La corsa l'è corsa,pietà l'è morta:

Shocking.As a Schleck supporter,I can't find any other word to describe today's TdF stage ending in Bagneres de Luchon-or how else it is called.

Shocked.In an interview that Andy released to the Italian tv a few minutes ago,he used this word to describe how he feels right now.

Shock.That was the sensation that hit me when there were about 4 kms to the top of today's last climb (apropos: may it be cursed forever and ever).

At that point of the race,Andy Schleck had just attacked and he seemed to have dropped Contador. Then,to my shock,horror,amazement, disgust,whatever you want,Andy's bike chain had a problem and the Luxembourgian had to stop.It took him a lot of time to make things go back in order and,during that time,Contador flew away with Menchov,Samu Sanchez and someone else.

Andy was alone,behind all the other GC riders,and tried-without suceeding-to come back on Contador's group.On the descent he really looked furious,shocked and angry.But anger,motivation and disappointment couldn't do anything and our boy crossed the finish-line 39" after Contador (new yellow jersey),Sanchez,Menchov and someone else.

After all,an ancient cycling rule said that 'the race is race,piety is dead'.This rule wasn't applied in the Spa stage of this Tour,but it was applied today.After all,Contador had the right to do so. He's not the first one and he's not the last one to take advantge from a problem o his adversary.But fuck,losing 39" in that way hurts.

I spent the whole climb screaming like mad and,when Andy had that problem,I fell in panic and almost wanted to cry.Even my sister was very moved and supported Andy as well in his chase behind Alberto.Still,there was nothing to do against the Spaniard.And,if I felt that way,I can't imagine how Andy Schleck felt at that point.

As one of my favourite mottos say,"Good luck is blind but bad luck has eyes everywhere" (la fortuna è cieca,ma la sfiga ci vede benissimo).And in cycling, just like in life,you need at least a bit of good luck.You can have skills,you can have talent,you can be motivated.But,in cycling as in life,if you aren't lucky at all you can't go anywhere.Or,at least, you can't go where you'd love to.

I'm in a big hurry right now and I'm obviously still very shocked.I'm also very pessimistic right now,but one thing is sure: there are still 2 mountain stages before of the end of this Tour and Andy can still hope in a miracle and try to win this Tour.After all,as a popular way of saying states,"hope dies last".So,boy,chin up and go to get that yellow jersey again: you're the strongest this year and,after all this bad luck against you and Frank,things must change.