As far as I am concerned Contador looks to have taken something after his poor showing last week. The Schelk brothers have not really imposed themselves as I was expecting. I cannot see it happening, but I would love Voeckler to keep going. Whatever happens now, for me he has been the star of the show.
What a fantastic day. Thomas Voeckler maintains his hold on the yellow jersey, just. When a non-climber like him leaves Contador in his wake you cannot but admire the man for his fighting spirit. The snow held off, it is July after all.
One of the best stages in the last few years. Schleck attacking from - what? - 50km out, absolute heroics from Voeckler to stay in yellow. Chapeau (x) !!
Hi guys, can someone shed some light on the Green Jersey situation? Cav was penalised for his sprint finishing 13th a couple of days ago and lost all his points of that day I think? 320 down to 300 I read an interview saying he now was giving up on winning the Green jersey as he was too far behind and would concerntrate on winning the final stage in Paris...........But - he still leads the Green jersey so whats going on?
Chris ....the official Tour site has Cavendish 1st with 300 points and Rojas 2nd on 285 points. It sounds as if the interview got something wrong. His chance of getting points in the mountains are zero, but he has a very good chance of winning in Paris. He looks a good bet still.
Stage 19 : Modane Valfréjus - Alpe-d’Huez : 109.5 km Today’s route runs in the opposite direction to yesterday’s. The riders tackle the successive climbs of the Col du Télégraphe and the Galibier, and then finish with the climb to Alpe d’Huez, which returns after an absence of three years. It is a short stage. Nevertheless, all of the riders will be afraid of it. Those who aren’t going so well will be concerned about the cut-off time for elimination and the favourites will know that they will pay a heavy cost for any sign of weakness. The shortness of the stage allows the climbers to attack from very early on, which is not something they will be used to. This stage will be thrilling and, bearing in mind that it comes on the back of two other tough days, there is a chance that a lot of damage will be done today.
Stage 20 : Grenoble - Grenoble :42.5 km This is the race’s only individual time trial, as the one in the first week was a team time trial test, while putting another one into the middle of the race didn’t really serve any great purpose. The profile is rolling and the road does climb, although there aren’t any cols as such. Victory won’t automatically go to a specialist because the final time trial of the Tour is a very physical test that suits a strong man – last year’s Bordeaux-Pauillac test won by Cancellara was an exception. In this solitary exercise, there is no way a rider can bluff or hide in the wheels of their team-mates.
Today we watched as Evans powered his way round a hilly course for nearly an hour, overtaking the leaders on time to wear the Yellow Jersey as they ride into Paris for the final stage this year. Cadel Evans has had numerous set backs over the years but he is the finest cyclist in the world. He was born with a broken nose, three weeks past his due date but at 34 years of age, he is going to become the first Australian to win the Tour de France. At the age of eight he was kicked in the head by a horse, fracturing his skull and putting him in a coma for weeks. Doctors didn’t expect him to walk again after that accident but he has done a lot more than that. In Grenoble he was a dominant force. He became the virtual leader of the Tour de France before the halfway mark of the 42.5km time trial of stage 20 and, by the 27.5km mark, he had more than double the time he needed to win the title. Andy Schleck ended up finishing 2’31” behind the BMC team leader and the Schleck brothers were shunted down the rankings from first and second overall to second and third. Evans has been close to victory before, finishing twice in the 2007 edition (by just 23” to Alberto Contador) and second in 2008 (by just 58” to Carlos Sastre. The first Australian to win the world road race championships is now going to be the first from his country to win the yellow jersey.
Stage 21 : Créteil - Paris Champs-Ãlysées : 95 km It has been the tradition since 1975 for the Tour de France to end with a prestigious stage finish on the Champs-Ãlysées. At the start in Créteil, we will remember Laurent Fignon, who held a licence with the local club. In 1989, his duel with Greg LeMond maintained the suspense right to the finish, where Fignon was sure that he would be the winner. That was the only occasion that the final stage was run as a time trial. Every other time, it has been a road stage that has been decided in a bunch sprint, except on four occasions. Those exceptions were the victories taken by Alain Meslet in 1977, Bernard Hinault in 1979, Eddy Seigneur in 1994 and Alexandre Vinokourov in 2005. It is incredibly hard to get a telling gap on this stage when breakaway riders are always within sight of the peloton.
I am so happy for Cadel. He is such a good guy. Anyone think, what might have been, for Bradley? This has been one of the best tours ever and will probably be the best, as Cav looks set fair for green.
Well what a good result. Cav wins the sprint and the Green Jersey, the first Brit to ever do so. Cadel Evans wins the Tour after safely getting to the finish, the first man from Oz to do that. As usual you can wonder what might have been. Bradley Wiggins could have finished in the top three I think, as he was in the best form of his life until he broke his collar bone. Only one rider that I have seen has failed a drugs test and that has to be good for the reputation of the sport.
Sorry guys I still dont get it ! On the tv it is still as exciting as watching my back jungle grow! Think I prefer Darts or snooker
TRJ not sure that I could find out as much. With access to the French news and internet sites there is bags of info, and I only put down a fraction of what was available. However I was quite surprised by the number of views, showing that it was read. Norway, I think that there are a number of sports that I don't get. I have found the Tour to be one that has grown on me. There was a sprinter called Mario Cipollini who a few years ago could win time and time again when he had a nice flat stage. However he didn't do mountains and as soon as it became hilly he would pack his bags and go home. To see a Brit who is an out and out sprinter toil up the mountains so that he can win in Paris, or an older rider from down under show the young flashy riders some real grit and determination makes for some real up lifting moments. I can play darts and snooker badly, but there is no way I could do what these guys do.
You mean darts and snooker players arent cheating with drug usage Frenchie ! well maybe the odd beer I also play both badly, I have travelled with 2 wheels for most of my adult life (granted with an engine in the middle) I`m sorry I still dont get cycling as a spectator sport! especially live, kinda a couple of minutes action and then they have gone! it makes as much sense to me as most motor sports! I am glad that a noggy didnt win it coz the last thing the local road network needs is more cyclists which would have happened if a local had won! Its not everyday I was willing an aussie to win in a sport I dont really care about !! How did they cover the tour de france before TV days? Most spectator sports are in an arena where people can see an event take place. Noggys with their useless arrogant road manners have turned me forever against cycling , that and the fact a lot of money has been spent on cycle paths down the sides of most roads ,where do you find the cyclists 5 abreast on the road
OK you cannot be swayed. They reckon that more people turn out to see it than any other spectator event, with 1/2 million in Paris alone this afternoon. I believe that it started to sell a newspaper.
