On the Tour de France

The tour de France took the second wheel during its first week to the World Cup, but know it has the full attention of most of the world. This years race has been grueling and trying on the cyclists. There were no easy flat stages to start the race until the first set of mountain stages. Instead the hills of the Ardennes caused the first chaos to the peloton followed the next day by the cobblestones of Northern France. While these are not typical parts of the race route, there inclusion has increased the sporting and entertainment value of this years tour. On the eve of the Pyrenees the race for the yellow jersey is mostly a two man competition between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador. These two cyclists should be the stars of a four act, stage, battle up the steep mountains that border France and Spain. The unique ending incorporating the stage finish atop the Col du Tourmalet could provide all the fireworks cycling fans enjoy. I fear that Andy Schleck may leave the Pyrenees with the yellow jersey only to lose it in the time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac to Alberto Contador. As for Lance Armstrong, ever since he lost seven minutes on the stage to Morzine-Avioraz he has taken a real relaxed viewpoint on the tour and even conceded more time. This being his last tour we can clearly see that his best days are in the past though he is still among the better cyclists in the tour peloton at 38 years of age. Enjoy this race because otherwise you have to wait eleven months for another edition.