Laurent Fignon was desperately trying not to say too much about Schumacher's performance today. To paraphrase:

"That's... remarkable. 33 seconds more than Cancellara. That's... a lot better than he's ever done before... that's... well, Cancellara didn't have a great day... but... "

Followed by rapid looking-up in the studio of past performances in time trials. It all seemed depressingly familiar. I hope it isn't.

Cadel Evans was likeably bumbling in his post-race interview, especially as Valverde was finishing as he was being interviewed live, and he was trying to convert French times into English in his head.

I don't know what you get on Eurosport, but we get lots of interesting backstage stuff, like the weights of specific riders' bikes, average weights, why time trial bikes are heavier, the lightest bike, interviews with the guys making sure the bikes conform to regulations (and close-ups of their little measuring devices to make sure riders' arm joints aren't opened more than 120 degrees)... the news that Cancellara would be using a 54x11 bracket... and so on...

And already, the "cleanest ever" TdF has a rider in third place who's come back after serving a ban for EPO. He's British, of course, so we'll forgive that then ...

Did anyone see Le Blaireau confirm his reputation as a hard-man after yesterday's stage, when that protestor leapt onto the presentation platform?

While security men gawped, Bernard was in there like a shot, and sent him sprawling off the platform with a shove the average prop-forward would've been proud of.

Rogin the Armchair Fan wrote:

QUOTE:
And already, the "cleanest ever" TdF has a rider in third place who's come back after serving a ban for EPO. He's British, of course, so we'll forgive that then ...

Yes, I'm sure he was Scottish when he was caught ...

Usually I can't give a toss in the first few stages but I've found every stage totally engrossing so far. Valverde's last minute sprint in the first stage. The inevitable grinding down of the break-away in the second stage, the successful break-away in the third stage and then a very surprising and entertaining time-trial today.

Add to this the fact the peleton has been torn into bits in almost every stage due to crashes and the general intense pace they're going, means there's been far more action than you'd normally expect in the early stages of TdF.

Of course there are no big names and nobody is really looking that good but for the sheer unpredictable carnage alone of the opening stages, this is looking like it'll be a dramatic and very watchable Tour.

One question, does Millar have a chance? I can't stand the arrogant twat but I seem to remember him being adequate in the mountains, certainly good enough to hang in there.

I'm no expert, by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think he has enough of a gap on the real mountain men to make a mark on GC.

Nobody on Eurosport gave him much hope today.

It's strange, the Portuguese commentators on Eurosport were really bigging him up today as a contender who is looking more composed than Cadel Evans, who they were all saying would win the Tour during the first stage.

Schumacher's a great, great rider. He's got a pretty good rep on cleanliness, and while he's never shown particular TT prowess before, it's not outrageous for a guy of his riding profile.

Bear in mind, also, Cancellara is (a) focussing all his training on the Olympic TT so is not in ideal shape and (b) apparently spent rather a lot longer toying with the idea of also doing the Olympic Pursuit than was let on, also affecting his training schedule...

QUOTE:
One question, does Millar have a chance? I can't stand the arrogant twat but I seem to remember him being adequate in the mountains, certainly good enough to hang in there.

I very much doubt it. He's after a day or two in yellow. His climbing ability is not going to be good enough. He'll do well enough to hang in the race but not to win it. I agree with Toro regarding Schumacher.
Cavendish seems a real surly so and so though doesn't he? He's won a couple of stages in the giro and he's good on the track but he treats journalists and team mates like he's some sort of bike-diva. He's got a fair bit to prove.

QUOTE:
He's got a pretty good rep on cleanliness,

What does this mean? That he hasn't been caught yet?

Remind me what was the name of the nice Mennonite boy who couldn't possibly have been cheating?

Kim Kirchen is looking good in green, he can also climb quite well. He came second on the stage last year when Vinokourov put in the amaaaazing solo ride (completely drug assisted).

It's the golden age of Luxembourgois cycling, innit?

Charly Gaul would be proud.

Bafflin, have you picked up the L'Equipe "Legendes" special issue on Hinault? It looks the business.

The RAI commentary is quite poor and ridiculously biased, btw. Eurosport with Kelly is better, but I really miss the obsessive levels of the France 2/France 3 stuff that you get (and which I was able to catch in Switzerland over the weekend).

Question:

I notice that Lemond was an official guest of the Tour, the other day. I didn't know if maybe he was a bit of a persona non grata these days, for insisting that Armstrong was using drugs:

http://www.mywire.com/pubs/AFP/2004/07/16/508276?extID=10037&oliID=229

...and for the follow-up accusations:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=060625151133.h15qwb4a&show_article=1

http://bikehugger.com/2007/05/lemond_drops_a_bomb.htm

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/jun06/jun26news (Scroll down a little.)


However, what I'm really interested in is if - given this is a 'renegade' tour, this year - Lemond was made an official guest before Armstrong was (so as to send some kind of message, maybe) or if they were given equal billing as guests. I just didn't see or hear mention of Armstrong before Lemond's presence got picked up on by our media.

Politics, politics!

********* SPOILER ALERT **********

Woo-hoo! A Manx win!

QUOTE:
He's got a pretty good rep on cleanliness

Actually I don't think he has. He was suspected of doping before and was cleared.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/08/sports/tour.php

I haven't seen the highlights from today, but good news about Cavendish. Or is it? I saw him interviewed the other day and the bloke seems a right wanker.