Wednesday

I'm making 4 the Daughter of the Day today in recognition that she made it over two of the climbs that are on today's Stage 16 of the TdF.  The Tourmalet and the Col de Aspin.  Interestingly, last year's winner, Cadel Evans, who is sitting several minutes behind this year's leader, cracked on the ascent up the Aspin, which is not really that brutal of a climb.  Of course, I had to stop and rest numerous times on the same stretch!

Most of these Pyreneean peaks are at lower elevations than the Alpine summits.  We had to deal with cows, goats, and alpacas wandering across the roads.  And their droppings!  But its kind of neat to recognize the backgrounds in the TV camera shots.  The ski town near the top of the Tourmalet, La Mongie, remains a vivid memory for me.

I meant to comment on the TdF stage last weekend when there was an incident of sabotage(?) when some yet-to-be-identified idiot scattered tacks on the road and about 30 riders (including the aforementioned defending winner Evans) were flatted on a descent.  One guy crashed and separated his shoulder, requiring him to withdraw from the race.  I'm guessing that criminal charges would be in order if they could find the perpetrator.

Frank Schleck, a Radioshack rider, has been pulled from the TdF for testing positive for an unapproved diuretic.  This is not that big of a deal, but several media sources have lead with a headline of, "Former Armstrong Team Rider Tests Positive", even though Lance has been off the team for two years.  The bias/sensationalism in the media knows no bounds.

I've also noticed for the first time a steady diet of pro-Obama/anti-Romney pop-ups on the CBS and ESPN websites.  I am so over the political ads.  (I was fortunate to have missed the "Kiss Cam" ruckus at the last USA Olympic basketball exhibition game.)

I'll add more to this later.  No cycling or Fit Club today.  I wanted to get this up to recognize 4.

Have a great day.

BCOT