Even three-time TdF champs unpack their own suitcases. When I shot Contador in the wind tunnel a couple years back he and his brother Fran rolled into the parking lot in their rental car, Alberto pulled out his suitcase, and he pulled out some fresh team kit. No entourage, no airs. I had shot him two months earlier when he was winning the Vuelta and in his native Spain he’s nothing short of a rock star in his public profile. He couldn’t go anywhere without being mobbed for autographs and pictures. So to see him in the U.S., going nearly unrecognized, was a poignant contrast.

Watching the TdF it’s fun to see riders I know throwing everything at a stage win effort. On stage 19 I’m watching my man Daniel Oss (Liquigas), the Italian with the non-Italian name, just blitz the final few km trying to take an unlikely solo win. And onr thing you probably don’t know about Oss, and certainly won’t be told by any commentator, is that Oss loves the heavy metal. No kidding, I’ve seen him throw the RJD devil horns. He’s legit.

From a little while ago, almost forget when, pre-vacation anyway. I think this summer will be broken down into pre- and post-vacation, having the break was totally perfect. One of the great highlights, of the year, really, was getting a proper Italian shave. Straight razor, hand-mixed shave cream, tilted back in the chair, hot towel. The works. A small moment but a moment worth savoring.

After the chaos of my schedule from April through the end of June a two-week vacation to Italy with the chicas was just what the doctor ordered. Complete perfection, in fact. Got some incredible riding in, ate my weight in salami, and drank the bottom out of a couple wine casks. Didn’t take all that many photos, just couldn’t bring myself to drag out the camera and point and shoot. But what I did take I’ll post over the next couple days. As well, I’ll try to update some work-related shots I’ve been neglecting. This was the last shot I took in Italy yesterday, before the gnarly flight back home - hello 3 AM!