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Reflections on the Tour de France

Cadel Evans

Well, the Tour de France 2006 edition has been run and won. After being pretty much a one-horse race for the last few years this one definitely departed from the script. Floyd Landis amazing comeback to claim victory is being hailed as one of the greatest ever. Although I think Greg LeMond's victory in 1989 ranks equally with it.

For much of recent history the Tour de France has been dominated by a single rider. Miguel Indurain won five consecutive tours from 1991 to 1995 and Lance Armstrong seven consecutive tours from 1999 to 2005. In most of these tours these two riders were so dominant that everybody else was merely racing for second place.

Thankfully the 2006 Tour saw a big change in the script. It began in dramatic fashion with the two biggest favorites forced to withdraw over doping allegations. That left perhaps a dozen riders who could have realistically had a chance of winning the tour.

After the first major time trial Landis emerged as the favourite, which was later confirmed in the Pyrenees. However, on the second stage in the Alps he blew up and his Tour appeared to be over. The next day he rode like a man possessed to regain most of the time he lost. His daring breakaway confirmed his extraordinary class and talent. He was a deserving winner of the tour.

For me though, the most exciting thing about the Tour was the performance of the Australians. Robbie McEwen won three stages for a career total of eleven and he won his third green jersey. He proved himself as one of the finest sprinters of the modern era, able to win in all sorts of conditions.

Not since Phil Anderson back in the 1980s has an Australian finished in the top five. This year Cadel Evans again confirmed his class, equalling Phil Anderson's best placing and improving on his eighth place last year. Cadel was consistently up with the pace in the toughest mountain stages. He perhaps lacked the power to attack and take the time out of his rivals. He needs to be able to do this if he wants to win the Tour. Also having the support of a stronger team would be a great help.

Michael Rogers was the other big star from Australia. He finished tenth overall. Given that he was riding for T-Mobile team leader Andréas Klöden, who finished third overall. Rogers is a three time world champion in the time-trial and he, too, showed that he may have what it takes to win the Tour de France.

Floyd Landis' victory marks a continuing domination of the Tour by riders from the USA. American riders have now won 11 of the past 21 Tours (Greg LeMond 1986, 1989-990; Lance Armstrong 1999-2005; Floyd Landis 2006). Let's hope Anglophones continue to dominate one of Europe's biggest sporting events, but next year I hope it will be an Australian wearing the yellow jersey in Paris.

Labels: cycling

posted by David @ 7:34 AM