Le Tour

[JetSetWilly]

Its been a long year, but the tour is back at last, hooray.

Good to see Lance back and looking at his meanest, say what you want about the boy, but it hasn,t been the same without him.

Anyway who,s your money on, Contador will probably do it, but my outside bet is Michael Rogers, of the Highroad team, should be there or thereabouts at the end.

[Sandperson]

If Lance can't win it (he won't) I'd like to see Evans winning with the smug Schlek brothers getting dropped. I think it's Contador or Sastre's year though. Great win for Cav today though!

['bout now]

Astana seem to be a team ready to implode with Vino turning up, Kloden putting in an unlikely performance (the german authorities want him banned for EPO abuse), so maybe Leipheimer will rise out of the battle, leaving Contador and Armstrong to stitch each other up.

I'd like to see Sastre do it again and with the penultimate stage up Ventoux can see it as a real possibility.

SP, anyone but that hissy fitting, thunderbird lookalike Evans, anyone.

[Sandperson]

Hmm, I think Contador and I know what you mean about Evan's attitude off the bike but I still like him. He's all over the bike and he's an animal. He may not look the prettiest (he's a mountain biker after all ;)) but that's why I like him. He also never seems to have any sort of team around him so you have to have guts to try and do it alone. I felt so bad for him last year up d'Huez (which I climbed this weekend) when the Schleck brothers were double teaming him, hitting him one after another....it was painful to watch.

[benjaminty]

I did start to get quite into the Tour since my company CSC had a team. I actually met the team when they had a little pootle down to our headquarters a few days before the start from London. Since we ended our involvement this year I fear my interest is waining.... Now I don't know to to root for. Perhaps Sastre?

['bout now]

SP much respect, is this an organised Etape style trip or just some form of masochism?

[Sandperson]

Since you asked 'bout now....:))

La Marmotte!

I didn't manage to finish last year so had to go back. It was emotional. Are you one of the mountain bikers on here?

['bout now]

No, fully fledged roadie, non racing poseur and ponce.

I really want to do La Marmotte, one for next year. I'll have to content myself with 2 weeks riding in and around Napa Valley, going Thursday.

[Sandperson]

All the best roadies are non-racing poseur ponces. I am jealous of Napa...for the wine as much as the riding. Bring us back a bottle of Hitching Post Pinot Noir!

Now to spend the afternoon not finding out who won today's stage so I can watch the highlights tonight. Damn the internet.

['bout now]

Just to add salt to your wound, my mate owns a vineyard in Calistoga...............Riding might be limited!