Tour Predictions

Who will win this year’s Tour de France? Mon ami at Twisted Spoke has, by far, the most clever predictions of the Tour’s top ten finishers. I couldn’t top that. But here are my predictions of events leading up to and après Paris:

10. Powerful crosswinds in Rotterdam blow rail-thin Andy Schleck off a bridge during the opening time trial. He is rescued from the river by a Dutch couple in a canoe, given a new TT bike and finishes with the worst rider’s time — only 30 seconds back from the leader.

9. On the cobblestones of Stage 3, Alexandre Vinokourov (accidentally?) knocks over Astana teammate and two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador. Oops. The ensuing fist fight is broken up by Jens Voigt who then catches up to the peloton, makes a solo attack and wins the stage.

8. Somewhere on the streets of Brussels, Floyd Landis is spotted shouting expletives at Lance Armstrong (something to do about drugs) and the video gets a million hits on YouTube.

7. Mark Cavendish wins all but one sprint stage, which he will say he “gave” to Tom Boonen as a booby prize. Boonen somehow rides to Paris in the green points jersey.

6. As Stage 7 heads east into the mountains, Lance Armstrong meets a beautiful mademoiselle, takes her back to the Shack (his team bus), fathers her child, then catches up with the rear of the peloton. Unlike previous years where Armstrong was able to pass the peloton and perhaps win the stage, this time he loses 20 seconds on top rivals, ending his dream of an eighth Tour win.

5. During Stage 8, Denis Menchov slips in the rain and his Rabobank teammate Robert Gesink takes over the hill-climbers polka-dot jersey. Menchov later drops out of the Tour with a broken chicken wing.

4. Graham Watson requests Tour organizers reroute Stage 13 as locusts have eaten all the sunflowers in the Southern French countryside that make his photos look oh-so-cool.

3. Wheaties rejects Contador. There will be no cereal box covers for the the new Tour champion. Contador starts his own cereal brand, which sort of look like yellow fruit loops. He calls them “Puert-ohs.”

2. Bob Roll proposes to one of the podium girls. They later marry and name their twin boys Big George and Small Hincapie.

1. Everyone’s favorite Brit Phil Liggett announces his rubber band has snapped. He packs his mic, retires to Aspen, Colo., and settles into a chalet next door to the Armstrongs where he will be their adopted pappy. In an effort to boost their careers, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal vie to replace Liggett. Unfortunately, Craig Hummer takes the reigns.

2010 Tour de France Starts July 3

The Tour de France runs July 3 to 25. The world’s most prestigious cycling race starts in Rotterdam. The following 22 teams– 198 riders– will participate.

Tour ends with Contador, Schleck, Armstrong 1-2-3

Spain’s Alberto Contador is the Tour de France Champion after a spectacular final stage Sunday in Paris. Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck finished second and also goes home in the white young rider’s jersey for those 25-years or younger. Lance Armstrong finished third, not bad for a 37-year-old cancer survivor who retired from cycling four years ago.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish won today’s stage on the Champs Élysées in a burst of power that no other riders could match that even his team lead-out man Mark Renshaw came in second. It was Cav’s sixth stage win– a record number of stage victories for any one sprinter in the Tour.

With the Tour over, the tension between Armstrong and Contador was more pronounced. On the winner’s podium, Armstrong seemed to avoid looking at his Astana teammate as they received trophies and awards checks. Armstrong, still sour over Contador’s poor team tactics on the race to Arcalis, skipped Contador’s victory party to attend a celebration with his new team sponsors from Radio Shack.

Jersey Winners

Contador receives the Tour winner’s yellow jersey and a check for 450,000 euros, or 640,000 U.S. dollars.

After yellow, the green jersey is the next coveted prize. Despite Cav’s six stage wins, Belgium’s Thor Hushovd goes home in the green sprinter’s jersey with 25,000 euros.

Italy’s Franco Pellizotti won the most king of the mountain points earning the red and white polka-dot climber’s jersey and 25,000 euros.

Astana gets the award for best team that comes with a check for about 70,000 U.S. dollars.

Finalement

The three-week-long Tour de France is done. As Andy Schleck said today, “I’m sad because it’s over.” Me too. It’s now time to get back to work and family and to put the Tour to bed until next summer. Thanks to my cycling friends who knowingly or not played the roles of tour riders in my blog photos. It’s been an exciting ride. Glad you came along. Until the next Tour de France, Au revoir.

–Le Tour Babe

Armstrong Still A Champ

Barring a disaster on Sunday on the Champs Élysées, Lance Armstrong will finish in third place in this year’s Tour de France. He is not going to get the yellow jersey this time. How will that feel to the 37-year-old, seven-time Tour Champion who made a miracle comeback from cancer and now a comeback to the world’s toughest cycling race? Perhaps a bit disappointed but content. He’s matured since the early days of the Motorola, U.S. Postal and Discovery teams. He’s been on the front cover of every major magazine and on a Wheaties box. He’s dined at the White House, rubbed elbows with Hollywood stars, played a bit part in the movie Dodgeball and made serious bucks for cancer research. I hear a lot of people say they either love or hate Armstrong. I’d like to think that most like him not only for what he’s done for the Tour, the sport of cycling or for the fight against a horrible disease but for passion. Amor.

And don’t forget, like the Terminator, he’ll be back to race next year’s Tour. Chapeau, Armstrong.

–Le Tour Babe

Mont Ventoux Decides Tour Top Finishers

Garate Wins Ventoux, Contador Secures Yellow Jersey, Armstrong Gets Podium Spot

Spain’s Manuel Garate won a tough 103-mile stage up the famed Mont Ventoux in today’s penultimate day of the Tour de France. Germany’s Tony Martin finished a close second— an impressive feat for the young rider from team Columbia HTC.

Andy Schleck (L), Frank Schleck (C), Lance Armstrong (R)

The intense race for the top three podium spots played out just seconds behind today’s winner. Despite numerous attacks, Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck could not shake off yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador, who stuck to his wheel like a Spanish fly on a horse.

Schleck and his brother Frank also tried but failed to drop Lance Armstrong, who started the day in third place 15 seconds ahead of Frank. The seven-time Tour de France Champion, who finished second twice on Ventoux in 2000 and 2002, finished fifth today with the Schlecks, sealing a third place podium finish in Paris on Sunday. “For an old fart, ending on the podium with these guys is not so bad,” said the 37-year-old Armstrong.

Britain’s Bradley Wiggins suffered over the last miles on Ventoux, getting dropped and then pulling himself back into the fray. He finished a minute back and maintains his fourth place in the overall standings.

Contador, now the all-but-certified Tour Champion, leads second-placed Andy Schleck by 4:11, Armstrong 5:24, Bradley Wiggins in fourth at 6:01, and Frank Schleck in fifth, 6:04.

Tomorrow’s final stage in Paris will be a showdown for sprinters Mark Cavendish and green jersey holder Thor Hushovd. Plan to see the Astana and Saxo-Bank boys celebrate this year’s Tour with champagne during their ride on the Champs Élysées.

–Le Tour Babe

Tour de France Jersey Standings

Armstrong’s Teammate for 2010 Tour?

Montana Tour fan leads the peloton.

Lance Armstrong is starting to pick his Radio Shack team to race in next year’s Tour. One Montana guy is on the list of potential teammates. Armstrong figures the antlers may come in handy.

–Le Tour Babe

Cav Wins Fifth Time

A Day for the Sprinters: Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

Mon amis race to the finish just like stage 19.

Britain’s Mark Cavendish won stage 19–a record fifth stage victory at this year’s Tour de France.   Cav made it over a climb ten miles from the finish that observers guessed would leave him out of the final sprint. But with the help of his Columbia HTC teammates, the fastest man in the plains made it over the hill with the pack. “That will go down as one of the most memorable wins of my career,” said Cav.

Mon ami Chad playing Cav. Still looking for that green jersey.

Belgium’s Thor Hushovd still wears the green sprinter’s jersey but Cav has one opportunity left to take it away on Sunday, the last day of the Tour in Paris.

Riders vying for the yellow jersey stayed comfortably in the peloton today, trying to reserve energy for Saturday’s tough stage up Mont Ventoux. You won’t want to miss that one!

–Le Tour Babe

Armstrong Will Ride Again

Lance Armstrong announced on Thursday that he will ride in the 2010 Tour de France with his new team sponsored by Radio Shack. The company put up a spartan website for the new team at teamradioshack.com. No word yet on who else is on the team, but here’s who won’t be: Alberto Contador!

–Le Tour Babe

Armstrong’s Sweet Ride

Lance Armstrong can afford a nice bike. Take a look at the one he rode in the stage 18 time trial.

On Sunday’s last stage of the Tour de France, Armstrong will ride another fancy bike– one designed by controversial British artist Damien Hirst– the guy who cuts up cow heads and puts them in formaldehyde. The bike is covered in butterfly wings. Personally, it looks more like a chic’s sled. Armstrong plans to auction off the bikes and donate the money to his cancer charity. So if you’ve got the cash, you can ride like Lance.

–Le Tour Babe