Leipheimer Leaves Tour

An upset Bruyneel played by mon ami Jeff.

American Levi Leipheimer is out of the Tour de France after breaking his right wrist during a crash in Thursday’s Stage Twelve. The fall came late in the 131-mile race from Tonnerre to Vittel. Leipheimer finished but was unable to start Friday’s Stage Thirteen. His Astana Team Director Johan Bruyneel said the absence of Leipheimer gives other teams an advantage. “It makes us weaker and will obviously motivate other teams to attack,” Bruyneel said.

–Le Tour Babe

Tour de France: Cav Wins 3; Rrrricco is Rrrruined

Team Columbia’s Mark Cavendish proved in stage 12 that he is the fastest man on two wheels. The Brit won today’s flat race from Lavelanet to Narbonne… his third stage victory of this year’s Tour. Too bad he might retire from the Tour before Paris. Cav is going to Beijing to chase Olympic gold. He wants time to recover between events.

Riccardo Ricco busted!

Remember young, Italian Riccardo Ricco who won stages six and nine? He’s out of the Tour! The Cobra was arrested this morning after testing positive for a new form of EPO called CERA. A true snake! His Saunier Duval team withdrew from the Tour– too ashamed, and rightly so, about Ricco’s doping. Alejandro Valverde and Vladimir Efimkin, who finished second behind Ricco in those stages, were robbed of their podium spotlight. What a shame.

The Tour is down from 180 to 158 riders. Friday’s stage 13 parallels the Mediterranean Sea from Narbonne to Nimes. It will be another flat day that favors the sprinters. Maybe Cav will give us a fantastic farewell.