‘In the (Time) Zone'
David Olle, France, +33 66 16 909 87

Tour de France, July 3 - 25, 2010, Report stage 11
Stage 11    Thursday, July 15    180 km     Sisteron → Bourg-les-Valence

results:
1      Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia      4:42:29      
2     Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini           
3     Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions

General classification after stage 11 #     
1     Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank     53:43:25     
2     Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana     0:00:41     
3     Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi     0:02:45

General report
Mark Renshaw was protecting his position on the front of the bunch, keeping eventual stage winner Mark Cavendish on his wheel, with about 500metres to go.  And yes he may have nodded in the direction of the guy trying to push him into the fence (NZ's Julian Dean), but I keep reiterating, if anyone thinks that's a headbutt, they need do no more than walk into any bar in Glasgow on a Friday night, and yell ‘All scots are poofs' to find out the difference.  Mark Renshaw has been unfairly kicked out of the race.

Skippy report:  No Skips in the break today (again) we are really missing Simon Gerrans at this stage of the race.  

Offence report:  Yesterday I managed to offend only one thin-skinned cycling fan, versus 20 thin-skinned AFL Tiger fans... c'est la vie!

Cuisine report:  Petit Dejeuner:  Crème fraiche, fresh baguettes, coffee, orange juice, home-made jams, toasted baguettes, more coffee, L'Equipe.  Hotel De l'Orange courtyard, Sommieres (Provence).  http://twitpic.com/25izfg

Tomorrow:  Stage 12    Friday, July 16    210 km     Bourge-de-Peage → Mende
The bumpy parcourse, between Bourg-de-Péage and Mende, which traverses the Suc de Montivernoux climb, is open to a breakaway winner, as we wind up the second week and head to the Pyrenees.

‘In the (Time) Zone'
David Olle, France, +33 66 16 909 87

Tour de France, July 3 - 25, 2010, Report stage 9
Stage 9, Tuesday, July 13    204 km     Morzine-Avoriaz → La Toussuire
Results
1     Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux     5:38:10     
2     Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           
3     Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

General classification
1     Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank     43:35:41     
2     Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana     0:00:41     
3     Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi     0:02:45     
14     Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia     0:07:04     
18     Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team     0:07:45

General report
it only takes one bad day, and a race can be over, ask Lance Armstrong (Sunday), and today, Cadel Evans.  Cadel looked in trouble on the Col de Maddeleine, so the hitters ie Schelck & Contador, gave it full throttle, and put some time into the ‘hurters'...  it was grim to watch.  Cadel lost 8 minutes.  With the race being on it's halfway point tomorrow, it will be hard to come back from this postion.  

Skippy report:  A twitter from Mark Renshaw, two days ago:  Race finish 1830,hotel 2015, massage 2030, ostio 2130,dinner 2200, L'equipe interview 2230, sleeping 2330, drugtesting 0645... Need more zzz

And today, from Robbie McE wen:  Just to make todays tough day that bit harder-730am wake up call for UCI blood control. I need the extra sleep & blood but they rob me of it

Cuisine report:  Last night, at our hotel in Les Gets, Canard, again, but not Magret, ‘twas the leg, and it had a different name (that eludes me now).   Accompanied by excellent Patate al forno, and followed by Pannacotta.  It just keeps getting better.

Tomorrow:  Stage 10    Wednesday, July 14    179 km     Chambery → Gap
The final stage in the Alps runs over bumpy terrain between Chambèry and Gap, and includes two categorized climbs, the Côte de Laffrey and the Col du Noyer. It's a descending finish to Gap over small and sinuous roads. Though the climbing is less severe, this stage offers an invitation to risk. Gap has hosted stage finishes on 19 occasions its winners including Gémiani, Nencini, Bernard, and Vinokourov. (from steephill.tv)  But tomorrow is Bastille day, expect a few Frenchmen to go for glory!

‘In the (Time) Zone'
David Olle, France, +33 66 16 909 87

Tour de France, July 3 - 25, 2010, Report stage 8
Stage 8    Sunday, July 11    189 km     Station des Rousses → Morzine-Avoriaz

Results
1      Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank      4:54:11      
2     Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi           
3     Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank     0:00:10     

General classification
1      Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team      37:57:09      
2     Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank     0:00:20     
3     Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana     0:01:01

Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, Holland's Robert Gesink, Spain's Alberto Contador and Russia's Denis Menchov are all riding well and have had a good week.  Cadel has had a better one.  He now leads the world's biggest bike race.  Can he win it?  Just keep watching for the next two weeks!

Lance report:  The end of an era.  Lance lost more than eleven minutes today.  After the cobbled stage, where he lost two minutes, he said ‘some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail, I've been the hammer, today I was the nail'.  Today he was nailed, well and truly.  I think we can write the old dog off now.  His 7 year run of good luck has come to an end.  Photos of his being held up at the Les Gets KOM here:  http://www.twitpic.com/24f8l0, http://www.twitpic.com/24f9vd, http://www.twitpic.com/24fahn, http://www.twitpic.com/24faxg

Skippy report:  Well, after Webber won the Formula 1, Cadel took the lead in the Tour de France.  Pity we're not in tonight's world cup.

Cuisine report:  Spent the afternoon in Hotel Boomerang (Les Gets) drinking beer and eating chips, watching the bike race go by, and then on the telly.

Tomorrow:  Rest day    Monday, July 12         Rest day in Morzine-Avoriaz
For those in Australia, SBS shows a daily report on the Tour de France, along with many stages broadcast live, catch them if you can.  
Not forgetting our own Topbike TV on digital channel 44, check your local guide for details.