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 15. Mark Cavendish beats Tyler Farrar to the stage win
Another sprint stage, another HTC-led Cavendish win. This one giving him a 70-odd point lead at the top of the Green classification standings. I’d say that the Green jersey is now his to throw away; make it through the alps and he should be wearing it on the final podium, no?
Today was one of those days where the breakaway (again, containing a team member of FDJ; they’ve been in every single breakaway this year) led out for most of the race, only to be caught at the end and for the peloton to contest a bunch sprint. There’s only ever going to be one winner in those circumstances, so it wasn’t the most enthralling stage.
What caught my attention today, before, during and after the race took place, was the tidal wave of paranoia that has infested this year’s Tour de France. Fans and competitors alike have mumbled and groaned throughout, reaching a climax over the past 48 hours.
If it’s not Cavendish moaning about Roman Feillu or ASO, then it’s fans accusing commentators of bias; if it’s not Philippe Gilbert and José Joaquin Rojas accusing of Cavendish of cheating by being towed by race cars, then it’s fans arguing over who loves the sport most; if it’s not Frank Schleck complaining about other riders “not trying”, then it’s fans declaring that cyclists are definitely doping (what happened to innocent until proven guilty?)
All this makes it difficult to like and to get emotionally involved in a genuinely thrilling and exciting sport.
Although, perhaps those that proclaim to love the sport more than I do don’t need me to.
