Tour de France

[Terry Newton]

Phil Liggett: Stage 5, Cholet - Châteauroux 232 km

After you lead a stage of the Tour de France for virtually the whole stage * and the longest one this year, at that * then you deserve to win. But it does not work that way, and French champion Nicolas Vogondy was swept up with about 50 yards to go, being passed by Team Colombia's Mark Cavendish.

This has been a great beginning for both new American teams...

Team Colombia and Garmin Chipolte; both American teams are doing fabulous in the tour.

Cadel Evans; the Australian is also doing fabulous.

As I stated to Steve; our fearless leader, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings."

Steve probably will owe me a public apology when one of the American teams, if not both, are podium finishers and I likewise if Cadel Evans wins.

Terry Newton