Finish Line Salutes

I really like it when riders have finish line salutes other than simply sticking both hands in the air touchdown style. Mostly I like them because they make absolutely no sense or actually need to be interpreted. Now, most of the time these types of celebrations take place on tops of mountains or after successful breakaways where the rider is coming to the line alone. It's hard to fault the bunch sprinter for not being overly creative at 70kph when he's just trying to see straight to avoid any arrant photographers. Although there was that time that Robbie McEwen did the weird running arms gesture after winning a stage of the Tour de France. He later said that was a dare from Levi Leiphemier.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Christian Vande Velde rocks the baby since he and his wife recently had a baby. Cut to about 1:30.



Carlos Sastre shows some real planning by having a pacifier available. Maybe VdV should have had some better planning. Possibly an entire bottle would have been cool.



Then there's the guys who like to incorporate weapons, real ones.

Ryan Trebon takes a sword from a fan on the finishing straight of a cross race. At least I'm pretty sure he didn't have it sheathed throughout.



Juan Antonio Flecha likes to shoot a pretend arrow.



And of course we're all familiar with Contador's fake pistol shot.



But this is something new. Today, Contador wins solo on top of a mountain and instead of pulling out his fake pistol he does what I can only assume is asking the world to have some heart when discussing his pending doping situation. It's all about the subtle suggestions.