2009 Tour de France - Stage 14.

It looks like a drag race at the start. The peloton must be trying to make up for lost time from yesterday as they seem to sprint when they get the green flag. They have set the fastest pace of the tour with an average of 49.8 km/h (31 mph for you foreigners).

A baker’s dozen creep away from the peloton. Hayden Roulston (CTT), Jens Voigt (SAX), Martijn Maaskant (GRM), George Hincapie (THR), Nicolas Roche (ALM), Daniele Bennati and Frederick Willems (LIQ), Christophe Le Mevel (FDJ), Sebastien Minard (COF), Daniele Righi (LAM), Serguei Ivanov (KAT), Gerald Ciolek (MRM) and Albert Timmer (SKS) are forming their destiny for today. Voigt punctures and receives disastrous service form the neutral mechanic. The guy choked while billions watched on TV. I think he and Jens won’t become close friends. Voigt is so disgusted he takes himself out of the break and drifts back to the peloton.

In the meantime, George is the Tour leader! Yeah, it’s only on paper but nothing is over until the fat bicyclist sings. The dirty dozen seem to be pulling equally. Keep your fingers crossed for Georgie boy. Maybe he can do the double by winning the stage and taking yellow. At least we have a bit of excitement unlike the yawner from yesterday.

You wouldn’t think anyone in the peloton would care about the break. George isn’t considered a GC contender. With 10 k to go Ivanov shows he wants the stage win. It still could be a yellow for George as Ivanov’s attack lifts the momentum of the remaining lead group.

While Ivanov guts it out to win the stage, suspense is building. The peloton‘s pace was gassed by Astana, Garmin, and even High Road at the end! Once again, I’m confused. I’m not saying you had to “let” George wear yellow but it seemed like an obvious effort to keep him from it. I think it was a cutthroat tactic. Lance tries to blame Garmin. At least he didn’t blame Alberto.

I guess the gloves are off now. There hasn’t been much pushing and elbowing. MC Hammer was relegated for not holding his line during the sprint.

One of the things I’ve admired about professional cyclists is the peloton was their respect to others and doing the right thing. It seems pot shots are literally being taken at the riders. Yesterday, Dean and Freire were actually hit by someone shooting a pellet rifle.

George, I’m sorry you missed out on yellow today. My advice is to seek out Jens, bitch a little, slam down some brews and know you are the better man.

Send Dave your comments on info@roadcycling.com.

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