Monday, July 25, 2011

2011 TDF

Out of 23 Tours I have watched 15 of them have been basically lopsided wins by heavy favorites. Of those year where favorites won only two: '95 and one during the Lance era, 2003, were closely contested. Of the other years I remember 1989, 1998, 2006, and 2008 as pretty dramatic. This year was probably more interesting than any tour but 1989. Many of the stages were hotly contested and intensely dramatic. For example stage sixteen saw a long break succeed. It was a mountain stage and three riders rode clear of the break on the climb, with 30k of descending and flat to the finish. A massive pursuit race developed between the riders and the outcome hung in doubt until the conclusion of the stage. There were many stages like that, and the overall race outcome was likewise in doubt until the penultimate stage. Great tour.

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posted by Mark @ 10:17 AM