Crimson Autograph

I'm watching the Vuelta again. Feeling full of flu and short of both breath and skin.

Yesterday Santiago did another round of heroics, breaking away from the peloton with Roberto Heras the race leader, and burning off Alejandro Valverde for over two minutes to take second place overall. That's not all though. He then went on to blow away Heras to the tune of half a minute. So he starts today one minute behind the gold jersey with only three days to go.

It's gripping.

One of the joys of warching the big road races is that no matter how you feel there is something comforting in watching a bunch of guys pedalling up and down mountains for several hours. Throw in the complexity of several individual competitions running simultaneously and a team competition, and you have a mix that throws up contant tension and drama, and there are few things to beat tense dramas involving people who are soaked in sweat and pushing the limits of their physical endurance.

It's particularly life affirming when taken with a nice meal and a large and very cold drink.