The Tour, Day 3

High puffy clouds, blue skies, dry road conditions and another relatively flat stage this last day in Belgium had all the makings of a fairly boring race day until the sprint finish. This early in the Tour one can’t expect the big names to be attacking the breakaways. Even so, I hauled out of bed at six friggin’ thirty for the pre-race show.

I was all set to dislike Al Trautwein as a commentator before the Tour began. He hosted the “Lance Five Battles Won” show and I thought his delivery was too quick and his demeanor too excitable. I’ve changed my mind over the last few days to find he and Bob Roll present an entertaining and informative pre-race half hour. The jury is still out on the Cutters, I want to like them but to be honest their youthful exuberance probably plays better to a younger crowd.

Today’s race had a surprising number of crashes both early on and in the sprint finish. I don’t remember last year that once the race got going there was so many guys going down. Man I hate seeing those guys crash. It does give some excitement to the race though. Today’s big loser was Mario Cippolini, who lost his lead out man in a nasty crash about half way through today’s course. Cipo finished tenth in today’s race. I hope at some point during this year’s tour we have a chance to see Petacchi and Cippolini sprint for a stage win.

Fasso Bortolo disappointed again today. I have to wonder if their unbeatable stratgy in the Giro was unveiled too soon, so the teams in the Tour were able to anticipate their moves and thwart them. Or, is it just that the Tour de France teams are better riders than those in the Giro? Ah well, speculation never got me anywhere.

I had a hard time wrapping my head around this sport last year because of the way individual riders and teams are scored, and the fact that it’s a team sport with one winner. The rules are complicated, team strategy changes not only from day to day, but during the actual race. Technology now allows the riders to be in radio contact with their team managers. The managers are connected as well to race radio, so if a key rider crashes, or has a mechanical incident, all the team leaders know about it immediately. Despite all this, riders can expend energy too soon, take on too little fuel or water during the race, make strategic errors, lose a key man in a crash, so those you might think have the best chances and are the best trained are facing the same odds as every other rider, even with the advanced technology present in today’s sport.

Warning: DIgression paragraph dead ahead.

I have to interject a female perspective here. (No, not about how well spandex looks on healthy young men. What, you think that’s the only reason I watch? You did? Well, have you seen, I mean really looked….nevermind) What I wanted to say before you so rudely interrupted is this. Have you ever thought that some of these guys who happen upon the stage winner’s podium look like they need a haircut? I mean come on, how long does a haircut take? Don’t these teams have a team barber? Now the point. Yes, I have a point. Little Oblio is the only one ever who didn’t have a point. Lance, in addition to being a superb athlete, is always well groomed. He’s not what I’d call a snappy dresser, although he always looks neat and tidy when not in his strip. To me, he’s the sign of a guy who takes his profession seriously.

DIgression paragraph concluded. Resume normal reading activity.

Alright, enough already. Tomorrow the Tour leaves Belgium and crosses over into France. I’ve heard estimates that on some stages of this year’s tour there will be a million people. A Million People! Also, I’m back to work tomorrow but I’m hoping it’ll slow down enough in the late afternoon for me to continue to bring you these fascinating insights of the 2004 Tour de France on a daily basis. Must see stage this week is Wednesday, the team time trial.

Today’s spoiler:
Thor Hushovd was today’s stage winner, and he deserved it. He’s the first ever Norwegian race leader in the Tour. Congratulations, Thor.

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

CKS/bl Tridiot rating: an amazing 99, same number as there are bottles of beer on the wall.