well, we're a third of the way through and, surprisingly, we've had very few abandons and seemingly few crashes...at least less than expected.
there's still plenty of time for a moto, unconscious team car driver or pesky and nimble hay bale to wipe out a rider or two. race transitions from some of the flatter stages of the first week to the higher mountains. consequently, some of the fantasy squads have come to life and back into podium contention.
only three of the squad leaders have opted to go "stage hunter" so far with two nibbling and one team undergoing a nearly complete makeover.
expecting this to be more widespread with abandons/crashes/expectations increasing in the second week.
team the bounty just takes the top spot, barely, over Banesto Portugal Team with a huge stage seven showing. team RotzundWasser, with an even
bigger stage seven showing, climbs into the game. it's starting to get interesting...