5:30am - Today is the last mountain (well, hill
actually) stage and
runs 189k from Albi to Mende. Time is running
out for anyone to make a
big mark on the peloton. It's another gorgeous
day in the 80s.
Correction from yesterday: Discovery leads the
team competition, with
T-Mobile 37" behind.
There is a ten-man breakaway 8'15" ahead of the
peloton.
6:00am - Gap is 12'. No one in the breakaway
is near the top ten in the
overall GC. 67k to go.
6:30am - Gap is 12'30". They're all headed up the first CAT 2 climb.
7:00am - Gap is 14'24". Kessler from T-Mobile
is in the front of the
breakaway, so they may snatch back the team lead
since there are no
riders from TDC in that group.
7:30am - NAKED GUY!!! There's a NAKED GUY, wearing
nothing but a yellow
umbrella hat, running alongside the guys in the
breakaway! HAAAAAA!
7:55am - Marcos Serrano (LSW) wins the stage.
Not a lot of attacks today. No crashes, which
may be a first. It does
seem like there are more people lining the route
every day. Tons of
Americans cheering Lance. The crowds are massive!
Undulating stage tomorrow with a few climbs, including
one CAT 2. Then
the ITT on Saturday, and on to Paris on Sunday.
GO LANCE!