Team HTC-Columbia (Page 5)

Recap - July 18.  Stage 14 - 184.5 km Revel Ax 3 Domaines - France scored its fourth stage win in the 2010 Tour de France on Sunday as Ag2r’s Christophe Riblon was the last survivor of a day-long break and held off a group of GC contenders on the mountaintop finish at Ax-3 Domaines.

The favorites engaged in a tactical battle on the final climb, but in the end there were no changes at the top at the standings — despite several attacks, Alberto Contador (Astana) was unable to drop race leader Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank). In the battle for the third spot on the podium, Samuel Sanchez was able to rein in a late attack by Denis Menchov and the two finished at the same, taking about 15 seconds back from Contador and Schleck.

Cyclists ride the course of Stage 14 of the Tour de France, the first stage to enter the Pyrenees, on July 18, 2010 in Ax 3 Domaines, France. The 184.5km course from Revel features some of the toughest climbs so far in the race including the Port de Pailhères, which at 15.5 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.9% and higher   Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images Europe

Alberto Contador of Spain is reflected in the sunglasses of Egoi Martinez of Spain. Photo: AP

Pack ride past sunflowers and 14th stage AFP/Getty Images

Got in another stage today.  Missed yesterdays stage of the TDF but got the full update from Patricia, thanks Patricia!!  Looking forward to watching today's stage, heard there was lots o drama.

Another stage, another controversy, more drama.  Who needs soap opera and reality TV when you have TdF?!

Recap - July 19.  Stage 15 - 187 km Pamiers to Bagnères du Luchon - An untimely dropped chain cost Andy Schleck the yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Monday, as the Luxembourger gave up the race lead to Alberto Contador.

On the final climb, the hors categorie Port de Balès, Schleck and his Saxo Bank team had whittled the lead group down to just the five GC leaders, when, just 3km from the summit, Schleck suffered his mechanical. Contador, Samuel Sanchez and Denis Menchov sped off. Sanchez led the dare-devil 21km descent and the three finished with enough gap for the defending champ to take the lead by about 8 seconds.

Up front, French national champion Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Telecom) scored a fifth stage win for this country in this edition of the Tour, surviving out of a long breakaway.   Afterwards Schleck hit out immediately at Contador for not showing “fair play.”  Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Radioshack) finished 16th to move into 10th spot overall.

The Grotto de Azil. Photo: Graham Watson

Can't wait to watch it tonight.

Andy Schleck (R) looks at his chain as he rides with Spain's Alberto Contador (2ndL), Belgium's Jurgen Van den Broeck (L) and Kazakh's Alexandre Vinokourov (C) in stage 15. Photo: AFP

Crowds in stage 15 - SANCHEZ S. (EUS) - MENCHOV D. (RAB) - CONTADOR A. (AST).  Photo ASO/B.Bade

Descent into controversy . . . Alberto Contador (C) speeds down Port de Bales with Russia's Denis Menchov (L) and Spain's Samuel Sanchez. Photo: AFP

We need a recount!!   Got another stage in but skipped my cardio workout to study for an interview tomorrow.  Planning on a descent ride tomorrow afternoon though.

I got one in tonight as well.  Just a friendly competition question - I noticed on a couple of teams that have people with original goals listed who haven't done anything, are not included in the overall calculations.  Should we be raising a red flag?

All my stages and minutes are in!

Recap - July 20.  Stage 16 - 199.5 km Pamiers to Bagnères du Luchon - Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) gave France its sixth stage victory of the 2010 Tour de France on Tuesday.  Fedrigo was in a nine-man chase that reeled in breakaway Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) with 1km to go in the 199.5km stage from Bagnères de Luchon to Pau. That group contained RadioShack teammates Lance Armstrong and Chris Horner — and though the seven-time Tour champ took his best shot in the sprint to the line, he couldn’t match the speed of Fedrigo, who took the victory ahead of Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) with Ruben Plaza (Caisse d’Epargne) third.

After Tuesday’s fracas on the Port de Balès, the rivals for the overall seemed content to reserve their aggression for Thursday, when the peloton will tackle the stage from Pau to the hors categorie Col du Tourmalet. Yellow jersey Alberto Contador (Astana), white jersey Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and the rest of the favorites crossed with the peloton at just under seven minutes behind.

Tuesday's stage is almost identical to that won by as Eddy Merckx back in 1969. He was victorious after a 180km breakaway and went on to win the first of his five Tours.   Christophe Ena/AP

Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador buried the hatchet over Monday’s controversial chain-drop, but promise to fight to the death up the Col du Tourmalet on Thursday.

“Yesterday Alberto spoke with me, and he apologized,” Schleck said. “He said (attacking the race leader during a mechanical problem) was the wrong decision, but it’s hard to make a decision in these moments. I’m not angry anymore. That case is closed for me, and it should be for other people as well. I don’t like it when fans boo at Alberto, and yesterday I told every TV station that I spoke with that to get the message across. He’s a big champion, and for me, the case is closed. End of story.”  

“I shouldn’t complain. If Alberto hadn’t waited for me on the second stage (to Spa) where I crashed, I wouldn’t have been in position to fight for this yellow jersey right now.” 

Schleck and Contador are rare in that they are good friends off the bike but bitter rivals during the race.

Schleck and Contador hugged each other behind the podium presentation following the close of Tuesday’s stage and say that their friendship is intact despite the hubbub of Contador’s actions on the Port de Balès.  ASO/B.Bade

A group of riders cycles past cycling fan Dieter "Didi" Senft, dressed in a devil costume. Photo: Reuters

Logged stage 7 yesterday.  Woohoo!