So what's been going on in the world of pro-cycling this past week? Let me spell it out for you: T-O-U-R D-E F-R-A-N-C-E! Doesn't matter where you are, there's no getting away from the greatest show on this planet. Now I'm just like all you guys, I'm a bike riding fan and so just like you I've spent the past two weeks reading every race report and interview with the star riders that I've been able to get my hands on. Lance, Tyler, Ullrich, Beloki, Petacchi.
Now I'm not going to deny this, I'm a Lance fan; I have been since I was the tender age of thirteen when he was riding for Subaru-Montgomery. I've grown up with this guy; he's a part of my life. I watched him win the worlds and mourn for Casartelli. I wrote to him when he had cancer and received a nice photo and pre-printed card from him. Watching him now is like watching a friend, a member of the family even. And it's been with great sadness that I've had to sit here and watch every pretender within the bunch try and attack him and dethrone Lance from the top of the sport. I think I even sat here a day or so back and contemplated that my hero wasn't going to win five Tours never mind the magical sixth.
Imagine the joy I'm now feeling having just seen him storm up Luz Ardiden and increase his lead over all his rivals following a crash and then a slip when his rear mech didn't function properly. Today was bike racing, today was the day all my dreams came back together and my faith has been restored. Now don't get me wrong, Ullrich, or even Vinokourov winning wouldn't be a bad thing but it won't be Lance. It won't be the Nike ads, the Letterman show or the trip to the White House. Lance has taken our sport into the houses and minds of the average person in the street. Who hasn't heard of him? Love him or hate him, we and our sport owe this Texan a great deal of gratitude.
So forgetting about him for a while, let's talk about the race. This is better than 1989. Back then we had the epic battle between Lemond and Fingon, which finished with an 8 second victory for the American. Up until the past few days we've had five riders all within striking distance of the maillot jaune. Who would have bet against Mayo dancing his way up the Alps or the Pyrenees? And what of Beloki? Had he not crashed, maybe he would have attacked again and maybe that would have been the attack that was to prove decisive. For once it was just nice to see all the contenders go out there and do what they'd promised - attack!
Then there's Tyler hanging tough and still having his say in the race. I honestly can't remember seeing a more impressive, battling display than that from the CSC rider. This race has been none stop since Jean Marie Leblanc dropped the first white flag on the road to the city of Meaux. Pettachi won four stages, Aussie power landed in Le Tour and now we're getting to witness one of the greatest battles for the leaders yellow jersey that we've seen for years. Are we missing Pantani and Cipollini? I don't, maybe. They'd have brought a little more razmattaz to the race but I reckon the media circus might have detracted from the real battle ensuing.
For any neutral witnessing their first bike race, how could you fail but fall in love with this sport. Blood sweat and passion; it's had everything so far and I don't think it's finished just yet. Long live King Lance. I'm gunning for not only his fifth victory but also his return to take his sixth next year. If Jan and co happens to push him along the way then that'll be great for us. We're bike fans. We love to watch bike racing and at the moment we're getting to watch some of the greatest racing we're probably ever going to see. Sit back, read those interviews and, live those dreams. It doesn't get better than this.
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