Tour de France turning unpredictable as it progresses
The 2011 edition of the Tour de France completed its 17 stages out of the total of 21. The tour started on July 2, 2011 with an upset, as the Spaniard, Alberto Contador, who entered the competition with an elevated strength and a high fan-following, was unable to perform as per the expectations of the cycling pundits.
With just a week left in the conclusion of the tournament on July 24, 2011, the Frenchman, Thomas Voeckler, is the man in-charge of the Tour, who is well ahead of the seven-time Tour de France Winner, Lance Armstrong, and the three-time Champion, Alberto Contador.
Armstrong tweeted regarding the Tour’s leader, "If Voeckler makes it to the top with the leaders today then we have to say he can win the TdF. He's got two minutes and they can't shake him."
"For sure Voeckler is a contender. His shape is unbelievable and he has great support from his team." said Contador. "I am several minutes behind him and it will be hard to take them back."
Thomas is in supreme form throughout this year’s Tour and is comfortably ahead of the Australian, Cadel Evans, after the end 17th stage in overall classification, with a difference of 1 minute and 18 seconds.
Yet Thomas Voeckler himself is uncertain to lift the Champion’s trophy is the Frenchman himself. Despite giving an astounding challenge to the leading Tour contenders and fighting his way on an equal footing to retain the yellow Jersey, Thomas himself is not looking confident, ahead into the Tour entering the final stage of the Tour.
He said, "It's flattering but I don't believe it for a second to be honest," he said. "I'm going to fight for sure, but I can't be dishonest - I believe I have zero chance to win the Tour de France."
Thomas had never been under the spot-light, despite numerous victories throughout his career and including this year’s two Tour stages wins. One reason for his lack of confidence is that he is not regarded as a strong climber or even an all-rounder, as the cyclists move to the tough climbs of the Alps in the final week.
No-doubt, the Tour’s organisers have saved the hardest stages for the last. The final turn of events at the Tour would take the riders through the Alps and Thomas considers the final week a tough challenge in order to keep his opponents at bay. The Tour officials said that before the start of this year’s edition of the sport that the whole race has been designed in a way to make the most decisive and most thrilling conclusion. This has put Thomas under immense pressure.
The last time a Frenchman won the Tour de France title was more than two decades back in 1985, when Bernard Hinault picked the trophy on his home-soil. Ever-since, France has not been much competitive in the sport as it could not even make it to a podium finish since 1997, when Richard Virenque finished as a runner-up at the tour.
All eyes are now set for the experienced Thomas Voeckler, but his self-esteem is giving him the psychological disadvantage. He finds it to be the biggest hurdle in order to give his French fans with the biggest gift this summer.
The top 10 cyclists after the end of stage 17 are as follows:
Rank
Name
Team
Overall Time
1
Thomas Voeckler
EUC
73:23:49
2
Cadel Evans
BMC
73:25:07
3
Frank Schleck
LEO
73:25:11
4
Andy Schleck
LEO
73:26:25
5
Samuel Sanchez
EUS
73:26:48
6
Alberto Contador
SBS
73:27:04
7
Damiano Cunego
LAM
73:27:23
8
Ivan Basso
LIQ
73:27:38
9
Tom Danielson
GRM
73:29:53
10
Rigoberto Uran
SKY
73:31:25
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