2009 Tour de France - The alternative view

And so the dust can now settle on the 2009 Tour de France and the winners of each individual classification are now know.

There isn't too much funny stuff you can say about Alberto Contador. It was clear he was suffering on the Ventoux but Andy Schleck was too preoccupied with trying to get his brother above Kloden, Wiggins and Armstrong to notice.

It was Stephen Roche who said that Andy might live to regret that when he sat in the hotel at the end of the race. I am sure he regrets Skoda's sponsorship of the White jersey more having to advertise the much derided brand the last weeks.

Although to be fair to Skoda, the caravan publicitaire had their lovely looking new Yeti model in its midsts. One of the highlights of the pre-tour party.

The Etap hotels motorised beds were a particular highlight although my fiancee is desperate to know if the Cochonou sausage company would be selling off their red Cath Kidson printed Fiat 500's once they arrived in Paris.

The green jersey was secured by Thor Hushovd. This was despite him being hammered 5-1 in stage wins by the Manx missile. Cavendish would have won had it not been for a barrier jutting out in the road in week 2. I am kind of upset that Thor and Cav have made friends after their spat. "Your jersey is tainted" "You aren't safe" etc. etc.

To be fair their did provide entertainment with their faux sprint out to the top of the tours final mountain.

The Briton had accessorised his outfit to all green which made him look like a high speed runner bean in our photos from the Perpignan stage. His matching outfit was one of a fit of colour scheming in the race this year... although one bad decision was Cadel Evans' yellow bike (ouch!).

There are so many cheap jokes you could make about Franco Pellizotti and his hairdo that it is best I move on... He is a pretty lady though.

Regular readers of this blog will know I spent some time at the side of the roads of Catalunya with the Albert Timmer supporters club. They were very passionate and told me that "Albert rules", and for a while it looked like they might be right.

The last two Saturday of the Tour were dominated by the Dutchman who made the breakaway on both days. The ancient looking Sergei Ivanov spoilt his fun on one occasion, the Mont Ventoux the other, but it was Timmertastic to see Yaxley cycling fans new hero giving it the big 'un in the worlds greatest race.

I am now a committed supporter (Tony Gibb might be getting the elbow) of the great man and once I learn how to read Dutch I will be following his every move on the internet.

http://www.alberttimmer.nl/

So all in all it has been a memorable race with plenty of action on the bike and plenty of great anecdotes off it.

How was it for you?