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Tourmalet

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 03:13:01 PM EST
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Some of you might have noticed that I have not posted as much lately until today. Part of the reason has been a busy work schedule (I have things to do today but have been goofing off.) But the other reason has been I've been engrossed with the Tour de France, which has been a classic battle between Alberto Contador, the defending, and 2-time, champion and Andy Schleck, last year's runner-up. It has been, as they say, epic.

Today is a rest day in the Tour and tomorrow is the Queen Stage (the most difficult stage of a multi-day road race, typically involving multiple low- or beyond-category climbs) culminating in a mountaintop finish on the Col de Tourmalet. The Tour is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the inclusion of Pyrenees finishes - where this famous story adds to the mystique:

Back in 1910, the Pyrenees were first added to the Tour de France route, and the Col du Tourmalet was part of the experiment. At the time, the road wasn't much more than a sheep track barely wide enough for a car. (The sheep are still there...). When Octave Lapize, who was some 15 minutes behind the leader, reached the pass of the Tourmalet in great pain and pushing his bike, he saw a group of race officials and yelled “Assassins!” Lapize sucked it up, though, going on to take the stage and the overall title.

If you are ever going to watch a biking race, tomorrow is the one to watch.

Speaking for me only

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    Tourmalet | 5 comments (5 topical)

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    No prediction? (none / 0) (#1)
    by me only on Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 05:49:51 PM EST
    Both Andy and Alberto better not repeat Sunday's mistake or Menchov will sneak past them.

    Bert (none / 0) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 06:14:48 PM EST
    by 2 minutes.

    Parent
    Andy Schleck... (none / 0) (#5)
    by desertswine on Wed Jul 21, 2010 at 09:15:30 PM EST
    "My stomach is full of anger and I will take my revenge."

    What a wonderful quote.

    Le Tour Coverage... (none / 0) (#6)
    by ek hornbeck on Thu Jul 22, 2010 at 05:59:00 AM EST
    at my new digs.

    Andy (none / 0) (#7)
    by Grey on Thu Jul 22, 2010 at 07:01:10 AM EST
    Though I think the Giro was much more interesting this year and, at times, harder than the Tour, it's been a kick-ass three weeks.  I'd like to see Schleck make a bold move today and retake the maillot jaune, but it's going to have to be one hell of a move because Contador is still better than Andy when it comes to time trials.  Really, the time to consolidate was when he was ahead by 41 seconds and bizarrely insisted it was enough buffer to win. Now that he's down by 8, it's going to be much harder.

    Tourmalet | 5 comments (5 topical)

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