Columbia - HTC (Page 9)

It started to rain 15' into my ride, so I ended up finishing the Challenge on my Computrainer.  Exceeded my goal of 7 stages and 500' by 1 stage and 58' and now enjoying my champagne in Paris.

Recap - Stage 20 – Montélimar to Mont Ventoux 167 km, July 25

Rabobank finally got a victory in the 2009 Tour de France as Juan Manuel Garate joined an early break on Saturday and stayed away to win the penultimate stage atop the forbidding summit of Mont Ventoux where more than 500,000 people lined the roads on the way to the summit.  Tony Martin of Columbia-HTC finished a close second.

Saxo Bank's Andy Schleck did all he could do to upset the top of the GC — his team powered the peloton much of the day and Schleck led the yellow jersey group for much of the climb, attacking alone and with his brother Frank but ultimately was unable to shake race leader Alberto Contador or third-placed Lance Armstrong.

Fans flocking the Ventoux as the main players wiggled their way up to the top

Recap - Stage 21 – Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris Champs-Élysées 164 km, July 26

So in case you haven’t heard - Alberto Contador earned his second Tour de France victory on Sunday as Mark Cavendish won the 21st and final stage on the Champs-Élysées.  Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) finished second with Lance Armstrong (Astana) rounding out the podium. 

Cavendish has an incredible tour, winning six stages and became the first Briton to win on the Champs Elysees.

Cavendish would not have succeeded without his entire Columbia-HTC Team.  Team Columbia on the Champs-Élysées, Paris 

Stage 21 - peloton in Paris

Lance Armstrong shares victory champagne with Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and their Astana teammate Sergio Paulinho.

Colour coded: Franco Pellizotti (polka dot jersey), Thor Hushovd (green), Alberto Contador (yellow) and Andy Schleck (white) celebrate on the podium in Paris after winning the various inter-race competitions

Lance Armstrong has already announced that beginning in 2010, he will compete for Team RadioShack, a new American pro-tour as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 TdF. 

Great tour, everyone.  Can't wait till next year.  Au revoir 

A much nicer podim pic -

Hi Team!

Just a reminder than Sunday was the last day of the challenge.... hope you had fun!

Please make sure your team spreadsheet is up to date so I can post some RESULTS in the next 24 hours or so.

Cheers

SuperCat