I agree that tactics were a part of Lance giving up the yellow jersey today. He even slipped in his post-race interview. He said he thought that today would be the day that he "would give up the yellow jersey--I mean lose the yellow jersey." my thought is that disco was getting fatigued by defending the jersey this early. this was evident yesterday by the team unable to help Lance fend off the attacks. I thought he did a good job of preventing any big breakaways from Vino or Ullrich or Basso. He did play defense as he did not try to put time between himself and the others--not without support. But today, he knew that Voigts will not be a GC contender and let him go and take the jersey. now Lance will let CSC keep pace for awhile until he can definitively take the yellow back--probably late Alpine/early Pyrennes. This will take him into the time trial with good wiggle room.
Another unrelated question. Who was the rider that US Postal and Lance would not let get into any breakaways last year? Is he in this year's race?
"Another unrelated question. Who was the rider that US Postal and Lance would not let get into any breakaways last year? Is he in this year's race?"
Paolo Bettini, wasn't it? And, I don't think so, haven't seen him anyway.