When British-registered Professional Continental squad Barloworld was granted a wild card entry into the Tour de France, the Italian based squad pronounced loud and clear its goal of taking stage wins. The South African backed squad did just that, twice in fact, but nobody expected the first to come a the hand of Cyclingnews' latest Tour highlights subject - Mauricio Soler.
The Colombian climbed to new heights, etching his name in the history books as he arrived in Briançon on the Tour's ninth stage, 38 seconds ahead of second placed Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne). After receiving encouragement in the form of a call from his homeland's president, Soler continued to storm through the Tour with the polka dot jersey; arriving in Paris as the King of the Mountain and with a two year extension to his Barloworld contract.
