Vande Velde was realistic about Tour leadership

Christian Vande Velde paces Garmin-Slipstream teammate Bradley Wiggins up the Col de la Colombière.

Christian Vande Velde paces Garmin-Slipstream teammate Bradley Wiggins up the Col de la Colombière. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Christian Vande Velde ended the Tour de France on Sunday in Paris happy with his eighth overall and the support he was able to offer to Garmin teammate Bradley Wiggins, who finished fourth.