Tour de Lance

Dutch2

Rumor has it that Lance Armstrong may come out of retirement for 2009 Tour de France. The number of American TV viewers watching the Tour de France is way down the past couple of years without Lance in the competition. The Tour of Missouri is going on now; however, this appears to be way down on the list of activities to go to unless it just happens to come through town. I have not heard one person at work commit about the state tour this year. These guys are such great athletes I can't believe it is not a more popular sport. During the most recent tour and while showing some of the terrible wrecks one of the commentators (a former competitor) make the statement that if you want to know what it is like to crash in the Tour, the next time you are driving down the road at 50 miles per hour, wearing only your underwear jump out of the car and onto the pavement.

ray a

That's a good analogy. But, not one I'm going to try. Back when I was an avid bicylist, I fell just once, but was going slow enough and it was actually a slick spot on the road so I just slid and was not hurt. But then there was the time my saddle fell off the bike......

We've had a criterium race here in Binghamton for going on 20 years as a memorial to a biker who was killed while training. A few years ago they added running to the event and now the newspaper seems to focus on that part and all but ignore the bike racers, and we do get some good international racers.

Well, Lance is just following in the footsteps of other professional athletes who can't quite give it up when it's time to retire - like Bret.

System

Ohh, I cringed just reading that 4th sentence.

I had the pleasure (?) of being in London for the tour in 2007. I can tell you that the Europeans did not miss Lance; there was a great turnout there. Just for fun - if you don't want to try jumping out of a car, try getting around a strange town with 3 teenage boys and all the roads are blocked!

ray a

Yeah, I used to sing bass.

marina

Skoshy, what do you mean by "I had the pleasure (?) etc, etc".
Bad experience?

System

I love Europe and go whenever I can. That time I took my 3 nephews (who only wanted to sleep during the day). It was what I kindly refer to as the "Trip from he!!". Trying to get around London was really difficult because of the Tour and Wimbledon and Live Earth concert which were all going on at the same time. My nephews loved the Tube and used their Oyster cards to go roam the city at 3 in the morning x:o

They really were into the Tour though. It was neat to see how excited everyone was - with painted faces and flags...

Irie

Professional cyclists are some of the best athletes in the world. I don't miss a minute of the Tour de France or any other bicycle race shown on Cyclysm Sundays on Versus. I find it to be a very exciting sport and am happy that Lance is coming back. He has always made the races very interesting.

I'm anxious to see Landis' return to cycling as well as see how things unfold if Lance joins the Astana team who already have Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer. Will Lance be a domestique...?

ray a

Lance will be a domestique as soon as Bret Favre agrees to be a 2nd of 3rd string QB. Lance is a star, he won't settle for a supporting role.

Irie

I know Ray. I was just joking.

ray a

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 09-11-08 AT 12:16PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Yes Irie, I know you were. I should have used an emoticon - Rolling eyes.

I was going to crack a joke about him washing dishes and vacuuming because he would be domestic. I doubt that many people here are familiar with bike racing terminology.

Irie

There is a difference you know. x;-)

ray a

Domestique... domestic.... just about the same thing. Subordinate role..... x}>

Paul in Cannon Beach

I promise when I retire I wont come back...

ray a

Why, you'll be too busy being domesticated washing dishes, vacuuming, doing laundry?