The Stuart O'Grady diary

During the Tour de France CSC speedster Stuart O'Grady will be giving us a regular inside look at the daily goings-on in the peloton and the team hotel. An Olympic gold medalist on the track, O'Grady is a rider to watch in the sprints and long breakaways, and one of CSC's best hopes for a stage win or even the green points jersey.

O'Grady has had a rollercoaster ride at the last few Tours, wearing the yellow jersey in 2001 and green in 2002, but never quite managing to hang on to green all the way to Paris. In the last couple of years he's shifted his emphasis away from sprint speed and remodelled himself as a Classics and long breakaway expert.

Index to all entries

July 20: Amazing

I really felt good today, the best I’ve felt for a long time. There was no way I was going to miss that break this morning. But then with team tactics, I got told to stop working.

But wow that ride of Landis! I’ve never seen a ride like that. It’s beyond words - it was awesome. I was feeling good and in the break we were doing 58 km/h on the flat and he caught us. I mean that was something that I haven’t ever seen before.

I ended up going from the break back to the peloton as the team decided to try and close the gap. I ended up doing all I could on the front for Carlos but there was no stopping Landis. But Carlos did an amazing ride also. He did it by the book and it could have worked differently. I thought Pereiro would have lost more time today and without the incredible Landis, Carlos could have been in yellow.

It must be making great TV, everything has happened. It has been an amazing Tour to be a part of. Every day it has been on and the speed has not let up. A record amount of yellow jersey changes shows just how competitive this tour is.

Carlos will have to pull out the time trial of his life to win but everything has been so hot and cold. Anything can happen

The winner will come from the top three and whatever happens, Carlos has ridden an amazing race. If it’s not a win, but a podium, then that will still be fantastic.

Stage 17 results