A last-lap threat by the Garmin cycling team couldn't derail the lead-out train of Team Columbia as their star sprinter Mark Cavendish won the last stage of the 2009 Tour de France in Paris.
While Cavendish celebrated his sixth stage win at this year's Tour — the 10th in two years — Astana's Alberto Contador was celebrating his second Tour de France championship.
Lance Armstrong also finished in the peloton, cementing a third-place finish at the Tour behind Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck. Armstrong plans to return next year for one more Tour at the head of his own team, sponsored by Radio Shack.
The only two US-based teams in this year's race battled at the head of the peloton in the closing lap. Team Columbia had ridden in front to control a 7-man breakaway that developed when the peloton entered Paris at the end of the 102-man Stage 21.
The breakaway survived out front for nearly all eight laps around the Champs Elysees, but gained only 30 seconds at the most. As Columbia swallowed up the leaders on the eighth and final lap, Christian Vande Velde drove the Garmin team to the front of the peloton.
It was a new strategy for Garmin to give their sprinter, Tyler Farrar, of Wenatchee, Washington, a chance to win a stage. Farrar had been second or third across the finish line behind Cavendish in many of his victories this year.
Farrar later explained that Garmin was short one rider to successfully pull off the ploy, and they went out front a little too early for the number of guys they had. “It's frustrating always coming in second and third.”
On Sunday, Farrar finished in third place, right behind Cavendish and his Columbia lead-out man, Mark Renshaw.
It was good to see Armstrong on the podium again, although it was in the third position. He told Frankie Andreu at Versus that he is returning in 2010 and believes he can beat Contador.
“He's strong. He's a complete rider. … I think here's some weaknesses there, but I'm no going to talk about them now.”
Top 10 overall
1. Alberto Contador (Astana)
2. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) – 4:11
3. Lance Armstrong (Astana) – 5:24
4. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin) – 6:01
5. Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) – 6:04
6. Andreas Kloden (Astana) – 6:42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) – 7:35
8. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) – 12:04
9. Roman Kreuziger – 14:16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Francaise des Jeux) – 14:25
Recent Comments