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

Tour de France, July 3 - 25, 2010, Report stage 14
Stage 14    Sunday, July 18    184 km     Revel → Ax-3 Domaines

Results
1      Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale      4:52:42      
2     Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank     0:00:54     
3     Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

General classification after stage 14
1     Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank     68:02:30     
2     Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana     0:00:31     
3     Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi     0:02:31

General report
Ah, the Pyrenees, at last, it's cool and green.  Schelck and Contador went toe to toe today, and the time gap remained the same.  The next two mountain stages have valley finishes with Thursday's hilltop finish a grand finale and ultimate decider.  3 more stages here (and a rest day) in the Pyrenees to witness the Schelck - Contador face off that will decide the winner of this year's tour.  Schleck will need to improve on his 31 second lead at some time, before next Saturday's Individual Time Trial, as it is unlikely he can keep close to Alberto over the long, flat 50k parcourse around Bordeaux.  

Lance report:  Lance Armstrong, among the first to fall off the back of the bunch, with 35km to go.  Will he get ‘gifted' a stage win in the final week?  Unlikely, due to the rivalries he has in the pro-peloton.

Skippy report:   It's a tough year for the Aussies at Le Tour.  Remember the GIRO!

Cuisine report: Duck, again, 3rd time at TdF, and there's still a week to go...  Michelin rated restaurant here in the Pyrenees  http://www.twitpic.com/26if7z  http://www.twitpic.com/25ts4h Chateau de Camon.

Ride report:  http://www.twitpic.com/26icif Karen Benoit (Gympie) Morning ride, just south of Revel, midi Pyrenees, France

Tomorrow:  Stage 15    Monday, July 19    187 km     Pamiers → Bagneres-de-Luchon
The second Pyrénéen stage mixes the old and the new with a course running between the new stage city of Pamiers and Bagnères-de-Luchon, which has hosted the Tour on 50 occasions.  Two of the Originals from the 1910 Tour appear in the this stage: Col du Portet d'Aspet and Col des Ares.  The Porte de Balès, first added to the Tour in 2007, rises to 1755 meters over 19.2 kilometers and provides the final climb of the day before the course drops precipitously to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon.  (from steephill.tv)