TDF: Surprising Riders!

Here is a look at a few riders who turned some heads with their performances over the past few weeks.
Ryder Hesjedal This guy must be at the top of everyone's "Biggest Surprise" list. After being unexpectedly thrust into the team leader position when Christian Vandevelde withdrew, Hesjedal pulled himself together wonderfully and got himself a 7th place overall finish in the world's most prestigious race. He got himself into position on the cobblestones, and then held on to the coat tails of the world's best through both mountain chains before moving himself back into 7th on the final time trial. "Weight-Of-A-Nation" Hesjedal certainly represented his home country of Canada very well.
Sylvain Chavanel

Chavanel had a great haul, grabbing himself 2 stages and 2 days in yellow. "Above and beyond" cannot even begin to describe this result for Chavanel's Quick Step team. He took advantage of the negated stage opportunity presented to him in stage 2, and then took control of the race on stage 7.

Alexandre Vinokourov

Though his stage victory did not come as a major surprise to many, his ability to work so well with Alberto Contador did. "Loose cannon" was expected by many to be an all-out stage hunter who paid no attention to the leader, but that was not the case. Vinokourov was often Contador's longest lasting and strongest ally in the high mountains, and proved an invaluable asset and a successful gamble for the Astana team.