Ah, there won't be bonuses for the intermediate sprints and stage finishes this year. That I don't like because last year, those who worked hard during some stages were rewarded but they won't this year. Maybe there won't be as many break away.
There will still be just as many breakaways. Winning a stage in the Tour is a lucrative offer, bonus or no bonus toward your overall result. And because sometimes those breakaways succeed, they will keep happening.
I'm very annoyed by the removal of bonuses because last year's King of the Mountain competition was very exciting between Charteau (143 points) and Moreau (128 points). If they didn't have intermediate bonuses Schleck would have won the Polka Dot Jersey because winning a mountain stage gives you lots more points.
Alessandro Petacchi won the Sprint competition because he worked hard and got some of those bonuses otherwise Cavendish would have won and Thor Hushov finished 3rd (also got quite a few bonus points).
Wow, the first stage was won by a French. That's good because it's their big event after all. What I didn't like is the crash around 8km caused by a spectator. I hate those idiots who stand too close to the road. I wish they'd hire me to ride my bike to police the road ahead with a baseball bat so that the idiots would be lying in the ditch unconscious instead of ruining some people's race.
I think what's bigger than Gilbert Philippe winning the race is the fact that Cadel Evens and Franck Schleck have about a minute lead over Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck. This will be a big set back for Contador and will force him to attack in the mountain stages.
the first stage was won by a French.
When one is wearing the Belgium national champion's jersey, you'd assume he'd be Belgian. Still, congratulations to him.
I hate those idiots who stand too close to the road. I wish they'd hire me to ride my bike to police the road ahead with a baseball bat so that the idiots would be lying in the ditch unconscious instead of ruining some people's race.
I'd say that's a tall task, for patrolling about 100 miles of road is hard. Especially on the mountain stages. I'd like to see the idiots removed, but some are funny (remembers the guy who looked like Borat in swimsuit).
Scratch the part I said about Andy Schelck; he finished in the same pack as his brother, giving him 1 minute and 14 seconds advantage over Contador. I'd like to mention the Contador was involved in a second wreck with about 3 K to go. I'd say Contador is screwed at this point, unless he can pull a miracle in the mountains.
Well then this will be good news for you; Contador lost even more time in the team time trial. He's now over a minute and 40 seconds behind Evans and a little under 1'40" to the Schleck brothers. he's in trouble, which I am also happy about. In other news, Thor Hushovd now is wearing the yellow jersey after the team time trial. He'll probably keep it until the Pyrenees. I expect him to be more of a contender for the green, as he always is.
