REUSSIR BIEN!!!

The tour has been so exciting. Lance and Cadel have never really been contendors and it is Reigning  Spain as it has for the last few years.
The French are also having a great race and I am so happy for them.
Sadly this blog must now come to an end for reasons above human understanding.  I shall remember this race, the country for always as it has brought to my life the greatest memories sweet like summer wine.

Reussir bien, nous ne rencontrerons jamais encore...

Long live Alberto Contador!

LE TOUR EST ARRIVE    

The 'Tour' has arrived, Aberto Contador is causciously optimistic, todays stage will be decisive with 13kms of cobbles and only 6kms to to the end from this point. The Schlecks have been on the tarmac and Cancellera proved that a great leader of the tour dictates how the peloton should race.

He put an end to racing after a dangerous descent, I don't recall anyone ever doing this in recent years and the only other rider that I do remember doing this is Bernard Hinault of France decades back.

Is this deja vu or what? Just the other day I was saying to my wife would it not be marvelous if the French could wear the Mailot Jaune as they have not won the Tour for such a long time. Chavanel may not win the Tour but he sure can hold on to that 'jersey' for at least 10days.

The old dogs like Sastre and Armstrong are in there with a shout but neither will win this year's race.
Cadel can't win this tour either and maybe the only jersey he'll be wearing for a while is the 'rainbow jersey'.

Tony Martin looks good but we will have to see and as always Spain looks to be the strongest.   This tour is going to be a great one.

THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN!

There are only a few hours left to the greatest sporting event in world cycling; Le Tour de France.
We will congregate on mountain, hill, valley, flatlands, over radio, on television, and on world wide web where-ever it is possible to get a glimpse of this unequivocal event, we will shed tears, cheer and debate but most importantly we will get great satisfaction from this marvelous sport.

They say World Cup Soccer brings the World together for 31 days, well, we will not boast for fear of hypocrisy or pride, we will simply say; go to the Tour de France 'yourself' and you will discover that your life has been changed for-ever...Vive le France!

So as this countdown begins it is only fitting to quote the great Henry des Grange at the presentation of the 1906 Tour.

"Through torrid afternooons, entire populations will present themselves before you, their hands raised in applause, their eyes wide open to catch a lasting memory of the battle.
In the evening, as nature slumbers peacefully, tired after the long day, the peasant, burnt by the sun, will falll silent to celebrate your passing.  Then, after the pain, honour will follow. alive again, you will enter Paris in sporting glory.  And later, you will remember your exploits at the Tour de France, and you will be able to say with pride; I was there".

Final Classification of the Giro d’ Italia

The Giro is over, Basso has won, can’t say that I am unhappy about that. The Grand Tour awaits, July is around the corner and the Sunflowers are waiting to bow to the cavalcade soon to thrill us yet again.

Final General Classification

1  Ivan BASSO (LIQ)                      87:44:01

2  David ARROYO DURAN (GCE)                + 1:51

3  Vincenzo NIBALI (LIQ)                   + 2:37

4  Michele SCARPONI (AND)                  + 2:50

5  Cadel EVANS (BMC)                       + 3:27

6  Alexandre VINOKOUROV (AST)              + 7:06

7  Richie PORTE (SAX)                      + 7:22

8  Carlos SASTRE CANDIL (CTT)              + 9:39

9  Marco PINOTTI (THR)                    + 14:20

10 Robert KISERLOVSKI (LIQ)               + 14:51

The Splendour of France

In June, when the winter cold is biting and an opportunity has passed me by, my heart longs for France and its splendour.

When you go there you will understand the sadness that comes over me when I am not there in July.

The liveliness of the Trocadero, the serenity of the Seine, the speed of the Place del a Concorde, the busy-ness of the Champse lyses that meets the solidity of the Arc De Triomphe are just a few icons that greets you in gay-Paris.

The sidewalks are dreamy, and I wouldn’t blame you if you slipped off into one of the cobbled side streets to view the beauty from the loom that brings you world fashion and if you get hungry along the way, you can pop into a lah-di-dah restaurant called l’Abbaye de Theleme and dine in opulence, or just go down the street and order McDonalds.

In the evening when the lights come on take your lover to dine at ‘Le Avenue’ and if you really lucky you might spot Hugh Hefner and the girls there too.

If the glamour is not the thing that lights your fire take a taxi down to Gare de Aurterlitz or even Montparnase and take the SNCF - TGV (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français Trains Grande Vitesse) to Bordeaux, hire a bicycle and taste wine and cheese all day long till the afternoon browns your skin and then lay quietly at night pondering on your exploits of the day.

It is the country of Paris, Tin Tin, Napoleon Bonaparte, St Germaine (the immortal alchemist), Josephine Baker (“Naked at the Feast”), the mighty Louvre, Peugeot and Citroen, sweet wine, a language so fine, its like wiping your ass with silk; and most of all le Grande Boucle; The Tour de France.

I could go on, and tell you about the lady with the fat diamond ring and her pink Château but you get the message so I’ll leave you with this:

I have been to Paris,

I arrived there in the rain…

Have you ever been to Paris?

She has seduced me so.

Now like opium she fills

my veins and it cannot

be undone.

Little cobble streets,

the shimmering Seine,

undisturbed on long, hot summer days.

Cafes rest dreamily on the

sidewalks.

Friendly ladies in heels on

the Velo

and all she is saying

is come play with me!

Its always love in Paris.

Can you just imagine?

If the entire world was in Paris…

What happy bike riders we would be

because love is truly all

We need.

Paris

I love you so

I love you

Dreamy Paris…

My wife doesn’t even know

how I’ve cheated on her with you in

my dreams,

Paris I miss you

so.

Paris, let me see

you once again

My sweet, sweet

Paris.

Giro d' Italia
 
Well after so many days of racing it seems my hopes were built on pigs that do not fly, excuse the phrase.  It seems as always the country that I have been 
supporting all these years still comes to the fore when it 
matters "Spain" viva espana!!!

General Classification after Stage 15
1  David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne)   67:48:42     
2  Richie Porte (Saxo Bank)            + 2:35 
3  Ivan Baso (Liquigas)                + 3:33
4  Carlo Sastre (Cervelo)              + 4:21
5  Cadel Evans (BMC)                   + 4:43
6  Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)       + 5:51
7  Vicenzo Nibali (Liquigas)           + 6:08
8  Michele Scarponi (Androni)          + 6:34
 

Un Vino Veritas!  Giro d' Italia

I am really intending for Alexandre to win this year, he so deserves this win and I 

hope he has made the correct move to be on form this early as the 

Tour de France is still a  

few weeks away.

General Classification after Stage 8
1  Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)          29:01:26
2  Cadel Evans (BMC)                        + 1:12
3  Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)               + 1:33
4  Ivan Basso (Liquigas)                    + 1:51
5  Marco Pinotti (Team HTC-Columbia)        + 2:17
6  Richie Porte (Saxo Bank)                 + 2:26
7  Vladimir Karpets (Katusha)               + 2:34
8  Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone)        + 2:47