Tour de France, Stage 21. Cadel Evans celebrates his victory with Andy and Frank Schleck in 2nd and 3rd places
Cadel Evans today became the first Australian - and the first person from the Southern Hemisphere - to win the Tour de France. At the age of 34, he is the oldest post-War winner and came 1st after two 2nd places in 2007 and 2008. He is now a hero, back home in Australia.
There’s not much more to say that hasn’t been said elsewhere, but I’ll be back to do a wee review tomorrow.
Tour de France, Stage 19. Pierre Rolland delights in taking France’s first stage win
In a day that saw the yellow jersey change hands from Voeckler to Andy Schleck, you would expect the French to be in mourning. If not for the young Europcar domestique they might well have been.
Rolland has worked, and worked, and worked for every minute of every day that his team leader has Thomas Voeckler held onto the yellow jersey. At one point during today’s stage, Voeckler told Rolland “it was over” and to “go for the win”, and he did just that. Chapeau!
As for the GC contenders, well it’s all changed. The Schleck’s are into first and second - youngest first - with Cadel Evans breathing down Frank’s neck in third. The big money’s on Cadel to out time trial both, and he has around 57s to make up on Andy to take the yellow jersey.
I wouldn’t put it past him but I have a sneaky feeling about Frank’s chances.
Tour de France, Stage 18. Andy Schleck shows his relief to take the stage win…
…but, more importantly, a big step towards the yellow jersey.
I had a rant at Schleck Jr a couple of days ago, so credit where it’s due. He was fantastic today. Superb, tactical cycling from Leopard-Trek, executed in a way that was not only effective but exciting, too.
Andy now moves up into 2nd behind Thomas Voeckler who still won’t let go of the yellow jersey. Chapeau!
It’s not over yet, though. Not only are there more mountains to climb tomorrow, but Cadel Evans - probably the greatest time trial cyclist of the top 4 - is hot on their tails, waiting for a chance to shine on Saturday’s penultimate stage.
Tour de France, Stage 16. Andy Schleck loses time as we hit the mountains
Today, I think, we saw a fragility of the mind that is not something you like to expose in the last week of a grand tour. Shortly after being beat fair and square, and after losing several seconds to his nearest competitors, Andy Schleck felt the need to complain about today’s route, and to as good as suggest that fast descents should not be included in the Tour de France.
“It was a dangerous finish. I was not feeling great when he attacked and I did a bad descent. People don’t want a race that is decided in a downhill. We don’t want crashes or thoughtless risks.”
The problem with this is that his competitors got down that hill just fine; hell, some of them even seemed to enjoy it! It seems that Schleck Jnr is struggling at the moment, and trying to find someone or something to blame, when really he should work on his bike handling and descending skills.
“I must do something” always solves more problems than “Something must be done”.
Aside from all this, a stage was won! And it was won by The God of Thunder, Thor Hushovd, edging out his younger countryman, Edvald Boassan Hagan after a short sprint. I actually think Eddy the Boss could’ve beaten Thor if he’d been paying attention to Thor when he made his attack. Instead, he was staring off into middle distance, perhaps thinking of his and Geraint Thomas’ next video offering.
Evans, Contador and well, just about everyone made time on the Schlecks, meaning that the GC table looks a little different this evening. Evans is now into 2nd, taking 20-odd seconds out of Voeckler.
I would suggest that Evans is now the favourite, although Contador’s form today suggests he’s got something to bring into the Alps. Outsiders? Well, Sanchez is looking decent and he’s closer to Voeckler than Contador.
Everything will be decided in the mountains. Or, if not, perhaps in the Individual Time Trial on Saturday.
The news that Alberto Contador is joining team Saxo Bank next year (and the recent news that Andy Schleck - and his brother - are leaving the same team), is reason enough to post this commercial featuring them both.
Tour de France jersey winners
This year’s Tour de France was expertly shot in boston.com’s Big Picture series. Part 1 and Part 2 are both worth a look.
