The video below and photos, sum up the tour for me this year. Early this week, I finally got to watch the replay on my DVR of the Tourmalet Stage. It was so amazing to watch the Saxo team, O'Grady, Jens, Sorenson and then Schleck work their magic up the mountain in the final km's. I think Jen's deserves his own Hardass Jersey. The Jersey, would be white with blood all over it and have fake ripped holes. I know I know, you might say, Cadel rode the tour with a broken elbow, and Tyler Farrar rode for a few days with some issues, but I think Jen's is just a much better hardass, than most. Jen's would never own a little weenie man dog that gets carried on an airplane in a bag or whine about seeing his dog at the finish line, like Cadel. Jens' stopped himself last year with his face going 45k an hour - this year he got on a wrong size neutral support mavic bike, with toe clips and bombed down a mountain. He still managed to tell his legs to shut up and give it the berries till he blew, just to get Andy up the mountains. I would gather to say, Jen's would give The Hulk a run for his money.I am over Cavendish, tired of the hype, tired of his grandstanding. Lance was a major disappointment. I secretly hoped (shhhh - don't tell anyone) that he would have at least a good or decent tour and maybe win a stage on this comeback. But it just seems like he mentally and physically gave up after the first week of the tour - I just don't think he came to the tour quite as 'hungry' as he has in past years. The Shlack team organization just seemed to fall apart after LA gave up. Additionally, interesting, they all said they were "working for Levi", but I didn't see evidence of the support there for Levi.
And let me just mention how bull crap I thought that jersey stunt was on the last stage. WTF? Come on? Can you say media stunt? That rates way higher than the bikes are stolen stunt from a few years ago, from the same team. How rude to think they are so special they can wear other jersey's and not get it approved in advance - they know better and I am calling foul - and big fines.
I was however happy to see the press/media finally acknowledge the rides and finish's of Chris Horner and Garmin's Ryder Hesjedal. These guys, especially Horner, have always been great cyclists, I think they just haven't been put in a position to succeed. Cheers to Horner and Ryder! Horner also did some great daily interviews on VeloNews, that gave us all a new perspective into the team, tactics and overall view of the race.
I might have to agree with some of the critics, regarding the subject of Contador 'friending' Schleck during the last week of the tour or so. I am not sure how this effects the psych and motivation of another, but it seems, counter productive for one to be on 'hug status' with the rival in your sport of choice. I am sure you can still look into the eye of another on the Tourmalet and see suffering, but does it really matter, knowing the other person apologized days earlier for attacking and allowing that to be the deciding factor for winning the Tour De France? I have no issues with public man hugging (my friend James, broke me of that - ha) but it seems sport history shows, at this level, there must be a certain distance so to speak and evidence of successful racing "against the enemy". The question that didn't get asked, who had the most coffee before the interview started? um yeah Jens.
OK - it's almost cyclocoss season - now that the tour is over ->>>> 50 days and counting.
