*** HOW IT ALL HAPPENED TODAY***
Congratulations to Cadel Evans. His incredible ITT ride this morning proved he was ready to win a Tour. By the end of said Stage, he has indeed won Le Tour de France 2011! This marks the first time an Australian wins Le Tour de France. Evans is part of Team BMC which I happen to favor as it includes my all-time favorite rider, George Hincapie (the best domestique).Cadel rode today's 24+ mile sprint like a mad-man; he began being down by a mere 57" (57 mins) to Andy Schleck. By the time Andy, who was 1st in GC after yesterday's Stage 19 finish, completed today's ITT ride as the last rider, Cadel had already turned in a ride of 55"41' (55 mins 41 secs); Andy who is not known to be a good time trialist found himself losing the maillot jaune (which he only donned for one day/one Stage) and overall GC. Cadel placed 2nd as Tony Martin ultimately won today's ITT Stage, but he had enough of an overall time gap to guarantee himself the overall GC win/Tour winner.
*** HOW YESTERDAY'S STAGE 19 LED UP TO TODAY'S DECIDING FACTOR ***
Evans kept up with the peloton as needed in yesterday's Stage 19 ride. In fact he rode relaxed and attacked as needed but he cautiously kept his strength with no need to ride like Andy did. Cadel who was in the peloton for most of the Stage eventually caught up with the leaders (part of the attack group led by Andy); France's own Pierre Rolland eventually won that Stage (19); the first Stage victory this Tour for a Frenchman as they crossed the finish line.*** WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN ***
Andy Schleck was a favorite to win GC and this year's Tour and maillot jaune. I wanted him to win this Tour since last year's le Tour. Many cycling fans remembered his adversity, per se, during last year's le Tour - Stage 15. As a quick reminder of what occurred, Andy had mechanical issues (chain) and instead of slowing down as most riders would do as part of this gentleman's sport, one Alberto Contador decided to continue riding and in fact attacked and sped up. In the end of le Tour 2010 Contador found himself winning overall GC and the much-coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey). Uncanny was that he won it by the same time gap which he gained over Andy during the Stage 15 mishap.*** A GENTLEMAN'S SPORT ***
As I wrote that this is a gentleman's sport, tomorrow's Stage 21 (final day) ride into Paris with several passes around Champs-Élysées is mostly a celebratory ride. A pomp-and-circumstance ride. The Tour champion is always known by this day, the final day so it is an easy ride in which all the riders partake in to celebrate their own respective accomplishments, but also to acknowledge the overall winner. No attacks are made on this day. All the riders accept the fact that the ITT Stage denotes the true victor of the Tour so no one tries any nonsensical tactics on this glorious last day. No cads to be had on the final day.*** BIDDING FAREWELL ONCE AGAIN AS THE TOUR CONCLUDES TOMORROW, SUNDAY, JULY 24th, 2011 ***
So as saddened as I am that le Tour 2011 will end tomorrow, I am glad at the results and so privileged to have been able to watch each Stage. The ups and downs, the crashes which often slowed down several riders (Contador started out the victim of this during the first couple of Stages); the awful way so many riders, good riders in fact, had to drop out due to serious crashes. The awful, non-spirited, apathetic way that fans and media cars got in the way which also led to bad crashes and Tour-ending injuries...all this drama and sometimes hoopla reminded me why I love this sport as much as I do. I know I am in a group of very few Americans who love or follow this sport, but it has taken me a long time to feel as I do about it. Mainly it just took time for me to learn the logistics surrounding the Tour; how riders often ride for Stage wins, jersey wins, Team victories, and not everyone is out to win overall GC. Most riders know that their chances at winning a Tour are very little so their involvement is either as a domestique or for other reasons. Each rider as I stated has his own private agenda for taking part. The same goes for the fans of this sport and of this Tour, we have our own agenda. My agenda has brought me a long way and I am finally able to explain the logistics of the sport; if anyone cared to know about it - that is. But as I stand among the few fanatics of bicycling and Tours in this country, I remain true to it because it is a beautiful sport. It takes great strength, much endurance, careful planning, logistical preparation, skill, cadence, volition, patience and numbers...all of which I love and of which I am fascinated. It captivates me and I long for the day when I am able to view a Stage or more in person. I love the sport, I love this particular Tour, and I love the country of France...so all combined, I would be in heaven to be there in person. I keep on believing it will all come to fruition for me one day; the icing on the cake would be for Sara and I to share it all together and for us both and our respective families to be in good health and happy when the day arrives as I know it will. B-E-L-I-E-V-E!
