Rest days on the Tour usually have media events, lots of press conferences, and many outlandish statements. A Grand Tour, in terms of race tactics, is very much like a rolling United Nations General Assembly session. Lots of posturing, bluffing, attempts at diplomacy, and ambiguous pronouncements hiding true intentions and circumstances.
Fun media event for today: Garmin-Chipotle provided the press, and the other riders, Chipotle's French Burrito. Rumor was that the recipe required making adjustments for the local beans that were available.
Press conferences: the must attend Q&A session is the Yellow Jersey holder. Cadel Evans brought an Aussie flavor to his presser: having the interview outside in the hotel's backyard, entering the venue to the sound of Men at Work's "Land Down Under," and dressing the stuffed lion, which each yellow jersey holder receives at the podium presentation, in his first ever yellow jersey and sunglasses. No name for the lion yet, though.
Outlandish statements: the most notable noises came from Caisse d’Epargne Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Oscar Pereiro calling Cadel Evans' Silence-Lotto team "weak." Bold words coming from a pre-race favorite who imploded in the time trial and the designated winner of the 2006 Tour de France, who only got that close to the lead because the peloton let his breakaway escape since he was over 30 minutes behind the leaders. Both lost over three minutes to Evans in one stage, basically ending their chances at even a top five finish, with the Alps still looming and a 50 km time trial.
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