Paris - Nice stage 8 fin

Paris - Nice 2011 was awesome, and the final stage capped off a great week of racing and craziness.  the weather was great and then it turned as if to say "not this year boys".  The race to the sun, is now known as the race from the sun.  Deal with it.  De Gendt's early exploits in the jersey, twice.  Tony Martin's untouchable time trial.  Voeckler's hard fought breakaway that made it to the end.  Matt Goss picked up his seventh win in a drag race.  And, don't forget all of the crashes, yes the wet weather claimed some skin and expensive machines, but the crosswinds and twitchy handling were just as much to blame in the early stages.

That brings us to the finale with Martin holding onto the leaders frock, and the cycling gods unleashed cold and rain just for fun let's throw in some cat 1 climbs.  Now your talking. 

I'm not going to say "I told you so" but I did mention something about Thomas Voeckler and his Europcar team.  Check it out if you don't believe me.  Voeckler is for real, and this guy is speaking volumes with his legs.  He represented his sponsor well with numerous appearances in the breakaways and with two stage wins.  Once a multi-day yellow jersey wearer at le Tour, Voeckler has again given his countrymen something to celebrate.  Panache.  That word  has been used to describe the way in which Voeckler picked up the final stage win in Nice.  I would have to say that is the way he is riding, we here in the West would say he is riding with "swagger".   Chapeau! Thomas Chapeau!

I can't forget Tony Martin, he did win the thing.  He crushed the TT and then rode in defence of his jersey all the way to Nice.  You have to give it to him for being such a well rounded rider, GC material.  Don't get me wrong...he did not do it all by himself.  HTC highroad knows how to ride and race.  Did you see Matt Goss setting tempo up the climbs?  That's right Mr. Sprinter (7 wins so far) was setting pace up a climb, you do what you gotta do when you are protecting the jersey.  Let's not forget Tejay Van Garderen.  Tejay turned himself inside out and then outside in when he was setting pace.  Sacrifice.  Work.  Pain.  Victory.