A Belgian biologist tells us that we are not at the end of the Epo-story. We had a first and a second generation of Epo. Mircera is the name of the third generation and genetic manipulation will be the fourth Epo. In this way they will activate human epo by way of several virusses. These virusses must influence the human d.n.a. The effect on the body can no be traced. It is possible that this new epo will be used on the Olympic Games in Peking. Terrible, terrible, terrible ... This is all very complicated, but I think that the values in the blood--*test*-('") will be normal, although there will be Epo in the blood.

Marthe, I think it was 10:18AM when I wrote the message, so seven hours time difference. I was watching the second showing. The first showing starts about 4:00AM in my area. Far too early for me to get up and too late for me to stay up to watch. Like you, I'm afraid those who want to dope will always find a way. Always try to be one step ahead of those policing it. A sad state.

Gaff I looked up the differences in time. And I foud for Washington-Seatle a time difference of 9 hours. So now it is 10.41 am and at your home 1.41 am, so you are still asleep. Am I correct ? But there are big differences in the America. I have print a map with all the states. And I see that in New York there is a diffence from 6 hours. So the Tour starts today at 13.25 pm, in your home it will be 4.25 am. If I am wrong, you must say it. But that difference is time is so amazing.

Again Epo in the Tour. This time Ricco is accused of taking Epo. He and his team Saunier Duval have left the Tour. I am very frightened. I saw something in this young rider from Italy. Like he won the first stage in the Pyrenees. That was astounding. He got away during the ascent like a rocket. He was so fast. I compared this escape with the stage in 2006 from Landis and I asked myself : is this normal. But I thought he is a young rider. But you see, it was not normal. What a scandal for the Tour. Here in Belgium there are already more than 200 reactions in a newspaper, telling that our Tom Boonen was punished for something he did outside the Tour (if he did it) and that he would be a blame for the other riders.

Timewise that sounds about right. Last night I thought it was nine hours, and then something didn't work out in my math. Might be I was too tired as it was about Midnight. Frequently, I am up at about 1:00 - 2:00 AM, but not usually 4:00AM. I heard about Rico. He did seem very promising. That is truely disappointing. It sure makes it harder to watch without wondering about everything. With cases like these, I can see why it seems unfair that Tom Boonen was eliminated for something that happened outside of racing, especially since he has raced clean in the past. I hope that Boonen can come back next year and race clean. Number Three for Cavendish. I hope that nothing happens with Team Columbia or some of the other teams claiming to race clean.

Ricco and some of his team are not clean. They have left the Tour. Ricco maintains that he is innocent. And number four for Cavendish. He is a great sprinter. I wonder if Tom Boonen could have beat him in the sprint.

Cavendish has certainly done very well. I think most athletes want to win, but would rather not have an asterik next to the win. It would appear with Boonen out that Cavendish's wins have an asterik. Though he is beating Robbie McEwen so Cavendish is young and it may just be his time. I am happy for him and Hincapie. Just let them keep coming back with clean drug -*test*-('")s and my faith in cycling may be restored.

Our Stijn Devolder (team Tom Boonen) has abandon the Tour in Stage 15. He was a collapse. There is no more hope for a Belgian place in the top 10. By by Belgium. More news about the doping. It seems that a Spanish laboratory takes care that the riders who take epo, -*test*-('") no longer a positive. It is a certain doctor Marino. They examine the urine-samples en can decide when the sportmen must stop with their doping cure. That is very sad and it will never go away. Cavendish did not start today. He must be in a very good condition for the Olypic Games. Cavendish is a great talent. Congrats to him.

It's getting close to the end of the stage on what I'm watching right now. The mountains are definitely taking their effect. I suppose for Cavendish it was a matter of knowing he was exhausted and probably couldn't have been much assistance in the mountains and could actually drag his team down, if they tried to help him. It might have been different if the Olympics weren't this year. It will be quite interesting to see what Cavendish does next year. Quite sad that people will use science to dope and make it untraceable and that a scientist would be complicit with it.

Yesterday it was a very dangerous stage in the Alps. I was afraid to look. Today it is the 'Queen-stage'. A very heavy stage with three dangerous mountain-cols the Galibier, the Croix de Fer and the Alpe d'Huez. Is is D-day today ? Is the decision at the Alpe D'Huez ? Who will wear the yellow jersey in Paris ? Cadal, Schleck, Kohl or another rider ? It will certainly be exciting !!!

Well, Cadel may still have a chance, but what Sastra did was pretty amazing. Shleck and Vande Velde have done quite well, too. The time trials will be involving.

Yes and in the time trial, Cadel is the best. Sastre is leader but the difference in time is not enough to beat Cadel. So I think Paris will be for Cadel. But I have a lot of admiration for the brothers Shleck. I hoped that Frank would do more today so he could have enough lead to win the Tour. But Sastre was stronger and as he is his teammate, Shleck has respected the teamrules and let Sastre go. I think that next year Andy will be a great favourite. And then we will have the return of Contador. The next Tour is for the younger generation. Vandevelde is also a strong rider. :clap: for him.

The time trial has started. It is now that we will know who will win the Tour of France. For the moment Schumacher has the best time. But will it be Sastre or Cadel ? Spain or Australia ?

I just watched the end - what a surprise! Most thought Cadel was a sure thing. Sastre had a lot of will. Christian VandeVelde did very well and climbed up. Maybe he will have a good shot next year, too. Of course, next year Boonen may be riding. George Hincapi also moved up quite a bit in the rankings which is good for him. I only hope that next year there will be no doping.

At last a Belgium victory, the last stage is for our Gert Steegmans, the teammate from Tom Boonen. And also a victory for his team Quick Step. It is the only stage we won. And so the Tour has finished. Congrats to Sastre, Cadel and Kohl but also to all the riders who have suffered for three weeks and have reached Paris. It was an amazing Tour. What a pity for those who where not clean. Yes Gaff, let us hope that next year the Tour will be clean.