45km in...Virenque wants the polka dots today; if he stays away until km 126.5 and takes the points on each climb, he will get it.
Rouleur + climber is a good mix for this stage, pity Chavanel didn't stick. USPS and Brioches are exerting control on the front; they chased for a bit then stopped, but are policing any breaks trying to get across to the front.
Julian Dean just dropped on the climb, unfortunate. He;s been working his [censored] off for Hushovd all week, did a great job into the last corner to put Thor away and then sit up through the last bend to stop anyone else getting up...
45km in...Virenque wants the polka dots today; if he stays away until km 126.5 and takes the points on each climb, he will get it.
Voeckler is cooked on the climbs. Tricky Dicky is in virtual 3rd place at halfway. Currently has 3 min (virtual) on Armstrong - at what point will USPS start to shake things up? Next 50km are steady uphill. Big selection on the cat 1 climb? Virenque in yellow by the end of the day, Bettini still in polka dots?
Euskatel had better get some new tyres..Zubeldia had a puncture, chased back to almost back on, only to get a second puncture...but the team brought him back up pretty smart. Unusual to see Armstrong with a mechanical (puncture) and shortly after Hincapie too.
Great economy of effort from Bettini, sitting in the front and jumping to mop up the mountain points; good tactics for the day from Quick.Step.
Rocket fuel consumed on cue for Virenque with 35km to go.
Mr Crockett points out by e-mail that I read too much into Voeckler's facial expression and he does now seem to have recovered well and has teammates in the main group.
