The Tour Day 21

Don’t mess with Texas. Lance Armstrong took this motto to heart when he chased down Filippo Simeoni early in today’s stage. Simeoni was trying to join a six man breakaway. The animosity between the two riders has grown from a July 2003 article in the French newspaper Le Monde. In it, Armstrong called Simeoni a liar. Simeoni countered by suing Armstrong for defamation of character. And it all has to do, once again, with the issue of doping.

In stage nine of this year’s tour, Simeoni was in a successful breakaway attempt with Ingio Landaluze that was caught just meters from the finish line by Robbie McEwen. After the stage, Simeoni told the press that he attacked as a point of pride but he had “anger and a desire for revenge in my heart.”

Today, Simeone broke from the peloton to join the breakaway that had about a two minute lead. Armstrong chased him down and joined the breakaway, then paced them for around ten kilometers. One of the riders asked him to go back to the peloton to give the breakaway a chance. Armstrong replied that he would go back if Simeoni went back. The riders in the break spoke to Simeoni and he had no choice but to sit up and let them go on.

After today’s stage, Armstrong stated that when he went back to the peloton, many riders thanked him for trying to protect the sport of cycling. He blamed the press for only getting part of the story, and Simeone from trying to destroy cycling, the sport that pays him.

The breakaway extended their lead on the peloton to around eleven minutes. Juan Miguel Mercado of Quick Step-Davitamon outsprinted Jose Garcia Acosta of Illes Baleras-Banesto for the stage win. Thor Hushovd of Credit Agricole outsprinted Robbie McEwen of Lotto Domo for “best of the rest” sprint points. The battle for the green jersey will be continued on the last stage Sunday, in Paris. The battle for the White may be decided tomorrow in the time trial.

Phil Liggett reported in today’s commentary that Team CSC Michele Bartoli’s abandon during yesterday’s stage was because CSC’s Team Director Riis told him to return to the peloton to help Ivan Basso. Bartoli was part of a breakaway when the direction came. When he got back Riis put him in front to pull. Bartoli abandoned at the feed zone, throwing his bike in the ditch in disgust. I have to admit that Bjarne Riis’s tactics in this tour are puzzling at best.

Tomorrow is an individual time trial stage that, barring any accidents or sickness for Armstrong, will decide second and third podium place. I’m pulling for Jan Ullrich. I hope he rides a fabulous time trial and can secure a podium position for himself.

All 147 riders started and completed today’s stage. No change in the GC.

No “Meow Corner” entry today because, well, see above.

Today’s Tune to the Tour contest word is “Peloton”.

CKS/bl Tridiot Rating was accused of doping when someone noticed yesterday’s low score. The CKS/bl Tridiot Rating denies the allegation and suggests that unless the accuser has proof, he should shut his big fat mouth. Besides, today’s CKS/bl Tridiot Rating comes in at a hefty 125.89% so if the CKS/bl Tridiot Rating were doping, all I can say is, it needs better dope.