What a Tour!

This year's Tour de France was one for the books, in more ways than one. It was a roller coaster of a ride.

First off, Ivan Basso and Jan Ullich are excluded from the Tour due to their possible involvement in the Spanish doping scandal. Alexandre Vinokourov became an unfortunate casualty of the purge. The yellow jersey was switched up more times than I change socks. We have; Thor Hushovd, George Hincapie, Tom Boonen, and so far we're just up to Stage 3! Sergei Gontchar, Cyril Dessel, Floyd Landis, and Oscar Pereiro. Due to the intensity of the race, there were a number of crashes. GC contender Alejandro Valverde went down on Stage 3, and CSC's ad hoc team leader (after Basso's ejection), Bobby Julich took a painful fall during the Stage 7 TT.
Floyd Landis' Tour experience is the definition of "roller coaster". Mishaps in the prologue and Stage 7 TTs, taking the yellow jersey in Stage 11, his heartbreaking meltdown on the slopes of La Toussuire, and his awe inspiring ride the very next day, then taking the big prize 3 days later.

It was one of the best Tours in years. Congratulations Floyd, you earned it!