France again! Status quo at the pointy end.

Pierrick Fedrigo delivered a second stage win for Bbox Telecom and a third for France in stage 9. He and Italian Franco Pellizotti were the remnants of an early 4 man breakaway over the difficult stage, they duelled at the end and the frenchman came up trumps 34 seconds ahead of the peleton. Pellizotti was one of my tips for the KOM and he took climbing honours winning the climbs to both the Aspin and tourmalet to place himself 3rd overall in the race for the polka dot kersey, that classification has had 6 different leaders and is well and truly up for grabs in the Alps, Egoi Martinez gained enough points yesterday to take the jersey from Kern. The peleton chased hard on the decent, Fedrido and Pellizotti were 3 minutes ahead when they crested the summit of the Tourmalet and were made to work hard over the final 10km, they succeeded and im sure are enjoying the rest day.

The standings remain the same in the GC and Points classifications.

Early in the stage Lance Armstong tested his legs and shook things up, he attempted a breakaway, im sure knowing it would fail however it made the AG2R team of race leader Rinaldo Nocentini come to the front and ride and lifted the work rate of the peleton. Lance comfortably rode at the front of the bunch over both climbs and with each mountain they cross he looks better in the saddle. We are in for one awesome showdown in the Alps.

Andy Schleck confirmed that Saxo bank have been waiting for the Alps to launch their assault, he said after the stage "the alps will be different..... we will see a lot of damage in stage 17". the absence of any form of aggression from this team (Cancellara aside) has been quite obvious and with the firepower they boast i think they have played a good tactic and are keeping their powder dry. That said Astana have played the perfect game in strategically staying away from the yellow jersey. They dont have to defend it, they dont have to expend the energy, but of course Lance is riding like he owns the race.

So a rest, some flat stages, some more mountains, a time trial and then one hell of a mountain to finish up.

I cant wait.