Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy!!!!!

.PARIS (AP) — It was a Tour de France many hailed as a classic. There were crashes, dropouts, surprises and, above all, a new champion.

With Cadel Evans becoming the first Australian to win cycling's most prestigious race, the Tour de France had a completely new look this year.

Besides his great time-trial, he was impressive when he did nearly all of the pace-setting when they were trying to reel in Andy Schleck on the Col du Galibier.

I heard he would have been much faster if he hadnt stopped at every pub he passed....

Damn good effort , all the same .

As a follower of the tour since around 1975, Congrats to Sir Evans.
Both he and his countrymen have every reason to be proud.


Best


GWB

quote:

Posted 26 July 2011 09:56 Hide Post
I heard he would have been much faster if he hadnt stopped at every pub he passed.... Smiler

Gents,
I hate to be the one to throw a wet blanket on this BUT.....Cadel Evans is one of few TDF champions that won the event without EVER putting his stamp of authority upon the race. Cadel Evans has made a career out of riding second or third wheel.

SGraves155,
Had he been in charge of things he never would haver allowed Schleck 4:05 before organizing. Had Schleck not blown in the last 2-3k of the Galibier, Evans doest win. In 19 he also allowed Contador to go, champions do not let CG contenders to "go"

I got into a debate about this on a bike racing forum as well. He rode in fear of loosing the entire tour, never took charge.

In my opinion the real tour standouts are:

Schleck, for aggression
Voekler, for sheer guts
Thor Hushovd, for a sprinter winning 2 mountain stages

Just an opinion, obviously the clock says Evans won.

Steve

Maybe a touch of strategy here and there, 'eh?

He reeled Schlek in, because Schlek was a tiny bit too agressive, and could not come up for air when it counted at the end.

I worship George Patton, who certainly took control of everything he saw in WWII. However, that pussy Montgomery also squeaked out some timely victories with little more than billies of tea and a few crates of .303 ammunition (of course, the ANZACS did all the fighting while he and the Pommies made sure they got to the tea pot and biscuit tin first).

I suppose he has a few more races to go before history judges whether he was a true champion or not. Let us see if he has his shit together next year.

I think there is a good argument that the TDF is the ultimate athletic test (next to working as an SAS, RASAS, SEAL, DELTA, Direct Action US ARMY S/F, SPETSNAZ, etc. on the old two-way range for a year at a crack).

Cadel has been "lurking" for several years. The TDF is NOT an individuals race. It involves the whole team AND a lot of strategy. Good to see someone from 'down under" who is also a world class cyclist in his own right, win the big one.
Peter.