Tour de France; Stage 15 report

Landis is back in yellow now, proving that his gamble was the right one to make- at least for now. Sure, there is a chance he could lose the race still, but considering that he made going up the l'Alpe look easy today... while setting the fastest time of the day on the climb (38:34)... it's looking pretty good for Pretty Boy Floyd.

Frank Schleck of CSC was the day's big winner. He also won Amstel Gold in April, so the kid has a lot of promise. Second place was the resurgent Damiano Cunego, who seems to finally be getting his legs back underneath him. The Kid Cunego has so much talent, as you would expect from a guy who won the Giro two years ago while only 22 years old. It's good to see him coming back. Another nice surprise was Stefano Garzelli getting third. I like Garzelli. He is also a former winner of the Giro and has always floundered at the Tour. He has had a few up and down years ever since winning the Giro, but he's always been one of the classier riders in the peloton. Doesn't talk a lot, he just rides his bike really well.

Floyd rode very conservatively, marking his main rival- Andreas Kloden. Landis barely looked like he was trying at all, so tomorrow should be frightening to the other riders. Phonak rode just strong enough, with Axel "son of Eddy" Meckx in the early dangerous breakaway. Floyd's other rivals rode well enough to not lose major time, but enough time to need to be worried over the next few days. Cadel Evans is now even more of an outside shot for the podium, after showing great promise earlier in the race. He could still do something special this year, but certainly has matured during this race and has shown a potential to win the race. Denis Menchov and Levi Leipheimer both lost time, but fought hard. Menchov is not too far off, but he hasn't shown an ability to make it over the big climbs with the other contenders. Leipheimer is still digging out of his earlier time losses, but is still riding well in the grand scheme of things.

Tomorrow will really hurt. Today was nasty and tomorrow is much the same thing. Major climbs like the Galibier, Croix-de-Fer and then another uphill finish on the Category 1 climb, the Toussuire. It should be the final major proving ground of the race as the following stage on Thursday, though very hard, does not have a mountaintop finish. Friday's stage will be relatively "easy" and then Saturday should be the day that Floyd cements his lead- if he is still in yellow.

It's a little too quiet here at Masiguy Global World Domination HQ without the amusing ramblings of the Cub Reporter. She's been having to beg for computer use from Al Trautwig's son, but I guess he's got more pressing things to worry about. I hear from Donna and the Cub's very own mother that things are going very well and that she is having a great time already. I've even heard a rumor she's found her way on camera. I've also heard that the French government has requested the presence of the US Ambassador at the French capital. Coincidence?

Well BK/CR, hope you are well, enjoying the brie and wine and managing to stay out of jail.

Tim


FYI- Masiguy is number one in Google for the search "Tour de France podium girls naked". Cool!