‘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!