What an exciting day at the Tour, for a flat stage! Everything was going the way it usually does (a small group gets away early, is allowed to get a big gap, then is reeled back in just before the finish) until, with about 20k to go, the ENTIRE COLUMBIA TEAM decides to go off the front! Wow! Evidently they missed the memo that the Team Time Trial is TOMORROW.
Following them were a bunch of other riders, including Fabian Cancellara and Lance Armstrong. Noticeably absent from this group were most of the GC contenders, including Alberto Contador. Seems like a pretty “rookie” mistake for Contador to miss the group, but probably not a big deal in the overall picture.
Anyway, the group managed to stay ahead to the finish, thanks to some brilliant riding from the Columbia domestiques. Of course, Cav won the sprint (and phoned home as he crossed the line) in glorious fashion, bringing his 2009 Tour de France victory percentage to 67%.
At the end of the day, Armstrong sits in THIRD place, 40 seconds back of Cancellara, and Contador is a few seconds down on Armstrong in 4th position. Will Astana work together in the time trial tomorrow? Or are the FOUR Astana leaders (Armstrong, Contador, Kloden, Leipheimer) too selfish to put in a good ride? I’m sure they’ll be professional and do their job, but you never know…
(Okay, I admit it. I’m excited that Lance is racing. I’m excited about the drama surrounding Team Astana. It’s just too good of a story not to get excited about!)
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