Day 3: RadioShack are in yellow!

After the amazing day yesterday, Jan Bakelandts turned out in yellow today, and must have been just about bursting with pride. They even gave him a yellow helmet as well!

Something I forgot to mention yesterday was his hilarious post-race,  pre-podium interview: he was bubbling and fizzing, as you would expect, and said something like "this is more than the team hoped for, now we don't have to do anything more, our Tour is made".

Good thing Mr Becca is already on the way out (and don't let the door swing back and catch you on the backside on the way out, Mr B) otherwise Jan Bakelandts might have been sacked for suggesting that Shack's expectations were so low.

I've just got in and read the reports of today's race, and Jan B is still in yellow, and still one second ahead. Lovely! Of course, tomorrow is the TTT, and Shack don't stand a chance of keeping the jersey any longer, but two stages in yellow isn't bad going, for a team with no sprinter, no GC contender, and a climber - Andy - who is still recovering from a very bad crash.

I wish I'd been able to watch this stage, as with a guy in yellow, Shack were on the front for most of the day, so there would have been lots of opportunities to wave my Lux Ensign flag. Ah well, there will be more chances.

In the news today, Trek have confirmed that they have arranged a 3-year contract with Fabian, and although there are rumours that the Schlecks have had to have a significant pay cut in their new contracts  (and frankly, who is surprised at that? You only get huge salaries when you are winning, and neither of them have done any winning for a while) the sub-text is that the Schlecks both have a new contract with Trek! So they are staying with Fabian, which is great, and I still hope that one day we'll get Jakob back in the fold.

Andy came in with the bunch today, same time as the winners: he came in 56th, and in the GC he now sits in 45th position.

So tomorrow is TTT, not going to be terribly exciting for us Leopard fans, as we know they are not going to excel: but I will be happy if they get five over the line with no problems, at a reasonable time, and I will be particularly happy if Andy gets round safely. Best result would be if Andy came in with the team, of course, but I'm not too worried about that.

Wonder if Frankie's watching? Or did he drop Leea off with Mum, and sweep Martine away for a holiday?