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Good afternoon, Rusty!
Indaba? A tribal / Scout conference?
Now this polka dot jersey - I think there is a conspiracy afoot here to confuse me - I understand that one can win both and that the yellow takes precedence.
But if the cyclist is good at "climbing" (I stand corrected about "mountaineering"!) then wouldn't he want to win the polka-dot jersey also?
(Okay, I 'll give up and quit while I'm behind....... and go back to the tennis!)
Roger Federer has just won in three straight sets against the American, Steve Johnson.
And....... brace yourself....I'm afraid that Lucie Safarova lost out to Yarashova Shvedova!
I didn't see her match - just saw the results.
She lost in two straight sets.
I hope you are managing to juggle all that you wish to watch?
I am now going to take the dog out for a walk.........


Hello, Pigale!
I'm sticking to tennis! at least I understand that!
I hope you enjoy the cycling!

Hello, Pigale!
Not much going on in le Tour today.
Tommy Voeckler has got fed up with the slow pace and has left the bunch and gone after the lone breakaway rider.
I'd love to see Tommy win!

Hi Rusty,

Yes, I saw Thomas break away and it's good to see him have a go; He is always dangerous and I hope he can make it all the way to the finish.
the first half of this stage was quite boring !!!

Hi Rusty, What a nerve-racking finish ! I wonder if Mark Cavendish will wear yellow tomorrow ? I could not watch the GC - (bad connection).

Shame about Thomas, but I hope to see a lot of him inthe mountains.
Tomorrow should be another uneventful race. Am looking forward to Wednesday when we might see some hills on the border of the Massif Central.

Hello Elle,

How is your tennis going?

To answer your question on a rider wanting to win the pokka dot jersey: yes, of course any rider would like to win both the dotty and the yellow, but if winning a mountain stage (or two) is asking too much of an effort to the yellow jersey holder, it is better for him to reach the top in reasonable time but not overdo it, lest he might pay for it the next day; (at least that's how I see things). Mountain stages are demanding and often last 3 or 4 days.

Am I making sense?

I am a bit mad at the moment - for some unknown reason I cannot send emails - have not been able to all day! Frustrating.

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I remember indaba now!
I saw Safarova lose.
Her opponent was much better.
No, I think you would find that a cyclist is very content to win yellow, and is happy for the polka dot to go to someone else.
It can even work in his favour, if the polka dot wearer can beat challengers for the yellow on a mountain stage.
If a rider has the polka dot as well as yellow, it comes about by happenstance, not by a plan.
Hello, Pigale,
Thank goodness for Thomas Voeckler!
He livened up a very boring stage.
He gave the peloton a look of contempt as he left them!
I look forward to more attacks from him in the mountains.
As I understand it, Sagan is still in yellow.
Another long stage tomorrow.
Let us hope there will be attacks and less of the go slows that we had today!

Thank you, Rusty and Pigale, for your explanations.
I' m not really interested in the sport as such, but see it more as a challenge to grasp the essentials!
But just when I think I've got it sussed, something throws me........
I think I shall concede defeat.....maybe not gracefully, but certainly wearily!
I hope you get your email situation sorted soon, Pigale.

Malone, just done The Times crossword.
28, Jersey allowed on grass (7)
I have "singlet".
Surely a singlet is a vest, not a jersey?
And,
15 Make money--a pot, did you say? (4)
I have "earn".
Is that supposed to sound like "urn"?
I do not think that setter and me would get on!

Hi, Rusty!
Have you had a good viewing day?
I hope you managed to watch all that you wanted.
What an afternoon!
I was pleased that Roger got through.
But it was very sad that Richard Gasquet had to retire with a back injury when playing J-W Tsonga.
Now Tsonga goes on to play Andy Murray, who put out Nick Kyrgios, in the quarter- finals.
Was there some sort of problem with Kyrgios? I didn't see the match myself, but I have heard references about his "antics" during the match?
I hear he refuses to have a coach.
Martina Hingis and Leander Paes are at present playing on Court One if you can get that (I can't! )
I am watching Berdych and Vesely .
How did your cycling go today?

Rusty, I agree with you (and apparently Chambers) that a singlet is a vest - and not a jersey. I also saw earn/urn, but we're on a loser with that one. I think it was Elle who checked the pronunciation in Chambers the last time this appeared and the earn=urn (sound) exists. You and I might not use it, but it seems to be legitimate.

Elle, the only problem with Krygios this evening was his attitude! He played wonderfully well in the first set, but when Murray broke him at the end of that, Kyrgios just... disintegrated really. He played some truly dreadful shots and he seemed to lose all interest. It was infuriating - and also very sad. He has a huge talent, but doesn't seem to want to learn how to make the most of it.