With the podiums stashed away and the riders enjoying their holidays, as the season finally comes to...
It was yellow and white at Le Tour for Team CSC-Saxo Bank (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
With the podiums stashed away and the riders enjoying their holidays, as the season finally comes to a close, Cyclingnews' Greg Johnson and Les Clarke look back on season 2008 with fond memories and light hearts. Here's their top 10 biggest moments from the year that was 2008.
Rollin', rollin', rollin', CSC keeps on rollin'
Big Bjarne Riis' boys did the Dane proud at this year's Tour de France - and it was a spectacle for all those who watched (unfortunately everyone in Germany missed it, as they tuned out in doping anger). While Carlos Sastre was the jewel, we're pushing the Spaniard slightly to one side and acknowledging his crown - Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Fabian Cancellara, Volodimir Gustov, Stuart O'Grady, Andy Schleck, Fränk Schleck, Nicki Sørensen and Jens Voigt.
With god only knows how many top 10 Grand Tour finishes to his name, but no victories, it was strategy and a team of solid engines that helped drive Sastre home, making it three Spanish Tour victors on the trot.
CSC-Saxo Bank showed its tactics on Stage 10, with a well-placed Cancellara in the break driving the troops hard towards the final climb up Hautacam after the team's big engines put the pressure on up Tourmalet. The day wound up well for the Danish squad, with Schleck of the Fränk variety landing second on general classification, one measly second behind Cadel Evans. More importantly Damiano Cunego and Alejandro Valverde had unintentionally given up their overall hopes.
Read the second part of Cyclingnews' 2008 biggest moments.
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