VS avoiding talking about Vino et al

Liggett and Sherwin are dancing on the pedals of the latest Tour scandal. Although I appreciate their interest in focusing on the race, it feels like they're deliberately avoiding discussing the "Astana situation." There was a protest at the race beginning, but it was barely discussed by the commentators, who said it was a protest for a "clean race."

I am sure it wasn't just Vino who doped. There are people riding today who have done the same thing he allegedly did.

Well, at least the stage does promise to be good.

TOUR SHOCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Vino seems to have pulled a Tyler Hamilton, or at least he's been accused of receiving a blood transfusion of someone else's blood. Very sad day in cycling as this doesn't help the sport. With Rasmussen in the yellow jersey with a cloud over HIS head, you have to hope that this is the last big shocker of the Tour (apart from race results).

Here's one thing I haven't heard discussed: could Vino have received a transfusion after his stage 15 crash? If so, wouldn't that account for the abnormality? Then again, IF that were the case, I expect Astana would have played that card. And why ask the entire team to withdraw from the race? That doesn't seem fair. Was T-Mobile asked to leave because of Sinkewitz? No. Terrible. There's really no consistency in the sport of cycling, and I think that's one of its big problems. Riders are treated differently; teams are treated differently.

Looks like...

Vino will win this stage. I am so happy for him. But the big story were the attacks Contador launched on Chicken Legs on the final climb. Crazy stuff. This is actually an interesting Tour!

Vino attacking on the final climb

Go VINO! Go VINO!
I really hope he gets this stage...poor guy. He's awesome. I love the way he cycles...an attacker... unlike Levi BORINGHEIMER!

Vino in the break...Stage 15

but don't get too excited as there's no way he could gain 28 minutes or so today. Still, it would be nice to see him win a stage, but I am not even sure the peloton will allow that to happen. There's about 70K left, so plenty of time to reel back in an 8:25 minute lead.

Vino said he had no legs yesterday and took a tumble on the mountain as well, which accounts for his poor showing. Poor guy. I really wanted to see him contend for the podium. I'm not sure Kloden can carry the Astana torch.

Is Vino done?

So, as I type this Vino is 5 minutes behind the yellow jersey group, which contains my favorite boring rider, Levi Snoozenheimer. They're going to begin the last climb of the day, and this will be the second mountain top finish. Will Contrador attack? I can't see Levi attacking.

I wish Vino were in this front group, threatening to go off the front. If this is how his Tour is going to end, I can't imagine him retiring at the end of this season.

Back to cycling

I haven't posted anything of substance here (if you consider blogging about the TdF substantial) in a good amount of time, but with today's ITT and my ride, I thought I'd add some text to cyberspace.

First, I was glad to see Vino win the ITT today; I am not sure he can make up enough ground in the remaining seven stages, but Vino is an exciting rider to watch... now, Levi "the next great American cyclist" zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, oh, sorry, fell asleep for a moment... Yes, Vino = exciting; Levi=boring. I really hope Levi doesn't win it; heck, I'd be glad to see Contrador win, but I doubt Bruyneel would give him the protection he'd need to do that. Despite the statements that both are protected riders, you know Levi is going to be given the most opportunity to win the Tour. AC will have his chance in upcoming years.

Second, I took a solo ride - second day in a row - and had a good time except for those terrible crosswinds (hi Bob Roll) and my neck pain. This is the same pinched nerve / neck torture I experienced last year; I get it while running too, so it's not just a cycling thing. It's probably a bad posture thing. Yesterday I put in 17 miles on mostly flat road; today I put in 21 and did a bit of climbing. I also wore my heart monitor. Avg 144 bmp, high of 174. I probably was more at 150 or so for the good part of the ride; coming back through town, I went down to 132, which affected the average certainly. The best part of the ride was hitting 26-27 mph on the rollers. Of course, I have this dread fear that some car, animal, or small child is going to jump in front of me when I'm at that speed. There was one random dog attack. Ok, it wasn't so much of an attack as a golden retriever that spotted me and started to run from his yard straight for me. Luckily i was cruising along at 19mph and by the time he saw me, I was able to get past him. Hitting a dog at 19 mph is bad both for dog and rider.

Well, I'm going to do some reading now and get a shower. Should mow the lawn too, I suppose.