We've all been watching the Tour, we've all had our favorite moments and favorite athletes...but this is my blog, so you're going to have to read about my favorites.
• Let's just get the obvious out of the way...Lance Armstrong! What an athlete, never in this race was there any doubt that he could win. I was always nervous about the uncontrollable things (crashes, illness) but always felt confident that Lance would be able to respond to anything thrown at him at the Tour (and he did). Even when isolated from his team, Lance matched the accelarations of Basso, Ullrich, Vino, Kloden, Sastre or whoever had the thankless job of trying to dethrone "The Boss". I could obviously go on and on about the American cyclist who will go down in history as arguably the greatest Tour rider EVER, but I probably would just be reiterating what you already know.
Let me just say that I think it is truly fitting that Lance ends his career where he belongs...on the top of the podium!
• Although I feel bad for how the penultimate stage of the Tour went for Michael Rasmussen, I am happy that Jan Ullrich was able to finish on the podium. Jan was so often mentioned in the same breath with Lance throughout the past seven years, so it's appropriate that one of the biggest rivalries in sports be represtented at the end of the biggest sporting event. Jan always catches a lot of crap about how he's out of shape or that he's not focused on winning etc., etc., but the truth is, Jan Ullrich has finished on the podium at the TdF seven times, and never finished worse than 4th! I think winning the tour in '97 when he was still so young created expectations that were just too high. It didn't help that his career happened to coincide with the juggernaut that is Lance Armstrong. If Lance had decided not to resume his cycling career following his bout with cancer, I bet Jan would have more than just one TdF victory in his list of palmares.
• As far as Ivan Basso goes, I think you could probably carve his name into the trophy for next year. Basso has been the only one over the past two years that was right there with Lance in the high mountains. When the other rivals started to crack and fall away, Basso was the constant. Barring the uncontrollable disaster and assuming that Bjarne Riis will surround him with CSC's finest agian, I don't see anybody else beating him. Having said that, I also think that Ivan should take a page from Lance's training program and forget about the Giro and just focus on next July!• Poor Rasmuusen, two crashes and four bike changes during the final TT. But hey, did he really expect to make the top 3 at the TdF anyway? His polka-dots were a great accomplishment and we'll just try to forget the whole TT thing.
• How about Chris Horner! Right down to the last stage, Horner was aggressive and played a role in the race. Almost winning one stage and making it into breaks a few times, Horner really showed that he deserved to be a part of Saunier Duval's tour squad. I hope to see him back next year, maybe being supported as the CG guy?!
Chris Horner
• So, is Popovych the next tour winner from Discovery Channel? Maybe so, he sure looked to have the neccessary stuff while winning (by a large margin) the White Jersey. With the tutelage of Johan Bruyneel and the backing of the best team in pro cycling I think he's got a great shot at it.
• Hincapie, Hincapie, Hincapie...what a tour for the lieutenant! His first Tour stage win on the toughest day of the race (who cares if he sucked a little wheel...it's a TdF stage win!). The only teamate of Lance's who was there for all 7 wins. Will he turn into the next grand tour sensation for the US?...I doubt it. He's got too many other fish to fry in the classics to be willing to throw away a whole year in order to train for just one race. With having said that, I do think that no matter what George does for the remainder of his pro career, he'll be viewed as very real threat.
• I wish Tom Boonen was able to finish this year's TdF. Thor Hushovd is a worthy winner of the Maillot Vert, but I feel that Boonen was the most dominate fast guy in the peloton. Sure, Sure... Jason O'mahoney would claim that McEwan was the best sprinter and maybe I would agree with that, but when it comes to being fast AND being able to ride over the mountains Boonen is a monster (yes, even more than O'Grady). I just like Boonen I guess...you got a problem with that?
• Vino is a stud! Anybody who can attack in the high mountains, get into break aways and stay away or beat the sprinters to the line has my vote for most aggressive rider. Even though the cry baby Oscar Pereiro won that distinction, Vino should be awarded with something for all the work he did in this year's TdF (other than his 2 stage wins). I'd venture to say that he'll probably be awarded with a phat contract to be THE man on whatever team can sign him.• With the greatest American cyclist now retired, who do we root for next year? Levi, Floyd, George, Horner ...they're all capable, but whoever it's going to be probably won't be able to win with the decisiveness that Lance has. We'll probably have to sit a little further towards the edge of our seats and hold out breath a little more. While we've been able to rest assure with the fact that Lance WILL respond the challenges, next year won't come with the same guarantee. The chance of Floyd cracking on a decisive climb, or Levi not making a crucial break, or Horner not turning in a competitive TT are a lot more likely.
Regaurdless of our loss, American cycling has plenty of talent and will definatly remain a factor in pro-cycling for years to come.
• Did you happen to catch the Disco team Kit for the last stage? I think they should consider making that design perminant. The yellow injects a bit of much needed color into a Kit that tends to blend into the peloton too much. I know my wife was always complaining about not being able to differentiate between a few of the teams in the peloton. Fassa, Quickstep, and Disovery all have blue and white kits that do blend from afar. Add to that the blue jerseys of Liberty Seguros, Bouygues Telecom, Gerolsteiner, Ag2r and Lampre...and you've got a lot of blue! (that is Margie Wargo of Nike delivering all of the shwag to the Disco boys the night before the ride into Paris)Well, now that the Tour is over, what will become of this blog? More recounts of local club rides and the occasional pro-cycling news will probably be the order of the day (s). I'll probably throw things up that are pretty random and not having anything to do with cycling too, but I still encourage you to add your comments regaurdless.
Thanks for reading (I know it got long)
Paul
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