 News Letter
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‘In the (Time) Zone'
David Olle, France, +33 66 16 909 87
Tour de France, July 3 - 25, 2010, Report Stage 17
Stage 17 Thursday, July 22 174 km Pau → Col du Tourmalet
Results
1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 5:03:29
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:18
General classification after stage 17
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 83:32:39
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:08
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:03:32
General report:
Andy Schelck vs Alberto Contador, on Tourmalet, the final climb of the final hilltop finish of the 2010 Tour de France, didn't quite produce the fireworks that we all craved, but did show that AC is the best rider in the 2010 tour. Barring mishaps in the ITT Saturday, the tour is his.
Skippy report:
Today we saw Matty Lloyd riding a great race for his team leader Van den Broeck, Stuie O'Grady making himself almost unrecognizable, under the mask of pain, as he towed the CSC train up the first quarter of the Tourmalet, and Cadel drifting backwards as the former went forward. Two out of three ain't bad.
Cuisine report: Local market in Arreau today, fresh Paella (in the Pyrenees we are very close to Spain) purchased at 1pm, after we witnessed the commencement of the cooking at 9am. Prawns, Scampi, mussels, chicken legs and the most delicious rice, two large containers for 20 euros, enough for four, but three of us did it easily.
Tomorrow: Stage 18 Friday, July 23 190 km Salies-de-Béarn → Bordeaux
Two stages, including the Tour's only long time trial, follow the finish on the Tourmalet before the Tour reaches its traditional finish in Paris. The Tour turns northward and passes into the wine-growing regions of Aquitaine and the Gironde. A flat stage running between Sailes-de-Béarn and Bordeaux offers the sprinters a chance to stretch their legs before their big appointment on the Champs Elysées. Bordeux has hosted the Tour on 79 occasions. Only Paris has welcomed the Tour more often. (from steephill.tv)
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.
The Bike Race:
This year's Tour starts in the Netherlands (making that 3 grand tour prologues in a row, for Holland) belts into Belgium, before following a clockwise trace around France, finishing, of course, on the Champs Elysee in Paris. July 3-25, 3,596 kilometres, more than enough for anyone.
The Writer:
David Olle's cycling reports are used byGippsland's 3GG, ABC radio's 774 DRIVE show in Melbourne, ABC radio 702 breakfast show in Sydney, ABC national overnights and 3RRR FM's Breakfasters. He chats regularly with all. He also created and produces the magazine style TV show ‘Topbike TV' which is seen throughout Australia and New Zealand on community televison. The reports are also published here, www.cyclesportnews.com, along with any photos.
These reports are independent, opinionated, Australian biased, and could miss a day here and there, along with containing the odd error and repeating the odd comment. We make no apology for this.
We aim to send these reports daily, while any worthy bike race is on. You have the power to control your interest in these reports, see details below.
We also run good bike tours.
David Olle
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