Whee, the stage starts on a descent. That will soon change and really take a nasty turn on the second half of the stage. Hey look, Voeckler is leading. Maybe his calendar is off and he thinks it is Bastille Day. Eighteen riders have formed the escape group but Rabobank is steaming on the front of the peloton. It looks like they are preparing a leadout for a sprint finish.

Here comes the Cormet de Roseland. This climb is 20km long. I don?t do that much climbing in a year. The peloton is 1:45 behind. Rasmussen attacks and catches the lead group with Rogers. The peloton is over four minutes back. The lead group made the summit but they have broken up.

Oh no, Rogers and Arroyo crash while descending. Arroyo is over the guardrail and in the trees. Rogers stays on the road while both remount and start racing again. Now, race radio is reporting O?Grady has crashed. Rasmussen continues on while he does all the work. He isn?t asking for help nor does he seem to want it. He is fixated.

Bad news, after his crash, Rogers slipped back and is now off the bike. Whatever his injury is, it is too much to bear. It is an emotional end for him. It is never fair when an outside influence ends your race. Moments later, there is a video of O?Grady being stuffed in the ambulance.

Speaking of video, did you see Levi?s free ride back to the peloton by the team car? Isn?t it a coincidence his mechanic finished their ?adjustment? just as they were getting in sight of the commissaire's car!

I?m dazed and confused. Rasmussen is cranking away like a machine putting time over everyone. The peloton doesn?t seem to care. Two Discovery riders attack but Levi doesn?t go with them. The only certain thing now is Rasmussen winning the stage and wearing yellow. Take five while we wait for the peloton to finish. The GC contenders aren?t in the top ten but do finish in less than five minutes of Rasmussen.

Sadly, no day after Bastille Day win for Voeckler but Rasmussen will celebrate. I have a feeling my boss Thomas will be celebrating his fellow countryman?s win. So Thomas, get out the fireworks and beer and cheers to Denmark!