Breakthrough On The Boulevard
- July 30th, 2007
- Posted by EUEditor
For the first time an Australian contender has appeared on the podium at the end of the Tour de France.
Cadel Evans (Lotto Predictor team) finished second at the end of the three weeks’ tour marked by controversy over doping which caused some sensational dropouts along the way, and by a very close finish in the closing stages.
He was fifth in the event in 2006, this time telling supporters he “did all he could”.
As for cheats; “I think they’re all getting caught, to be honest,” he said.
He had started the final day close behind – by 23 seconds– the winner, and leader for most of the past week, Spain’s Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel), whose previous record in the Tour de France was 31st two years ago.
The American, Levi Leipheimer (Discovery channel), was third.
Enthusiastic crowds, in line with tradition, welcomed the riders sprinting through the Champs Elysees in Paris – undaunted by disappointment over doping, or threats of a shower or two in the otherwise mild Parisian day, topping at 19-degrees.
Picture: High-powered sprinters entertain hundreds of thousands on the Champs Elysees, 29 July 2007
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