BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

Tour de France, France

Stage 2, Challans - Les Essarts, 181.5K

3 July

The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Big Bad Boonen

Stages and Maps, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

As far as stages in the Tour de France go, today's stage wasn't one of the most exciting. But the Dust Devil is an optimist and likes looking at the positive side of things.

Predictably, there was a four man break that got free from the peloton. And predictably, Thomas Voeckler got himself in that break. The Vendee region is after all the home turf of his team, Bouygues Telecom, and this was a perfect opportunity for some publicity. Ever the opportunist, Voeckler hoped to garner a big enough advantage by stage end to put on the Maillot Jaune like he did last year. As often happens though on these flat stages, the peloton timed it perfectly and swallowed up the escapees. When the four escapees knew their lead was doomed Voeckler was actually seen smiling and congratulating one of his breakaway companions. This is very refreshing in a world of massive sporting egos. It just seems like this guy really enjoys himself. He goes out there and works his ass off. Sometimes he has success and sometimes he doesn't. That's what it's all about. Just like in life, you have your good times and your bad times. It's the wise man who realizes this and just enjoys the ride.

Okay, enough philosophizing. Today's stage had the first climbing jersey points on offer and Voeckler, very cunningly, jumped his opponent and took the hot spot which means that he'll get to don the polka dot jersey in tomorrow's stage.

If the DD were a betting kind of guy, I would have put my money on McEwen for the sprint. He is a pure sprinter and on a team working entirely for him. Big bad Boonen, all 6'4" (1,93m) of him, came storming by little McEwen and took the win. Boonen is such a stud. This is his second Tour and already his third stage victory. It seems the sky is the truly the limit for this rider. Boonen has two Classic victories already this year, and now a Tour stage. Very possibly he could add a green jersey to that tally. That is impressive stuff. The DD takes his hat off to big Tom.

Okay, that is all from Western France. After watching all this spectacular riding by the pros, the Dust Devil is ready to get out on his own bike and pretend he's a pro for a few hours. Until tomorrow.
- The Dust Devil