best / worst moments of the 2009 TDF

[dienekes88]

I think a lot of people let the LA/AC debacle and their emotions about LA overshadow a lot of GREAT moments.

To name a few of the bigger ones:
Cancellara's remarkable ride in the Monaco TT.

Brice Feillu, what a performance at Arcalis! He was in trouble earlier in the climb but came back with some kind of second wind.

Hushovd proving that the Green jersey is more than just a battle at the finish line. Didn't Sean Kelly fight for Green using the intermediate sprints to his advantage?

Tony Martin riding until he turned into a pale zombie on Ventoux. For a couple of the sprints, he was part of the lead out delivering the train to 1k-to-go while wearing the white jersey.

Schleck Bros. takin' the race to Contador on the stage to Grand Bornand.

 

[richwagmn]

Best: Contador on Verbier and LA"s sad puppy eyes on the podium.

Worst: Voigts' crash.

 

[ridley]

Hushovd going on a solo attack in the alps

Second that !!! For a big guy like that to hang out in front !!!

 

[psychlist]

Although I was pulling for David Millar to hold on in the stage to Barcelona, I thought the sprint win by Hushovd was pretty cool.

I have cav fatigue.

 

[saxe_coburg_gotha]

Tour fun

Contadoris what a woosh.
Thor what a moose.
Sancheesy what a actor
Wiggo will he ever be a factor?
Cadel he doesn't ring my bell
Lance, Alberto says go to h*ll
Kolden used, abused but always handy
Skinny Frank and Andy go and eat some candy
Sastre never was a factor
Menchov, safer on a tractor
Boonen took an early shower
Which left Cav to show his power
Roche deserved a win
Pellizoti throw those polka dot shorts in yer bin

 

[HL2037]

The best moment to me was when Fränk Schleck dropped Armstrong on col de Romme in the 17. stage. So elegant!

 

[saxe_coburg_gotha]

Worst,,,,,, watching the teams use TT bikes for the TTT.

Best ....Sitting back and watching the muppets falls likes flies... bike handling skills none, woooobly wheelers standard

Sorry guys but "caution required" 1 in 10 fall off safer on your tractor.

 

[fergnago]

best: being there to follow it.
worst: having to go home!

 

[Boeing]

Franco Pellizotti on Ventoux and then Champs both days at the front working it when he already had the Polka Dots wrapped up.

Worst was Voigt crashing out after sitting in on the break and coming back for Schleck

 

[Mont Ventoux]

BEST Moments:
- Alberto smokin' LA
- LA missing the Yellow Jersey by 22/100 sec !!!
- Nocentini's continued stay in Yellow ( which baffled the versus commentators)
- LA suckin wheels throughout the TdF
- Alberto grabbin Yellow for the 1st time.
- Alberto #1 in Paris

WORST Moments:
- LA showing up in Monaco
- LA stealing the water bottle
- LA stealing 41 sec on Alberto ( teammate)
- LA in 3rd in Paris ( should've been 7,8 or 9th at best...)
- LA' s sulking on the podium after receiving the 3rd place trophy...WHAT a baby !!!
- LA stealing Alberto's ride TWICE during the TdF.....What a child !!!
- LA being there at the TdF.....It took away from objective coverage of the sport and the many great riders who aren't out to "save the world".

 

[Mont Ventoux]

Vive Le Tour!

best: being there to follow it.
worst: having to go home!

I bet nothing comes close to being there!!!
Of course the Mt. Ventoux stage was electric!

Which stage(s) did you attend?

 

[Boeing]

let IT go already.

 

[Mont Ventoux]

let IT go already.

say what?

 

[Anonymous]

Best: brads smiles on the champs elysees
worst: jens crash

although i do wish AC's friggin gun would backfire and shoot him in the head..

 

[wpsracing78]

Best:
The Jersey battles - Pellizoti vs Martinez / Thor vs Cav
Voeckler stage win
Astarloza stage win (now turned bad, but the moment was great)
Verbier climb / all big climbs!
Barcelona finish

Worst:
Jens crash
Astana's in figting got tiresome
Cadel Evans in horrific form
Bbox TTT and Menchov going around corners all tour were frightening to watch!

 

[Kingsley A]

Most of the bad points seemed to revolve around Team Astana and certain egos.

Of the good points, one no one has mentioned yet, was as the Autobus came in at the top of Ventoux, and after a week of a war of words in the press, Cav and Thor, had their own private sprint whilst sharing a laugh and a joke.

Bitter rivals had remembered what sportsmanship is about.

 

[danyela]

BEST
Schlecks vs Contador in the mountains
Finally a good fight for the other jerseys
Astana infighting (I just found it entertaining...)
Not a single positive test during the tour
Hausslers stage win

WORST
Contador and his stupid gun AND what is with the hat?
Brad Wiggins impressing everyone
Hincapie just missing yellow and his face when he realised it
and of course Jens crashing


Oh, and Kenny van Hummel making the lanterne rouge almost cool. That was just neat.

 

[TrudyTas]

Best: Jens surviving his god-horrible crash

Worst: LA turning up

 

[Hammerhed]

Favourite moments (check spelling!)

My two favourite events involved the same two teams, Garmin and Columbia. The crosswind battle was so darned cool and a great example of strategic cycling. That George had just received instructions from the DS made it even neater. But when Big George gave his account, he made the whole episode seem nearly accidental. Still...Oh, Lance's move to hand with the front group made the whole thing even better.

The second event was Garmin's attempt late in the race to disrupt Columbia's leadout of their sprinter. Just as Garmin's takeover attempt appeared like it might work, the Columbia soldiers staged a brilliant, daring, and dangerous counter attack to recapture the sharp end of the peloton. Had Garmin tried that tactic ten stages earlier instead of trying to outdrag Cav, the sprint circus may have been more interesting, rather than just amazing.

 

[Digger]

Best moment for me:
Garmin's performance in TTT with four men.
Croos wind and Columbia was cool

Worst:
Ivanov winning his stage, or Contador on Verbier,

 

[Pharazon]

The second event was Garmin's attempt late in the race to disrupt Columbia's leadout of their sprinter. Just as Garmin's takeover attempt appeared like it might work, the Columbia soldiers staged a brilliant, daring, and dangerous counter attack to recapture the sharp end of the peloton. Had Garmin tried that tactic ten stages earlier instead of trying to outdrag Cav, the sprint circus may have been more interesting, rather than just amazing.

damn right..

when Hincape pulled out of the Garmin train and leathered it leaving Garmin in the dust...

then the speed that Renshaw took that last corner..

it was just complete domination, a beautiful thing to see

 

[Bromers]

Best- All of Mark Cavendish's stage wins.


Worst- When Cavendish was disqualified from the sprint on stage 14.

 

[BeachBum]

Best-- Pelizotti and Thor taking their jerseys with panache and elan

Worst-- Jens' crashing out

 

[davestoller]

Best (tied): Thor's mountain antics and Astroloza's stage win (although also enjoyed Voekler, Filieu and Haussler's wins, and Contador-Andy Schleck duel)

Worst (tied): Astana public infighting, TdF course, TTT effect on the overall, Jens's crash, and Kenny van Hummel crashing out of the TdF.

How ya feelin about Astarloza's win now?

Best moments:

Cancellara ripping the prologue/first stage

Hincapie ripping Garmin in the lead out to the final sprint

Lance riding for his teammate like he said he would

Wiggins rising to top of sport AND yellin THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT as he crested several big Pyrenean climbs--freekin everyone out who didnt think he would be there!!!


Worst moments:

Jens crash

Levi broken wrist=different podium and different race

Contador going rogue, off script, and violating team orders
No wait I take all of the back,

Just his dam hat. And his pistol salute. Only tools invent their own moniker, like Il Pirata. Give it a rest kid.

 

[mistahsinclair]

Best:

Columbia knocking the doo-doo out of all other teams trying to get in on the sprint action.
AG2R working to keep their guy in yellow.
French stages wins...doesn't happen often, but nice to see.

Worst:

Everything after the TTT.
Andy Schleck waiting for his brother.
Mont Ventoux...what an anti-climax!!