BS: The Nose of Marmande

Blazin' Saddles throws a bit snout out to Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo, he of the prodigious proboscis, who won the watered-down Pyrenean stage by a nose after beaking Franco Pellizotti in Tarbes.

Fedrigo, nicknamed Le Nez de Marmande after his colossal schnoz, used his superior sprinting skills to good effect to snare his second career Tour stage win in the finish town closest to his family home in the nearby Lot-et-Garonne region.

He sure has a nose for victory and no doubt his fan club - 317-strong, according to his slick website - had a field day. Indeed, it was France's third win of the race. The last time the home nation won more was back in the days of Laurent Jalabert in 2001.

If BS was more of a cynic, he would muse over some kind of correlation between French success and a rather diluted opening to the race this year.

Pierro and Pello broke early and were never in serious doubt of competing for victory after the grand majority of riders underwent what will probably be the easiest ascent of the legendary Tourmalet in the race's 106-year history.

Quite frankly, putting one of the most feared climbs in cycling history slam-bam in the middle of a stage and flanking it with 70km of flat racing either side was really doing the col a disservice.

BS would go as far as to say it was an insult. A bit like taking the best-looking girl out for a date at McDonalds. Or getting the most successful rider in the Tour's history to come out of retirement and ride as a domestique. You get the picture.

Talking of Lance Armstrong, yesterday's blog whipped up quite a storm. 56 comments and counting must be a record for this humble pedestal. Strangely, there are still people who claim that the Lance factor is bigger than the France factor in the Tour.

Now BS is no gambler, but he would comfortably wager his right arm that the race would stand a worse chance of longevity if you took France out of the equation. But hey, if people can't see that then he's preaching to the deaf.

It was a very quiet day for Astana on the whole, with Armstrong supplying the sole moment of excitement with an uncharacteristic dig on the flat.

The Texan no doubt did such a thing to remind people who's boss. Besides, it was another chance to highlight the ostensible naivety of his team-mate and rival Alberto Contador.

You can almost hear Lance explaining it: "Well, I saw that Alberto was not paying attention so I attacked to remind him just how easily it is to lose a tour. I should know, because I have won seven of them. But it's ok. I planned this with Johan. It's lucky for Alberto that it was me and not one of his rivals that had a dig."

Which would have media oohing and aahing about hidden meanings and mind games. The way BS sees it, Astana are either riding to a top three finish in this race, or they're building themselves up to a self-imploding frenzy.

Now all we need is some decent and challenging stages fit to bring these battles to the fore. While BS concedes that the final week - with its summit finishes in Verbier and Mont Ventoux, plus the ITT - should be a spectacle to savour, the race organisers have thrown all their eggs in one basket.

If those eggs turn out to be bad like the ones wolfed down by Thomas Dekker, then it could be as anticlimactic as the Pyrenees have been dull. The only rider this route suits, you see, is Armstrong - the man they worked so hard to keep away.

QUOTES OF THE DAYS: "I don't want radios to be removed because without them, a crash or a puncture can cause the strongest rider in the peloton to lose the Tour." Contador shares his fears of the proposed radio ban scheduled for stages 10 and 13.

"We'll have more moments there when we'll see who's truly the strongest." Armstrong possibly eyeing an attack on stage 10 or 13.

PLAT DU JOUR: The rest day sees the riders fly to Limoges where local delicacies include tournedos aux cepes (beef filet with wild mushrooms), clafoutis (black cherry pud) and walnut liqueur (which will no doubt please yellow jersey Rinaldo Nocentini).

PREDICTION: The flight will be slightly delayed after Mark Cavendish complains that he's not allowed into the first-class compartment. Both Tom Boonen and Denis Menchov will fall when boarding. Mark Renshaw will be allowed into the cockpit to help guide the plane to its destination. Oh, and Cadel Evans will be left isolated on his way to the loo.