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.)

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Mike Lopresti writes for Gannett News Service.