Tour de France, Stage 21: Creteil - Paris!!, 95 km

[auscyclefan94]

This is Australia's National Anthemn, Advance Australia Fair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rErvPnd-2E

that's not a nice version of our national anthem. I hate when artists stuff around with the arrangements of our national anthem. It should be sung in the traditional way every time.

 

[ansimi]

Is it possible to have a polka dot bike ready in such time too?

Sure! They work all night to get those bikes ready.

Does Samu have kids? Kids on the podium look cutest in polka dots. If he doesn't have any then he should borrow one. I realize that the turnaround time on a polka dot baby might be more than a polka dot bike...

 

[jsem94]

I think he has a three-year old kid.

 

[AussieGoddess]

I realize that the turnaround time on a polka dot baby might be more than a polka dot bike...

maybe for next year

 

[greenedge]

I would love if Gilbert attacked. Cancellara to attack maybe??? Cadel to try get it to the 2 minute mark for his victory margin??? I think Cav will get it with his super leadout train ( with an awesome Tony Martin and Goss rounding out the corners ) but i would love to see EBH win for Norway. Maybe Swift and Ventoso will be allowed to sprint, they might have had role reversals to EBH and Rojas. I think the Lampre train will fire as well giving Petacchi 2nd.

And then Advance Australia Fair.

 

[Special_oz_ed]

Don't they have parties for that?

I realize that the turnaround time on a polka dot baby might be more than a polka dot bike...

Don't they have parties to produce a 'polka dot baby'?

The way it goes: one kid gets Chicken pox, other parents find out, organise a pox party to get it over and done with.

Still requires a few weeks. And for a baby, probably not good.

 

[nesocip]

If he doesn't have any then he should borrow one.

Hahaha fantastic

He has a 3 year old kid i think as someone already mentioned. Its no coincidence he stopped gunning it on the descents around that time.

 

[abbaskip]

I can't see anything but HTC here. That said, the sprint would suit a big powerful rider like Greipel, so HTC should be careful. He has looked as fast as Cav this year.

Goss will hit the front with 1km to go (like Hincapie in 2009), then Renshaw will go from 500 and Cav from 250...It's just a matter of who has Cav's wheel.

For HTC, it could almost be worth Goss sitting on Cav's wheel, and sprinting from there, with Eisel doing the Hincapie role?

 

[Darrylc]

This has been a great tour. Never been a big fan of Cadel, but so pleased he won it this year, especially after his hideous 2008.

 

[abbaskip]

This has been a great tour. Never been a big fan of Cadel, but so pleased he won it this year, especially after his hideous 2008.

Trying to relate this to stage 21??

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Gilbert or De Gendt for the win!

 

[Tank Engine]

I look forward to seeing them pour Champaigne, and see Sammy in the polkas, on the road, with the champagne and on the podium, celebrating Sammy style by acting as if he is an 8 year old who has just gotten a playstation, every step of the way.

Also I look forward to the national anthems.

Since the Spanish get messed with, with the Tour playing the Danish national anthem in 09 and the Giro playing the Franco version this year, i do hope that the TDF organisers mistake will be to play "Toms Traubert Blues" by Tom Waits which contains a chrous of "Waltzing Matilda" rather than the real "Waltzing Matilda" which exciting as it may be, is less likely to get me standing on my feet with my hand on my heart, or at least to keep me in that position after La Marseillie brings me to it.

Sunday is my riding day, but the thought of them playing Tom is almost enough to keep me in. Not going to happen though. Loved the race. First four Cav, Greipel, Farrer, Petacchi (not necessarily in that order).

 

[zapata]

Yes, de gendt would be great. Who else is there with the power to make a late attack stick? Would be nice to see hagen have a go, but he'll probably be leading out swift.

 

[musorowegudo]

Oh, just remembered AC already has a Grand Tour win for this year in his back pocket! So maybe the 90km attack to the d'Huez was surely for fun!

Just remembered also that he has the most Grand Tour wins than any rider in the TDF2011 peloton! So after all, he is still a great winner, and still riding! Huh!?

 

[Woody22]

Do you think Evans will be riding a yellow BMC???

 

[Catty69]

Do you think Evans will be riding a yellow BMC???

Yep. Yellow spokes etc. All yellow kit. Sadly I think this is a trend which cheapins the yellow jersey and their own team kit.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Yellow jersey + black shorts = epic

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tom Waits being played on the podium would be the best thing about this race for sure.

 

[sportzchick]

A Norwegian victory would be beautiful but I think neither Hushovd nor EBH are in a mental state where they are able to concentrate fully on the task ahead. They both looked absolutely devastated.

Cavendish will win anyway.

Sadly I agree but they may want to win it for their country and be fired up for today....if they do breakaway i wonder if the peleton will let them go....or not??

This is probally the most relaxed ive felt all tour and Im going to enjoy the pics of Cadel in yellow, sipping the sweetest champagne he's ever tasted, crossing the finish line and hearing Advance Australia Fair played in the ceremony!

My first tour was 1995 when it was Stuey's first tour...he won when the tour visted Grenoble last time (omen prehaps?) and I cried when he got yellow even if it was for a short stint

I cried when Cadel had his heart broken twice, reveled in his World Championship win and now I am flying!!! couldnt be happier, couldnt be prouder. Aldo would be smiling down on Cadel as proud as a mentor could be.

Tonight is going to be a great night

 

[mickkk]

from the Mechs mouth..

"been working on the design today - will be available tomorrow. Hoping to do the Aussie spirit right.."

 

[Woody22]

from the Mechs mouth..

"been working on the design today - will be available tomorrow. Hoping to do the Aussie spirit right.."

Can't wait to see it. Thanks mickkk.

 

[RedheadDane]

Agreed. So, I'm going to tip the closest thing to Vino we still have: De Gendt and Hoogerland on a tandem.

That's probably not gonna happen at the Champs. But it really could be funny if someone (either those two or just any two riders) did that during the fun-trip into Paris

Or Cancellara.

Cancellara never pulled a Vino. Pulling a Vino can only be done at the Champs!

 

[Finn84]

I think that what peloton might let them to do is letting Hushovd and Boasson Hagen ride some time ahead of peloton like they did in 2006 when Ekimov was having his farewell.

 

[dbrmuz]

Andy waits until the Champs Elysees,then launches the most vicious attack in Tour history,to win the stage by three laps-and enough time to claim the Tour.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Enjoy.
I'll have to watch it all later.