Though oppressive crowds, who stand in the way of the riders to wave a flag at the camera, because, you know, TV. Through 21% grades, that stalled one of the camera motorcycles and caused a brief break in coverage. Through a fog that settled in at the top of the mountain, and obscured the view of the road and riders around them. Horner comes out on top.
An amazing battle between Nibali and Horner unfolded on the slopes of the Angliru. An early attack by Nibali wasn't immediately answered, and had us wondering if Horner had spent it all to catch up over the last week. Nibali seeemed in good position, with 2 teammated up the road, and all the other favorites riding solo. But Fuglsang and Tiralongo didn't drop back to him fast enough and Horner, along with Valverde and Rodriguez, eventually made the catch, though neither of the latter helped Horner in the chase. And even though Chris Horner may be the most awkward-looking man up a climb, I don't think I saw him in the saddle at any point in the last 10km, and apparently that works for him. With a little more than 1km to go, he put in an attack and Nibali hit the wall. Horner came in with a 34" advantage (and collapsed to the ground, surrounded by a very excited group of RadioShack support staff).
It would appear to me that Horner's injury this spring was well-timed. If he was healthy at TdF time, he probably would have gone, been second-fiddle to Andy Schleck, and been eaten alive by Froome. As it was, he got back in form right before the Vuelta, hit up the ToU to test the waters. And comes home with a Grand Tour GC title. The dude's 41.
Epic.
Parting Thought: Big ups to the CU football team and staff, using the day off from the postponed game to help out people affected by the floods and serve the food that was already delivered to Folsom to those in need.
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