Almost too many to name, its been one of the best Tours in years.
In no particular order:
Hushovd: wasnt a big fan of Thor, his whining about Cav in the sprints a few years ago and some of his antics in the classics put me off. He was back in my good books after KbK last year when he finished all the circuits when he really didnt need to and again this Tour he has shown real guts in holding onto yellow as long as he did.
Voeckler: Wonderful for the french do have a rider in yellow for so long even if ultimately he wont win the Tour. He had his moment today when he udug in and held on by 15 seconds. Will get a lot of drinks on the basis of todays stage from a lot of frenchmen for a long time.
Geraint Thomas: Really came of age this tour. Five days in white, the long break and worked so hard for his teammates both on the flat sprint stages, and in the mountains. One of the hardest working riders in the peloton, and you never once hear him complain. Most people who know cycling knew about him, but I think now everyone knows about him. This is becoming his breakthrough year, strong classics performances, his first gc win, and now a strong Tour.
Eddy Boss: Two stage wins, and with the second one showed he can learn from his mistakes. Another rider that has come of age this tour.
Rolland: Faithful domestique and in the process moved himself up in the overall. Great prospect.
Contador: I think hes won a lot of hearts this tour. Sometimes we just like to see the invincible is beatable and human. I like him a lot more coming out of this tour than I liked him going in.
Evans: If anyone deserves to win this tour de france its Cadel Evans. He has been solid throughout, and really deserved more from today than he got. I hated the old wheelsucking evans, after he won the worlds I wondered if it was a one off but he carried on with the attacking style. If only Evans had discovered this confidence and attacking style ten years ago.
Uran: a lot of pressure on the kid with wiggins going out, but through injury and now a chest infection has kept on battling every inch of the way. Brave young man.
Gilbert: Lit up the tour in the first week, and the second week, and is still giving it a go in the third week. Probably moved himself from classics man, to genuine contender with his performances in this Tour.
Thats mine.
Notable mentions:
Roy, Casar, Al Fares, Hoogerland, Delage, Westra et al that seem to have been in every breakaway.
No Schlecks for me, Frankly, Andys performance today was insane. The guy in the best form right now and all through the race has been Evans and suddenly Andy finds form, out of nowhere and drops everyone, and even Evans at full pelt cant catch him. But thats one for the clinic.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram