|
Welcome to Awesometer
|
|
Tour de France 2009 Delivers a Clean and Exciting Spectacle
In keeping with our commitment here at awesometer.com
to bring you news and updates on the most exciting and
daring sporting events happening in the world today, we
just have to pay tribute to one of the most demanding
and gritty gala events on the sports marquee.
After having taken a beating for the past few years in
the media and in the perception of cycling fans due to
doping allegations, this year's Tour de France gave observers
a terrific combination of supreme physical conditioning,
excitement, and determination. Spanish rider Alberto Contador
took home his second Tour de France title by outlasting
runner-up Andy Schleck and third-place finisher Lance
Armstrong. Back in 2007, Contador won his first title
in the most well-known event on the pro cycling circuit.
With his victory in this year's competition, he becomes
only the second Spaniard to claim at least two Tours joining
all-time legend Miguel Indurain, who claimed five titles.
The race featured several outstanding performances from
several different teams. The Columbia team, led by Mark
Cavendish and Mark Renshaw, turned in an impressive performance
from start-to-finish. The team won six stages---all by
Cavendish, but built on the strength of lead-out master
Renshaw and their entire stable of teammates. The final
stage, Stage 21 may have been their most commanding display.
Columbia took control of the peloton after the 3rd of
8 laps, and all nine riders from Cavendish's team stayed
on the front of the bunch from the moment it arrived on
the Champs-Elysées. The peloton was led by Columbia-HTC
from the moment it arrived on the streets of Paris. There
was only one instance when another squad took over the
pace-setting and it was the Garmin team for about three
kilometers. The team of Farrar spent a few moments ahead
of the peloton minutes after the capture of the escapees
(5km from the finish). But after passing under the 'Flamme
Rouge' it was all over for every team but Columbia. The
well-oiled Columbian machine set things up so perfectly
for the final two men in the impressive lead-out train---Mark
and Mark---that the Australian (Renshaw) got to celebrate
second place behind his team-mate (Cavendish), who claimed
an impressive sixth stage victory in the 2009 Tour.
The victory was so comprehensive that there was daylight
between the two Columbia riders and the rider in third,
Garmin's sprinter Tyler Farrar.
American Lance Armstrong, who was not exactly considered
a dominating favorite as in years past, still turned in
a strong-willed performance. He finished 3rd overall in
the Tour for a team that while led by Contador, was perhaps
not as strong as previous years. It was Contador's team
to lead and Armstrong found himself in a supporting role
for the first time since his first Tour events.
Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)) was crowned the King of
the Mountains, the first time an Italian has won the polka-dot
jersey since 1992. And Andy Schleck earned his second
successive white jersey as the leader of the youth classification.
Finally, Thor Hushovd may not have been able to challenge
Cavendish for the stage but he was sixth and is now a
two-time winner of the green jersey.
We at awesometer.com give this year's Tour de France a
7 on the awesometer and we give Alberto Contador and the
entire Columbian team a 9 on the awesometer for bringing
some integrity back to cycling and making the event as
thrilling as it has been in years.
|
Awesometer.com Recomended Products
|
News and Information
|
|
