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As many of you know, or have guessed, I'm a huge cycling nut. So, I have to ask, is anyone else following the Tour? Thoughts on Armstrong (a personal hero of mine, and to countless others, I'm sure), Team Discovery, Ullrich, Basso, Bob Roll's growing insanity? Some highlights thus far include a stage win for George Hincapie (one of Lance's key teammates), two different Americans in the yellow jersey (unfortunatly the *other* American, Zabriskie, crashed out within the first week and a half), and some really tight team riding during the team tt, by most everyone involved. That being said...thoughts? complaints? disinterst?
-Jenna
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I actually follow it everyday live here:
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Besides Hipbase - it is a good place to blow off work while I am in the office.
I can not believe how excited/into it I actually get by just READING the play-by-play as it is happening.
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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I love watching the tour, I've watched it since 2000 when Lance won his second tour. Things are looking good thus far. I'm suprised by Rassmussen he's having a great tour for a relative unknown. It was fun to watch when Lance and Valverde took it to the end in the alps, the mountains are always the most exiting part of the tour. I'm looking forward to the time trial on Saturday.The new kid Popovych is riding a great tour for Discovery, it'll be interesting to see how he does next year as the top dog after Lance.
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Can't comment on Le Tour, since it isn't my cup o' tea, but I will say that there probably has never been a more inspirational story of personal triumph than that of Lance Armstrong.
Diagnosed in October 1996 with testicular cancer that metastasized into his lungs and brain, bombarded with chemo (only to return to cycling as early as 1998...which itself is nearly unfathomable), then to reel off six consecutive Tour victories from 1999-2004? That's superhuman.
In effort to keep hope alive in Lance's outlook and attitude, doctors told him all the while that he had a 50% chance of survival, when in reality, it was less than 5%.
And here he is looking for his seventh consecutive TdF. He's a freak.
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I've been watchin it. I love it, I ride to work everyday, it is the best.
Rasmuesen is close but i think Lance is in total control at this point in the race, I can't see any one taking it away from him. I wish Ulrich was doing a bit better to make it tighter. Basso is a great rider as well. I think we have seen the future of the tour this year, Basso, Zabriskie, Rasmuesen and others. I will still be an avid watcher once Lance is gone. It is really compelling television.
My wife even loves watching.
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Sweet!!, I would love to go over and watch the tour. I will some day.
Lucky Girl!!
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I've been hooked for the last 6 years, but really got into it last year. At the start of last summer I bought a roadbike and was better able to understand just what kind of warriors these guys really are.
A former colleague has emailed me everyday saying that we should go over next year and follow it for a week or so... needless to say I want to do it, and hearing Jenna's story further augments my desire to do it. (Did you stay in hotels/hostels or camp along the route or rent a campler...??? So many questions)
And on the topic of riding... tonight I went for a ride after work, just before the TDF coverage started, and things were going smoothly until the sun got to the right angle that brake lights on cars become invisible through the reflection. Travelling at about 40km/h I slammed into the back of a brand new Honda Accord Coupe. (I tried to stop but it was a newly paved road, and he stopped at a green light = I probably hit at closer to 25-30km/h) My cycling is finished until at least the end of the tour... Nothing broken, and the bike looks like it survived, but my left knee, which took the brunt of the collision, is not in any shape for anything but hanging over the arm of my couch and watching the final week of the Tour!
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ouch chris that sucks just feel glad u weren't in any of those nice pile up's that happened over there this year
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I've done that too Chris, although it was my fault because I just wasn't paying attention, I went right on the trunk of some guys car.
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Congratulations Lance.
"We're forced to bed, but we're free to dream"
Dana
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Was it Rasmussen that totally blew it yesterday during the time trials? All I saw was some guy crash a couple of times and switch his bike about 4 times.
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The tour should officially be named 'Le Tour De Lance"!
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Lance put his stamp on it with that time Trial. The one good thing with him leaving the sport is that the next couple of Tours should be really tight with Basso, ullrich, rasmuessen and a few others all pretty close talent wise. Lance was just too good for everyone.
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