This year’s Tour was one of the most exciting and entertaining of any in recent years. And it wasn’t just because of the wrecks, I can actually do without those. It was more the spirit by which the racers went about the task of racing. No gifts, all was earned. Thor winning on a mountain stage; Gilbert attacking at some point in every stage; Eddy Boasson Hagen making the winning break two days in a row, and making good on his second attempt; Voeckler making the break that made the Tour. All these things kept me glued to the TV every night. I could go on and on in whirlwind of post Tour analysis and speculation but I’ll keep things simple. I have assembled a small list below of my Best and Worst of the Tour 2011.
Best Podium Shoes – Team Europcar
Best Sprint Call – Stage 10 Happy Norwegians
Best Break – Stage 13 Thor chases down Roy and Moncoutie on a Mountain stage.
Worst Sock/Shoe Combo – Mark Cavendish’s horrific black shoes/white socks. What’s next, a fanny pack?
Best Second Attempt – Stage 17 Eddy Boasson Hagen after being nabbed at the line by The god of Thunder came back the very next stage and got his.
Biggest Surprise – Thomas Voeckler
Best Cape – Cadel Evans
Best Rolling Recovery – Johnny Hoogerland and his battle with barbed wire.
And if you’d like to see some awesome photography from throughout the Tour, I would highly recommend Totally Cool Pix (Week 1, Week 2, Week 3)