What a day!

I was lucky enough to be in front of the TV for today's stage. What a stage, amazing racing. Hardcore Cadel Evans took the yellow jersey from Kim Kirchen. The nearly man of today's stage was Frank Schlek, he was within 1 second of yellow.

Amazing work by Cadel Evans after yesterday's crash. But I think Frank should take heart.

Tom Boonen is out of the Tour

It's that time of year again when the fan starts getting hit with flying excrement. Tom Boonen is the first high profile casualty. He is going to miss the Tour because of a failed drugs test for cocaine. He was also caught driving drunk the other day, so all in all it's not a good time for Tom.

Lets hope he's given the chance to get hold of his demons and use them to become a better cyclist. We all know how good he is so let's hope we see him back sooner rather than later.

Normally I'm against drugs in sport but this case seems to more of a personal problem, rather than an attempt to cheat.

Good luck Tom

The tour has ended

It ended well and there was a very exciting time trial. It's bodes well for next year's event. Let's hope it will be an event without the word doping being used in every second sentence.

No more late night cycle highlights for me!

D Day

The tour will be decided today in the final time trial. Alberto Contador Vs Cadel Evans. Cadel has 1:50 to make up in the time trial and he is in with a serious chance. I think on a regular day he could pull out about 1:10 1:15. But it is all down to how both of them react to the pressure.

Someone is going to have a very good day.

A though struck me, if it's really close, are there time bonuses in PARIS???

Maybe the Tour isn't dead

It's not as dead as disco! It seems to have risen from the ashes. Does the fact more people are getting caught mean more people are doing it or the regulations are getting tighter and the teams and their sponsers and not going to take it anymore. Go Rabobank, what a brave move.

Now there are 3 days left and Cadel Evans could come from the pack and win it, he will have to do a bionic time trial (and not the same way Vino did.)

These last few days should be great!!!

Another Tour ruined

More doping! I've really lost patience this year! Hopefully 2008 will be better, or best just stick to watching amateur racing!

Vino Veritas

Alexandre Vinokourov has failed a drug test. It was on the time trial where he kicked everyones ass! It was a blood doping offence, meaning that he had a blood transfusion from someone before the stage.

If it is true (we await the 'b' sample), how the hell did he think he would get away with it.

What annoys me more is that Kloeden has been higher in the GC all the way but Vino was still getting all the help! Grrrrr.

The tour.

How hardcore is this?

"X-rays showed that O'Grady broke five ribs in the fall, as well as fracturing three vertebrae and a shoulder blade."

He would have rode on if you'd let him. I think he finised the tour last year with a fractured vertebra!

Kloden and Vinokourov are still there or there abouts....

Yawn... it's a rest day.

Mark Cavendish makes the tour

I just read on the BBC that Mark Cavendish has made the T-Mobile 9 for the Tour de France. It would be amazing if he made it all the way to Paris. Hopefully he might take a stage with a bit of luck!

Vinokourov - Is it his year?

Will Vino win this year's Tour? I will say here and now that I think he will, it all depends on how strong his team is. Judging be today's performance in The Dauphine he is in great form.

So check back in mid july to see if I am right.

Le Tour 1996

Now that Bjarn Riis has been taken off the list of winners for his 1996 "victory", what next? Will they award the race to the runner up? Jan Ullrich!!!

I'm biased as he has always been my favourite cyclist. But there are allegations against him too!

Such a shame he retired!