Tour de France recap

This year's Tour has been one of the hardest for years, and not only due to torturous mountain days. The drama of the first week, rain, crashes, cobbles, heat and more crashes ensured the general classification was whittled down to just a two horse race after just 8 stages.As we look back on the Tour de France this year, lets take a look at the winners, losers, heroes and villains of the race.



HERO - Andy Schleck (SAX/LUX): An inspiring first stage win at Station des Rousses, was on the receiving end of a fair bit of controversy. His unwaivering, relentless assault on Contador on the Tourmalet was also the stuff of legend. He gave everything in the time trial and had Contador pegged at one stage, but just ran out of puff at the end. He's done his stocks no harm with his second consecutive runner-up finish and with 3 years on Contador, he may still get a yellow jersey yet.


WINNER - Sylvain Chavanel (QST/FRA): Took 2 yellow jerseys, 2 stage wins and won the Super Combative award for the most attacking rider. Was the hero of the first week of the Tour de France. The Frenchman, who seems to have been around forever, will also be able to charge a higher price next year after a fantastic first week.


VILLAIN - Alberto Contador (AST/ESP): Winner by 39 seconds, the exact amount he 'stole' from Schleck at Bagneres-de-Luchon in the Pyrenees. Many still believe that he was in the wrong for attacking Schleck whilst he was having a mechanical. At least, Schleck didn't make it easy for him in the end.


LOSER - Lance Armstrong (RSH/USA): The seven-time winner (soon to be retired again) will go out with his colours lowered slightly. Many are still wondering why he came out of retirement. I still believe he retired too early and came back too late. A rider who, in his prime, never crashed (forget the 'musette bag saga'), hit the floor many times, culminating in a horror stage to Station des Rousses.


WINNER - Christian Prudhomme: What a fantastic course. Nothing like the mundane first weeks of old where the prologue time trial was followed by endless flat stages. Cobbles, nasty climbs and interesting weather all contributed to great racing.


Overall, a magnificent Tour de France, one for the scrapbook. Next year is shaping up to be a real classic as well. Early reports are that the prologue time trial has been done away with for a flat stage beginning from the Passage du Gois (look up Alex Zulle if you want to know what that means to the TdF) and a Team Time Trial second stage.