The link below is to the complete collection of the “I Chose SRAM” road commercials, which ran consistently throughout the 2010 Tour de France in the U.S. on the VERSUS channel and continue to run on a number of cycling sites globally.

The message is simple, these athletes “Chose SRAM,” and messengers included Andy Schleck, Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, and Fabian Cancellara. The ads were shot during the Sea Otter Classic, the SRAM Tour of the Gila, and The Amgen Tour of California. And while we utilized many ProTour athletes, we also feature plenty of Continental pro and amateur athletes, all of whom express the full range of SRAM’s commitment to athletes, cycling and sponsorship. We want to thank all the riders that participated, it was a lot of work but certainly a ton of fun. Twelve minutes of outtakes will be posted here soon and that will show the less serious side of almost everyone that was involved.

SRAM Commercial Collection

Team RadioShack’s Chris Horner delivered another incredible effort at this year’s Tour de France in support of team leader Lance Armstrong. Bad luck ultimately limited Lance’s chances for the overall and Horner’s task quickly became maintaining the team’s standings in the Team Classification and helping his team leader search for stage wins. Despite only riding for himself on two stages, he ended up 10th overall in the general classification, surprising to some, including himself.

Chris was a big part of RadioShack winning the Team Classification at the 2010 Tour

Horner, for my money, is the most affable guy in the ProTour peloton. He always says hello, is always in good spirits, he’s the consumate professional, and rarely turns down the chance to talk to fans or media. If you ask him he will tell you its part of his job, but he also truly enjoys the interaction. He has a fierce sense of loyalty, you can feel it in how he speaks about his team and teammates. And despite the fact that he is one of the most respected riders in any field, having been a pro for 16 years, he shows great respect for his fellow riders. He takes a humble and no-nonsense approach to cycling and to everyday.

The relaxation process post-Tour included some terrible daytime TV, here Chris enjoys a rerun of “Charmed”

I sat down with Chris at my house this week, he and girlfriend Megan have visited for the the past three years . They arrived Monday afternoon, fresh from Paris, even I was surprised they arrived so quickly post Tour. His reason for being here is that there is great racing in Chicagoland in July and August, this weekend he would be taking the start at the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove. I had some basic questions for him in a ten minute interview, he always provides great detail in his answers.

To preface the day, it started early when my doorbell rang at 6am. As I bumbled out of my bedroom Chris was already in the hallway walking to the door, wide awake and still on Euro time, telling me, “I think that’s for me.” It was the UCI’s drug control. I am normally up well before 6am, but I was going to be at home (to telecommute and interview Chris), and decided waking a little later would not be the worst idea. The doorbell rang two more times before 6:30. Between getting various body fluid samples from Chris, and forgetting stuff in their cars, the UCI folks kept locking themselves out of my house and freely ringing my rather loud doorbell. They took some of his blood as well as my extra hour of sleep.

Horner a few weeks ago just prior to the start of the Tour de France

Heading into the final part of the season Horner, nicknamed “Zeppelin” early in his career and “the Redneck” more recently by Lance, will race Tour of Elk Grove, the two Canadian ProTour races in Quebec and Montreal, followed by Liege and Lombardia. The latter are two of his favorite races and he noted them as goals to the season, so look for aggressive rides form the . Thanks to Chris and his girlfriend Megan (who assisted with some of the answers) for taking a few minutes to sit down with me.

Horner brags about how comfy his shoes are and his custom inserts in Rotterdam

The face of Horner

The 2010 Tour de France featured two SRAM & Zipp-equipped athletes battling for the overall until the final kilometers of the penultimate time trial in Bordeaux, a mere 24 hours from the Tour’s finale in Paris. Alberto Contador (Astana) ultimately delivered a 39-second victory over Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) in one of the closest finishes in Tour history.

Maillot Jaune – An emotional Contador fired his traditional pistolero salute to the crowd from atop the podium, admitting that it was his hardest fought Tour ever. The three-time Tour champion stated nearly three years ago, when he first made the leap to SRAM’s DoubleTap shift levers, that the weight and comfort of RED immediately improved his climbing, as was evidenced by his brilliant ascending in 2010.

Andy Schleck proved himself a serious challenger and matched Contador in the mountains, but was unable to gain time in the critical stage 19 time trial. Schleck has proven a challenger for the future and spent six days in yellow and won two mountain stages.

Athletes riding SRAM componentry held the yellow jersey a decisive 17 of Tour’s 20 stages (18 days). In addition to Contador’s yellow jersey, SRAM also captured the white jersey of best young rider (Schleck) and best team overall (RadioShack). Seven SRAM-equipped teams took that start and delivered eight incredible wins.

SRAM’s eight wins:
Prologue (Rotterdam) – Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) – SRAM RED, Zipp wheels
Stage 3 (Arenberg) – Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) – SRAM RED, Zipp wheels
Stage 8 (Morzine) – Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) – SRAM RED, Zipp wheels
Stage 10 (Gap) – Sergio Paulinho (RadioShack) – SRAM RED
Stage 13 (Revel) – Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) – SRAM RED, Zipp wheels
Stage 14 (Ax 3 Domaines) – Christophe Riblon (AG2R) – SRAM RED
Stage 17 (Col du Tourmalet) – Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) – SRAM LTE, Zipp wheels
Stage 19 (Pauillac) – Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) – SRAM RED, Zipp wheels

Lance completes the final laps of his finalTour on SRAM’s Limited Tour Edition groupset

Limited Tour Edition – The world’s lightest, fastest, and most efficient groupset, SRAM RED, received a special treatment with black anodization and yellow graphics, a tribute to the Tour’s signature color, and was introduced in Rotterdam as the Limited Tour Edition (LTE) gruppo. LTE was ridden in the 2010 Tour by Lance Armstrong (RadioShack), Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team), and Alberto Contador (Astana). It will be available for a limited time beginning September 2010.

Andy Schleck Tour Runner-Up and Best Young Rider On SRAM RED LTE

2010 Tour de France Sunday 25 July
Stage 20: Longjumeau Paris Champs-Élysées 102.5 km
Alberto Contador took Spain’s 13th victory in 97 editions of the Tour de France when he clinched up his third win on Sunday after wins in 2007 and 2009. Post race, Contador said “It is a Tour in which I had a lot of pressure, especially physically as I was not at my best level. It took a lot of confidence to face difficult situations. For example, everyone said I had already won the Tour after the stage to the Tourmalet. But we saw yesterday, in the race against the clock, that it was not fully played out. Today is therefore a great relief for me, it is a moment that I feel like I’ve been liberated from all the pressure.

“The three wins are all very different. The first, in 2007, had something special, precisely because that was the first. Last year, the context was difficult and this made it difficult. And this year I have had difficult moments, but I could count on a strong team. I realize that each year I gain in experience. I know better manage a team throughout the race. “Now I am happy to enjoy this victory and I’ll take a good vacation.”

Second in his second Tour in 2009 by 4’11”, this time, Andy Schleck is second by just 39”, the fifth smallest margin between winner and runner-up in the history of the race. Schleck said post race in Paris “It’s a completely different feeling to when I came second in 2009. I got up there and look at the yellow jersey now and I realize I was so close – but in the end it’s so far away. I almost had it. I wore yellow for six days and I’m more than sure that I want to do better. I have an appointment on the Champs-Elysées next year with the yellow jersey. I’ll be back to win it.

“Right now it’s a bit difficult to understand all that’s happened because I’m in the middle of it all. It’s better to see from the outside. The people I’ve spoken to who have looked on say it’s been a really beautiful Tour and now I really need some time in the next week to sit back and maybe take it all in.

“I’m not going to watch the replays. I don’t want to watch myself on TV – I’m not in love with myself. But I have to enjoy it a little bit. “I’m not going to brew on the 39 seconds. I’m finished thinking about that. It’s behind me now. It’s pretty funny though because yesterday when I finished the time trial, I said to my room-mate Nicki [Sorensen], ‘If I lose, I hope it’s like 45 or 50 seconds.’ I told him that I hoped it wasn’t going to be 39 seconds. I get to the hotel at the end of the stage and he reminds me that it’s 39 seconds. Ah well, it’s over and it’s lost. Right now I don’t know what’s going to change but we’ll all find out soon enough.”

The 20th stage over 102.5km from Longjumeau to the Champs-Elysées in Paris began with 170 riders on an overcast, mild day of 22 degrees Celsius. The start was delayed because SRAN RED equipped RadioShack tried to wear black jerseys with “28” on the back, representing the 28 million people around the world living with cancer. However, the UCI officials would not make an exception and insisted that RadioShack change back to their official team strips in accordance with the race rules. Not only did the nine riders from RadioShack that won the team classification have to replace their jerseys, they also had to ensure their race numbers were properly pinned on. This requirement caused a long delay in proceedings on the day that Lance Armstrong says will be his final day of Tour de France competition.
As usual on the final stage of the Tour de France, the part of the stage was a cruise fest, with the tourist pace of 25km covered in the first hour and as the peloton entered the streets of Paris, it was the SRAM RED equipped Astana team of Maillot Jaune Alberto Contador which led the way onto the Champs-Elysees. As usual a break got away with 11 riders including SRAM RED equipped Chris Sorensen (SAXO BANK), Chris Riblon (Ag2r) and Chris Knees (Milram) who gained a maximum gain of 25”, but HTC-Columbia, Sky and Katusha pulled them back and Cavendish took the sprint.

SRAM RED LTE equipped Maillot Jaune Alberto Contador (Astana) finished the Tour’s final stage in 81st and there was no change to the top order of the general classification. Contador is the ninth rider to win three Tour titles at the Tour. Contador didn’t win a stage in 2010 but he finished 39” ahead of SRAM RED LTE equipped Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), the best young rider for the third consecutive year and Tour runner-up for the second year.

Stage Twenty Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Columbia 2h42’21”
6. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram (SRAM RED)
7. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team (SRAM RED)
8. Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank (SRAM RED)

2010 Tour de France Final General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 91h58’48” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ 1’39” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
10. Chris Horner (USA) Team Radioshack @ 12’02”
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @ 14’40” (SRAM RED)
14. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack @ 16’36” (SRAM RED)
15. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 16’59” (SRAM RED)
16. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana @ 17’46” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
19. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ 24’04” (SRAM RED)
23. Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack @ 39’20”

Final Points classification
3. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 222 (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
8. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 126 (SRAM RED)
10. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 119 (SRAM RED)

Final Young riders classification
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank 91h59’27” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Saxo Bank @ 1h37’53” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
7. Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto @ 1h41’48” (SRAM RED)

Final Team Classification
1. Team Radioshack 276h02’03” (SRAM RED)
4. Ag2R La Mondiale @ 41’10” (SRAM RED)
6. Astana @ 56’16” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
12. Team Saxo Bank @ 2h25’02” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
19. Cervelo Test Team @ 3h51’56” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
20. Footon-Servetto @ 5h15’36” (SRAM RED)
22. Team Milram @ 6h05’41” (SRAM RED)

SRAM RED equipped Cancellara Takes Tour Time Test Win on SRAM RED and SRAM’s 1090 R2C aero levers

2010 Tour de France Saturday 24 July
Stage 19: Bordeaux Pauillac Individual Time Trial 52km

On a warm and windy day in Bordeaux, SRAM RED equipped World Champion Fabian Cancellara powered home the winner in the flat and fast 51km individual time trial from Bordeaux to Paulliac. Cancellara bookended his 2010 Tour by taking the second time test of the race after his prologue win in Rotterdam July 3rd. Fastest at the intermediate tme check after 36.2km, Cancellara powered home in 1h00’56’, just ahead of German riders Tony Martin and Bert Grabsch. Cervelo’s SRAM RED equipped Iggy Konovalovas had a superb ride with a great second half surge to finish 4th on Stage 19, 2’34” behind Cancellara.

His Saxo Bank SRAM RED equipped teammate Andy Schleck started the penultimate stage of the 97th Tour de France just 8” behind SRAM RED LTE equipped Maillot Jaune Alberto Contador and rode best the time trial of his cycling career, but the 25 year old Luxemburger was just not strong enough to beat the Spanish defending Tour champion.

Schleck had a fast start and had a lead at one point early on, but Contador’s experience paid off over the second half of Stage 19. Schleck finished in 1h07’10”, good for 44th place, while Contador finished in 1h06’39”. 31” ahead of Schleck and increased his lead on the 25 year old Saxo Banker to “:39”. Schleck maintained his Maillot Blanc as the Best Young Rider for the third consecutive year, while Alberto Contador will start the 2010 Tour’s final Stage 20 in the Maillot Jaune.

2010 Tour de France Sunday 25 July
Stage 20: Longjumeau Paris Champs-Élysées 102.5 km
It’s all over but the shouting for the overall win at the 2010 Tour de France, with . But the battle for the Maillot Vert isn’t over, as current green jersey owner Alessandro Petacchi must hold off the final onslaught of Mark Cavendish, who is just a few points behind the 35 year old Italian and is gunning for his 5th stage win in Paris.

Stage Nineteen Results
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 1h’00’56″ (SRAM RED)
4. Iggy Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo @ 2’34” (SRAM RED)

2010 Tour de France General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 89h16’’27” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ :39” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)

2010 Tour de France Fri 23 July
Stage 18: Salies-de-Béarn Bordeaux 198km

The 198km 18th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, a dead flat sprinters stage from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux had 171 riders in the race With two intermediate sprints, after 29.5km in Castelnau and Hostens after 47.5km in Hostens. The temperatures were mild with no recurrence of the terrible heat in the last week. After 11km mark, the break of the day beat feet off the front with escape in what was a fast start to the stage, broke free. The men involved were four riders, Oss (LIQ), Pineau (QST), Vaugrenard (FDJ) and SRAM RED equipped Matti Breschel (SAXO BANK). After 18km they had a lead of 30” and the sprinters teams of HTC, Lampre and Garmin were vigilant at the front of the peloton.

The break increased their eventually to 3’35” but never gained more. Lampre and HTC-Columbia were up front until 45km to go, when SRAM RED equipped Milram sent two riders to the front to help. As the riders traversed the piney woods of the dead-flat Landes region and Bordeaux loomed ever closer.

On the outskirts of Bordeaux with 15km to go, Pineau made the first move but was brought back. Oss made a powerful counter and left the others behind, who were quickly reeled in, while the Liquigas rider resisted the onslaught until 4km to go mark. Cavendish took his 4th stage win in a sprint, while SRAM RED equipped Maillot Vert Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) got boxed in and ended up 14th and lost the points lead.

2010 Tour de France Fri 23 July
Stage 19: Bordeaux Pauillac 52km
The only time-trial stage of 2010 Tour de France, Stage 19 starts in the streets of Bordeaux for fifteen kilometres, then departs the city, headed north through open countryside among the world famous Bordeaux vineyards and châteaux of the Haut Médoc wine-making region. The roads are mostly flat but the west wind could make the going hard for the time testers. Schleck will challenge Contador as the gap between them is only 8” but no one knows the outcome.

Stage Eighteen Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC -Columbia 4h37’09”
13. Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)
14. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team (SRAM RED)
16. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom (SRAM RED) 18. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)

2010 Tour de France General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 88h09’48” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ :08” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
10. Chris Horner (USA) Team Radioshack @ 10’37”
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @ 14’24” (SRAM RED)
14. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack @ 14’44” (SRAM RED)
15. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 16’00” (SRAM RED)
16. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana @ 17’57” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
17. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ 17’59” (SRAM RED)
21. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team @ 25’50” (SRAM RED)

Astana Chief Mechanic and Contador Personal Tech Faustino Munoz.

4 minutes 30 secs to bar tape perfection and that 9 times in a row! Watching Astana chief mechanic Faustino Munoz wrap bar tape is like attending a theatre performance.  Its impreesive to watch as ‘Fausto’ motors through 9 bikes in a row. Amazingly each one taking 4.30 mins, is perfectly finished. Faustino is a legend in the Pro scene and as Alberto Contador’s personal mechanic he is enjoying great success. Check out the video and the pics, Im sure you can learn something here (just dont blink!).

SRAM RED LTE equipped Andy Schleck Takes Stage Win, SRAM RED LTE equipped Alberto Contador Sews Up Tour Maillot Jaune

2010 Tour de France Thursday 22 July
Stage 17: Pau Col du Tourmalet 174km

On the fog shrouded summit of the Col du Tourmalet, SRAM RED LTE equipped Andy Schleck took his second stage win of the 2010 Tour de France, but the lanky Saxo Bank rider couldn’t crack Maillot Jaune Alberto Contador, who finished second on the day. Schleck said post-stage “I’m satisfied with the stage win but I also wanted to turn white into yellow but unfortunately it wasn’t possible. I really tried hard, you have to believe me about that. I changed rhythm and I tried everything but I think we’re on the same level on the climbs. Alberto attacked and I could go with him – it was a quick response – but in the end he didn’t sprint to win the stage because I did the most work. I have a lot of respect for that, it shows that he’s a great champion.

“I tried to find out how he was feeling. You need to look at someone to see how he was coping. I think you can find out a lot if you look someone in the eyes. He didn’t have the sunglasses on today so it was possible to see, that’s why I looked so many times. But he always looked good and that’s kind of what killed me.

“El Pistolero is strong, huh? I could not drop him. He was always there. I wanted to find out if he was getting weak but he didn’t succumb. He even attacked me to show, ‘Hey, listen young boy, I’m still here! You better stop playing these games with me.’

“I’m super happy to win this stage today – it’s the Queen stage of this year’s Tour. To win on the Tourmalet is like a win on Alpe d’Huez. “When I turned to talk to him, I said: ‘You pass?’ And he didn’t. I would have done the same. Why should he pass me? In the end, he let me win the stage and I’m super happy.”

Happy to have the mountains over with and his third Tour de France win in sight, Astana’s SRAM RED LTE equipped Alberto Contador explained on the Tourmalet “It was very difficult today. Andy was really strong. I knew if I could stay with him, I could get through the day. The truth is I had good legs,” he said.

“It was important to defend the jersey today. I attacked him once, but I could see he was strong. Everyone always asks if the Tour is over. It’s never over until Paris.”

172 riders started the 17 stage of the 2010 Tour de France on wet roads after overnight rains had dumped on Pau and the Pyrenees-Atlantic area. There were four climbs on the menu, the Cat.4 Cote de Renoir the Cat.1 Col de Marie-Blanque and Col du Soulor with the final ascent up the western side of ‘Beyond Category’ Col du Tourmalet. On the wet, twisty roads ourside of Pau, a group of 7 riders got away, then SRAM RED equipped Konovalovas (Cervelo) launched a counter-attack, a set-up move for his teammate Sastre (CTT) ignored the request and set off in pursuit of his SRAM RED equipped team-mate, 2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre. After 30km the Cervelo counter-attack was 3’10” behind the break with the Astana-led peloton at 5’10”. Sanchez returned to the peloton at 32km.

At 40km, Konovalovas sat up and at the foot of the Marie-Blanque, the break led Sastre by 3’45” and the peloton by 9’15”, but at the top Sastre was 1’20” behind and the peloton was at 7’50”. That was the closest the Cervlo captain got to the break and at the top of the next climb, the Col de Soulor, the gaps were Sastre at 2’55” and the peloton by 4’25”, with Astana and Omega Pharma-Lotto leading the chase. Eventually, Sastre’s bid for glory was ended when he was caught by the peloton after 140km.

As the fog and mist shrouded Col du Tourmalet approached, Rabobank, Saxo Bank and Astana were on the front and as the 18.6km climb began the break had less than 3’ lead. Schleck then attacked the group 10.5km from the summit and only Maillot Jaune Contador could respond. The two rode side by side as they distanced their rivals but neither rider could gain an advantage.

Schleck edged Contador for the stage win, his second of the 2010 Tour de France while the Astana rider strengthened his grip on the Tour lead with just three stages to race.

2010 Tour de France Fri 23 July
Stage 18: Salies-de-Béarn Bordeaux 198km
This is a dead flat sprinters stage that finishes in Bordeaux
With two intermediate sprints, after 29.5km in Castelnau and Hostens after 47.5km in Hostens, Stage 18 traverses the pan-flat piney woods of the Landes for the traditional finish in the red wine lovers city, the capital of the Aquitaine Region and Prefecture of Gironde, Bordeaux. Look for a Friday battle royale between SRAM RED Equipped Maillot Vert Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) and Alessandro Petacchi.

Stage Seventeen Results
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank 5h03’29”
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana @ same time
8. Chris Horner (USA) Radioshack @ 1’45”
12. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 3’26”
13. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Radioshack @ 3’30”
14. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:35
17. Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:12

2010 Tour de France General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 83h32’29” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ :08” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
10. Chris Horner (USA) Team Radioshack @ 10’37”
13. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @ 14’24” (SRAM RED)

14. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack @ 14’44” (SRAM RED)
15. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 16’00” (SRAM RED)
16. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana @ 17’57” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
17. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ 17’59” (SRAM RED)
21. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team @ 25’50” (SRAM RED)

Astana’s SRAM RED equipped Contador Maintains Maillot Jaune at Tour de France

2010 Tour de France Tuesday 20 July
Stage 16: Bagnères-de-Luchon Pau 199.5 km

After a tough day out front, Radio Shack’s SRAM RED LTE equipped Lance Armstrong admitted “It was a tough day. I paid for it at the end. I warmed up a little bit before the race and it went right at kilometre zero. 200km at the front took it out of me. I had a no sprint at the end. But I tried.” Armstrong finished 6th in Pau, in a sprint just behind stage winner Pierrick Fedrigo

Armstrong said he had been considering attacking on Stage 16 because the overall Tour contenders would not let a break go away because of the long flat roads between the final climb and the finish in Pau. “I had this day kind of dog-eared in the book but it was harder than I expected,” he said. “I guess I felt better as the race went on. It was tough day for all the peloton. It was hard.”

Armstrong continued post-stage, saying “I gotta say, this entire Tour, the fans have been really nice to me, and very supportive. Today when we were out there with the smaller group. They can get close to you, they can talk to you, you can talk back to them. I appreciate their support. They don’t have to come to the Tour. They don’t have to fly in from all over the world and come and stand by the side of the road, but they do, and I appreciate it.”

“It’s been a while since I sprinted. We knew that Fédrigo was the fastest and then Cunego. We tried to catch his wheel. There were some questions whether or not we’d catch Barredo but I was just not quick enough.”

Armstrong was happy with his result despite not winning, explaining “We did what we wanted to do today. We tried to win the stage. We maintained team GC and Chris Horner had an amazing race. Caisse d’Epargne had two guys there but that means we’re equal on the day.”

“I’m not the best guy in the race. But I still have the spirit of a fighter, I suppose,” Armstrong concluded. “I focused on the stage, tried to get in the moves. It didn’t work. I wasn’t fast enough in the end. Fedrigo was very fast and he earned the win. Chapeau to him.”

SRAM RED LTE equipped Alberto Contador (Astana) will wear the Maillot Jaune on Stage 17 as the two time Tour winner maintained his race lead today in Pau. Post-race, Contador told French TV “Last night I posted a video because this situation does not please to me. Today I talked with Andy because I wanted to make things clear. We have always had good relations and I do not want them to be damaged by what happened yesterday. We have explained ourselves and I think our relationship can become as good as it was before.

“I had a very clear idea of what might happen on this stage. First of all, I wanted the team to stay together, as it was necessary to maintain the gap until the last climb and then I knew that other teams would take over. And that’s what happened.

“I think Andy can ask me about the problems of the time trial, simply because he is a great rider. Theoretically it is an advantage for me, but I know he is also able to gain time against the clock, being the [TT] champion of his country. But before we worry about the time trial there is still the stage on Thursday which is very hard, and there he may be big differences, rather than when we’re racing against the clock.

“It’s difficult to calculate how long it may be between us two in the time trial. This will depend first on what strength we have left. And, when compared to last year, it will not mean the same route [as the time trial in Annecy] for the one near Bordeaux is much flatter. I also think Andy has made significant progress in this area since last year.”

“I had to be careful in the beginning of the stage so I stayed up near the yellow jersey and had a good look at what he was up to. It looked like he had a good team around him and I had Jakob Fuglsang with me the whole time and unfortately Jens crashed in the downhill so it was not a super day for the team. I heard that he is okay, so that’s some of the best news of the day.

“We had one scenario that we’d spoken about: if there was a group two or three minutes I would have attacked maybe on the col d’Aubisque and see how I went. But when we got there the escape was just too far ahead so there was no point in trying anything today because it would not have been successful.

Wearing the Maillot Blanc of Best Young Rider, SRAM RED LTE equipped Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) is just 8” out of the MAillot Jaune and said in Pau “I’m still motivated but it’s not like it’s revenge. I just want to win this Tour; that’s my goal, and I know there’s only one chance left and that’s the Tourmalet [on Thursday]. I think I can do it. I hope I can do it.

“I haven’t seen the footage of Alberto’s apology but he came to me today and personally apologized and I appreciate that a lot. He knows that he did a mistake yesterday; he shouldn’t have done that, he knows it and, for me, that’s enough now. This case is closed and people should stop with it and move on. Nobody deserves to be chastised endlessly.”

Stage 16th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, 199.5km from Bagnere-de-Luchon to Pau began with 172 riders at the sign on with as SRAM RED equipped Mayoz (FOOTON) and Tankink (RAB) were non-starters. Besides two intermediate sprints after 164.5km and 185.5km, these were 4 major climbs on Stage 16; the Cat.1 Col de Peyresourde after 11km, the Cat.1 Col d’Aspin after 42.5km, the ‘Beyond Category’ Col du Tourmalet after 72km, and the ‘Beyond Category’ Col d’Aubisque after 138km.

Right from the gun, the attacks began up the Cat.1 Col de Peyresourde and after just 5km, these were 18 away including SRAM RED equipped Armstrong and Horner (RSH), Roche (ALM) and Capecchi (FOT). At the summit the gap was 55” over the Astana led peloton. On the Cat.1 Col d’Aspin, Contador and Astana maintined the chase, and at the arrived at the base of the Tourmalet the pleoton was just behind the break.

Casar had counterattacked ans as the 17km climb of the Tourmalet commenced, Armstrong went after him. Behind, Fedrigo, Cunego, Moreau and van de Walle came after the front duo, then followed by Horner, Plaza and Barredo caught the lead group at 65km to make a 10 man break. Atop the ‘Beyond Category’ Col du Tourmalet after 72km, Moreau sprinted ahead to take the Souvenir Jacques Goddet ahead of Fedrigo and Cunego with the Astana-led peloton at 3’40”.

As the 10 man break started the day’s final mountain challenge, the ‘Beyond Category’ Col d’Aubisque, the peloton was now at 6’25”. Despite the attacks, the group came back together and crested the Aubisque with 60km to race to the finish in Pau. With 45km to go, Barredo attacked solo and almost took the win but the chase behind eventually pulled him back with 1km to go and Fedrigo took the win, his third career Tour de France stage victory. Schleck and Contador finished 21st and 22nd in the stage, 6’45” behind and Contador, the defending Tour champion will wear the Maillot Jaune Thursday on Stge 17.

2010 Tour de France Wednesday 21 July: Rest Day / Pau
2010 Tour de France Thursday 22 July
Stage 17: Pau Col du Tourmalet 174km

The Tour’s final mountain stage will set the stage for Andy Schleck’s last chance to recover the race lead and Maillot Jaune. After the second rest day in Pau, the first climb is the inconsequential Cat.4 Côte de Renoir after 13.5km. Next up is the steep, difficult Cat.1 Marie-Blanque climb, an unforgiving 9.3km climb at 7.6 % after 56.5km.

The penultimate climb of the day is the Cat.1 Col du Soulor an 11.9km ascent at 7.8% after 117.5km. The Tour’s final mountain battle will be fought on the Col du Tourmalet, up the steep side which is an ‘Beyond Category’ 18.6km climb at 7.5%, atop which is the Souvenir Henri Desgrange climbing prize. Look for Andy Schleck to attack early and often on the Cat.1 Marie-Blanque with the hope of isolating Maillot Jaune Contador and eventually cracking him on the Tourmalet.

Stage Sixteen Results
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 5:31:43
5. Chris Horner (USA) Radioshack (SRAM RED)
6. Lance Armstrong (USA) Radioshack (SRAM RED)
10. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo @ 6’45”(SRAM RED/ZIPP)
12. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto (SRAM RED)
13. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)
14. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Milram (SRAM RED)
15. Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale (SRAM RED)

2010 Tour de France General Classification
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 78h29’10” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank @ :08” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack @ 5’25” (SRAM RED)
9. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana @ 7’12” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
14. Chris Horner (USA) Team Radioshack @ 8’52”
15. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team @ 9’02” (SRAM RED/ZIPP)
16. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack @ 11’14” (SRAM RED)
18. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale @ 12’34” (SRAM RED)
20. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale @ 14’24” (SRAM RED)

Prior to the official Tour start I spent some time with RadioShack team mechanic Nicholas ‘Nick’ Legan, who will work on many of the most visible road bikes in the world as a RadioShack team mechanic at the 2010 Tour de France.

Legan’s career began as a local shop mechanic and part time racer in 2004. He took advantage of an opportunity to wrench for Team HealthNet in 2005, and then leapt to CSC, followed by time as the official U.S. team mechanic at the Beijing Olympics, then in 2009, Garmin.

A last minute call from Johan Bruyneel two months ago put him back on the front line. Legan’s fortune is a combination of mechanical talent, a willingness to sacrifice (a stable homelife), but also engaging the right people and taking advantage of opportunities. The long days and travel at the Tour are a significant; he will work something like 25 consecutive 18 hour days.

An Indiana University graduate, Nick’s introduction to the sport was as a team mechanic at the Little 500 in 2001, the annual collegiate race was portrayed in the Academy award winning movie, Breaking Away. I caught up with him in Rotterdam working on Dauphine winner Jani Brajkovic’s SRAM RED-equipped Trek Madone 6.

“The most exciting things are being here for Lance’s final Tour and being around such talented riders. There is obviously some pressure, and the days are incredibly long, but what helps make my job easy are the resources. You get what you need here and assistance is all everywhere, including Trek and your SRAM guys. Plus, its just fun to be here, I enjoy this environment.”

“I built that bike” – Legan points to Andreas Kloden as he warms up on the bike Logan helped set-up prior to the Tour’s start in Rotterdam

When asked about the rider’s specific needs, even peculiar requests, Legan was quick to confirm that, “these guys are easy-going, Andreas Kloden’s bike, for instance, is easy to set up.”

When asked about SRAM equipment he added, “It’s great to work with but I’m most impressed with the small differences, that’s what makes it special. Small things like the dual allen bolts on the chainrings, the SRAM Professional cables by Gore, and I dig the R2C shifters.”

A clean toolbox is a fast toolbox, wait, have I said this before?

Wrenches of the wrench – Nick keeps them nice and clean and in a particular order, a sign of a good and organized mechanic

Legan is starting a service only business when he returns to Boulder, we want to thank him for his time and wish him the best of luck on his journey with the RadioShack team.