Hincapie could be in yellow today (AP Photo/Chrisophe Ena)
Friday, stage 13 from Vittel to Colmar certainly meant bad luck for Garmin's Julian Dean and Rabobank's Oscar Freire, both targets of pellet gun shots.
French police report today that they have apprehended the children responsible for the shooting which left both riders puzzled but unharmed. Indeed, "les enfants terribles" succeeded in lodging a pellet in Freire's leg and knicking Dean's finger.
Dean told Frankie Andreu that he had heard a strange noise at about 160K into the race and then confirmed later with Freire that they had been shot. Add another danger to the list of cycling hazzards.
As for today's race, Dean would not reveal if Garmin intended to chase down a break that would threaten their sprinter Tyler Farrar's chances of a stage win. He told Frankie Andreu that the team had several plans for different race scenarios and would need to see how the day unfolded.
With 83K to go in stage 14, former Lance Armstrong teammate George Hincapie (Colombia HTC) is in a break which is 6:25 ahead of the peloton. A successful break could catapult Hincapie into Yellow, which he wore for one day in the 2006 Tour. Certainly, High Road will not chase to get their sprinter Mark Cavendish to the line today and spoil Hincapie's chances of a win. Or will they?
Hincapie, riding in his 14th tour, brings lots of experience to his teammates. "He's the real leader of the team," attests HIgh Road teammate Kim Kirchen. Many of his younger teammates see him as a big brother who shares his experience and helps them hone their skills.
Munching on a snack, Armstrong managed a thumbs up for cameras indicating that he was pleased with Hincapie's aggressive move. Hincapie, at Armstrong's side for all seven Tour victories, certainly earned some Lance love.
Allez George!
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