STAGE 10
11:00 a.m. local time
Stage 10 starts in Grenoble, the most difficult city I have ever tried to drive through, and ends in Courchevel. This is the first true mountaintop finish of Le Tour and promises to be exciting. It should be one of the four most important stages this year. I am presently sitting at the finish line and am awaiting the race to start. It is now 11:00 a.m. local time and I'll try to post a few updates as the day goes on.
12:05 p.m. local time
I just got through talking with Chris Carmichael and he feels really good about Lance and the Discovery Team's preparation and performance in this years Tour. He said that Lance is feeling really good so I am super excited about today's stage. Chris said "the next six days are the most decisive stages of the race." We chatted for a couple of minutes about bicycles and my collection of old road bikes then both went on our merry ways.
1:00 p.m. local time
We also talked with John of Team C.S.C. for a few minutes. They are ecstatic about how the tour has gone for them. When talking about David's crash during the team time trial he said that David was hurt quite badly. He said there was a slight advantage that came from it though, it kept them from expending a lot of energy defending the yellow jersey.
4:00 p.m. local time
There are a couple of inconsequential riders out front on a breakaway but the big climb of the day is yet to come with Lance Armstrong and the yellow jersey in the chase group ready to pounce. Popovich was just involved in a crash with a team car but got up and away very quickly.
HANGING AT THE HOTEL
THE OFFICIAL TOUR FOLKS BEGIN ARRIVING
CHRIS EXPLAINING HIS VERSION OF LE TOUR,
BOB HANGING OUT WITH A PRETTY BLOND,
AND CAROL WITH JOHN OF TEAM C.S.C.
FRANKIE VISITS WITH AN OLD FRIEND
AND WATCHES THE COVERAGE FROM BOTH
THE OLN FEED AND THE FRENCH 2/3 FEED
CAROL AND SCOTT, ONE OF THE OLN CREW TALK IT UP
