Team HTC-Columbia (Page 3)

I got my stage 4 (of 7) in yesterday.

Stage 6 was another great day for our Team HTC-Columbia, as Mark Cavendish won again.  Looks like his confidence is back, but not sure if it's too late for the green jersey? 

Recap - July 9.  Stage 6 - 227.5 km Montargis - Gueugnon - Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) left no doubt that he’s back in business, sprinting to his second consecutive stage win of the 2010 Tour de France on Friday. There were no changes in the overall standings — Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara retained his yellow jersey.

The breakaway group of Mathieu Perget of France and Caisse d'Epargne, Sebastian Lang of Germany and Omega Pharma-Lotto and Ruben Perez Moreno of Spain and Euskaltel-Euskadi rides on stage six of the 2010 Tour de France from Montargis to Gueugnon on July 9, 2010 in Montargis, France.

The peloton rides along the 227.5km route from Montargis to Gueugnon in stage six of the Tour de France July 9, 2010 in Gueugnon, France. The last stage before the riders head into the mountains this weekend, stage six is the longest stage in this years Tour.

Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and HTC Columbia sprints for the finish line on stage six and won a consecutive stage.

Recap - July 10.  Stage 7 - 165.5 km Tournus - Station des Rousses - Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) regained the maillot jaune on Saturday after soloing to victory in stage 7 of the Tour de France.  The Frenchman attacked on the final climb of the day and ran down his own teammate — mountains leader Jérôme Pineau, the lone survivor of a daylong break — to win his second stage of the 97th Tour and retake the overall lead, which he lost to Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara on the cobblestones of stage 3.

The peloton rides through the French countryside during stage seven of the 2010 Tour de France from Tournus to Station des Rousses on July 10, 2010 in Station des Rousses, France.

Tour de France, Stage 7: Hincapie puts in a big effort for Cadel Evans. Photo: Graham Watson

Patricia, as usual...great pics!

Got another round in today for a commute.  Took the tri bike instead of the usual commuter with the intention of going for a long ride.  Instead got caught up on the phone regarding a possible new job so had to cut it a bit short.  Will try again Wed.  Hope everyone is doing well, keep it up team!

Personally, I think a ride is a ride.

That was some mountain stage yesterday.  Lance is done, as he acknowledged "This Tour is finished for me. But I am staying in the race. I will work for my team now.”

Recap - July 11.  Stage 8 - 189 km Station des Rousses - Morzine-Avoriaz - As Lance Armstrong suffered one of the worst days of his Tour de France career, Andy Schleck won stage eight in Morzine-Avoriaz while Cadel Evans took the yellow jersey.

The peloton on the road towards Morzine-Avoriaz. Photo: Reuters

Evans crashed 6km into the stage in a pileup that also took down RadioShack leader Lance Armstrong.  He was able to recover and finished sixth on the stage, 10 seconds behind stage winner Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), whom he now leads by 20 seconds and takes the yellow jersey in the process.

Andy Schleck (l) of Luxembourg and Team Saxo Bank outsprints Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez of Spain and Euskaltel - Euskadi to win stage eight of the 2010 Tour de France (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Europe)

Yesterday July 12 was a rest day. Today we head back to the high mountains.

Current standings -

1.EVANS C.  BMC  37h 57' 09"

2.SCHLECK A. SAX 00' 20"

3.CONTADOR A. AST 01' 01"

4.VAN DEN BROECK J. OLO 01' 03"

5.MENCHOV D. RAB 01' 10"

6.HESJEDAL R. GRM 01' 11"

Overall leader Cadel Evans of Australia on a training ride. Arm now all taped up after the crash he suffered en route to winning the yellow jersey.  Photo: AP

Couldn't agree more.  Watching stage 8 right now as Versus can't get their act together and get stage 9 ready for viewing.  Even though I know how it ends I still want to watch!  Oh, and I got another stage in myself.

Stage 5 (of 7) is in the books. 

Glad that everyone is enjoying the tour, posting pix is one of many things about the tour I enjoy.  Well, that was quite a stage yesterday, as Evans lost the yellow jersey, and Contador and Schleck showed they're in a class all by themselves catching the breakaway at the very end.

Recap - July 13.  Stage 9 - 204.5 km Morzine-Avoriaz - Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck traded his white jersey for yellow in the 97th Tour de France on Tuesday as overnight leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) cracked spectacularly on the hors catégorie Col de la Madeleine. Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) took the stage win in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, and an exciting victory it was — Casar was one of four survivors of an 11-man break who saw Schleck and defending champion Alberto Contador (Astana) chase them down in the final kilometer and nearly steal the stage.

The peloton speeds down Saisies pass. Photo: AP

A helicopter hovers over the pack with George Hincapie of the US, front right, Levi Leipheimer of the US, center with golden shoes, Cadel Evans of Australia, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, left of Evans, and Ivan Basso of Italy, rear left, as the riders climb towards Colombiere pass during the 9th stage of the Tour de France.

The pack, with Cadel Evans wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, climbs towards the Colombiere pass. Photo: AP

Cadel Evans (BMC) had a good reason for losing 8:09 in the 204.5km ninth stage Tuesday and saw his yellow jersey dream fade to black: he was racing with a fractured elbow. With his left arm wrapped with physio-tape, Evans succumbed to the cruel reality that he couldn’t follow and could only watch as his hopes to win the Tour faded away. Evans injured his elbow in an early-stage pileup in Sunday’s summit finish to Morzine-Avoriaz, but didn’t realize how serious it was until Monday. He started Tuesday’s stage without sharing the troubling news with teammates and simply hoped for the best.

Photo - Graham Watson

Is the 2010 Tdf going to be won by one of these two? If so, which one will win?

ANDY SCHLECK AND ALBERTO CONTADOR ON STAGE NINE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE Photo: Graham Watson

Of the two, I'd much prefer schleck.  I got another stage done, 18 miles.

Recap - July 14.  Stage 10 - 179 km Chambéry - Gap - Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck easily retained his yellow jersey as Sergio Paulinho (Team RadioShack) won a tame, torrid stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France on Wednesday.

Riders make their way along the 179km Stage 10 of the Tour de France on July 14, 2010 in Gap, France. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images Europe