Thanks for all of the work you have done for this year's TdF.
I followed all the threads. Just been too busy to get a word in.
Big yellow jersey for you.
12:57 - Prize Category Summary: Yellow Jersey
The stage to the col du Tourmalet confirmed the dominance of the riders in first and second overall in the 2010 Tour. Andy Schleck was unable to gain any time on his main rival, the defending champion and race leader Alberto Contador. But the two increased their buffer over those in third and fourth overall. Samuel Sanchez crashed early in the stage yesterday but finished fifth. He lost 1’32” to the yellow jersey and is now 3’32” behind the GC leader.
12:58 - Prize Category Summary: Green Jersey
This is the classification that is likely to dictate how stage 18 is raced. There are two intermediate sprints – in Castelnau-Chalosse (29.5km) and Hostens (150.5km) – and then a good dose of points are on offer in Bordeaux. There’s no climb on the course and the consensus is that it should be a day for the sprinters, but Robbie McEwen said, “It’s one of those days that, on paper, everyone thinks is a day for the sprinters it has to be controlled so everything so it all comes together.”
12:58 - Green Jersey [Continued….]
“There’ll be two teams that will want to bring it together for a sprint to get the points: HTC and Lampre,” said McEwen earlier today. “Cervelo will NOT want it to come down to that… and there’ll be plenty of teams on the attack.” Lampre has the most motivation because Petacchi needs only four points to take back the green jersey that is worn by the winner of stage three, Thor Hushovd.”
13:03 - Prize Category Summary: Polka-Dot Jersey
Anthony Charteau (BTL) has an unbeatable lead in the mountains classification with the 143 points he’s collected during the first 17 stages. Second is compatriot Christophe Moreau (GCE) who has 128 points. Today is effectively a day off for Charteau who will wear the polka-dot jersey for the eighth day in the 2010 Tour;l there are no climbs and all he has to do is make it to Paris and he’ll stand on the podium as the King of the Mountains of the 97th Tour.