TdF 2012 Recap: Bike Bells, Cardboard Profiles, and a Whole Lot of Racing...
Alright, well it is time for the obligatory review of this years Tour de France. But before getting into the nitty-gritty of the actual racing, there are some extras to get out of the way first.
I seem to recall some saying about leading with your best; in this case that would be Sean Kelly, who sat in the commentating booth of British Eurosport along with David Harmon. The man (Kelly) has a wit about him that I failed to recognize through, I don't know how many viewings of the Sean Kelly Story. He, and Harmon, would regularly come up with something to make me laugh, but it was the final day, when a Eurosport interviewer prior to the stage start, presented Mark Cavendish with a cardboard cut out of the stage 18 profile, a stage won by the Manx Missile. During the resulting banter in the booth concerning Cav's accomplishments, Kelly's response was "... the cardboard from Eurosport, he'll appreciate it some day." Hilarious. If you were not paying attention, you would have missed it, it was so subtle. I can just picture it, some year in the future, Cavendish sharing stories of glory with his grandchildren, pointing out this trophy, that trophy, rainbow and green jerseys, and up there on the shelf amongst them all, the cardboard cutout. Good one, Sean. On or off the road you're the best. I hope someone got a photo of Cavendish holding that c'board, I haven't seen one yet.
Best new component seen on this year's Tour bikes: Electronic shifting - heck no. The latest, greatest, lightest - seen it. No, the prize has to be Peter Sagan's official Cannondale bicycle bell.
I seem to recall some saying about leading with your best; in this case that would be Sean Kelly, who sat in the commentating booth of British Eurosport along with David Harmon. The man (Kelly) has a wit about him that I failed to recognize through, I don't know how many viewings of the Sean Kelly Story. He, and Harmon, would regularly come up with something to make me laugh, but it was the final day, when a Eurosport interviewer prior to the stage start, presented Mark Cavendish with a cardboard cut out of the stage 18 profile, a stage won by the Manx Missile. During the resulting banter in the booth concerning Cav's accomplishments, Kelly's response was "... the cardboard from Eurosport, he'll appreciate it some day." Hilarious. If you were not paying attention, you would have missed it, it was so subtle. I can just picture it, some year in the future, Cavendish sharing stories of glory with his grandchildren, pointing out this trophy, that trophy, rainbow and green jerseys, and up there on the shelf amongst them all, the cardboard cutout. Good one, Sean. On or off the road you're the best. I hope someone got a photo of Cavendish holding that c'board, I haven't seen one yet.
The most exciting moment for me - Thibaut Pinot's edge of the seat, will he do it, can he hang on, shout out the window, stage eight win.
The most exciting moment for Marc Madiot - Thibaut Pinot's edge of the seat, will he do it, can he hang on, shout out the window, stage eight win.
The most disappointing moment - Peter Sagan's failure to take a fourth stage win, therefore depriving us all the chance to view another of his patented and creative victory salutes.
Most disappointing moment (runner-up) - no win for the Irish duo, Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin. Both rode a terrific Tour, gave great efforts, and Roche came oh, so painfully close on stage 18. Martin gained valuable experience in his first Tour, so the wins, the placings, they will come, of that I am sure.
The best in men, the worst in men. Tacks in the road brought out both. Once again, the Tour showed that sportsmanship isn't dead; it is alive and well in cycling.
Hooray for Tommy V. He may not have worn Yellow this year, but two stage wins in the mountains, including what was arguably the toughest of the bunch, and the Polka Dot Jersey, was some spectacular consolation. Thomas Voeckler keeps a three week long race exciting like few, if any, others.
The multiple-stage victors - Peter Sagan with three, Andre Greipel with three, Mark Cavendish with three (not to mention Mark's fourth consecutive on the Champs-Elysees). Way to dominate the sprints guys.
The old guys - of all the starters, 11 were aged 38 or older, only two failed to finish. Chris Horner (40) was the highest placed at 13th; the others were Alexander Vinokourov (38) in 31st, Levi Leipheimer (38) in 32nd, George Hincapie (39) 38th, Jens Voigt (40) 52nd, Danilo Hondo (38) 86th, Stuart O'Grady (38) 97th, Joan Horrach (38) 119th, Sebastien Hinault (38) 122nd. Special recognition, of course, to Hincapie - 17 starts, 16 finishes - the most of any rider in Tour de France history.
Contracts: I have not checked to see how long Chris Froome has with Sky, but I can't see him as anything other than a team leader next year. Somewhere.
Finally, Bradley Wiggins, the first British champion of the Tour de France. That is a long wait, and must make it especially sweet. Wiggins did what was necessary in the mountains, and rolled over everyone in the time trials. My fingers are itching to make a comparison, but I won't - Bradley is Wiggins, and deserves the spotlight and accolades.
wait a minute - get out of there. that's not Wiggo
there we go, that's more like it.
Congratulations Bradley Wiggins!
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