The First 41 Kilometers Per Hour Tour
In 2005, the race went down in a record speed. Previously, the record was 40.94 kilometers per hour. The new record? 41.762 kilometers per hour.
Ivan Basso Wins "Silver"
In second place was Italy's Ivan Basso from Team CSC. Basso ended up 4 minutes and 40 seconds behind the American legend.
OLN TV's sportscaster Phil Liggett said during the race:
If you look at Basso, he's had an incredible relationship with the Tour de France...
He crashed out of his first tour when he was well under the overall classification. He finished the stage with a broken collarbone, and then was unable to start on Stage 8.
He came back the next year finishing 11th.
The year after that he finished 7th.
The year after that he finished 3rd.
And now he's climbed up to second. I suppose if you think about the natural progression, he has a very good chance of winning next year.
The Race for Fifth Place
After Alexandre Vinokourov won a sprint bonus in Paris on Sunday, he and Levi Leipheimer of the U.S. were then tied for fifth place, overall.
The tiebreaker is to go back to the exact timings in the earlier time trial stages. Based on that, Levi Leipheimer was ahead by 0.076 seconds.
Ultimately, Vinokourov would go on to win the stage and bested Leipheimer by 11 seconds for fifth place overall.
"Sports Illustrated" Magazine - June 11th, 2005 Cover
Stage 21: Corbeil-Essonnes - Paris Champs-Elysees, 89.7 miles
Sunday marked Armstrong's 7th & final win of his pro biking career.
On the cover of Sports Illustrated's June 11th magazine, Armstrong is quoted as saying, "I do not intend to lose my last Tour."
And that he did not!
All cycling fans' eyes were on Paris on Sunday morning watching the Outdoor Living Network (OLN).
They were also on Armstrong and his mates crossing the Cat 4 climb of Cote de Gif-sur Yvette after 57km and then sprinting at Chatenay-Malabry after 57km, before relishing his eight final 6.5km laps on the Champs-Elysees.
Discovery Channel's Tour de France Team Director, Johan Bruyneel, driving the team car, was the first to toast Lance with a glass of champagne. (I wonder what they were drinking?)
Lance & Bruyneel's 1st Champagne Toast
Bruyneel, a very close friend of Armstrong's, is the only man who has trained seven winners, seven times in the Tour de France. With this long history, the two ought to write a book together.
Before Sunday's race Lance called Bruyneel "the master mind, the guy who ultimately has the final say in all decisions ... if it's equipment, if it's rider acquisitions, if it's buying a bus (pointing to the Discovery Channel tour bus behind him). Lance told OLN TV:
Johan is the guy who manages everything.
A lot of times he doesn't get enough credit for the stuff he does.
He's the man.
And I think the future will show that when he ultimately brings along somebody else to win the Tour.
Two racers missing from the Peloton on Sunday: Emanuel Beltran, a member of Armstrong's "Spanish Armada", and Discovery's all-round strong man, Viatcheslav Ekimov.
Emanuel Beltran, in the Alps, crashed and sadly had to retire from the Tour. Beltran, from Portugal, was part of Lance's climbing support team. Armstrong dubbed the group his "Spanish Armada," because it is made up of Spanish teammates Jose Luis Rubiera, Benja-min Noval Gonzalez and Beltran, as well as Jose Azevedo of Portugal.
Viatcheslav Ekimov, over the years, has become a good friend to Lance, as well as a comrade on the team and in the field.
Originally from St. Petersburg Russia, Discovery's Ekimov (aka "Eki"), who other than 1999 has been on the same team with Lance since 1998. The thirty-nine year-old "Eki" has ridden in the European peloton since 1990. That's 14 Tour de France races. He has three career Tour stage wins, has won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympic games and a silver medal at last year's Athens Olympics in the time trial. This past April, Ekimov crashed and injured his back while training near Austin Texas.
Crashes During The Final Stage
Phonak Hearing System teammates, Jose Enrique Gutierrez (49th overall after Stage 20) and Alexandre "Bullwinkle" Moos (the former champion of Switzerland and the best Swiss in the overall standings) were two of ten racers on Sunday impacted by the wet, slippery road to Paris.
Certainly, Gutierrez and Moos had no problem hearing on the track. The issue was keeping a grip on the slick pavement.
Moos bloodied up his knee and was forced to replace his bike, but he and Gutierrez were soon on their way back in the pack before the first sprint began.
Likewise, CSC's Luke Roberts took a spill with an Illes Balears rider. But both were back in action shortly after their fall.
On the entry to Paris as the rain started to fall once again, it looked more like a skating rink than a city street.
Three Discovery Team members slid off the course and crashed. George Hincapie's back wheel slid on the white paint of the wet road. White Jersey holder Yaroslav Popovych slid into Hincapie. Lance was detained for a moment. Fortunately, all were o.k. and rejoined the peloton.
With just forty-two kilometers left in the race, Frenchman Carlos Da Cruz of Francaise des Jeux crashed with Arroyo, Facci and Wegmann during an attack.
The Wet Road to Paris
2005 Tour de France Cyclists Enter Paris - AP Photo
With seven laps to go, Armstrong's win was official.
Lance glided into Paris on Sunday with a newly-designed Trek bicycle.
The "7 Bike" is decorated with seven 10//2 icons representing each one of his seven Tour de France wins. (10/2 signifies the day he was diagnosed with cancer.) The seventh icon decal is a bicycle wheel with seven spokes.
The Bike That Helped Get Him The Yellow Jersey
Lance Armstrong's Trek TTX Tour de France 2005 Bike
Photo Credit: Tim Maloney, CyclingNews.com
The road bike that helped get Lance the yellow jersey is a Trek TTK decorated with 10/2 icons on Bontrager disc wheel.
TrekBikes.com stated:
This year, not only did Trek deliver its lightest and stiffest road bike ever in the SSLx, but for the one stage Lance called out as special, they delivered the all-new TTX time trial bike.
Made with the same proprietary OCLV Carbon that has been sued for all his Tour winning bikes, the TTX proved lighter, faster and stiffer than the standard TTT bike, which had already served him and his team so well.
Stage 21 Winner
T-Mobile's Alexandre Vinokourov - Stage 21 Winner
Alexandre Vinokourov of T-Mobile powered out the last stretch of Sunday's race and won the final stage in the 92nd Tour de France. He surprised all the sprinters by attacking during the last kilometers of the race.
I wonder if Vinokourov celebrated by pulling out a Sidekick and calling home.
Final Stage 21 Results
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) T-Mobile Team 3.40.57
2. Bradley McGee (Australia) Francaise Des Jeux
3. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) Fassa Bortolo
4. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Davitamon-Lotto
5. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone
6. Allan Davis (Australia) Liberty Seguros-Wurth
7. Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole
8. Baden Cooke (Australia) Francaise Des Jeux
9. Bernhard Eisel (Austria) Francaise Des Jeux
10. Robert Forster (Germany) Gerolsteiner
Final General Classification
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 86.15.02
2. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC + 4.40
3. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile Team + 6.21
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne + 9.59
5. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) T-Mobile Team + 11.01
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner + 11.21
7. Michael Rasmussen (Denmark) Rabobank + 11.33
8. Cadel Evans (Australia) Davitamon-Lotto +11.55
9. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems + 12.44
10. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spain) Phonak Hearing Systems + 16.04
Jersey Winners: Popovych, Hushovd, Armstrong & Rasmusson
Photo Credit: Luc Claessen www.actiefotos.be
The jersey winners included Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery) as the best young rider of the Tour, Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), the points winner, Lance Armstrong (Discovery), the overall winner, and Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank), the king of the mountains.
Lance's children joined their dad on the podium. His identical twin daughters wore winning yellow dresses. His son Luke wore Nike, one of Lance's major sponsors.
Sheryl Crow with Lance's Daughters at The Finish Line
Lance's girlfriend, the tanned and buffed rock star, Sheryl Crow was also at the finish line looking like a winner.
Teary-eyed Crow said, "This is the way he wanted to finish his career, so it's very emotional."
Afterwards, President Bush called to congratulate his fellow Texan for "a great triumph of the human spirit," saying the victory was "a testament not only to your athletic talent, but to your courage."
Armstrong was given the opportunity to speak from the podium. It was the first time anyone was invited to speak after the race.
Lance said, "The first thing I'd like to say is that for me to end my career with this podium is really a dream podium."
Pointing to Jan Ullrich and putting his hand on Ullrich's shoulder, Lance said:
This is a guy that has challenged me and our team in the race. He's challenged us on all levels for a long time. He's a special rival and a special person.
Turning to Ivan, who was holding his son, Lance said:
It's tough to race with Ivan; he's too good of a friend.
He's perhaps the future of the Tour de France, so Ivan, next year, maybe this is your step, or Jan, maybe this is your step.
I'm out of it, so it's up to you guys.
I couldn't have done this without an excellent team, without an excellent sponsor in the Discovery Channel. We have absolutely the best program in the world, the best trainers, the best mechanics, and I owe them everything.
A lot of great people and a lot of great years that have gone into this...
This is one hell of a race. This is a great sporting event, and you should stand around and believe...
You should believe in these athletes and you should believe in these people.
I'm a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live.
And there are no secrets.
This is a hard sporting event. And hard work wins it.
Vive La Tour Forever!
After stepping off the podium, Craig Hummer of OLN interviewed Lance. Hummer asked Lance how he sees himself in relationship to some of the great athletes of his time and how they marvel at him. Hummer referred specifically to hockey legend, Wayne Gretsky.
Armstrong responded with a reference to some of his heroes like Wayne Gretsky, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi
Lance said:
Those are guys that you look up to you, guys that have been at the top of their game for a long time.
I look to Gretsky, who has handled retirement incredibly well. He's moved into more of an ownership role and a managerial role. He's just a class guy.
In addition to the yellow jersey and trophy, Lance takes home 400,000 euros for his overall win and 7,620 for having won one of the 21 stages.
If the total race is about 2,100 miles that amounts to approximately 200 euros per mile. Not much relative to the amount of work required and the amount other professional athletes are paid these days.
The total prize money for the entire race? 2,877,705 euros
Other Tour de France Champions
Another winner at the 2005 Tour de France is the Outdoor Living Network and their outstanding, flamboyant, funny, entertaining and gripping live television coverage.
Led by OLN's veteran Emmy award-winning Al Trautwig together with Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen and Bob Roll (somebody should write a wikipedia entry on these guys), with in-the-field coverage from Kirsten Gum, Frankie Andreu and Craig Hummer, the only thing they should change next year is their OLN logo.
Bring back the leaf!
According to TourdeFranceNews.com, OLN provided 2,400 hours of TV coverage. I'm not sure how that could be, but they claim this is a fact.
For a play-by-play Stage 21 report and commentary by Roger Hughes, Tim Maloney, Anthony Tan and Hedwing Kroner, go to:
www.CyclingNews.com
Regarding the emotions felt by Armstrong fans around the world, OLN sports broadcaster Phil Liggett said it best.
On a rainy day, on the outskirts of Paris France with a little more than 82 kilometers to go, Liggett said:
I reckon the skies are in tears, as well today, because they are saying goodbye to one of the world's most remarkable athletes, and certainly the finest rider in any Tour de France -- winning it now for the seventh time.
Lance Armstrong, July 24th 2005
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The seven-time champion is also a dad, a survivor, a hero, and an inspiration to us all, as Liggett said.
In this household, he's such an inspiration we're all talking about investing in new bikes. And this time, rather than a mountain bike, Tim is determined to buy a road bike -- because he says he wants to go fast like Lance, George, Alexandre, Ivan, and Jan. Tim says he wants to be like Lance because Lance is Lance. He likes George Hincapie because he's a good soldier. He's inspired by Alexandre's aggressiveness, especially on the final day of the Tour. Ivan Basso has obvious talent and classiness. And the world can't help but be inspired by Jan Ullrich's perseverance through his many trials.
Meanwhile, our buddy Howard Park, who devoured even more OLN TV coverage of the 2005 Tour de France than we did, is also inspired to buy a road bike.
In Tim and Howard's $1-$2K price range, it looks like they will have 9 Treks to choose from.
Another consideration is to send Tim over to City Cycle in San Francisco and have a custom bike built.
Since I drive a Jeep Wrangler, perhaps I should get my new bike to match. Until today, I had no idea the truck manufacturer made a Jeep bike.
Thanks for the inspiration Lance, as well as U.S.A.'s Team Discovery, France's Ag2r-Prevoyance, Bouygues Telecom, Credit Agricole, Cofidis and Francaise des Jeux, Denmark's CSC, Italy's Domina Vacanze, Fassa Bortolo, Lampre-Caffita and Liquigas-Bianchi, Belgium's Davitamon-Lotto and Quick Step, Spain's Euskaltel-Euskadi, Illes Baleares - Caisse d'Epargne, Liberty Seguros-Wurth and Saunier Duval-ProDir, Germany's Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile, Switzerland's Phonak, The Netherlands' Rabobank and all the people who made this sport worth watching for three weeks and a day.
Thank you OLN for the tour of France and for not making me get up at 4:30am when I went to bed at 3am after posting last night's story at 2:30am.
And thank you France for inspiring us to visit next summer. Jean-Rene, Bernie, Agnes and Francois, we'll be there in June.
To find out where you can go in person after today's win to sign OLN TV's giant thank you card to Lance, go to:
www.OLNTV.com
Or you may send an email to ThankYouLance@olntv.com.
What are three of the things Lance looks forward to doing that his time on the bike prevented him from enjoying?
At the top of his list:
#1 - drinking more beer;
#2 - riding dirt bikes in the Baja, and
#3 - kite surfing.
Perhaps we should all send him a six-pack.
On second thought, a seven-pack (with a copy of this story) would be more apropos ...
Mine would be golden to match his golden jersey ... Corona with fresh lime!
Rugged Elegance Suggests Lance Retires to 'The Quintess Life'
Riding off road, surfing along the Sea of Cortez, and then lounging by the pool at The One&Only Palmilla sipping "una mas cerveza por favor" (one of the few requests I know in Spanish) would be ideal ...
Or, for those seeking greater privacy at a Palmilla Resort villa, I'd recommend becoming a member of Quintess, a private club that offers access to $3.5 million+ vacation homes in the most sought-after locations in the world.
Either would be "rugged elegant living" at its best.
Because as Quintess says, "Life greatest stories are waiting..."
Inspire & Be Inspired.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "building the right team and riding the right horse to achieve not-one-but-seven miracles" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC
Related Articles in Rugged Elegant Living
Tour de France Tears for Rasmusson, Cheers for Lance Armstrong, Team Discovery 2005 & OLN
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