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This Gonzalez guy was not even in the pre-race favorites. Most of the Tour thus far has been run on flat ground and that favors the sprinters. They die in the mountains. The mountains are what makes the Tour. Lance wins in the mountains. Last year, I cannot forget the climb where he looked back at the German as if to ask: "I'm leaving now dude? Are you going?" Urlich did not respond in performance or words and Lance left him in his dust! Classic moment. Lance appears to struggle some in this Tour, but geeze, this is a heavy duty physical event. 21 days of racing over a couple of thousand miles. Everyone is going to have a down day from time to time. Lance is 24 seconds behind mainly because he got caught up in a wreck that was not his fault and he did not fall, but did have to stop and start over and that is what cost him time. Gonzalez was riding away while Lance was trying to get untangled. Last year Ulrich fell and Lance held back and waited on him. That is sportsmanship at its best. This guy came back from life threatening cancer to win three of these races. I think he is the greatest. No whine, no complain, just race and win. Great going Lance. Good luck the rest of the way. And as it says on his site, "Now it is time for Daddy to put the pain on them." Or words to that effect.

Agreed. I get the feeling that Lance is being somewhat coy. He has played possum more than once in his career. Not that being 26 back in the GC is playing possum! The mountains shall tell the tale. However, I hope that his team is still strong in case he needs them...

Took 5th last year in his first Tour, quite an impressive feat, actually. I don't think Lance ever finished a Tour until his initial win in 1999.

Botero took 3rd the last 2 years behind Lance & Ulrich, and is only 1'55" back.

I expect Lance to put some hurt on some people in the first few mountain stages, but my guess is he'll let the polka dot goats play, and settle for time over Galdeano & Botero. My only real concerns are that 1) - Lance is a momentum rider, and the 'fall' (first since he rturned to the Tour) might have taken a little edge off, and 2) - he's lost his two top domestiques to other teams.

RetiredArmy sayeth:

This Gonzalez guy was not even in the pre-race favorites.....

I see Lance in the Tour this year much like the British Open with Tiger Woods. If Lance wants it and is in his old form, the rest of the racing is only to determine who finishes second.

I think with no obvious strong competition, Lance may save his strength and just do enough to be atop the podium in Paris (as evidenced by the time trial, IMHO). With the US Postal team intact and relatively rested after today's stage, they should be ready. However, if Galdeano shows any strength in the mountains tomorrow, Lance may rise up just long enough to put him in his place.

Glad to hear Bob Roll is joining the coverage, I was thinking of complaining to OLN about his absence.