The big news of the day should have been what Levi, Contador and the Discovery Team was going to do to topple Rasmussen from the top step of the podium.  Instead it centered around Vino and Astana leaving the Tour in a cloud of shame.  The impact was immediate and hard felt.  How much more pain do the fans and the participants of cycling have to endure before the Phoenix rises from the ashes and burns the low hanging mist off of cycling? 

As I sat in the packed room for the Team's press conference I was starting to get irritated with the reporters questions.  Why are they focusing on negative things that have nothing to do with the Discovery Team?  I was about to leave when the true light of the race started to shine through and I was privileged to hear the delivery of two comments that left me anticipating the rest of the race.  There was a comment by each Alberto and Levi.  First Levi said that he thought that his position in the Tour put Contador at an advantage, he said his legs are good and he is willing to sacrifice himself to help Alberto win the Tour!  I thought that was great to hear; Levi is in the middle of riding his best Tour ever and he is willing to sacrifice that to help the good of the team.  Alberto mentioned that he has already accomplished everything that he wanted to accomplish at this year’s Tour and more.  To him going home in sixth or in second will not matter, he is going to gamble big and go for it in an effort to win.  If he fails he will be happy with his performance.  If he succeeds he will be forever remembered. 

The Tour continues as it always has and hopefully always will.  I have a lot of respect for the people in cycling that hold their heads up high, cycling is still about passion and that can never be clouded!