Today was an awesome race to watch:
- Beltran leading a blazing acceleration at the very base of Alpe d'Huez causing Ullrich (now 2'10" behind Armstrong in the GC) and Virenque to be dropped
- Iban Mayo blazing up Alpe d'Huez looking faster than I do on the flats and landing himself 1'10 (3rd) in the GC
- Tyler "Superman" Hamilton staying with Lance Armstrong the entire way up and evening launching multiple attacks. He now sits 6th in the GC at 1'52"
- Beloki launching multiple attacks and getting reeled in. He's still in attacking distance for the Pyreness at 0'40" back (2nd) in the GC.
- Heras pulling himself back into Armstrong's group to help control the tempo
- Armstrong sprinting for the third place time bonus showing that he was still in control
- At the end of the race Armstrong claiming that his brake was rubbing him back wheel for the first 200km. Whatever the reason, he admits it wasn't a "great day," though by the yellow jersey on his shoulders it was certainly a good result.
I'm really looking forward to the individual time trial a couple of days as well as the finish at Luz-Ardiden in Stage 15.
