"Its a life's dream come true but I don't think it's sunk in yet that I've actually won the biggest cycling race in the world. The team has given me tremendous support throughout the entire race. This victory belong to all of us and it was made possible because Team CSC Saxo Bank functions as one united group of true friends," determined Carlos Sastre.

Sastre's 2 kids were with their dad on the podium during the ceremony: "It was beautiful to have my children with me on the podium. It’s great to win the Tour de France but my kids represent the biggest victory in my life. They are so important to me and I want to share that moment with them and have them close to me.
“Now I have a couple of races to do in Belgium and Holland before I go to the Olympic Games and then start to consider the Vuelta a Espana."

'Il Limpio" (Mister proper) said about his main rival Cadel Evans: "There are so many Australians here because of Cadel Evans. For him to finish second again in the Tour de France… well, I feel for him. I have finished third and fourth and I know what it is to get close but I believe he has every right to be happy because he did his best."

"Of course this whole thing has made a huge impression on me but I'm convinced that I'll still be the same old Carlos. What's important to me is my family, which also has a large share in this victory. Now I'm really looking forward to celebrating with all my teammates, the staff, our sponsors, friends and family and I look forward to a great evening in Paris after our mutual triumph," continued Sastre.

"We've just achieved the absolute ultimate triumph within the cycling sport and we've worked hard towards this for many years now. Carlos and the entire team have for the last three weeks proved to everyone that we truly are the best team in the world. And I'm of course extra happy to see the all my boys up there on the podium together today in Paris. To Carlos I'd like to say a deep and heartfelt hank you for reaching the ultimate goal as a pro rider, but also thanks to the entire team, all the staff and our sponsors because this would never have been possible without all of them,” said a happy Bjarne Riis on Champs-Élysées.

A crash in the ninth stage is what Cadel Evans (Silence - Lotto) believes sapped some of his strength for the final week. The Australian is the runner-up for a second successive year and he’s content with the knowledge that he’s gained more experience for next year but also had a taste of what it’s like to lead the Tour de France.

Cadel Evans said: "There were more dramas than I expected or wanted and fighting for every second at the end was exhausting. The crash before the race reached the Pyrenees was very taxing and it cost me a fair bit of strength; I used everything I had in the second week and perhaps that’s the price I paid in the third week. It showed in the final time trial. I rode consistently and reached all the time checks well but I was just not riding as fast as the other guys. That’s the way it goes."

Cadel Evans: “I’m cursing one Spanish rider, number 29 [Euskatels Gorka Verdugo , editor], who brought me down by accident but, well, that’s racing and there are a few years ahead of me yet."

Cadel Evans said it was special to wear the yellow jersey: "To wear the yellow jersey after such a selective week of racing was really something special and it was an experience that I think every bike rider wants to have. I’ve never worn a world championship jersey but it was quite incredible to be in yellow. It’s a good experience and I’ve learned things that will stand me in good stead for future Tours."

Cadeld Evans concluded: "To come back and finish second and be able to hold off the rider in third… that’s something I’m happy with. And I’m pleased that I was able to continue after the crash. To come back and get yellow was a bonus. There’s always room for improvement otherwise I might have walked away feeling content with eighth place but I’ve done a lot in the last four years to improve on that result."

This edition of the Tour de France was the most succesful ever for Team Gerolsteiner. Bernhard Kohl was on the podium twice: third overall and the Austrian rider also won the mountain classification. For two days Team Gerolsteiner had the Yellow Jersey of the Tour leader in their midst: Stefan Schumacher had managed to grab the most coveted piece of clothing in cycling sports after the first of his two stage victories.

Hans-Michael Holczer thus began his summary after three weeks of the French tour with the word "sensational". "Naturally we were hopeful to start with. But that things went so well was rather unexpected. I am thrilled", said the Gerolsteiner Team Manager. The tour 2008 had a lot of new things in stock for the manager from Herrenberg: Sporting success never before achieved by his riders. And touching moments. "This was now my sixth Tour. So you could say I've been along for the ride fairly often. But to see one of my riders up there on the podium is truly something very special", said Holczer, admitting: "I had to fight the tears".

Bernhard Koh saidl: "I am overjoyed. And I am immensely happy for the team and proud of what we have achieved. The Team did their very best for me."

Bernhard Kohl grew into the captain's role, taking the mountain king's crown due to his climbing prowess and getting firmly wedged at the top end of the General Classification. In the end he defended his third place "in the time trial of my life" in the all deciding 20th stage last Saturday. "It's crazy, unbelievable", said the Austrian, still moved by the award ceremony in Paris. "It was my goal to reach a place among the top ten. Now I'm in third place on the podium and I've won the mountain jersey. A dream has come true for me."

The final stage is often spent celebrating the events of the previous three weeks but there’s also a lot of prestige attached to victory on the Champs-Elysees. This year, the sprint was won by a team that lost its usual leader just before the race began but Gert Steegmans gave Quickstep a successful conclusion.

Steegmans said: "The team has worked perfectly so that I could win this sprint. I knew very well the last turn and I knew I’d timed it well enough not to be harassed by anyone in the final expect perhaps the two or three who were right on my wheel. Matteo Tossato gave me a pace that was so fast that I could not even get around him."

Steegmans continued: "It’s great to win here. Tom [Boonen] is usually our leader. The fact that he is not here added pressure on me and also Stijn Devolder. It was not easy, and this victory has been a long time in coming, still, the team has consistently done its best and finally the work they were doing helped give me that little bit of extra confidence."

Steegmans said the team management was satisfied, even before his stage win: "Several factors have prevented the Quickstep team from winning. The first is, of course, Cavenish. And then, Barredo was a little too nervous when he had the opportunity to win the stage a few days ago. But the team did not need to save its Tour; we had a meeting yesterday and our managers have praised our work although we had not yet won a stage."

Oscar Freire and his team enjoyed the podium place with the green jersey on Sunday. The missed opportunity at a second stage victory was quickly forgotten. Green for the first time in Rabo ProTeam history. Even though it was not formulated as an objective, it gradually turned out during the Tour that the chance of winning it was big.

Rabobanks sports director Erik Breukinksaid: "Oscar continued to ride well. The green had already been within arm's reach in the past, but Oscar did not always finish the Tour. This time around, however, he continued to ride consistently well during the Tour. Automatically, the green then appears on the horizon as a possibility."

Freire is incredibly happy with his green jersey. "This is the highest feasible as definitive prize for me this tour. Riding in yellow is of course fun for once in the Tour but I cannot score any better than this in Paris," was Freire's philosophy. He also remained realistic despite the success. because he thinks that the world-title is more valuable. "I can only ride around in the green jersey during the Tour. You are the world-champion for one full year. You can display that jersey whenever you want and wherever you are."

Freire could not crown his good Tour even further in the final stage. "Quick Step sprang a surprise on me with that fast last kilometer. They outsmarted us by creating a small gap, which we could not close. It is a shame. Anyway, we won a stage and the green jersey." Winning the points jersey was also celebrated within the team. Erik Breukink: "Our main objective was the final victory. We did not succeed. Consequently, the green jersey is a good prize, even though we not specifically shift our attention to the green. After all, Oscar can ride independently as no other."

However, for the full duration of the Tour the yellow jersey had been in sight for the Rabobank-team. Menchov rode a stable race and did not, unlike in previous years, suffer any breakdowns. He did make a couple of mistakes, which cost him a little over a minute. "In the end, that is not how we lost the yellow, but it does explain how we lost a podium place," knew Breukink for sure. "Denis knows that very well. He has made mistakes which should not have happened. That will certainly never happen again. We will return next year with the yellow as main goal once again, Denis as well. He has proven that he should be listed in the category of serious contenders."

Breukink was also satisfied about the performance of the team. "From the beginning, we as a team have ridden for Denis's chances. The team adapted well to that. The assignments were carried out well and they have ridden a satisfactory race." Breukink vented some additional praise for Laurens ten Dam. "It does not surprise us that Laurens is up for the challenge. Of course we did not bring him here without a reason and we know what his qualities are. It was his first long stage race. He experienced a few setbacks in the final week, but his Tour as a whole was excellent and encouraging for the upcoming years."