TDF Stage 15: Luxembourg and Broken Bones

↵What happened today that may be summed up in a few words: Well, since today is a rest day, we mean yesterday: Cadel Evans loses the yellow jersey on Stage 15 to Frank Schleck (pictured), who continues to persist in his cover story of being from an imaginary country named "Luxembourg." Whatever, Frank. My name's Spencer, and I'm from Blingsylvania. Nice to meet you.↵

↵How this happened: Evans rides for Silence-Lotto, meaning that not only does his team sound as ridiculously sponsored as any other team ("Garmin-Chipotle" is particularly musical on the ear,) but that he lacks the kind of support other riders--like, say, a certain "Luxembourgeois" we know--have from their more experienced, climb-seasoned teams. Frank Schleck was able to power away mostly because Schleck's brother, Andy, blitzed the leader repeatedly, causing the steady but not explosive Evans to break on the climb. Your brother gave you a nice ballpoint pen once, and that was kind of like him helping you get first place in the Tour de France, right?↵

↵Who actually won the stage? Aussie Simon Gerrans, who had his dander up properly. Gerrans tore the course apart, rocketing ahead at the finish in a burst of energy so freakish no other rider dared follow. Inflatable kangaroos were shaken in celebration along the route. ↵

↵I'm a terrible person, but crashes please? Quite a few, including 2006 champion Oscar Pereiro, who took a violent tumble and broke his arm and collarbone in the wet conditions. Naturally, a tragic montage has already been assembled by fans, complete with appropriate soundtracks. ↵

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↵Doping? No, but fans looked properly "supplemented" along the roadside, taking advantage of the narrow mountain passes to run alongside riders and very nearly bump into them. If I were a TDF rider, we would ride for team TASER/CATTLEPROD just for situations like those. Judging from a few of the inebriated fans we saw, they wouldn't feel a thing if you demonstrated some product on them. ↵

↵Feat of agility only seen in the TDF. The unusual sight of riders cresting the massive Col Agnel and effortlessly taking both hands off the handlebars to put on rain gear on the high-speed descent without flinching. ↵

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.