Tour talk

As of this morning at the start of stage 7 history was made...ZERO RIDERS HAVE ABANDONED thus far!


I'll write that one more time, just because it's SO hard to believe:


ZERO RIDERS HAVE ABANDONED!


Can you believe it? The first week was (well, the first 6 stages) somehow completed with minimal carnage! It's never happened before in the history of le Tour that ALL the teams still have ALL their guys going into stage 7.


Not that there haven't been crashes...Contador's crash on stage 1 when he slid-out on that turn did take out a few others, but mostly the damage was to himself. Mr. Tinkoff himself mentioned after yesterdays stage (when he was on the set with Bobke and Christian) that Alberto is quite bruised up and in considerable pain, but he's pushing on the best he can. Today will be a big milestone, to see what he can do on a REAL climb. I'm hoping he survives with the GC guys, but I'd have to say after watching him the last few days that it's unlikely.


And then there was that crash at the end of Stage 1 when Michael Morkov caught a pedal on the STUPID barricade legs protruding out into the course, which caused him to veer into the speeding sprinters, only to bounce off them and go back into the barricades where his high rate of forward progress was stopped immediately when he re-hit the barricades. That took out a few others, but none so horrid as Morkov. That he wasn't killed or SERIOUSLY hurt was just a miracle. That he showed up for the start of stage 2 was superhuman. And the fact that he's STILL racing is beyond category.


We've had plenty of excitement in what is usually a ho-hum first week (other than the typical carnage). Cavendish won his THIRD stage yesterday on #6, putting him alone in the 2nd most Tour wins EVER list. Good for him, it's nice to see the Manx Missile BACK! I can remember his early days when he came out of nowhere and started winning...he certainly didn't endear himself to the fans. But he's a changed man the last many years, as he's learned that he doesn't win the sprints alone, and now sings the praise of the teams efforts on his behalf loud and clear.


It's funny how each year you never know what to expect in the sprinters...going into this years race I totally would have expected Kittel to be the man with 3 wins at this point. But he's only got the 1...and Griepel? ZIP! THAT is also history...in a sad way for he and his team. He just can't seem to get it done.


And so...what lies in store for us today? All I can say is that I hope it's a surprise, and I hope it's exciting, and I HOPE it doesn't involve riders getting hurt.


Game ON!

It's THAT time again!

What time is that you ask?


TOUR TIME! HOORAY!!!


And not long after that it's SUMMER OLYMPICS time! It's gonna be one BUSY SUMMER of TV!


So...let's start with TOUR TALK. WHO is going to step up and take this years race? Will it be one of the favorites? I'd have to say that Froome is the top choice thus far, with Contador and Quintana being the other podium contenders. But there are a LOT of up and comers, and being the Tour, anything can and will happen. This year there's no prologue or opening TT to separate and calm the field, so the first week will once again be complete and utter mayhem as anybody who even THINKS they have a chance and their team will be fighting for position near the front...and we've all seen over and over the outcome of that.


I believe the first mountain stage is 7, so the first 6 will likely just be crazy, as nobody wins the tour in the first week, but you can sure lose it. One thing is for sure: it will be a wild and crazy ride so hang onto your hats!


And then the Olympics...I saw on the news last night that Michael Phelps AGAIN qualified...his 5th straight Olympics, which is a record (along with him ALREADY being the most medaled Olympian in US History). Good for him...to maintain THAT level of fitness at this point in his life? Pretty incredible for sure. It was sad for Ryan Locte (sp?)...who was Phelps nemesis in a few races...he apparently pulled a groin muscle not long before the qualifying events and hasn't qualified in any of his races (I believe...I could be wrong as I'm not completely up on current events). I did catch some of the mens Gymnastics qualifying  last week, which was pretty incredible...those guys are just physical GODS! The stuff they do these days...just WOW!


I haven't upped my satellite package yet to get NBCSports...Jeannie said she'd do it for me tomorrow (we have to add the complete Sports package to get the one channel...and we'll be sure to cancel it at the 30 day point so we don't pay for it after the one month minimum requirement.


OK...I need to get rolling here (I'm at work actually...got in early today). Please feel free to rant and rave, and certainly express your thoughts on the Tour AND the Olympics...as always I love to hear your perspectives.


Game ON!


Cheers!