Let Levi Ride

Alberto Contador wanted nothing to do with that dumb slogan in yesterday's Stage 14. After he and Levi let little Zeke Mosquera pull them up the mountain, he lept ahead in the last km and took himself another stage win. Apparently, he just can't pass up the opportunity to show the world his shoot-em-up-cowboy victory salute.


Very nice, Alberto. You had all of July to practice your six-gun salute. And you can go real fast up those hills. But as Jon Bon Jovi pointed out, real cowboys ride steel horses, not that newfangled carbon stuff you saddle up on. And would it hurt you so much to show a little love to your teammate, who also happens to be the second best guy in this race? I can't wait to see how it plays out next year in France when that other cowboy from Texas shows up to race. Speaking of the other cowboy, he and his team won 12 Hours of Snowmass this weekend. He doesn't like to lose either. This will be interesting.

In the end, Levi also dumped Mosquera in the gutter like a bad date to take second on the stage. Mosquera had to settle for third. But it wasn't all bad for little Zeke. He moved up into 4th on the GC and inched a little closer to the podium spot currently occupied by Carlos Sastre. Robert Gesink led home the next group, which also contained Sastre. Valverde wanted to win the stage, but he just couldn't keep pace. He came over the line with the third group, finishing 11th and dropping down another spot on the GC. Face it, Alejandro. You're a classics star, not a grand tour rider. That's not so bad. Just ask Tom Boonen.

Over in the FGBC Pool, Mosquera, Gesink, and Zaugg did it again. They give me 255 points and another stage win. Matt and Arlene followed, with 230 and 185 points. We finally see Tenacious V knocked off his pedestal. In fact, the podium has flipped upside down. I'm now in first place with a 61 point lead over Arlene. Vic has fallen into third place, 165 points back.


Stage 14 Results:

Chris 255
Matt 230
Arlene 185
Brad 175
Dallas 140
Jonny B 135
Paddy 125
Vic 50
Ian 15
David 0
Hal 0


Overall Standings:

Chris 1931
Arlene 1870
Vic 1766
Paddy 1493
Brad 1433
Matt 1414
Jonny B 1406
David 1117
Hal 1079
Ian 949
Dallas 772