day 7

Another incredible day in paradise
106km of tiny curved roads and elite climbs
geoff and steve road in total control today in the groupetto to finish
geoff is having issues with his knee but the swiss masseuse and the race doctor have us sorted out with anti inflammatories, ice and encouragement
there are no easy days here
joel found himself with a group of 4 and finished not too far off and well within his limits
he is determined and motovated to finish and had the radio seek him out for an interview
HUGE crowds at the finish
CANADA is heard on the climbs and teams are asking me about getting the boys to ride here in martinique for the winter season
it really cooled off today, from yesterdays 33c it dropped to 32C and is expected to go way down to 28 tonight
we raced through the banana plantations again today
the roads are lttered with mangos as we would have acorns or crab apples
the danes are pushing the columbians hard and that drives the pace

stopped to help a swiss rider who broke his shoe plate, taped his foot to the pedal with hockey tape, funny how none of the other teams had any!

2 days t go and we will for sure have 3 finishers
no stopping the boys now
will they want to come back? i hope so.

philippe has his good spirit back but of course wishes he was still in there;
fantastic 4
he is doing tv work
steve,s crash from yesterday made the tv coverage and was played bak over and over
local celebs

double stage tomorrow
breakfast at 5.30 as the bus leaves at 6.30
incredible traffic here
lots of video and pictures to follow when we get back

down to the crunch
-jl