The best images from this year's Tour de France

THREE WEEKS OF soul-sapping, thigh-tearing agony set against a scrolling backdrop of France’s most iconic sights: the Tour de France is always one of the most photogenic events in the sporting calendar. Adding a healthy dose of chaos and unpredictability into the usual mix, this year’s race yielded a massive crop of striking images.

Whether you’re looking to rekindle those repressed memories of the Tour’s weirdest moments– Georgie Hincapie’s horror veins, perhaps, or Johnny Hoogerland’s surreal cartwheel onto a barbed wire fence during Stage Nine – or just marvel at views the riders never get to appreciate, you’ll find something in our slideshow.

The best images from this year's Tour de France

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In memoriam: Farrar takes Stage Three
Dedicating his victory on Stage Three of the Tour to his friend Wouter Weylandt, who died after crashing on a difficult descent during last May's Giro d'Italia, Tyler Farrar formed a "W" as he crossed the line. Source: Laurent Rebours/AP/Press Association
Setting the tone: Evans denies Contador on Stage Four.
Stage Four's sprint finish became a duel between two of the big pre-race favourites, Alberto Contador of Spain and Australia's Cadel Evans. Contador may have raised his arm in anticipation of victory, but it was Evans who seized victory by half a wheel-length.Source: Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association
Roland steps from Voeckler's shadow.
With Thomas Voeckler's quest to retain the yellow jersey looking a lost cause on Alpe d'Huez, team-mate Pierre Roland was let loose. France loved it.Source: Laurent Rebours/AP/Press Association Images
Voeckler on empty.
Andy Schleck may have powered to a victory on the Galibier, but Thomas Voeckler, aided by his young domestique Pierre Roland, put in a brave performance to retain his yellow jersey heading in to Stage 19. Source: Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association Images
Schleck conquers the Galibier.
Attacking with 60kms of Stage 18 still to go, Andy Schleck's break looked doomed from the outset. Ever the contrarian, the 26-year-old eventually crossed the line over two minutes ahead of the chasing pack. Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images
P.A.I.N.
Forced by his rivals to lead the pursuit of Andy Schleck to the highest stage finish in Tour history, the story of the climb was etched into Cadel Evans' face by stage end.Source: Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association Images
C'est la vie: Thomas Voeckler looking relaxed.
He may have been leading the race at the time, but France's Thomas Voeckler didn't appear too anxious at the start of Stage 15.Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images
Hushovd shows why he's World Champion.
The big Norwegian claimed his second stage victory of the tour with a stunning display of tenacity during the 13th stage. Source: Laurent Rebours/AP/Press Association Photo
Ouch: case of leg-snap ends Vino's career.
After being driven off the road on Stage Nine, Astana's Alexande Vinokourov found himself at the bottom of a shallow ravine with a fractured leg. The 37-year-old Kazakh announced his retirement from professional cycling several days later.Source: Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association Images
Hoogerland's horror collision.
After a French TV car wreaked havoc in the breakaway, Johnny Hoogerland was left to ride the rest of Stage Nine in need of over thirty stitches.Source: Laurent Rebours/AP/Press Association Images
Need for speed: Cav clock's his first stage.
After a slow start to his quest to claim the green jersey for the first time, HTC's Mark Cavendish clocked his first stage victory on the Tour's seventh day.Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images
Time travel: breakaway passes Mont Saint Michel.
The breakaway passes the island Mont Saint Michel, a world heritage site, during the sixth stage. Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images
Brajkovic does himself a mischief
Radioshack's GC challenger, Slovenia's Janez Brajkovic, looked disoriented after a crash on the Tour's fifth stage. He was subsequently diagnosed with concussion.
Speed demons: Team Sky in full flow.
Bradley Wiggins and Edwald Boasson Hagen led a strong Sky challenge at the Team Time-Trial.Source: Laurent Rebours/AP/Press Association Images
George Hincapie's sci-fi veins.
Epic chafing, cramp, broken bones and the most frightening varicose veins you've ever seen. It ain't easy being a cyclist.Source: © Bettini via CyclingNews.com
Crossing Le Passage du Gois.
Beginning in the Vendee, this year's first stage saw the peloton cross the Passage du Gois, a crossing point between the island of Noirmoutier and the French mainland. Source: Christophe Ena/AP/Press Association
Evans time-trials his way to glory.
Starting the day nearly a minute down on Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans blazed his way to the second fastest time-trial of the Tour's 20th stage and his first Tour.Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images
Cavendish ends the Tour in green.
Mark Cavendish's green jersey wasn't a sure thing heading into the final day. A stage victory changed all that and left the Briton's staus as road racing's premier sprinter beyond doubt. Source: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Cadel Evans and friend.
Cadel Evans' became the first cyclist from the Southern Hemisphere to wear the yellow jersey into Paris. Race over, he got down to celebrating with the assembled Aussies... and a crocodile.Source: Laurent Cipriani/AP/Press Association Images