Today's Tour stage was interesting. At times it felt like a headless snake not knowing what to do without a dominant rider to direct the course through the mountains. Other times it was a wild series of attacks, crashes, and cracks. Mayo cursing the cameras trying to catch the moment where he dismounted and gave up (which eventually he did) or riders screaming at the motor bikes to get out of the way because they were slowing down the mountain descents. George Hincapie took himself out of contention by finishing at least 16 minutes down for the day. Discovery Channel, in fact, pretty much crumbled today. Maybe it's a strategy. Riiiiight.
And, of course, another American wears the yellow jersey.
But today my heart belonged to Levi Leipheimer. He rode a terrible time trial, had a few bad days and started this morning in a dismal 58th place. He had a fantastic day, missing the stage win by inches (to a stronger rider) and rode like he had forgotten his troubles. I was nearly doing backflips for him as he rode up the final climb and raced to the finish. He now sits in 13th. He has no hope of a podium spot. Well, in a normal Tour he'd have no hope. But this is the Bizzaro Tour. Who knows what can happen? He could attack on Alpe d'Huez next week and destroy his competition, ride a brilliant final TT and suddenly find himself in the catbird seat. Stranger things have happened . . . It won't, but in race where the guy who comes in last can walk into a French bar and have his drinks paid for by the fans, you just never know.
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