Today’s TTT into Blois shaped up exactly as expected, with powerhouse squads Discovery Channel, T-Mobile, and CSC throwing down in hopes of building and early advantage. But CSC, starting last and fighting a vicious chrono duel against The Disco Boys, threw down a little bit too hard; On a right hand bend mere kilos from the line, maillot jaune Dave “Friskie” Zabriskie lost control and went down. CSC regrouped quickly, but the stumble proved two seconds too costly, and it was Discovery for the stage win. Their 57kph rumble put Armstrong back in the fleece, with Gorgeous George 55 seconds back, and Jens Voigt in 3rd.
Not really figuring in the final shakedown was Team Phonak, whose co-leader Floyd Landis, had all but guaranteed victory in last week’s issue of Sports Illustrated. But one guarantee that will probably be better kept is that I’ll get the freakin’ Tour picks posted before the start of the stage tomorrow. Despite some minor technical difficulties, and a few people being expecially in decisisive, I have all the picks in, and will get on posting them ASAP.