People like Costas are just not thinking! He said he didn't understand how Lance could come in 18th on one stage but still be first. That's like saying team X outscored team Y in the 3rd quarter but how come they're not leading? Duh!
He called it something like "professional exercising". I bet he hasn't watched one complete and decisive stage on the tour.
Anyway, part of the problem with ESPN is they don't explain tactics/strategy in their coverage. Cycling piqued my interest years ago when - believe it or not - Dateline had a segment on Lance "marking" riders and sending teammates on a chase etc. I think this type of analysis better serves viewers than "Lance gained 25 seconds on X rider today"...