I ran a twenty-minute tempo run today. My goal was to run a pace of about 6:30 per mile. I barely managed to run under 7:00. I never felt right the whole time. I'm glad tomorrow is a rest day.

Tour Talk

Apparently, when the Little Dude woke up this morning, he immediately began to ask, "Bikes? Bikes?" Angie obliged him and turned on the Tour. He then started to cheer for his favorite rider, "Dahdebelda." You might know him better as Christian Vande Velde. The indoctrination is succeeding. Yes!

I claim half credit for my prediction of today's stage. Thor Hushovd did win the field sprint; however, a breakaway stayed clear so he didn't win the stage. Kurt Asle Arvesen of CSC won over Martin Elminger of AG2R and Alessandro Ballan of Lampre. As the three riders pounded the final few hundred meters, I remembered the way he Ballan blew by Leif Hoste at the end of the 2007 Tour of Flanders, and I though he would win for sure. I forgot Arvesen is rather handy in the sprint himself, although his margin of victory was about a centimeter.

Barloworld lost a rider to doping charges, and two other riders on the team didn't finish today's stage. Soler crashed out long ago. Last year they were the darlings of the Tour. This year they're practically a joke. I hope Robbie Hunter can pull out a good result and save their season.

Stage Twelve: Lavelanet to Narbonne — 168.5 Kilometers

This stage is a bit lumpy, but it has a net drop of 467 meters. With only one categorized climb—and a lowly Category 4, at that—this should be a day for the sprinters. When it comes to a classic field sprint, no one can beat Mark Cavendish; ergo, I'm picking him for the win.  ¶ 11:30 PM