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Le Tour de France is over for 2008. Last night I watched the last 145 riders head into the Champs-elysees for the last stage and the sprint at the end. Cadel finished in the bunch, along with Carlos Sastre who had retained the yellow jersey after a disappointing time trial by Evans and a blistering effort by Sastre sealed the result for him. Cadel finished in second place just 1 minute and 5 seconds behind the leader.

Michael and I were cheering him on from the comfort of our home theatre, but the big screen and surround sound couldn't disguise the fact that the time splits were not small enough for Cadel to win. Sastre rode out of his skin to produce probably the best time trial of his life. He deserves the win.

Another reason Cadel probably didn’t win and Sastre did was the difference between the two teams. The Silence Lotto team worked very hard for Evans, but they were underpowered and not able to help enough when he needed it. I think Popvych’s performance was very disappointing. On the pother hand the CSC team was amazing. they were the best team on the tour by over an hour of combined riding, in the mountains and on the stages they needed to they had a coordinated steam train going up the front assisting Sastre and also Frank Schleck who had the yellow jersey himself for a number of stages.

So now we know why Riccardo Ricco was so good on the climbs – he’s a cheat. He has been removed from the race after testing positive to a banned substance, a version of EPO. Other team members also have been targeted for testing and as a result the whole team has been scratched. This has changed the rankings for the yellow jersey, polka dot jersey and white jersey. I would hate to be the sponsor of that team -Saunier Duval - Scott! Interestingly this team had made the most money from the race so far also. I’m not sure what happens to that.

The good news here is that they have picked this up early enough that it isn’t going to affect the end of the race. I just hope that there are no more riders trying to escape the testing and cheating.

More news on most major news websites. The Guardian reports that Ricco was taken into police custody.

The Maillot Jeune has gone to Australian Cadel Evans by 1 second over Frank Schleck in an extremely gruelling ride up the two massive unclassified climbs today.

Todays race from Pau to Hautacam included the highest pass for this years race in the Pyrenees, the pass over the Col du Tourmalet. Early attacks saw the leader Di Gregorio take a 6 minute lead into the race down hill between the two climbs. However the major action was in 2 places. The last 6 or 7 kms of the Col Du Tourmalet climb were the first breaking point as CSC rider Jens Voight pumped up the pace forcing Kirchen and may other favourites to be dropped. The race down into the valley offered little respite for these riders as they attempted to get back with the favourites, Evans, Sastre, Vandevelde, Menchov and Ricco.

Wow! what a rider. This guy Ricco showed his explosive uphill acceleration on the Super Besse a few days ago. Today he has showed it again with a long 4-5 kilometre sprint up a 8-10% gradient slope. I am extremely impressed with the speed at which he accelerated, and then the apparent ease with which he just kept going.  He reeled in all the people above him and then bolted for the summit of the Col d'Aspin.

It has been a magic few days watching the Tour De France and the big climbs have now started in the Pyrenees. I am watching Ricco now descending at a very rapid pace and holding my breath as he comes very close to the edge of the road on some corners at around 80-90 km / hour.

Tomorrow there is a massive climb over the Col du Tourmalet at over 2000 metres.

The rain has stopped, the sun is shining and it is Nadal, 2 sets to none and 4 games to 5, Nadal to serve. Roger needs to capitalise on Rafael's second serves. More importantly he needs to break his serve - and soon. Nadal double faults to give Roger deuce from a 40-0 start. Nadal plays wide and Roger misses down the line for Nadal's advantage. However a quick return of serve sets up a short ball that Roger puts away to bring back deuce. An ace brings up advantage for Nadal again, and then a forced error from Roger gives the game to Nadal. 5-5.

Roger makes another unforced error to make it 15-15 and then double faults. However a successful challenge gives him another chance to bring up 40-15 with a nice overhead smash. He follows up with an Ace to bring up 6-5.

Nadal needs to win this service game to force a tie breaker, Roger needs to win to get the set. Faultless play from Nadal brings up 6-6 with a love game. Time for a tiebreaker.