I’ve never seen anything like it. Carnage, chaos, gear flying everywhere. Yep, last nights poker game was one to forget, that’s for sure. What started out as a good natured bit of fun turned sour when the boys from Fuji Servetto lost a huge pot to Christophe Moreau. Christophe had been playing loose all night and called an all in bet with second pair. He proceeded to go “runner-runner” to hit a straight and take down what I think was about $25,000. It was crazy. Then, scenes straight from Wild Bill Hickock and needless to say, the party wound down pretty fast.

The drinking did not however and the radio shack boys headed back to the  team hotel for some entertainment. Gregory Rast pulled out a DVD of the 2004 tour which was the last time they went over cobbles and we each drew a Paul Sherwin or Phil Liggett saying. Each time  they mentioned that saying, you had to have a shot. Not long after we started, a few of the Saxo boys rocked over including Frank Schleck and my good mate Stuey O’Grady. Frank drew out everytime the commentators referred to someone as “big”. Nasty. I drew “cadance”, while Lance drew “attentive” and Levi drew “getting organised”. Between us, we smashed a fair few bottles and today’s stage was always going to be ugly.

Lining up at the start, I have no idea how Frank Schleck even made it. He was still well pissed and struggled to keep the bike upright. It’s no wonder he pulled up at the side of the road for a quick nap half way through the stage. Word is that he has abandoned the tour with severe alcohol poisoning which is never good, but you know what those Saxo boys are like with a bit of drinking competition.

Everything was going well according to plan on today’s stage until Frank decided to have his nap and blocked the course in the process. It allowed Andy, Cadel, Thor, Fabian and a few others to get a clear break. Lance was sitting just behind Fabian when he took off. His acceleration was amazing. Now I’m not saying that he has an engine in his bike frame, though the exhaust that came out was fairly think black smoke and Lance copped the brunt of it.

Our team lost “massive chunks of time” (drawn by Popo last night) today. We were supposed to draw out the time gaps over the poker game last night, but clearly that didn’t happen. It was a rough day for team radio shack.

Not many of us feel like drinking tonight and let’s be honest, Arenberg is not exactly party central. So we just sat at the hotel and had a few quiet beers instead. Johan broke out Pictionary, but I just don’t think any of the guys were in the mood. Jani brought home a couple of the podium girls from today’s stage which cheered us all up.

Tomorrow calls for a bludge stage. Christophe (race director) clearly has ideas for a party tomorrow night, because it’s a flat road all day with just the sprinters fighting it out at the finish. We’ll have to see what happens. I’m keen for a stop at a few of the pubs along the way. I’m sure the peleton will be up for that.

 

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