Tour de France

I have been following the Tour de France for a number of years. My family and I have always enjoyed watching it, and we occasionally make a point to see it when we visit Europe. However, as it became more controversial due to the doping scandals we, and much of the rest of the world, started to lose interest in this famous bike race. It even came to the point where many of the major sports coverage networks in Europe were refusing to broadcast the event.

Today was the final formal stage of the race. The final etappe (or stage) will be a ceremonial run through Paris. The winner of this over 2000 mile long race is generally decided before the final stage, and it is tradition for no-one to challenge the yellow-jersey holder after the penultimate etappe. The winner of this years Tour is Cadel Evans, a 34 year-old from Australia, was in 3rd place before the final time trial, but managed to pull ahead of the Luxenborgish Schleck brothers.

I have always found it amazing that over a 2300 mile long course the winner may just be a mere 10 seconds faster then the 2nd place contestant.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/sports/cadel-evans-speeds-past-andy-schleck-in-tour-de-france.html?ref=sports