Just saw that Denis Menchov has pulled out of the race. Got in the team car moments ago. This is yet another travesty of the Rasmussen affair. Menchov very likley sidelined his own GC hopes to work for Rasmussen after the latter was going better. Same to a certain degree for Michael Boogerd. I hear that he has no more enthusiasm for the race. Both Boogerd and Menchov made massive efforts at the front to protect Rasmussen and ride way beyond their capabilities settig tempo in the mountains. Boogerd given is outstanding record in the Classics could have won a stage if he had, had the chance. That would have been great for him considering that he is retiring at the end of the year. Liklely not a happy group at the Rabobank team hotel last night.
I was also thinking the same thing for Christophe Moreau (sp?). He was virtually eliminated from the GC competition by a team which is no longer in the race. His form was good, but I think he became a broken man after finishing minutes down on the flat stage. Perhaps he would have lost tons of time in the end anyway, but you never know…
With that said, since he is French, there is no way he could have won the tour anyway, so it doesn’t matter 
Also remember that Menchov won the tour of Spain after Heras was pulled for drugs. He’s been robbed twice now!