Good morning meh hearties! I hope you are all doing well out there! I’m feeling a bit foggy-headed today after putting a couple of coats of porch paint over my bath tub tiles, so now my house smells like a chemical factory or something, even with lots of windows open and several fans going! So I’m hoping that today’s update makes sense while I’m feeling on the Duh Planet! Wheeees!
Yes, and the Wine of the Day is none other than Oil-Based Porch Paint! Let the good times roll!
The 9th stage of the Tour is a Time Trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon, and takes a bit less than an hour for the cyclists to complete. A beautiful agricultural area just outside Arc-et-Senans.
Cheers to you toos, German spectators!!! Yays!! Oh wait, the New Wine of the Day is Whatever They Are Having! Wootz!!!
Fabian Cancellara is taking his turn and pedaling hard uphill. The team car and the camera crew must stay behind the cyclist at all times in the individual time trials segments. He has taken the lead at the first time check at Abbans-Dessus. Nicely done!
That was a nice scenic shot of the Oscar Meyer WeinerMobile! And a nice sculpture featuring a boat mast with lots of different colored bicycles attached all over it!
Now Sylvain Chavenel is climbing up to the first time check area. There goes Team Radio Shack warming up on their stationary cycles. Chavenel was having a great run and was nearly able to catch Canellara but not quite.
Nice performance by Sandy Cesar! Meanwhile, Peter Sagen lost about 5 minutes on his run compared to the leaders of the stage.
Fabian Cancellara has taken a couple minutes off the second time check. And he continues to haul ass through the town of Avanne-Avene. Cancellara has overtaken Tony Martin after he had to stop and change his tire just a few minutes into his run. Now Chavenelle has taken over the #2 spot for today’s time trial.
Besancon is a beautiful hilly city, with the remains of the Citadel sitting high upon a hillside, looking down on the city below. Epic!
Oh mys, TJ Van Gardener has taken over the lead after a strong final segment! What a surprise!
There goes Chris Froome! Wheeees! I love the start house area in Arc-et-Senans!
Cadel Evans is now waiting to start in the blow-up starting house section – LOL! He’s moved up to the starting line now. This is a small picture of someone at the starting line:
Oh mys, a spectator had really wet pants, I wonder if he couldn’t make it to the restroom in time or what – LOL!
Cancellara still has the lead despite strong runs from a few other riders.
Frank Schleck had a good run for someone who normally doesn’t do well in the individual time trial. Good job tram!
There goes Cadel! He seems to be working hard here! Wiggins has the best time at the first time check point so far! Get out of the way, photographer with the long lens! He almost got clipped!
Cadel Evans is shaving off the corners and lowering his weight as he flies downhill towards the Doubs River.
Chris Froome had an excellent finish and is the new leader! He is wearing a specially designed skin suit, so perhaps that is helping him out. Can he maintain his lead as Cadel Evans and other riders have yet to complete the course?
Wow, Cadel Evans is pedaling his ass off towards the finish, as a fountain of sweat is pouring down his chin! Go Cadel Go! He performed well but it wasn’t enough finish in the top 5 for this stage.
OK, here comes our final rider, Bradley Wiggins! He is flying towards the finish, will he win the stage? He’s flying along as he turns the final corner and yesss! He wins it! Yays!!! He has never won a stage before! Like a virgin tram!! Wheeees!
Froome is second in Stage 9, with Cancellara, Van Garderen and Chavanel rounding out the Top 5.
Overall in the Tour, Wiggins is now wearing the Yellow Jersey, with Evans a couple minutes behind him, and Froome a couple seconds back from that. Great job everyone!!!! Yays!!
Amazing town of Besancon! Thank you for hosting the final stage! Beautiful!
I didn’t see any good candidates for the Bulge of the Day, so hopefully I can see something worth reporting on down the road.
OK meh hearties, tomorrow is a well-deserved Rest Day, so I won’t have an update for you here in the Drunken Gaming Corner! I could use a break too from all these typing words!
We will pick things back up on Wednesday in the Alps! Wheeees! Have fun out there everyone!!!!! Yays!!!