Cadel Evans - 2011 Tour de France Champion

[BratPack]

Uh, hate to burst everyone's bubble, but there's still one more stage left...

...so technically he hasn't won.....yet.  :-\

And before people tell me he's too far in front, its an easy stage...etc. The last stage in the 1987 race saw Greg LeMond overtake (the yellow jersey holder at the time) Laurent Fignon to win by eight seconds (after starting 50 seconds behind). :o Everyone had expected Fignon to win, even the French newspapers had already prepared special editions with Fignon on the front page, preparing for his victory.

Remember, its not over until its over!

Difference being the Lamond TDF ENDED with the Time Trial. Not the trip down the Champs

[reesbr]

I dont like how they arent allowed to attack on the last stage. I don't see the point in having the stage

[North Melbournes Finest]

I dont like how they arent allowed to attack on the last stage. I don't see the point in having the stage

I agree, seems pretty pointless to me.

[The F.A.R.K.]

i think it is because they dont like finishing with a time trial but last night was great he slaughtered the schleks

[BratPack]

I dont like how they arent allowed to attack on the last stage. I don't see the point in having the stage

It's part tradition. part because it's pointless. It's the one every sprinter wants to win. There's no way someone like Cavendish is going to let Schleck take off and steal it.

[Master Q]

It's just there for the Sprinters. That's why. Plus it'd be bad finishing off with a time trial, in the last stage everyone celebrates together, the riders, the supporters, the world. Completing the Tour de France is a very massive achievement in it's self.

Cadel has won. The only way he can lose is if he falls off his bike, but as the commentators say BMC will surround him completely so he can't fall off.

Well Done Cadel!

[McRooster]

The ride into immortality has begun, take the trip with him Australia - tune into SBS now  :)

[RiOtChEsS]

its a little more intense than i remember previously...

[RiOtChEsS]

Its Official Cadel FTW 8)

[Wes Mantooth]

feel a wind of pride as I cycle now :)

[Cicjose]

can he go back to back lol?

[Cruiseon]

Its nice to feel proudly Australian, thanks Cadel.

(looks at the Australian cricket team who even when they win and hard to digest & Lleyton).

[Usman]

Just to clear things up on this thread cause a few seem a little bit confused. You are allowed to attack on the last stage, its just Cadel had an advantage of 1:34 and no-one is going to make that time up on a very easy ride when the peleton is right there. Say if shcleck did attack he would need to do it early in the race to make up that much time, and then eventually the peleton would drag him back in, as it is such an easy course. Only if someone is in within maybe 20 secs would you attempt an attack on the Champs.

[CrowsFan]

Well yes it is allowed since it is not written in the rules, but it is "ungentlemany" to do it. You say that if someone was within 20 seconds you may attack, but if you recall Cadel lost by 2 seconds a few years ago and did not attack on the ride in to Paris

[hawk_88]

Just to clear things up on this thread cause a few seem a little bit confused. You are allowed to attack on the last stage, its just Cadel had an advantage of 1:34 and no-one is going to make that time up on a very easy ride when the peleton is right there. Say if shcleck did attack he would need to do it early in the race to make up that much time, and then eventually the peleton would drag him back in, as it is such an easy course. Only if someone is in within maybe 20 secs would you attempt an attack on the Champs.

It has nothing to do with time. It is entirely an honour based system policed entirely by the riders, not the rules.

It is like in soccer when an injured player goes down, the team in possession kicks the ball out of bounds. When the natch is restarted, the team throwing in returns it to the team who originally had possession. Not in the rules, just the done thing.