Killer on the Prowl?

Today's stage, with its mountain-top finish, was billed as the first stage with significant GC implications. While not as decisive as the 3 TTs and two monster mountain stages to come in the second half, this was supposed to be the stage where those who are serious about going for the pink jersey played their first cards. What did we learn? We learnt that the Killer (Di Luca) and the Cobra (Ricco) are on the hunt for pink. We also learnt that Contador is interested in having a go at it too. All three were in the first chase group, though Di Luca dropped Contador with ease in the final km, while Ricco stayed glued to his wheel. Kloden, Menchov, Simoni, Leipheimer and the Sorensens were all about 50 seconds further back. Noone really lost big time today and nobody declared themselves the man to beat either, but the list of real contenders for the overall title is starting to become a little clearer.

Over in the FGBC Pool, Grande Latte Enema takes the stage with 250 points courtesy of Cardenas, Di Luca, Bruseghin, Savoldelli, and Simoni. James was just complaining to me yesterday about how poorly he was doing. I told him not to worry, and reassured him that it wasn't time to worry yet. I suspect those guys will likely rack up quite a few more points before we're through. Gasoline and Frozen Orange Juice grabs second place with 225 points and, more importantly, jumps into second place overall. A Predator Posing as a House Pet was third, with 205 points. Watch out for King Andy. Listen Up Maggots, extends its stranglehold on the pink jersey. They currently hold a 43 point lead over Gasoline and Frozen Orange Juice. Tonight We Make Soap and You Are Not a Beautiful or Unique Snowflake are 110 and 112 points back, respectively.

Watch the Killer's attack:



Top 20:

1 BOSISIO Gabriele ITA LPR 4:45:05 0:00 26"
2 KIRYIENKA Vasil BLR TCS 4:45:51 0:46 12"
3 SELLA Emanuele ITA CSF 4:46:07 1:02 8" Maglia Verde
4 CARDENAS Felix Rafael COL BAR 4:46:38 1:33 2"
5 DI LUCA Danilo ITA LPR 4:47:09 2:04
6 RICCO' Riccardo ITA SDV 4:47:09 2:04
7 PIEPOLI Leonardo ITA SDV 4:47:12 2:07
8 CONTADOR Alberto ESP AST 4:47:15 2:10
9 REBELLIN Davide ITA GST 4:48:00 2:55
10 PELLIZOTTI Franco ITA LIQ 4:48:00 2:55
11 KLODEN Andreas GER AST 4:48:00 2:55
12 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin ESP GCE 4:48:00 2:55
13 MENCHOV Denis RUS RAB 4:48:00 2:55
14 BRUSEGHIN Marzio ITA LAM 4:48:00 2:55
15 SORENSEN Chris DEN CSC 4:48:00 2:55
16 SAVOLDELLI Paolo ITA LPR 4:48:00 2:55
17 SIMONI Gilberto ITA SDA 4:48:00 2:55
18 LEIPHEIMER Levi USA AST 4:48:00 2:55
19 VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen BEL SIL 4:48:00 2:55
20 SORENSEN Nicki DEN CSC 4:48:00 2:55


GC after stage 7:

1 VISCONTI Giovanni ITA QST 32:03:01 Maglia Rosa
2 RUSS Matthias GER GST 32:03:10 0:09
3 BOSISIO Gabriele ITA LPR 32:08:44 5:43
4 DI LUCA Danilo ITA LPR 32:10:28 7:27
5 SELLA Emanuele ITA CSF 32:10:37 7:36
6 CARDENAS Felix Rafael COL BAR 32:10:47 7:46
7 RICCO' Riccardo ITA SDV 32:10:54 7:53
8 NARDELLO Daniele ITA SDA 32:10:54 7:53
9 CONTADOR Alberto ESP AST 32:10:57 7:56
10 PELLIZOTTI Franco ITA LIQ 32:11:12 8:11
11 NIBALI Vincenzo ITA LIQ 32:11:20 8:19
12 SORENSEN Nicki DEN CSC 32:11:29 8:28
13 SAVOLDELLI Paolo ITA LPR 32:11:31 8:30
14 PIEPOLI Leonardo ITA SDV 32:11:39 8:38
15 LARSSON Gustav Erik SWE CSC 32:11:40 8:39
16 KLODEN Andreas GER AST 32:11:40 8:39
17 REBELLIN Davide ITA GST 32:11:49 8:48
18 SORENSEN Chris DEN CSC 32:11:56 8:55
19 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin ESP GCE 32:11:57 8:56
20 BRUSEGHIN Marzio ITA LAM 32:11:58 8:57


Today's Results:

Grande Latte Enema (James) 250
Gasoline and Frozen Orange Juice (Paddy) 225
A Predator Posing as a House Pet (Andy) 205
Stomach Full of Xanax (Laura) 200
You Are Not a Beautiful or Unique Snowflake (Dallas) 145
Controlled Destruction (Ian) 135
Listen Up Maggots (Arlene) 135
B Times C Equals X (Hal) 130
Tonight We Make Soap (Rachel) 105
The Most Beautiful Day of Raymond K. Hessel's Life (Charlene) 100
Grade School Girlfriend (Adam) 85
I am Jack's Smirking Revenge (Brad) 80
His Name Was Robert Paulson (Bill) 80
I'll Take the Parasites (Chris) 70
Remaining Men Together (David S) 50
Ikea Nesting Instinct (Tomek) 45
A House Full of Condiments and No Food … How Embarrasing (Darryl) 40
Chloe's Libido (Johnny M) 30
Skinny Guys Fight 'Til They're Burger (Jonny B) 25
I'd Fight Gandhi (Matt) 25
OALETTSRFEDTZ (Colin) 25
Chemical Burn (Cam) 25
You Met Me at a Very Strange Time in My Life (Jonny G) 15
First You Have to Give Up (Craig) 0
Near Life Experience (LeAnn) 0
Project Mayhem (Donna) 0


Overall Standings:

Listen Up Maggots (Arlene) 909
Gasoline and Frozen Orange Juice (Paddy) 866
Tonight We Make Soap (Rachel) 799
You Are Not a Beautiful or Unique Snowflake (Dallas) 797
Ikea Nesting Instinct (Tomek) 778
I'd Fight Gandhi (Matt) 758
B Times C Equals X (Hal) 686
A Predator Posing as a House Pet (Andy) 682
I am Jack's Smirking Revenge (Brad) 643
Grande Latte Enema (James) 626
Skinny Guys Fight 'Til They're Burger (Jonny B) 605
Stomach Full of Xanax (Laura) 574
I'll Take the Parasites (Chris) 569
Remaining Men Together (David S) 562
His Name Was Robert Paulson (Bill) 521
OALETTSRFEDTZ (Colin) 520
The Most Beautiful Day of Raymond K. Hessel's Life (Charlene) 499
Chloe's Libido (Johnny M) 485
Grade School Girlfriend (Adam) 474
Controlled Destruction (Ian) 440
Chemical Burn (Cam) 348
A House Full of Condiments and No Food … How Embarrasing (Darryl) 307
Near Life Experience (LeAnn) 280
First You Have to Give Up (Craig) 265
You Met Me at a Very Strange Time in My Life (Jonny G) 251
Project Mayhem (Donna) 234

OTT: The Jayhawks, Wichita