The second rest day of 2010 Tour de France arrives right before of the crucial stage,the Tourmalet one.Unless Contador makes a disaster in the last TT,in fact,the winner of the race will be decided tomorrow by that famous climb,who a century ago was climbed by the Tour cyclists for the first time.I don't know if you've heard some of the histories regarding the discovery of Tourmalet.If you haven't,take a look at the last link of this post : it will shock you ;)
Yesterday's stage didn't see any change in the GC.Understandable,if you consider that the last climb was 60 kms far from the finish-line.A similar thing happened last year in the so-called 'Tourmalet stage'.The funny thing is that the man who won that stage (in which there were 50 kms between the last climb and the finish-line) is the same who won yesterday's stage. His name is Pierrick Fedrigo,but he's also known as 'the Frenchman with the big nose' or 'the punishers of the Italians'.In fact when he got his first Tour de France victory he outsprinted Totò Commesso, while last year he won by ousprinting Pellizotti.This year instead he got his victory after outsprinting different riders, between which there were also Damiano Cunego.
Obviously yesterday as soon as I noticed that Fedrigo was in a breakaway together with an Italian rider, I stated that he was surely going to win the stage.And,eventually,he did win.
Anyway,as mentioned today was the second rest day of this Tour; therefore me this evening had the time to collect some random links that will direct you to some random news/pictures/ marketing rumours/blogs/whatever else that me considers interesting.Here they are:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/contador-key-to-transfer-market :let's begin from the most hateful part: marketing rumours.This article states that Contador could renew contract for Astana or get a brand new team under the protection of Bjarne Riis.
I don't know what could happen if Alberto chose the latter option,since then Chris Anker Sorensen might become his new helper and Fangirl would definitely have to choose whether to support the Schleck brothers or Chris Anker Sorensen during Grand Tours.However,if Alberto does choose Saxo Bank,I'm sure that this time nothing will prevent Vino from taking his revenge on the Spaniard.
The article however also talks about Denis Menchov.LL Sanchez could join Rabobvank next year and so the Russian may end up riding for Katusha,aka the great (and only) Russian team of Pro Tour.Talking about Rabobank,it is said that also Matti Breschel could end up riding for the Dutch team next year.That would be pretty annoying for me because next year I'll already have enough problems with sharing my support between Chris Sorensen and the Schlecks.If also Matti changes team,well,Fangirl could take extreme decisions,like becoming a full-time supporter of Footon-Sevetto (she already supports that team every time Capelli is riding) and buying one of their horrible kits.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/basso-finishes-in-the-gruppetto :Basso finished the race in the gruppetto yesterday.In spite of this,chapeau to him: he's trying to honour this Tour in spite of illnesses and bad luck and he's really giving it all although he's already won the Giro this year.
http://www.tdwsport.com/ :Tim De Waele spent the whole day taking nice pictures of the riders.However this time there aren't many pictures of Andy Schleck on his website and if you are a bit disappointed by that I suggest you checking the pictures from the first rest day of the Tour.
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4973/Tour-de-France-Schlecks-busy-rest-day-warms-up-his-motor-for-Tourmalet-offensive.aspx :Andy Schleck has said he will attack on Tourmalet tomorrow afternoon.Let's hope that climb will be long and hard enough to drop Contador and get back the yellow jersey!
http://blog.tv2.dk/chris.anker.ol/entry377335.html :yes,to everyone's surprise,the link to Chris Anker Sorensen's blog was included in today's random post.In it Chris talks about his roommate Jens Voigt,who the other day had a bad crash on the Peyresourde descent.Here are some part of this blog entry (thank you Google Translater for allowing me to understand Danish!).
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4973/Tour-de-France-Schlecks-busy-rest-day-warms-up-his-motor-for-Tourmalet-offensive.aspx :Andy Schleck has said he will attack on Tourmalet tomorrow afternoon.Let's hope that climb will be long and hard enough to drop Contador and get back the yellow jersey!
http://blog.tv2.dk/chris.anker.ol/entry377335.html :yes,to everyone's surprise,the link to Chris Anker Sorensen's blog was included in today's random post.In it Chris talks about his roommate Jens Voigt,who the other day had a bad crash on the Peyresourde descent.Here are some part of this blog entry (thank you Google Translater for allowing me to understand Danish!).
"Yesterday",writes Chris,"I had my worst day so far in this TdF (...).I felt a bit more comfortable after the stage,when George Hincapie said: 'This is the toughest stage start that I've ever faced in a Tour'.He has taken part in the Tour a few times now,so he should know what he's talking about.
"Yesterday unfortunately Jens Voigt crashed on the first descent.I was riding behind him when it happened and he was really unlucky.In a curve,in fact,his front tyre exploded (...).Jens is in good spirits,although he has many bruises and has been given 5 stitches.After coming back to the hotel room (ndr; after having been given stitches?),he was moaning in the bathroom. Then,suddenly,he came up to me in the room and said 'This is just too much.I've got bruises all over my body and I even got sunburned.In such a situation,it is alright to complain a bit,isn't it?' (...) After the crash in fact Jens' jersey was torn up on his back,therefore he got sun on his back for 6 hours and found himself sunburnt at the end of the day.
"In spite of all these problems,however,Jens didn't lose his good humour.At the dinner table he told me about his problems after the crash.His bicycle was destroyed,so he needed a new one. Little problem,both our team cars were at the front of the race (...).Therefore Jens received a bike from a Mavic car (Mavic is the neutral mechanical service).However there was a problem with this bike,since it had been prepared for a 1.50 m tall man,while Jens is 1.90 m (...).Luckily Jens had to race with that small bike for 'just' 20 kms.
"I must admit that Jens yesterday was my hero.Getting through a stage like that in spite of all those problems was impressive.And yesterday evening he was even as good humoured as always and this was even more impressive".
Obviously the title of this entry is "Hat off for Jens Voigt" and I really can't avoid to subscirbe Chris' words.After all,there's a reason if he's been nicknamed 'Fucking Amazing Jens Voigt' (or 'Chuck Norris of Cycling') all around the Blogosphere...
http://www.sport1.de/de/radsport/artikel_265942.html :talking about Jens Voigt,here's another link (in German) about him.He said that "Contador doesn't look that strong",that before of crashing he had the time to think "Okay,this is gonna hurt" and confirms once again that he's going to race also next year.You gotta love this man!
http://paneegazzetta.gazzetta.it/ :here's the blog of one of La Gazzetta's best journalists,Marco Pastonesi.His style is very brilliant and entertaining and his posts talk about cyclists,climbs and also about how the life of a cycling journalist is during the TdF.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet : some information about Tourmalet (read the part 'Origins in the Tour' to have some fun).
"Yesterday unfortunately Jens Voigt crashed on the first descent.I was riding behind him when it happened and he was really unlucky.In a curve,in fact,his front tyre exploded (...).Jens is in good spirits,although he has many bruises and has been given 5 stitches.After coming back to the hotel room (ndr; after having been given stitches?),he was moaning in the bathroom. Then,suddenly,he came up to me in the room and said 'This is just too much.I've got bruises all over my body and I even got sunburned.In such a situation,it is alright to complain a bit,isn't it?' (...) After the crash in fact Jens' jersey was torn up on his back,therefore he got sun on his back for 6 hours and found himself sunburnt at the end of the day.
"In spite of all these problems,however,Jens didn't lose his good humour.At the dinner table he told me about his problems after the crash.His bicycle was destroyed,so he needed a new one. Little problem,both our team cars were at the front of the race (...).Therefore Jens received a bike from a Mavic car (Mavic is the neutral mechanical service).However there was a problem with this bike,since it had been prepared for a 1.50 m tall man,while Jens is 1.90 m (...).Luckily Jens had to race with that small bike for 'just' 20 kms.
"I must admit that Jens yesterday was my hero.Getting through a stage like that in spite of all those problems was impressive.And yesterday evening he was even as good humoured as always and this was even more impressive".
Obviously the title of this entry is "Hat off for Jens Voigt" and I really can't avoid to subscirbe Chris' words.After all,there's a reason if he's been nicknamed 'Fucking Amazing Jens Voigt' (or 'Chuck Norris of Cycling') all around the Blogosphere...
http://www.sport1.de/de/radsport/artikel_265942.html :talking about Jens Voigt,here's another link (in German) about him.He said that "Contador doesn't look that strong",that before of crashing he had the time to think "Okay,this is gonna hurt" and confirms once again that he's going to race also next year.You gotta love this man!
http://paneegazzetta.gazzetta.it/ :here's the blog of one of La Gazzetta's best journalists,Marco Pastonesi.His style is very brilliant and entertaining and his posts talk about cyclists,climbs and also about how the life of a cycling journalist is during the TdF.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet : some information about Tourmalet (read the part 'Origins in the Tour' to have some fun).
So,that's all from me for the moment.The crucial moment is coming and tomorrow evening me could be totally happy or completely down.No half ways between those moods will be available.However,just remember that,even if Contador tomorrow should distance Andy, 'it ain't over 'til it's over'.After all everyone,even Contador,can have a problem with their chains...
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