In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, France, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Stage 18     July 21     Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier     189 km             

4 riders within a little over a minute, two of them brothers, two racing stages remain.  This is a very good tour.

Results:
1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 6:07:56   
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:02:07   
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:02:15
General Classification:  
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 79:34:06   
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:15   
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:08  
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:12  

Skippy report:  Bloody hell Cadel, we all know you deserve to win, but is that going to get you there?  They are wringing you dry.

Cuisine Report:  Tartiflette.  Cheese (reblochon) onions, bacon, butter, garlic, salt etc.  Traditional mountain/alps winter stodge.  Terrific!

Today's favorite fans:
Today's favorite shorts:

Tomorrow:  Stage 19     July 22     Modane - Alpe-d'Huez     109 km         
just bring it on and get it over with!    

In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, France, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Back again.  We missed a couple of days there, the transition from the Pyrenees to the alps, via provence, kept us busy.  

Stage 17 , July 20, Gap - Pinerolo, 179 km             

TdF Report:  This is a golden tour, one of the best in years.  If only for the little kid that caused a crash on the first day, losing Contador more than a minute.  Don't miss a moment of it.

Results:
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 4:18:00   
2 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:40   
3 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ 0:00:50 

General Classification:  
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 73:23:49   
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:01:18   
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:22  

Viking report:  Yesterday's winning break of 3 was made up of 2.5 norwegians.  Thor, Edvaldo and Ryder Hesjedal, who is Canadian, but has one Norwegian parent.   

Skippy report:  Well, it's all about Cadel really.  Just cross your fingers, it looks good at present.

Yellow Jersey Report:  Today we witnessed the race leader, Tommy Voeckler over run a corner, and end up in a private carpark, the 2nd Frenchman to do so today.  None hurt, so all we can do is giggle, and smirk.  It did cost him a few seconds at the end.   (plus, see below)

Tommy Voeckler Report:  If he had been taking drugs, like many others, for the last few years, we wouldn't all be so pop-eyed at present.    

Don't miss this:  Giant are sponsoring real people, instead of just prof athletes. 30 riders of any age, style or ability will be chosen.

Cuisine Report:  Duck Shanks last night, not that they called them that, but you can't fool us.  And Aligot, which is the cheesy mashed potatoe dish from the Aveyron...must have been brought to the alps by merchants.   

Tomorrow:  Stage 18     July 21     Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier     189 km        

FYI this is the Topbike riders doing part of stage 18, 2 years ago - Col Agnel and Col d'Izoard - a course we have ridden with our ‘Two Frontiers' group for the past few years.  Yes, Le Tour copied us.
And this is David Olle (moi) sussing out Agnello (Agnel if you are French) for Le Tour organization.....

In The (Time) Zone by David Olle, France, +39 333 5959 217 (twitter feed @DavidOLLE)

Stage 14     July 16     Saint-Gaudens - Plateau de Beille     168 km

Result
1 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 5:13:25   
2 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0:00:21   
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:00:46  General Classification:  

General Classification
1 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar 61:04:10   
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 0:01:49   
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:02:06  

Skippy report:  Well, Cadel.  

Voeckler Report: Just go for it Tommy.  (don't you dare go positive for anything)

Cavendish Report:  Saw HTC leadout team in formation, 13k to go, as usual, with Cav on the back. Only thing different was they were leading out the broom wagon (this was at the base of the final climb).

Cuisine Report:  Love these little cheese stamps...

Tomorrow:  Stage 15     July 17     Limoux - Montpellier     187 km