I watched the Tour for the first time, last year. I watched because of Lance Armstrong and I was writing a cycling column for another website, but it was Andy Schleck who won my heart. His gracious attitude and remarkable sportsmanship along with his amazing climbing ability really stood out and made me take notice. I was disappointed when he lost last year’s race to Alberto Contador. For the past year, … Read entire article »

For the most part, today’s pancake-flat stage from Créteil to Paris Champs-Élysées is more ceremonial than competitive, as we expected to see no change in the overall lead, but the fight for the green jersey ensued. Final sprint points were awarded at two places along the Champs-Élysées with the final sprint being to the finish. Not surprisingly, Mark Cavendish took his hat trick when he won the final stage in the Tour de France for … Read entire article »

With no clear winner in sight, the individual time trial could have easily added to the unpredictability of this Tour de France, but the end was no surprise. The course, beginning and ending in Grenoble, was neither flat nor mountainous, but undulating with no categorized climbs. Specialists were not favored and riders could not draft to accommodate their weaknesses. The strongest rider would win. The strongest rider was HTC-Highroad’s Tony Martin … Read entire article »

Pierre Roland not only claimed France’s first stage win in today’s Stage 19 from Modane Valfréjus to Alpe-d’Huez, but earned the white jersey in the youth race. Alberto Contador quickly addressed Andy Schleck’s lead when he broke away from the peloton early in the stage. Contador finished ahead of Schleck in today’s stage, but Schleck became the overall race leader, 3 minutes, 55 seconds ahead of Contador. Thomas Voeckler fought hard up … Read entire article »

The return to French soil from Pinerolo, Italy to Galibier Serre-Chevalier during the 124.5-mile 18th stage was dotted with three grueling Hors catégorie climbs—climbs that are so difficult that they are beyond classification. At an elevation of 1.6 miles (2,645 meters), today’s finish at the top of the final climb in Galibier Serre-Chevalier is now the highest-elevation finish in the history of the Tour de France, replacing the 1986 record-holder: the Col du … Read entire article »

Today’s treacherous adventure through the Alps took the riders from Gap, France to Pinerolo, Italy. Sky Procycling’s Edvald Boasson Hagen from Norway took the stage win after dominating the difficult descent from the Category 2 Côte de Pramartino. Thomas Voeckler remains the overall leader, but his lead was shortened today. Yellow (Overall): Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar, France) Green (Points): Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad, Great Britain) Polka-dot (Mountain): Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma-Lotto, Belgium) White (Youth): … Read entire article »

The riders entered the Alps during today’s 100-mile stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap. For the most part, the stage was a gradual uphill past the sprint point in Veynes. It finished with a Category 2 climb and a sketchy descent.Thor Hushovd is proving to be more than just a sprinter. He was third over the Col de Manse, netting two climbing points, and won the sprint to the finish to win Stage … Read entire article »

At over 119 miles in length with only one Category 4 climb, the sprinters were favored in Stage 15 from Limoux to Montpellier. Mark Cavendish did as many expected and won the sprint to the finish to secure his 19th career Tour de France stage win. The sprinters are not expected to shine again until the final stage on the famous Champs-Elysées in Paris, but after Thor Hushovd’s surprise win in Lourdes, after … Read entire article »