Oh, Le Tour!

Perhaps there is little more that can be said about the sad goings on at the Tour De France this week. With the expulsion of Vinokourov, then a positive test for one of the lesser known riders, plus the earlier T-Mobile expulsion it was going badly. But the removal from the race of yellow jersey wearer Michael Rasmussen was definitely the big story.

Personally, I welcome the decision. To slip up and not declare your whereabouts once is perhaps an innocent mistake, but Rasmussen's repeated breaches of the rules are simply not on when you race at such an elite level.

Whilst it has been a tough week for the race, I think it is better to be open about the problem than trying to sweep it under the carpet and imagine everything is alright.

And with that event fading, all eyes are now on tomorrow's final time trial, which will be the real test of who will eventually win. Of course I will be glued to it here, willing Cadel Evans to rip down the road and overhaul the current leader Contador. It will be live on tv here, but you can always catch it live on my favourite Tour following website Cycling News.

Today's photo is the next in my stork series. This one was taken when the stork came down to the ground to receive a feed. More about that later! Am hoping to get back tot he park this weekend and catch some more photos of the storks. Reason being that I was in the park this morning running, and the two juveniles are now quite large. I can only assume the whole family will depart pretty soon (or they are going to have to enlarge the nest!)

Shane