Sorry I am late with the updates, everyone! I am traveling again on business and just can’t seem to get caught up.

Monday was a rest day at the Tour de France, with the riders getting ready for the ever-popular Alpe d’Huez. This time it is a 187 km stage from Gap to L’Alpe d’Huez. In the middle of the stage is a beyond category climb up Col d’Izoard, followed by a 2nd category climb at Col du Laurtaret, and then the beyond category climb of L’Alpe d’Huez itself, with the finish right at the summit.

This looks to be the pivotal stage of this year’s tour. So far, with the yellow jersey changing hands so often and no team or rider seeming to be willing to take over the role of race leader, this still is anyone’s race (although I still think that Floyd Landis [USA] can pull it out). Interesting to note that Discovery basically seems to have given up trying for a win as noted by the OLN commentators late last week.
Here are the standings in the general classification as we go into the final week of racing leading to the Champs Elysee:
1. Oscar Pereiro (EPS) Caisse d’Epargne/Illes Balears
2. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak at 1’29”
3. Cyril Dessel (FRA) AG2R at 1’37”
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2’30″
5. Cadel Evens (AUS) Davitamon-Lotto at 2’46″″
6. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC at 3’21″″
7. Andreas Kloden (GER) T-Mobile at 3’58″″
8. Michael Rogers (AUS) T-Mobile at 4’51″″
9. Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP) Agritubel at 5’02″″
10. Christophe Moreau (FRA) AG2R at 5’13”