Congrats Discovery Team!
The 2007 Tour de France is now in the history books as Stage 20 saw 141 cyclists ride into Paris for the traditional circuits around the Champs de Elysees. Although the second and third place contenders in GC were less than 32 seconds away from the yellow jersey they did not challenge it, so the ride to Paris was relatively uneventful until the closing circuits when the sprinters' teams took over. But it was Daniele Bennati winning his second Tour stage by beating out sprinters Thor Hushovd, Erik Zabel, and Robbie Hunter to the finish line.
Team Discovery turned in their best Tour performance in team history eclipsing even the Lance years. This was Alberto Contador's first Tour de France and at age 24 he won both the overall winner's Yellow Jersey and the White Jersey for Best Young Rider (under the age of 25). Levi placed third and won a spot on the podium in Paris. He also won the individual time trial yesterday setting the fourth best time in Tour history. Former White Jersey winner, Popo, finished in eighth, placing three Disco riders in the top ten on GC. And the team won the Best Team competition. Something they had never accomplished before. Here are the team's Tour standings:
1. Alberto Contador (Yellow Jersey and White Jersey)
3. Levi Leipheimer (winner of Stage 19)
8. Yaroslav Popovich (survived crash in 1st time trial, pulled hard in all the mountains)
25. George Hincapie (super domestique, consistently placed well for team competition)
38. Vladimir Gusev (first Tour, survived crash on wet roads in 1st time trial)
61. Egoi Martinez (stalwart domestique)
65. Sergio Paulhino (another invaluable domestique)
115. Benjamin Noval (injured crashing through a car window, still worked hard for the team)
Thomas Vaitkus had to abandon after a crash in Stage 2 broke five bones in his hand.
The team did a fantastic job in this year's Tour. Amid all the drama during the last three weeks and in the weeks leading up to the Tour they perservered and achieved great things. Their performances in races all season long have been very good and should attract new sponsors. One of the rumors floating around says it could be co-sponsors Hewlett-Packard and Oracle. But now with a very successful Tour behind them...we'll see.
Congrats and a big hug to the whole Discovery Pro Cycling Team, managers and staff! They put a lot of hard work into this season and so far, so good!!!
Go Disco!
Team Discovery turned in their best Tour performance in team history eclipsing even the Lance years. This was Alberto Contador's first Tour de France and at age 24 he won both the overall winner's Yellow Jersey and the White Jersey for Best Young Rider (under the age of 25). Levi placed third and won a spot on the podium in Paris. He also won the individual time trial yesterday setting the fourth best time in Tour history. Former White Jersey winner, Popo, finished in eighth, placing three Disco riders in the top ten on GC. And the team won the Best Team competition. Something they had never accomplished before. Here are the team's Tour standings:
1. Alberto Contador (Yellow Jersey and White Jersey)
3. Levi Leipheimer (winner of Stage 19)
8. Yaroslav Popovich (survived crash in 1st time trial, pulled hard in all the mountains)
25. George Hincapie (super domestique, consistently placed well for team competition)
38. Vladimir Gusev (first Tour, survived crash on wet roads in 1st time trial)
61. Egoi Martinez (stalwart domestique)
65. Sergio Paulhino (another invaluable domestique)
115. Benjamin Noval (injured crashing through a car window, still worked hard for the team)
Thomas Vaitkus had to abandon after a crash in Stage 2 broke five bones in his hand.
The team did a fantastic job in this year's Tour. Amid all the drama during the last three weeks and in the weeks leading up to the Tour they perservered and achieved great things. Their performances in races all season long have been very good and should attract new sponsors. One of the rumors floating around says it could be co-sponsors Hewlett-Packard and Oracle. But now with a very successful Tour behind them...we'll see.
Congrats and a big hug to the whole Discovery Pro Cycling Team, managers and staff! They put a lot of hard work into this season and so far, so good!!!
Go Disco!