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Race report: Garmin-Cervélo claims team prize; Danielson top-10 in Tour – Tour de France, stage 21

July 24, 2011 - Filed under: Team Garmin-Barracuda

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Garmin-Cervélo proudly took victory laps on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday after securing the team's prize in a spectacularly successful Tour de France.

Garmin-Cervélo earned a spot on the final podium in Paris with victory in the prestigious team's competition and Tom Danielson secured a top-10 with ninth place overall in a solid Tour performance that also included a week-long run in the yellow jersey, three individual stage victories and the team time trial victory.

"We've had a great Tour but we're most satisfied in the way that we did it," said Garmin-Cervélo manager Jonathan Vaughters.

"This team is about teamwork, sacrifice, working as a unit, and that's exactly how we rode this Tour. We came in with high goals and I think we've reached all those and more. We did it by working together and staying focused."

Vaughters carried a cut-out, life-sized photo of Dave Zabriskie when the squad appeared on the podium for finish-line ceremony in honor for the American, who crashed out in stage 9.

Tyler Farrar kicked to fourth in the final-stage sprint Sunday as the Tour roared into Paris after completing 3,430km during 21 hard days of racing. Mark Cavendish won the final stage and Cadel Evans claimed the yellow jersey.

Tom Danielson was happy to arrive in Paris with a solid overall performance that saw him in ninth place at 8:15 in what was an excellent Tour debut.

"I was able to avoid the crashes that took out some of the other GC contenders and I came to this Tour with great legs," Danielson said.

"It has been a fantastic Tour for me personally, even tough it ended in a sad way. But personally, it has been fantastic," said Hushovd, referring the tragic terrorist attack in Norway. "I am a more complete rider this year. I am a higher level than ever before in my career. Just look at the stages I won this year, they're very different to those I've won before."

"It's a dream come true to get to Paris and to arrive here in the top-10. It's every cyclist's dream to race the Tour. This experience just will make me work even harder and come back next year with even higher ambitions."

The 2011 Tour started off with a bang, with world champion Thor Hushovd sprinting to third in the opening stage. Garmin-Cervélo powered to victory in the team time trial in stage 2 which put Hushovd into the yellow jersey.

Tyler Farrar bolted to his first career stage victory the following day before Hushovd and Garmin-Cervélo bravely defended the yellow until stage 9.

Hushovd wasn't finished yet. He attacked over the Col d'Aubisique in the Pyrénées to take a surprise victory in Lourdes. Hushovd won again in a transition stage to Gap when he and Ryder Hesjedal rode perfect tactics to deliver the team's fourth stage win.

Once the Tour pushed into the Alps, Danielson, Hesjedal and Christian Vande Velde stepped up to protect Danielson's GC placing. Their strong rides helped Garmin-Cervélo cement the team classification, which is measured by the time of the top-3 riders in each stage.

"This Tour has been huge for us," said Vande Velde. "This has been a landmark Tour for us. We are happy and content to get all the success this year after being so close to a stage victory in our previous Tours. JV (Vaughters) set the bar pretty high this year and I was definitely skeptical coming in, but we really delivered. It will definitely boost our confidence for the future."

The team's riders were joined by Garmin-Cervélo's many behind-the-scenes workers for a big post-Tour celebration in Paris.

There's no rest for the weary as the team keeps right on racing. Hesjedal, for example, will lead Garmin-Cervélo in next weekend's Clásica San Sebastián in Spain.

9 responses for this Entry

Elly says:

August 01, 2011

A few years ago I'd have to pay somneoe for this information.

martin says:

July 29, 2011

congrats to the team garmin cervelo, u guys did an awesome tour n a very successful one! will support u guys all the way.

signed off,

a fan from singapore :D

David says:

July 27, 2011

I enjoyed watching my favorite team Garmin Cervelo compete in the tour this year. Congratulations on a job well done.

Now back to riding my P3.

Robert Brodey says:

July 26, 2011

It was a superb tour this year. It reminded me of the old days with Fignon and Hinault (maybe not THAT old). It was truly a cliff-hanger. No one could imagine exactly how each stage would play out -- let along who would be wearing yellow in Paris. Garmin-Cervelo was a great team to watch. Many of us cheered for you every day. Looking forward to seeing more from these super-stars.

Signed, a Canadian fan who loves riding his Cervelo.

André Bégin says:

July 26, 2011

Merci à toute l'équipe. C'était un Tour fantastique. Pour la première fois depuis

longtemps, j'ai eu l'impression d'assister à un Tour propre de tout dopage et ceci

grâce en grande partie au programme anti-dopage (qui existe depuis de nombreuses années) de votre équipe. Bravo

P.S. Essayez de garder Thor avec l'équipe. Faites-lui comprendre qu'il n'aura jamais

une aussi belle équipe que Garmin-Cervelo peu importe où il signera.

Lucie Beaudoin et André Bégin

Robert Brodey says:

July 25, 2011

Signed, a Canadian fan who loves riding his Cervelo.

Peter-Dragonslayer Munoz says:

July 25, 2011

I am so honored to be connected to Team Garmin-Cervelo.

The fantastic work of the team proved the greatness of a united front, and well as the uniqueness of the road bikes. Watch out next year all sprinters. Tyler Farrar will be on the new S5. This year it was put out too late for Tyler to have confidence against the other sprinters, so he was at a slight disadvantage. However, Thor had his all the way, and look how great he did!

Mike Tippett says:

July 25, 2011

Congratulations to the team for a fantastic victory!

stephan says:

July 25, 2011

Congratulations to the hole team.

Very inspiring.

Loved every minute of your ride to the podium.