I doubt that Mayo can make up 4 minutes, but stranger things have happened. Armstrong, of course, is where he is entirely because of his team...the first three stages don't tap into his strengths at all. Its all about having a strong team that protects the star and balances out his less strong points (I almost said "weak points...HA!).

You're certainly right about the spectators...wasn't it the 2002 Tour when Armstrong went down after catching his handlebars on the strap of someone's bag?