Le Tour de France (was:Tas ARC 2005)

[TK]

Originally Posted by TK

Hopefully Cadel can hang on for a top-10 placing in Paris

The top 10 in the general classification of the 2005 Tour de France is:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) DSC - 3,608.0km in 86h15’02" (41.654km/h)
2. Ivan Basso (Italy) CSC - at 4’40"
3. Jan Ullrich (Germany) TMO - at 6’21"
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) IBA - at 9’59"
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakstahn) TMO at 11’01"
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) GST - at 11’21"
7. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) RAB - at 11’33"
8. Cadel Evans (Australia) DVL - at 11’55"
9. Floyd Landis (USA) PHO - at 12’44"
10. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spain) PHO - 16’14"

And, although Vinokourov (and McGee) stole the break ahead of the regular sprinters to win the final stage, there was a real Aussie flavour to the top-10 finishers on the Champs-Elysee.
The top 10 in the 21st stage of the Tour was:
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakstahn) TMO - 144.5km in 3h40’57" (39.239km/h)
2. Brad McGee (Australia) FDJ
3. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) FAS
4. Robbie McEwen (Australia) DVL
5. Stuart O’Grady (Australia) COF
6. Allan Davis (Australia) LSW
7. Thor Hushovd (Norway) CA
8. Baden Cooke (Australia) FDJ
9. Bernhard Eisel (Austria) FDJ
10. Robert Forster (Germany) GST)

And Lance showed that he still has the knack to avoid trouble, only just escaping from "rear-ending" his team mates when half of them fell on a wet downhill on the outskirts of Paris.

[rowdytoot]

Cadel's 8th is a massive achievement... look out next year for big things from the skinny little bugger!

I think his 7th win was a fitting farewell for Lance, totally in control, put the power on when he needed it & his time trialling is simply staggering...

Definately the end of an era in the Tour but I can't wait to see what happens next year; it'll be on for young and old - Basso, Vinokourov, Ulrich, Cadel et al all have a shot..

Rowds