Posted on 07/01/2011 7:58:26 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Thanks to you also, R4F! You did your share of putting up the graphics and keeping us all informed. It’s a lot of work (and a big responsibility) to get all the info up every single day. I really appreciate you and Bay getting it posted every morning!
I am pretty sad for Andy. He had it in his grasp and it slipped away. Cadel rode the time trial of his life. He was like a man possessed. Plus, he is not going to have many (if any) more chances to win the TdF whereas Andy (and Frank for that matter) could win several.
For a while there I was in a full panic that AC might get up to 3rd or even 2nd. I would have puked had that been the case. Bleh!
If you’d told me on Day 1 that the podium would be the 2 Schlecks and Cadel Evans, I would have replied that was my dream podium. So, that said, I am happy with the results.
Voeckler richly deserves his 4th place finish. Good for him! He rode like a champion. AC won’t be particularly happy with 5th. C’est la Tour!
Some new names for the future who had great Tours: Rolland, Danielson, Voeckler.
One more day to enjoy!
Crikey Cadel! What a ride! These last two days of Le Tour have been great.
Yeah! I always liked Robbie. And whatever happened to Michael Rassmussen?
Cadel started crying both on the podium and when signing a yellow jersey. Made me choke up, too. It all played out like I was hoping this year. Congratulations to him and thank you all for the thread. Vive le Tour!!
Here are some planning dates for 2012....
| Dates to remember | |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 27th June: | the opening of the race headquarters and the press centre at the “Halles de la Foire Internationale de Liège”, (Halls of the International Fair of Liège) on the Quai de Wallonnie. |
| Thursday 28th June: | presentation of the teams of the 2012 Tour de France in Liège |
| Saturday 30th June: | prologue in Liège 6.1 km |
| Sunday 1st July: | stage one, Liège > Seraing: 180 km |
We haven’t yet seen the 2011 podium but I’m already excited for that!
A little sad for Andy, but quite happy with the Top 4 and kudos go to Cadel for an amazing time trial -- today will be a lovely ending to a great 3 weeks. Enjoy all! See you next year, eh?
I've only one minor quibble and it's that I'd have preferred Voelker had the privilege of stepping up to a podium in Paris today somehow.
But hopefully, he'll get lots of endorsement contracts in compensation for his heroic hard work serving as the Energizer lapin of the TdF this year.
Thank you and every one else, for all your contributions every day.
They’re in their final run now.
Phil, Paul and Bob agreed that Voeckler will never again have to buy a drink in France! I think he (and Rolland) will be much heralded in France and in Europe in general on the cycling circuit.
Watching Cadel on the podium, it was hard for me not to tear up. He had a heck of a time keeping control of his emotions and understandably so. The team “scrum” after the stage finished was also amazing. You can’t help but feel great about a guy (and team) like that winning it after all he has invested over the years.
Andy could not have been more gracious. What a gentleman! It wasn’t just talking points, either, he spoke from the heart as well. Asked if he would change anything looking back, he said no. He said that he raced hard and well but Cadel was just better. At this level of cycling, it is incredible that he could have that attitude. Laudable, but incredible!
Thanks for hosting the thread. See you next year! (and on the other threads all year long)
I’m sad for Andy but happy for Cadel. He will not have too many more opportunities to win, but I see the Schleck bros on the podium for many years to come. Here’s hoping they each stand on the top at least once!
I enjoyed every day of it, though I wasn’t the actual host. Ready4Freddy, gets credit for that. I just kept the ball rolling early while some help was needed and then added my 2 cents as the peloton rolled on.
whoops! Sorry about that R4F. Thank you both for your efforts and please keep me on next years ping list!
Yeah, I wanted Andy to take it. But for a while there I wanted Voekler to take it.
Cadel was magnificently humble on the top of the podium. It always makes me feel good to see a strong man cry from pure emotional overflow, Australia has a good champion and a fine man won it all today.
Next year kids, could be one of the Schlecks, or not. Either way, as always, I’ll be tuned in. See you kids next time, same channel.
God Bless Henri Desgrange for starting this madness ;)
Mega-dittos to what you said, luv2ski!
Thank you so much, Ready4Freddy, for this thread, the graphics and the daily pings. As someone who used to run the annual TdF thread(s), I know how much work it takes to get each stage up and running.
Baynative - thank you for your daily insights, photos and stats! I'm sorry I couldn't contribute more to the thread this year, but I watched every stage on Versus. The entire crew at Versus did a magnificent job - kudos to them.
I'm so happy that the humble Cadel Evans (formerly "poor 'ol Cadel" per Phil Liggett) finally made it to the top of the podium. Next year I'd love to see Andy or Frank Schleck up there, unless of course one of our Americans (ie Tommy D or Teejay are top contenders). Thomas Voeckler was inspiring... he'll be interesting to follow next year as well.
A flaming lib acquaintance of ours is participating in "RAGBRAI", a 452.8 mile ride across Iowa starting at the Missouri River on July 24th and ending at the Mississippi River on July 30th. "RAGBRAI, The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state sponsored by the Des Moines Register." This will be the 39th year for this bicycle ride.
This (always-boastful) guy claims that "RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world."
Um... seems to me that honor should go to the Tour de France??
Apples and oranges. Ragbrai is a big party, the TdF is not really a “touring” event, it is a misery fest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.