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Tour de France: Three Kings in Paris
posted by id* at 05:10 PM on July 28, 2008
Specialized delivered three kings to Paris in the final stage of the 95th Tour de France.
Quick Step's Gert Steegmans – riding his Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL2 with Roval wheels – was the king of Paris after saving the best for last to take an impressive sprint victory down the Champs-Élysées, putting on exclamation point on the end of an exciting and hard-fought Tour.
Gerolsteiner's Bernhard Kohl enjoyed two views from atop cycling's most prestigious podium after finishing third overall and claiming the King of the Mountains polka-dot jersey, while teammate Stefan Schumacher was arguably the king of the time trials.
"I knew from experience that I wanted to be among the first riders in the last bend if I wanted to have any chance to win. The team rode perfectly to set me up. When Tosatto did his turn, I knew I was going to win," said Steegmans, who took Quick Step's sole victory of the race. "We had a lot of pressure to win, and I'm glad we were able to deliver a victory for the team. We were close a few times, but the team never lost faith in us. We kept fighting and now we have this nice present in the most prestigious sprint of the Tour."
Specialized riders made plenty of headlines throughout three palpitating weeks of racing. From Schumacher's run in yellow to Steegmans dramatic win in the Tour's final stage, there was plenty reason to cheer during the 21-stage, three-week race culminating Sunday in Paris.
At 26, Kohl was one of the revelations of the 95th Tour. Pre-race odds-makers put it at 150-to-1 that Kohl would win the prestigious King of the Mountain's jersey. There are probably more than a few happy bettors out there right now waiting to collect on their wagers.
"I could have never dreamed that I would be on the Tour podium three weeks ago. This is a lot better than even I could have expected," Kohl said. "The final time trial was a great surprise for me. I had some strong riders behind me, but it was the final time trial and usually the strongest riders can withstand it better. To finish on the podium makes a great Tour even better."
"We knew he could be good, but we were surprised at just how great he was," said Gerolsteiner team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. "We always knew he had the capacity to be with the favorites, but until a rider actually does it, not for just one stage but every stage, it's an important milestone to pass. Once he proved himself, the entire team threw themselves behind him."
Kohl continued to surprise, unleashing his S-Works Tarmac SL2 in another attack at Prato Nevoso in stage 15 and hanging with the big boys over Europe's highest paved continuous road over the Bonette pass in stage 16. The team sent Schumacher on the attack to protect Kohl's mountain jersey.
Kohl admitted he didn't have the legs to try to take victory at Alpe d'Huez, but he entered Saturday's final time trial with one more trick up his sleeve.
Starting the final time trial in third, many expected Kohl to fold against the more experienced Evans and Menchov, but the tough Austrian proved he's more than just a climber.
Kohl defended his third place and nearly climbed into second, finishing just 15 seconds shy of runner-up Evans.
"This Tour has been a breakthrough for me. I always knew I could do it, but until you do, you don't have the confidence," Kohl said. "I don't know if I can win the Tour someday, but now I know I can be among the favorites. The difference between winning and the podium is a matter of hard work and sacrifice."
Kohl's amazing performance almost overshadowed another equally stunning feat by Schumacher. The German maurader, best known for his victories at Amstel Gold Race and the Eneco Tour, took a pair of stunning wins ahead of two-time reigning world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara in the Tour's two long individual time trials.
Clad in the super-aerodynamic Specialized TT3 helmet, Schumacher's first win in the 29.5-kilometer fourth stage was foreseen by Cancellara himself, who called Schumi his top rival. Saturday's victory in the much longer 53-kilometer time trial test in Saint Amand proved he's a new power to contend with.
"It's been an incredible Tour for us. I'm really surprised to win another time trial, especially over 53km. But it was really a perfect course for me. Once I was on the course, I knew I had great legs and I could win again," Schumacher said. "I felt a great rhythm in my legs. It was the best I've felt the whole Tour. I just went as hard as I could, and when I heard I had splits better than Cancellara, I went even harder."
The two victories helped take away from the sting of losing the yellow jersey after crashing just three football field lengths from the finish at Super Besse. Schumacher likely would have carried the yellow jersey into the Pyrénées, but an unlucky spill in the pack forced him to forfeit the yellow tunic earlier than expected.
Many other Specialized riders shined during in the 95th Tour.
Aussie all-rounder Cadel Evans (helmets, gloves) entered the Tour as the pre-race favorite but got blindsided by the surprising raid from eventual winner Carlos Sastre at Alpe d'Huez. Evans, who held the leader's jersey out of the Pyrénées until Prato Nevoso was hoping to overtake the Spanish climber in the final time trial, but settled for second overall for the second year in a row.
"I made some little mistakes in the Tour, but after the crash I had in the first week, I'm happy to be able to come back and take yellow and fight for the win and finish second, I can't complain," Evans said. "It's not easy to win the Tour. I have enormous relief right now. I've been on a good progression for the past four years, and I think I have another good four years left in me, so I am sure I will be able to make that last step onto the winner's podium."
Christian Vande Velde (Specialized shoes) nearly broke into the top-three podium to finish fifth overall. Except for one bad descent off the Bonette climb where he crashed, Vande Velde rode with consistency throughout his first Tour as a team GC leader.
Milram (helmets, optics) was active in breakaways and eternal sprinter Erik Zabel finished third overall in the fight for the green points jersey.
Lampre's Damiano Cunego (helmets, optics) crashed out in the final week while sitting comfortably in the top 15 while Alessandro Ballan took third in a breakaway stage into Foix after exiting the Pyrénées.
Up next for many Specialized riders is the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. If the Tour is any indication, there should be plenty of medals to pack home.
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