Ah, the Tour de France will be American Again

[jcmseven]

Fellow Posters,

As some of you know I am a USCF bicycle racer and have been a fan of cycling for some time now. I took up cycling as a way to stay in shape and keep the weight off after I finished playing football in college. I have been fortunate enough to enjoy health to do this demanding activity and to follow it over the years. Lance Armstrong retired this past year, leaving what was felt to be a void of potential winners in the TDF and other large races. Enter Floyd Landis, a Pennsylvanian with tremendous potential and dedication, who appears will as of today continue the legacy of American winners in the largest bicycle race in the world and one of the most grueling multi-day sporting events devised. Although I have been to France and have some French friends (and have been treated nicely there) it does my heart well to see an American win for the eighth year in succession. Having raced mountain bikes in years past against Floyd, I can say a nicer person there could not be, and I congratulate him for his win, assuming he cruises across the line in this final, and ceremonial, stage.

John M

 

[Jagmandave]

I missed the final time trial, I assume he made up his 30 sec deficit? That's pretty amazing, at one point he was down what, 8 min?
Congrats, Floyd - well done!

 

[ejtaylor822]

Agree, nice to see the yellow jersey on an American! From what I have seen and read about Landis, he seems to be a good guy. Really putting on quite a show for someone who needs to have a hip replaced. The ride he made the other day where he got back almost the 8 minutes was absolutely incredible. I put it right up there with Lemond's ’89 time trial win – amazing.

John, I am from WNC as well; from Weaverville, on the North side of Asheville. Use to ride all over up there. Favorite route was to leave the house and ride along the French BroadRiver into BiltmoreForest and pick up the parkway. Would then head North on the parkway towards Mt.Mitchell. On “good” days would ride up to Mt.Mitchell, otherwise would take Ox Creek off the parkway back into Weaverville/home. Use to really fly down Ox creek, couple of switchbacks near the top with some houses pretty close to the road. One day I took the s’backs WAAAAY to fast and thought I was going to wind up in someone’s living room, but, made it out OK.

BTW, did anyone else catch the large "tractor" made out of hay bales? Think it was during stage 15. It had really large round bales for the rear wheels and smaller round bales for the front. The engine, tranny and cab were all stacked rectangular bales. Overall, appeared to be at least 10' tall using the people standing near it for a reference - was quite ingenious.

Eddie

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Yes, congratulations are in order to Floyd Landis - quite a feat!

Speaking of feats, I received this e-mail from my 59 year-old Boston cousin:

I was in France the weekend of July 8-10 and rode on a bicycle the same stage of the Tour de France that will be run tomorrow; Gap to Alpe D’Huez in the Haut Provence. It was hard; 118 miles and three mountains. Took me nine and a half hours. The last hour and a half was to go only eight miles but that hill is like eight miles of Nob Hill.


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[midlf]

How long did it take TDF entrants to do that same stretch?

 

[BillG_in_TX]

How long did it take TDF entrants to do that same stretch?

The stage winner came in just under 5 hours, and the stragglers about 30 minutes later.

 

[jcmseven]

I have had the chance to do most of the larger Alpine climbs and can say that they are very tough. As per our friend who did the Gap to Huez stage, L' Alpe is a very steep climb. It averages about 8% or more for its entire length except at the bottom and very top, where it is quite a bit steeper. The 21 switchbacks turns which have made it famous are also nice because they are flat, so you get a nice 30 second break between long dragging climbing. For a 59 year old to finish a ride like that, whether in 9 hours or 30 hours, is a feat. Congratulations to him!! As for the pro's, an under five hour ride for that stage is decent, and they do it day after day. Of course, they are not human, either.

John M

 

[Jagmandave]

I rode a century in Colorado one year, some of the hills were 10%, you pretty much have to stand up for those!

I'm impressed with Floyd's race, after being down 8 min he told his team the next day that at he first hill he was "leaving", and any that wanted to come along could, and that's exactly what he did. Strong performance to come back the next day after hitting the wall like he did the day before...........

 

[Gatorboy]

HOLD THE PHONE!

Landis tested positive to his drug test after Stage 17. We will have to see what comes of this. He may get stripped of his victory.

 

[scesnick]

HOLD THE PHONE!

Landis tested positive to his drug test after Stage 17. We will have to see what comes of this. He may get stripped of his victory.

And he should be if he in fact did cheat. But I would take this info with a grain of salt. It is no secret the french absolutley hate the fact that Lance dominated them for so long. I would not doubt one bit if they trumped up this charge.
Hmm, I'm not sure who came in second place but if it was a Frenchman I would REALLY have to wonder about the authenticity of the positive test.
We will See !!!!