It's the same old (incredibly different) Tour de France

Dear Editor: This is last year's column on the Tour de France, and it still works — even without the same guy who was in first place for the last seven years — if you just add the changes in parentheses.

The Tour de France is now on its 17th stage, and the yellow jersey appears firmly in possession of American leader Lance Armstrong (was probably lost for good Wednesday by American leader Floyd Landis).

Making his move in the Alps, Armstrong (Landis) had pulled in front. So prospects looked good for the Austin, Texas, resident (ex-Mennonite from Pennsylvania).

In Wednesday's grueling mountain climb, Armstrong's fierce will only increased his margin (Landis looked as if he might need to call 911 any moment).

Armstrong (Landis) is an inspiring story, having endured testicular cancer that spread to his lung and brain (suffering from osteonecrosis in his hip). Armstrong (Landis) required powerful treatment to even survive to compete in the Tour de France (will need hip replacement surgery when this is over).

The ordeal has been detailed in book form and nearly every magazine on the planet (was kept as secret as the CIA home phone list for nearly two years, until just the other day).

It has been a long road. As a teen he competed in adult triathlons (cleaned out the septic tank on the family farm). But by 1999, he was winning the Tour de France (finishing fourth in the Red Zinger Classic).

He is known for lobbying the White House for cancer research money and being named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (doing wheelies whenever the mood strikes).

That has made him one of the most recognizable and admired athletes in the world (known and respected by cycling enthusiasts, and his parents.)

By showing his strength in the mountains (time trial), Armstrong muscled to the lead by minutes (Landis snuck into the lead by a couple of seconds) against a field of the world's finest cyclists (against a field decimated by a drug scandal that included more names than a Barry Bonds affidavit).

The next stage Thursday, as usual, will be carried live on OLN, where the ratings are rising like a soufflé in an oven because of Armstrong (sinking like a car battery hurled into a pond since Armstrong's retirement).

Armstrong's place on the podium is guaranteed, barring calamity (Landis' chances are as dead as disco, unless a fellow in yellow named Oscar Pereiro takes a wrong turn on the Champs-Elysees).

All he needs is a solid, safe finish (a booster rocket on the back of his seat).

So it's another triumph (another Yankee misfortune, following Wimbledon and the 4th of July hot dog contest).

When will America's hold on the Tour de France ever end?

(It just did.)

***

Mike Lopresti writes for Gannett News Service.

Poor Floyd

I'm not sure what happened to Floyd today - it looked like he totally bonked on the last climb of the day. He is now in 11th place overall - 8min behind Pereiro. That is definitely a BAD day.

Hopefully he can redeem himself tomorrow, although there are just as many mountains to climb in Stage 17.

Materazzi can be nasty too...

Post-defense flowers

 

Post-defense dinner at the Cannery

 

Big smiles all around post-defense!

 

the ones that got away

For the most part, the guys in the breakaways always get caught - but not today. These 2 broke away about 50km in (along with 13 other riders) and stayed away for the rest of the stage - even up the HC climb of the Col du Soudet (14km at 7.3% grade...yikes). It was kind of funny watching the end of the stage - the AG2R rider was destined for both the yellow jersey and the polka dot jersey whereas the Agritubel rider could only hope for the stage win. I think Mercado (the Agritubel guy) tried to work out some sort of deal with Dessel, but Dessel wasn't going to give him the win...so Mercado just sat on Dessel's wheel for the last 5 km or so and then sprinted by him just at the finish. Cheeky bugger!
In the meantime, the peloton - who obviously miscalcuated things today, came in about 6min later. I suppose they could have been saving themselves for tomorrow's nasty stage in the Pyrenees.

Another across America race

To assist in motivating 4th and 5th grade students in a virtual Run/Walk Across America challenge (www.seeusrun.com), Paul Staso, the spouse of Russell Elementary P.E. Instructor Vicki Staso, told the students that he would actually attempt to run across the United States between Friday, June 23, 2006 and the end of October if either the 4th grade class or 5th grade class (or both, but not combined) successfully completed their virtual trek across America by the last day of school on June 9, 2006. The students met the challenge before the end of the school year and Paul's run became a reality. Paul's trek is called the P.A.C.E. Run (Promoting Active Children Everywhere) and he will maintain an average pace of 30 miles per day across America, taking a few scheduled rest days while on the road.

2nd time lucky

Mattias Kessler (T-Mobile) managed to stay away from the sprinters today and take the win on Stage 3. Impressive!

The race lost a few top guys today - all apparently due to broken collarbones - Erik Dekker (Rabobank - lying on the ground in the photo), Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto - sitting on the ground) and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne). Too bad as Valverde was one of the yellow jersey hopefuls. From what I saw on tv it looked like he might have caused the crash - the peloton gets so twitchy and anxious as they near the end that one wrong move can cause disaster. The race has been great so far - lots of good action during the sprints and demonstrations of courage during the breakaways. And of course, Phil and Paul's commentary is pleasing to the ears! Hard to watch the Tour, Wimbledon and the World Cup all at the same time!