Vuelta 18:00

[gaurain rx]

I rode quite bad today but I can complain too when I read such things :

"Aixteam: I don't want to influence to much the gk"

Then, maybe better not to attck at the last km and take the bonisecs!

[Cerro Torre RT]

Yes, one can say so. It is nearly impossible to fight for a win on mountain stages wihtout influencing the GC fight, and especially not with bonifications. I couldn't complain if he made tempo one or 2 km to take the stage it would have been logic to do so. It's nice he doesn't want to, but until a certain point it's impossible if you want day wins, and it is normal, too. So while fighting for a win or a place there will forever be a certain influence to the GC. If you don't do tempo in a group with a GC favourite when distances are like there is no possibility to win, I think that would be really enough to say you didn't interfere in the GC.

But nevertheless, Gaurain, today taking them was not to you disadvantage. As Terray would have won with or without that attack, he only took away 4s from Boogerd, you finished 5th and didn't recieve any seconds if he had not attacked.

Alltogether one can say there is a good reason why we normally have no bonus seconds at mountain stages. With those like here or in the Giro, those riders going for a win will forever effect the GC, that is a part of that system.

[el Galactico]

Stage winners:
5x Cerro (Terray 4,Silva)
2x Aix (Dalcin 2)
2x Gala (Callado,Gourgue)
1x Neutro (Pils)
1x Gaurain (Prebois)
1x Demuth (TTT)

Cerro has 2 stages to much, but the rest is ok

[Aixteam]

Egs and Aywaille deserve one until the end I think

[gaurain rx]

As I said yesterday on the chat, I'm out of the race now... Unable to continue the tour due to timetable problem.

Have a nice race all.

See you on rsf!