2 and a bit weeks to go - who's hot and who's not

I like to keep an eye on the weather back in the UK. Today it was really rather warm here in Atlanta, and as is often the case, the temperature in my new home-town, was slightly higher than that in my old home-town.

All in all it made for a sweaty bike ride today. Probably not helped by the fact that I faffed around, (or lolly gagged, as Mrs. Pance likes to call it) for a good couple of hours before I left, and found myself riding in the midday sun. In fact according to the sign outside a bank I rode past, it was even hotter than my Google Toolbar suggested.

Or if you like proper, internationally agreed units, instead of the stupid and archaic Fahrenheit system, here's that number in Celsius.

It may be hot for cycling, but it's even worse for working in a bike shop, with no air conditioning. Man, is it sweaty in there at the moment. At least a customer was kind enough to bring me some refreshment, as a reward for some work well-done. Dude, you really shouldn't have.

There's only 19 days to go till the 2010 TDF start in Rotterdam and if riders want to do well in July, their good form should be starting to show by now. So let's see who's maturing like a fine bottle of champagne kept in a cellar, and who's spoiling like a can of Bud Lite left on the counter in a hot bike shop. The Dauphiné Libéré finished yesterday. Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen seems to be over those early-season injury problems and took the final stage, (and he did a good ride in the TT).

On Saturday the race went up the legendary Alpe D'Huez and who should win but Alberto Contador?

He's a man of his word though, and left the overall for young Slovenian, Janez Brajkovic, who's now being tipped as a star of the future. He might now make it into the Radioshack team for the tour, but maybe not, as Lance doesn't seem to like being upstaged by younger, more talented team-mates. Other names to watch in the race were Dennis Menchov, who didn't impress much, David Millar, who seems to going pretty well this season and American kid, Tejay Van Garderen, who is probably too young to be part of HTC- Columbia's tour squad, but is another one to watch for the future.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Chocolate, the Tour Du Suisse started on Saturday. Obviously Fabian Cancellara won the prologue thanks to his electric bicycle, which the mechanics were keen to keep a safe distance from the public.

Stage 2 saw a win for another man back from injury troubles just in time for the Tour. This time it was Cervelo's, Heinrich Haussler, who could be back in fine sprinting form after a disastrous early season. Possibly a good fantasy team pick, or will he have to play second fiddle to his team-mate Thor Hushovd, (also recently injured) and his green jersey ambitions?

Today in Switzerland, it was Frank Schleck who won with a late attack. Lance didn't get quite the pasting I was hoping for and came in 7 seconds back in 15th spot, and it might be worth noting that dead last of today's finishers was Thor Hushovd. Also looking good so far, are 2009 FTDF Bile Beans team members, Tony Martin, Thomas Lövkvist and Robert Gesink. Not to mention another rider I've got my eye on, but I won't mention, lest someone snags him for their team. If you look closely, he's somewhere in this picture - it's like a cycling where's Wally? (or Waldo if you're in the US).