 29 ASTANA 19h 31' 03" + 01' 41"
17. POPOVYCH Yaroslav 27 ASTANA 19h 31' 07" + 01' 45"
18. VOIGT Jens 39 TEAM SAXO BANK 19h 31' 25" + 02' 03"

See you tomorrow in the Pyrenees.

Stage 6 Finish

SPOILERS OF COURSE

David Millar is still leading the race at the 10.9KM mark, 1:07 ahead of the peloton.

The rain has slowed or stopped. The crowds are huge.

Millar is screaming down a long straightaway. Now 9.6KM left.

By the way, at 2KM to go there is a climb up to the finish. If Millar can get there still in the lead he has a good chance to be in yellow at the end of the day.

Crash at 9KM to go. Three riders in the crash at a left-hand turn. A slick white line and inattention caused the spill.

The chase hasn't been distracted from their goal of catching Millar.

Big split in the field because of the crash, but the main riders are still in the front peloton.

Millar is now 7.6KM and is only 0:52 ahead.

Let me pause here. Does this serve any purpose for you? I mean, do you like reading my recaps or dows this blog serve a better purpose as a commentary?

I look forward to your comments.

OK! Another crash at 6.7KM and Tom Boonen is in the crash. Six riders went down hard.

Gap of Millar is down to 0:40 with 6.1KM to go.

4.8KM and 0:32 ahead.

Millar is hanging on!

3.0KM and 0:22 ahead.

Yikes.

The sprinters are coming and Millar needs to get to the base of the climb. If he can get there he might just hang on.

Amazing shots on Versus. If you haven't watched any of the Tour yet, do it. The shots are in HD for the first time and it's fantastic.

Millar is about to take his final turn and climb to the finish.

He's climbing!

1.4KM and the lead is down to under ten seconds.

Millar is caught at 1KM!

Bummer.

Now everyone is shooting off the front to see if they can win the stage.

Thor Hushovd takes the win!

Holy cow. Good stage. Very cool.

Results? In the next post. I don't think the overall has really changed but will let you know.

A different way to watch

At past Tours de France, I've been able to watch while enjoying a beverage at a cafe in Paris or while eating picnic food at the side of the road in the Alps.

This year I'm back in the states watching on Versus and I've got the laptop with me as I evaluate the ride.

How are you watching this year?

OK...let's get back to the stage...

SPOILERS AHEAD (or below)

No excitement until about 70KM into the race. The roads became wet at that line and the rain has continued toward the finish.

One crash occurred at that rain line.

96KM from the finish - three leaders are ahead by about 2:30.

On today's stage, the riders head deeper into Spain and this could help Alberto Contador...a Spaniard riding in front of his home country.

Only three riders have dropped out so far. Which AMAZES me. In prior tours I've seen the numbers drop by a dozen at this point.

Maybe having one fewer team has helped keep the crashes down. Some years the Tour starts 189 riders, but for the past couple it's been a count of 180.

Oh - the Versus Cadillac word of the day is RPM.

While watching I can't help but notice that Phil Liggett and others are totally pimping stage 7. They're saying it's the longest mountain stage of the race, that it will shake out the Tour completely.

I wonder if a local BBQ joint is doing their usual 'come watch the Tour at Redbones' event. I may have to give them a call.

Breakaway right now is only 2 Min with 85KM to go. There are now four riders in the front and one is David Millar who would take over the Yellow Jersey if the race ended now. He's only a minute behind the leader.

Still watching. At 64KM to go, four riders ahead by 1:45.

58KM to go and it's dropping fast. Gap is now down to 1:15.

Gap is now down to 1:09, but there's a climb ahead and the commentators are saying the big teams might not want to chase for fear of burning out before tomorrow's stage 7 in the BIG MOUNTAINS.

32KM to go, lead is down to 0:53. But the rains are heavier now and that could break apart the entire field. And the climb is right ahead of the lead group of four.

CRASH! At a roundabout. Four or five riders down. Could be Tony Martin. Michael Rodgers looks to have broken his arm and is out of the Tour. Wet roads!

Will get more info shortly. By the way, David Millar has jumped off the front of the breakaway and is 28.1KM from the finish. Gap is only 0:41.

In just a few seconds, the gap is aready up to 0:55.

Crazy!

At 25KM, the time gap is a full minute.

15.8KM David Millar is ahead by 1:08 and is the leader of the Tour de France on the road.

Will do another post about the finish and my thoughts shortly.

How are you watching or tracking the Tour?

Do you have this site - http://www.itourdefrance.com// - bookmarked on your iPhone to follow the Tour de France? You should!

Rain at the finish

By the way, the weather at the finish of stage 6 is rain.

That could cause a treacherous finish.

Looking at the leader board, would it be possible for the entire podium in Paris to have Astanà riders on it?

Just wondering.

Would that be good or bad for the Tour?

Stage 6 - Watching it Live

Well, I'm watching it on TV, but live on TV.

This differs from a few of the other stages this year when I had morning commitments that kept me from the broadcast.

What do I think so far?

The riders are headed to Barcelona - here's the description...

After Monaco and Marseille, the 2009 Tour stops at a third “great beacon” of the Mediterranean. The capital of Catalonia will host a prestigious new stage that will take place in the southernmost destination in Tour history. The last inclines on the heights of Montjuic should be more favorable to punchers than climbers.

What that means is that the riders won't have to be climbing specialists to win this stage.

Here's the map...



Hold on while I watch some more and give you my take on the stage.

Please share your predictions or comments.

And if you'd like to write a guest post here, leave me a note.

Back in a second.

Stage 5

So, the only spoiler I'll give you right off the bat about Stage 5 in the 2009 Tour de France is that my prediction of Contador's abandon did not happen.

What does that mean? Not sure. I see a complete shakeup when the teams hit the mountains, but for Astanà to get clarity and then focus on the win they must decide soon who is their leader.

If you've watched the Tour for any time, even one other time, you'll probably feel that this year's race has been sedate as far as abandons and crashes.

Sure, the early jitters are there (and even today -stage 5 - there was a crash in the neutral zone), but there are still only two riders to drop out over the first five stages.

Here's how the top 25 in stage 5 shook out...list courtesy of LeTour.fr.

1. VOECKLER Thomas 141 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 29' 35"
2. IGNATIEV Mikhail 164 TEAM KATUSHA 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
3. CAVENDISH Mark 71 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
4. FARRAR Tyler 53 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
5. CIOLEK Gerald 182 TEAM MILRAM 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
6. NAPOLITANO Danilo 166 TEAM KATUSHA 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
7. ROJAS Jose Joaquin 117 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
8. MONDORY Lloyd 86 AG2R-LA MONDIALE 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
9. FREIRE Oscar 44 RABOBANK 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
10. HUSHOVD Thor 6 CERVELO TEST TEAM 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
11. FURLAN Angelo 134 LAMPRE - N.G.C 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
12. DUQUE Leonardo 124 COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
13. FEILLU Romain 175 AGRITUBEL 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
14. VAN HUMMEL Kenny Robert 199 SKIL-SHIMANO 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
15. TIMMER Albert 198 SKIL-SHIMANO 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
16. FERNANDEZ Koldo 63 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
17. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
18. ARASHIRO Yukiya 142 BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
19. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
20. RENSHAW Mark 78 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
21. BOONEN Tom 153 QUICK STEP 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
22. SABATINI Fabio 96 LIQUIGAS 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
23. DELAGE Mickaël 12 SILENCE - LOTTO 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
24. CANCELLARA Fabian 33 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"
25. VOIGT Jens 39 TEAM SAXO BANK 4h 29' 42" + 00' 07"

What did I say?

Have you been reading this blog from the start of the Tour?

If so, you might remember my predictions four days ago.

If not, go back there and look.

THEN come back here and read my take on stage 4 - the Team Time Trial.

SPOILERS BELOW - SPOILERS BELOW

OK. As expected, Team Astanà rode a fantastic time trial and took chunks of time out of other teams and cemented their place as the team to beat this year.

Remember, we're only on stage 4 and tomorrow is my prediction for Contador's abandonment of the 2009 Tour de France. So, without Alberto things might be a little more difficult. But that leaves the path paved for one Mr. Armstrong.

Oh, did you look at the standings after today's stage? If not, I think you might notice that Lance is SECOND in the overall standings.

What controversy?

Sites are reporting that there's already some infighting and that Lance is acting as if it's now his team. Even though Contador is only a handful of seconds behind in the GC.

What's your take?

Controversy?

Should the team wait a week before deciding?

I say wait a day or two more, but Team Astanà better move forward with ONE RIDER when they hit the mountains. That way they'll be poised to win with a different rider if the leader has an issue in stage 11 or so.

Please share your thoughts now that seven-time winner Lance Armstrong is now in a position to win his eighth.

I say wow. And I also say I'm a genius.

Stage 3 - Comments and more

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Stage 3 could be - and this comes after seeing multiple Tour stages in person - one of the coolest moments in a Tour de France race.

Want the spoiler? Here it is.

Lance went from 10th to 3rd in a single stage and leapt past a number of his teammates in the GC.

That's the general classification if you're not up on the lingo.

What's that mean? Who knows!

To me it means that Team Astanà is going to be in some disarray tomorrow and over the next few days.

It also means that this could be the most contentious tour since Hinault/Lemond.

What happens when the team time trial happens?

Are you happy Lance made this move today? Versus viewers are currently running 96% FOR Lance's move and 3% or so against. Hmmm, fan favorite?

I'm loving this Tour and may even watch the stage again.

Oh, Cavendish won his second stage today. Almost forgot to mention that. :-)

The standings for the top 15 are as follows now...

1. CANCELLARA Fabian 33 TEAM SAXO BANK 9h 50' 58"
2. MARTIN Tony 76 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 9h 51' 31" + 00' 33"
3. ARMSTRONG Lance 22 ASTANA 9h 51' 38" + 00' 40"
4. CONTADOR Alberto 21 ASTANA 9h 51' 57" + 00' 59"
5. WIGGINS Bradley 58 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 9h 51' 58" + 01' 00"
6. KLÖDEN Andréas 23 ASTANA 9h 52' 01" + 01' 03"
7. GERDEMANN Linus 181 TEAM MILRAM 9h 52' 01" + 01' 03"
8. EVANS Cadel 11 SILENCE - LOTTO 9h 52' 02" + 01' 04"
9. MONFORT Maxime 77 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 9h 52' 08" + 01' 10"
10. LEIPHEIMER Levi 24 ASTANA 9h 52' 09" + 01' 11"
11. ROGERS Michael 79 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 9h 52' 11" + 01' 13"
12. KREUZIGER Roman 93 LIQUIGAS 9h 52' 11" + 01' 13"
13. HINCAPIE George 74 TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC 9h 52' 15" + 01' 17"
14. NIBALI Vincenzo 95 LIQUIGAS 9h 52' 16" + 01' 18"
15. LARSSON Gustav 34 TEAM SAXO BANK 9h 52' 20" + 01' 22"