Crazy Tour

Yes, Tour de France 2007 is over. It was a weird tour - really exciting, disappointing, shocking - definitely a roller coaster ride for the fans. After my last Tour post, all the excitement and shocking news happened, from the Alps to the Pyrenees to the last time trial and to Paris.

Vino, the number one fave (supposedly - he definitely wasn't MY favorite) screwed up so much in the Alps that everyone was sure he was out of contention. But in true Vino fashion, he came back - and boy he came back HARD - during the first time trial. He was probably humiliated in the mountains that he made sure he was going to win the time trial. HE FLEW. He beat Cadel Evans, who came in second, by more than a minute. People were amazed, people thought he still had a slight chance, depending on his performance in the Pyrenees - but they thought WRONG. Vino was tested positive for blood doping which resulted in Astana pulling out of the race. How sad for the team who was doing so well overall. I was especially sad for Kloden - he worked so hard for Astana, for Vino, all for nothing. I kinda like the guy.

Rasmussen, the number one fave for the King of the Mountains jersey, delivered indeed. He attacked in one of the first major mountain stages (forgot which one), got the yellow jersey, and held on to it for more than a week. Everyone thought he was going to screw up the time trial, but he surprised everyone with a strong finish. He and Alberto Contador of Discovery Channel made the Tour so exciting in the Pyrenees, with their maneuverings and attacks and all, that it became doubly disappointing when Rabobank, his own team, withdrew him from the Tour. He was withdrawn right after he beat Contador in the last Pyrenean stage. The reason was because the team found out he missed doping tests during the training, and because he lied about his whereabouts. Now, see, here's the thing. If he missed the doping tests, why was he allowed to join the Tour? UCI also needs some cleaning up, in my opinion.

Alberto Contador - bless him - gave us something to be excited about. He attacked like hell in the mountains, until he cracked in the last Pyrenean stage. Then he won the yellow jersey, and defended it with all his might during the last time trial. Levi Leipheimer was the leader of Discovery Channel at the start, but along the way the team realized it was Contador who really had a shot at winning. And just like in the movies (okay, fine, I'm exaggerating 'cause there are not a lot of bike movies out there), Leipheimer ended up being a domestique and brought Contador to the finish line during the last mountain stage.

I need to talk about Popovych too, because HE WAS THE MAN! He worked so hard in the mountain stages and his work helped the team and Contador. His work cracked the leaders, until there was no one left with Contador except Rasmussen, Leipheimer, and Evans. I love Popo! After Georgie, he's my next fave from Discovery Channel.

I never paid attention to Cadel Evans in the past, but after this year's Tour, he gained my respect. HE. DIDN'T. GIVE. UP. He was dropped so many times but he kept coming back! And he's an awesome time trialist. I wonder if he'll ever win the Tour. Next year, maybe?

The Tour was so exciting and the final time gaps of the Top 3 riders are evidence - they were all within 30 seconds of each other. How cool is that?!

But it's over now. Time for the teams to look for new sponsors, because there have been a number of sponsors who pulled out already. Again, damn you doping riders! You are destroying the sport that is feeding you!

Yes, it's over. Time for riders to defend themselves against doping accusations. Damn you doping fools, you are destroying the sport! I admit, I now doubt all winners, all great rides, all comebacks, because of everything that has been happening. And I find that sad, because I am a fan. I can only find solace in the fact that they are stricter now with the controls, and slowly but surely, it seems like the controls are working.