On VeloCenter extra yesterday they interviewed a SRAM rep who gave the companies version of what happened: cross-chain chainsuck. Apparently when Andy attacked he was in a 38x12 (!!!!!). The rep implied the 12 was the smallest cog. He also implied this was an unusual gear selection for the terrain and the attack. This goes along with what the SAXO mechanics implied (no issue with equipment malfunction) after the stage before they smartened up and zipped up.

I tried to reach Mr. Van P through the usual channels, but I suspect he to is also climbing a steep hill (in a 39x11!!!!)

The link is here: http://video.competitor.com/2010/07/cycling/velocenter-tdf-stage-19-extra/

The interview is in the second half of the show.

Hard to know what to make of this story at  cyclingnews.

Is it possible he's had too many cookies? Or have the French failed to push his case ala Shumi?

I suspect the other shoe may be dropping soon, but with that spanish federation you never know.

Have I hit 75 yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet?yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? yet? YES!

I aspirated a small amount of french roast when I read this on cyclingnews today.....

'For now, the decision to ride the Tour is on the back burner as Armstrong prepares for an early start to his 2009 campaign and a possible challenge in the Spring Classics. "I am going to Italy [Giro], Tour of Flanders, all the classics of cycling [except Roubaix], Tour of California, Criterium International, Circuit de la Sarthe, but I don't want it to appear as if we are playing games with them [Tour organizers] or the fans. It is simply not a decision we are ready to make,” he added."

Hmm..

Apparently to the successor of HealthNet. Rory Sutherland has already committed to the new sponsor (yet to be announced). No confirmation from Floyd or HealthNet yet. CN has it all. Link HERE 

UPDATE: Chris here... Am I the only one who worries that Gavia wasn't joking when she said Ullrich was coming back too? Can Indurain, Delgado and LeMond be far behind? 2009 might be the most interesting year in a long, long time.

Maybe it's me....(seriously it could be) Maybe its the pressure of the yellow jersey, but Cadel strikes me as someone who doesn't interact well with the rest of the world.

I've never been a real fan; he always has an excuse and a whine to back it up. Lately I cringe when he's interviewed and I find myself hoping he seems normal....but he just keeps getting weirder.

Check out the "i'll cut your head off" video (thanks cycleto). You can also see a rather bizarre pic of him with his dog on the cycleto site.

It was a long shot but....the verdict is in

http://velonews.com/article/75891/cas-suspends-petacchi

Same one that Cozza passed on to Tyler. JV reported this on VN (I think that is where I read it).

Does this guy have the worst luck or what?
Not so sure I'd put him on the Tour team or even the Giro team. Nevermind the VDS at 10 points!

(For some reason I was unable to post this in the stage three wrap).

The sprinter Justin Gatlin was suspended for failing a drug test. Not exactly big news. But the arbitration ruling went 2-1 in favor of suspension. Nah, I thought, it couldn't be.....but it was. Mr. Chris Campbell sided for the defense (as he was for Tyler and Floyd).

Kinda makes the process seem even less impartial doesn't it?