Sports

TDF Stage 21 Mark Cavendish Wins Sprint Alberto Contador Top Spot

by Barbara McPherson | July 26, 2009 at 08:09 am

932 views | 35 Recommendations | 2 comments

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The Tour de France stage 21 saw Mark Cavendish(Columbia) win the final sprint in a decisive burst of speed. His lead out man Mark Renshaw placed second on the Champs-Elysees. Tyler Farrar(Garmin) placed third. Thor Hushovd(Cervelo) keeps the green jersey for most sprint points.

The winner of the Tour was decided yesterday on Mont Ventoux. Alberto Contador(Astana) goes home with his second Tour win. Last year he was not allowed to compete because he had signed with Astana and that team was not allowed to compete.

Tour de France Winners

1. Alberto Contador(Astana)

2. Andy Schleck(SaxoBank)

3. Lance Armstrong(Astana)

4. Bradley Wiggins(Garmin)

5. Frank Schleck(SaxoBank)

There are races within races in the Tour. Green jersey is prized by the sprinters, white jersey is awarded to the best young rider. This year Andy Schleck takes that one home. The polka dot jersey is captured by the rider with the most mountain points and Franco Pellizotti(Liquigas) takes that one home. Team Astana takes the top prize for best team.

Prize money is usually pooled by the team. Astana will be sharing out about 900 000 US for this effort.

The Tour is an epic three week race that uses teamwork, strategy, luck and sometimes sheer grit to get through. This year's Tour was 3 500 km of roadwork. If there were a "Sheer Grit" award, it should go to George Hincapie(Columbia) who had a bad crash but refused to quit and refused x-rays in case he would be medically removed. This veteran of 14 Tours can get his collarbone seen to now. In spite of his injuries he finished in the top 20.

Ryder Hesjedal(Garmin), the lone Canadian in the Tour finished 49.

A first for the Tour are the two Japanese cyclists who completed this year. Fumiyuki Beppu(Skil Shimano) shone on the Champs-Elysees in a breakaway group until swept up by Team Columbia.

Interest in the Tour has increased exponentially since the return from retirement by Lance Armstrong. He continues to stir it up by announcing his intention to return next year with a new team sponsored by RadioShack.

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Amy Judd

at 08:15 on July 26th, 2009

Thanks for this! If you can fit 'Alberto Contador's name in the headline, that will help bring views to your story (just a thought)

I'm going to miss all the TDF round ups!

Yuliya Talmazan

at 13:15 on July 26th, 2009

Thanks so much for doing all this coverage, Barbara. I found your reports to be accurate, original and timely during the past three weeks that Tour de France has taken place. I appreciate your hard work, and think you set a great example for other members.