Tour de France 2011 STAGE 20 - Grenoble 42.5 km ITT

[movingtarget]

Tears of joy...I have no words.

I am so happy for him and his dedicated fans. What he did in the last three days was brilliant. So much for "can't handle the third week !" There is no reason he would not be in the running again next year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Is the nation celebrating?

Yes, the media is going nuts!

Welcome to the thread, man!

****ing congrats! Evans rode the **** outta this Tour!

I hope that there's champagne flowing for you.

Thank you. Everyone pretty much laughed at me for predicting Cadel to win the tour. I was really the only one who seriously thought he could.

Vindication is brilliant!

 

[mr. tibbs]

"I've had some bad moments in the last ten years, but that makes the good moments better. [...] In past years, 2007, Contador had a really good day; I had an average day [...] 2008, I was on my limit [...] That was the hardest Tour I ever rode in my life. [...] The plan today was [...] do the best you can. [...] I haven't had time to reflect on [the victory], but we'll see."

Interviewer: "Riding into Paris tomorrow you'll have the yellow jersey on your shoulders. How will that feel?"

Evans: "I hope the sun's out."

Chapeau, Evans.

Bits of Evans being interviewed, bumping for ACF.

 

[Publicus]

Except for one day in the Alps, Evans had no problem staying with the Schlecks. And that one day was more the result of tactics than Andy proving some huge climbing superiority over Cadel (not to say that Andy isn't a great climber). Given Cadel's ITT and descending superiority, beating the bros was pretty much inevitable. I also think that Evans knows that a rested, uninjured Contador is unbeatable in a GT, and given his age, that this was his best and maybe last chance to win the Tour--that he did everything right and nothing went wrong--that for once he didn't have horrible luck--it's just a beautiful thing.

I think everyone learned that this year.

 

[BillytheKid]

CONGRATS TO EVANS!!!

I guess all our evans and BMC hype this year paid off!!!

This is a monumental win for BMC and evans!

Evans won a Tour design to favor the Schlecks. AN EXCEPTIONAL WIN.
CONGRATS!

 

[Desperate Moments]

My hands are still shaking so much I can barely type. I am so happy for Cuddles. What an incredible, inspired effort. He made few mistakes, rode at his pace, and his team did what they needed to do to help him win. He managed all the elements needed to win--including the human element. I am in awe of this achievement. Sad about Alberto, but impressed that he gave it his best shot, in the face of so much adversity, from the fans, the crashes, the cold shoulder I think he got from the peloton early on, to the cloud still hanging over his head. I can't wait for him to put all the negativity behind him and see what he does next.

Thanks so much to this forum for providing such great information and entertainment along the way. This has been the best Tour I have ever witnessed, in every way.

Chapeaux, y'all.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Congratulations to Cadel Evans on a Tour win well earned. He fought for every inch of it, every single inch, and he never stopped trying. Well done.
He looks great in the Maillot Jaune. Crikey, Cadel.

It's been a pleasure watching this win with you. Time for me to cut out. A tip of the hat to ACF.

I could not have said it better!!

I want to cry for Cadel and I want to cry for Andy...
Andy will have other chances

 

[Granville57]

Even with all the repetitions, it is really difficult to fully express how frustrating the pre-written narrative from Versus has been. This is such sweet justice and now I can laugh even harder at Roll, Sherwen and Liggett.

This will go down as an epic Tour among Tours. So fitting that someone who has been knocking on the door of Grand Tour victory for so long finally pulls it off.

Cadel Evans: 2011 Tour de France champion.

 

[RdBiker]

Actually he would be 30. His birthday is some time in December.

Did I miscalculate? With a two year suspension he would miss the next two tours (when he's 29 and 30) and the third one would be the first he would be allowed in (when he's 31). I'm sorry, this is a bit offtopic

Back on topic:
For Evans @34 this was maybe his last chance to win the Tour so it must also be a huge relief for him (on top of all the joy ofcourse )

 

[LukeSchmid]

Tears of joy...I have no words.

You were the true believer, well done. It is great.

 

[RdBiker]

Yes, the media is going nuts!

Any links to Australian newspapers? Would love to read a few headlines

 

[Granville57]

It's also easy to forget how much of a risk (leap of faith?) and surprise it was when Cadel signed with BMC. Where were they on the map at the time? That goes for Hincapie too.

Wow, those two have some serious experience between them.

Sunday in Paris will be glorious for both of them.

 

[Cervelo77]

Garmin has had a great tour. You shouldn't use it to take a shot at Levi. He still had to try something in what has been another poor GT. He could have sand bagged it on the Alpe and if he came good in the TT (unlikely) you'd still be at him.

You see, that is where you'd be wrong. I'd think more of him if he DID sandbag the stage to Alpe d'Huez to give a solid effort in the TT.
Also, what is 'it' in your second sentence supposed to refer to? Surely not Garmin, for that would make little sense.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Any links to Australian newspapers? Would love to read a few headlines

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/

http://www.theage.com.au/

 

[LukeSchmid]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/

The site of Adelaide papers, The Sunday Mail and Adelaide Advertiser

 

[MKirilenko]

Win for Cadel, but comprehend the scale of it: defeated reigning champion Contador (maybe w/o form, but still counts), defeated Schlecks (who can basically be counted as ONE), defeated Basso (who dissappointed a little), Sanchez, etc etc. All the big guns. A true champion he is.

Dunno why, but Id like to see Contador giving Cadel the MJ in Paris. Would be a great sign of respect, Cadel deserves. Wow, I think I became a fan

 

[movingtarget]

It's also vindication for the team's faith in him, his change in preparation and giving Evans the space he needs to compete at his best. BMC could not have had a better race as far as supporting their team leader and letting him do hiw own thing in the mountains where he proved that the Schlecks are not superior when he is in form. A big victory for people like the late Also Sassi, Evans and the entire BMC team.

 

[craig1985]

Any links to Australian newspapers? Would love to read a few headlines

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-24/evans-set-for-tour-victory/2807658

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling/awesome-evans-destroys-rivals-to-claim-tour-20110724-1huqs.html

 

[auscyclefan94]

You were the true believer, well done. It is great.

I knew it from the start of the year...simply amazing!

Any links to Australian newspapers? Would love to read a few headlines

well they won't have anything in today's paper

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/

 

[Granville57]

Yes, the media is going nuts!

If you come across any particularly good video interviews in the next 24 hours (Ozzie media, not the usual stuff cycling sites), please post links if possible.

I can only imagine the homecoming he's going to receive. Any idea when he'll return to the homeland?

 

[dlwssonic]

I gotta applaud ACF for betting that evans will win le tour before it started. Even I kinda doubted him. ACF is a true fan of evans!

 

[LukeSchmid]

http://www.smh.com.au/

http://www.theage.com.au/

http://www.sbs.com.au/

http://www.abc.net.au/

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I gotta applaud ACF for betting that evans will win le tour before it started. Even I kinda doubted him. ACF is a true fan of evans!

ACF ALWAYS says cadel will win, so when cadel does he looks like a genius.

true story tho.

 

[RdBiker]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/

http://www.theage.com.au/

Thanks! Wonder if they're going to have that national holiday in his honor

 

[mr. tibbs]

I'd recommend NOT checking the home pages of any newspapers or agencies right now. Very sobering stuff.

Just enjoy the race here.

EDIT: At least not any NA sites. Maybe the .au sites are different.