So Astana-Wurth is officially not racing the Tour...

No Ullrich (my sentimental favorite)
No Basso
No Vinokourov (my favorite rider because he's so fun to watch)
No Mancebo
No Sevilla
No Hamilton
No Heras
No Pettachi
No Kashechkin
No Jaksche
No Allan Davis
No Beloki
No Contidor
No Etxeberria
No Nozal
No Scarponi
No Yakovlev
No Rojas
No Osa
No Osa #2
No Serrano
No Zubeldia

And of course, no Armstrong... and there are others too that will not be allowed to race tommorow (just watch).

Good grief, this years tour might be pretty boring. Frankly, winning the tour this year will almost be embarassing for the eventual GC winner. Almost like when the NFL went on strike and they had a bunch of replacements.

This was to be the most exciting tour in history.... and now most of the top contenders are OUT. The Peloton might have less than 100 riders!

I've completely lost interest in elite "PRO" racing....

Talk about deflating my balloon.

This years Tour is going to look more and more like a smaller stage race like the Tour De Georgia or Tour of California.

Oh well (yawn). I guess I'll still watch, but the show down I thought we'd see is no longer...

Disappointed...

~James