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Tour de France, France

Stage 18, Albi - Mende, 189K

21 July

The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Bluff or no Bluff? The DD says Bluff!

Stages and Maps, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

So, Marcos Serrano takes the win today on a difficult course into Mende. Serrano, like Laurent Jalabert who won here 10 years ago is also a subject of Manolo Saiz, and has also managed to add a ray of light to an otherwise dim Tour for Liberty Seguros-Würth.

Ivan Basso looked strong and aggressive today indeed! Jan Ullrich looked as determined as ever as he put himself within sight of the podium by grabbing a few more seconds back from Rasmussen. You can bet Ulle is going to be putting the big Hammer down on Saturday. Attempting to pull back the remaining 2 minutes and change.

I'd like to re-visit a subject I talked about a little over a week and half ago: Lance Armstrong and bluffing. Remember on stage 8 where Armstrong found himself isolated on the climb, I assessed that I think it was all a bluff. I heard a lot from the BiciRace.com readers how dangerous a bluff it was and he would be putting himself in danger if he had a mechanical.

Well, remember way back in the 1999 edition Paris-Roubaix where Andrea Tafi was riding like a man possessed in a small group? He found himself with a puncture somewhere on the course isolated from his teammates and team car. But, after the race he said that the Mapei team had strategically placed men in blue coats (so the riders could spot them easily). Those men were at certain points along the course who had spare wheels, etc. He happened to flat right by one of these "blue coats" and got it repaired lickity-split. And, of course, went on to win in typical Andrea Tafi fashion!

Like Tafi, Lance Armstrong is no fool. He would not put himself in a dangerous position without having his back covered. I would not doubt for a second that there were people out on the course who had spare bike or wheels. It does not add up that people like Hincapie, Azevedo, Rubiera, etc would be dropped on a climb of that caliber. Discovery Channel has the man power and the budget to take care of him, and they will, because they know he will win. He has not only brought training and race prep to the next level, but I also believe that, tactically speaking, he is on the next level. Armstrong is far and above the genius level with regards to tactics. And he likes to play "the game". Just winning by physically overpowering somebody isn't enough. I think he really enjoys the mental games he plays against people along the way.

I'm still 100% convinced it was a bluff.
- The Dust Devil