 Re: Le Tour de France 2007 (The official Thread)
I am sorry as usually i am away from net on sundays so could not write up the review of Prologue and Monday being heavy i could not keep up the pace with happenings.
So today i am giving 3 in 1 report.  The Prologue
The Tour de France started for the first time from London on 7/7/7. The city of London opened its grandeur with both arms. There were more that a million spectators on the 7.9 kms long prologue track, in the fabulous backdrop BIg Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace.
The british excitement was much more expected as favourites for the Prologue included Brad Wiggins and David Millar.
The proceeding started at 3.00 pm local time and every rider went for a kill except a few. Andreas Kloden produced a firing lap clocking 13 seconds faster that every one else on the field, at that time it looked like no one wil be able to beat it. George Hicapie rode like a warrier but could only stood third at the end of the day.
Cancellera the defending world Time trial champion produced a blistering pace and was up from Kloden at the first time check.
In the end it proved that Cancellera was the only rider in sub 9 seconds time. David Millar stood 13th but he was optimistic and said afterwards that he is definitely going to win a stage this time. Stage and Overall Top 20: Code: 1) Fabian Cancellara, Team CSC, Switzerland, 8:50.74
2) Andreas Klöden, Astana, Germany, 9:03.29
3) George Hincapie, Discovery Channel, USA, 9:13.75
4) Brad Wiggins, Cofidis, Great Britain, 9:13.92
5) Vladimir Gusev, Discovery Channel, Russia, 9:15.99
6) Vladimir Karpets, Caisse d'Epargne, Russia
7) Alexandre Vinokourov, Astana, Kazakhstan, 9:20
8) Thomas Dekker, Rabobank, Netherlands, 9:21
9) Manuel Quinziato, Liquigas, Italy, 9:23
10) Benoit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, France, 9:23
11) Dave Zabriskie, Team CSC, USA, 9:23
12) José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, 9:23
13) David Millar, Saunier Duval-Prodir, USA, 9:24
14) Mikel Astarloza, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, 9:24
15) Alberto Contador, Discovery Channel, Spain, 9:25
16) Andrey Kaschechkin, Astana, Kazakhstan, 9:26
17) Cadel Evans, Predictor-Lotto, Australia, 9:26
18) William Bonnet, Credit Agricole, France, 9:26
19) Sylvain Chavanel, Cofidis, France, 9:27
20) Michael Rogers, T-Mobile, Australia, 9:28
Stage 1 : McEwen Braves pain and fall to stage a remarkable sprint victory
Stage 1 started from London and finished in Canterbury. It eatured landscapic sceneray of britain. This stage consisted of 3 Intermediate Sprints, Three climbs and was dominated by teams of sprinters.
Local hero much to rejoice to the crowd after featuring in breakaway for most of the day and also taking the Polka Dot ersey at the end of the day.
What remarkable was the crash involving cavendish and McEwen after a spectator hurled somethign on road. McEwen lost a significant time with only 20 km. to go. He and his teammates staged a remarkable recovery as he hit the back of the pack at about 7 Kms to go and stormed in to the scene from no wherre with in last 200 meters and sprinted for his life and won the stage leaving behind Thor Hushovd, Tom Boonen and other sprinters. Cancellera keeps the Yello Jersey, Gusev Keeps the White Jersey, Millar gets the Polka Dot Jersey and McEwwn takwes the Green Jersey.
Top 10: Code: 1) Robbie McEwen, Predictor-Lotto, Australia, 4:39:01
2) Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, Norway, same time
3) Tom Boonen, Quick Step, Belgium, s.t.
4) Sebastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, France, s.t.
3) Romain Feillu, Agritubel, France, s.t.
6) Robert Förster, Gerolsteiner, Germany, s.t.
7) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, Spain, s.t.
8) Marcus Burghardt, T-Mobile, Germany, s.t.
9) Francisco Ventoso, Saunier Duval-Prodir, s.t.
10) Tomas Vaitkus, Discovery Channel, Lithuania, s.t.
Overall standings after Stage 1: Code: 1) Fabian Cancellara, Team CSC, Switzerland 4:47:51
2) Andreas Kloden, Astana, Germany, @ :13
3) David Millar, Saunier Duval-Prodir, Great Britain, @ :21
4) George Hincapie, Discovery Channel, USA, @ :23
5) Brad Wiggins, Cofidis, Great Britain, @ :23
6) Vladimir Gusev, Discovery Channel, Russia, @ :25
7) Vladimir Karpets, Caisse d'Epargne, Russia, @ :26
8) Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, Norway, @ :29
9) Alexandre Vinokourov, Astana, Kazakhstan, @ :30
10) Thomas Dekker, Rabobank, Netherlands, @ :31
Another unhappy incident happened when Eduardo Gonzalo of Agritubel crashed through the rear window of a Caisse d'Epargne team car, and had to leave the race. He rammed into the car after he was going through the carvan after collecting drinks for his teammates. The car in front slammed the brakes and he bumped into the rear and got himself hurt breaking the rear windscreen fo the car. Stage 2 Dunkirk - Gent
Like always this stage was also full of drama and everything you can imagine. This stage had Sprints, Breakaway, Rains, Sunshine, Clouds, and a big crash involving peloton. So much so that only 20 riders got to sprint unscathed. As the crash happened within last 2 kms, all the riders involved got thesame time.
The names involved had big guns in it, including Yellow jersey holder Cancellera, Hincapie and 3 other DSC riders.
The stage was won by Quick Step Rider Gert Steegmans and Tom Boonen made it One - Two for the team. Eventhough Boonen was favourite for the day as it ended in his homeland and Quickstep team is also based in Belgium.
Thimas Vaiktus of Discovery Channel Team has sufffered with a unstable broken thumb fracture and will be operated soon. He will no longe take part in the Tour. Cancellara's wrist is a “minor injury,” but that Lampre's Daniele Bennati was taken to a local hospital after injuring his hip in the crash
Rest of the Crash news are awaited. Top 10 Code: 1) Gert Steegmans, Quick Step-Innergetic, Belgium
2) Tom Boonen, Quick Step-Innergetic, Belgium, same time
3) Fillippo Pozzato, Liquigas, Italy, s.t.
4) Robbie Hunter, Barloworld, South Africa, s.t.
5) Romain Feillu, Agritubel, France, s.t.
6) Robbie McEwen, Predictor-Lotto, Australia, s.t.
7) Erik Zabel, Team Milram, Germany, s.t.
8) Heinrich Haussler, Gerolsteiner, Germany, s.t.
9) Oscar Freire, Spain, Rabobank, s.t.
10) Sebastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, s.t.
Overall standings after Stage 2: Code: 1) Fabian Cancellara, Team CSC, Switzerland
2) Andreas Klöden, Astana, Germany
3) David Millar, Saunier Duval-Prodir, Great Britain
4) George Hincapie, Discovery Channel, USA
5) Bradley Wiggins, Cofidis, Great Britain
Cancellera finished 72nd but keeps the Yellow Jersey as whole crash involved riders were awarded the same time.
Gusev keeps the White Jersey.
Await update for photo shoot gallery.
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