Today is the beginning of something I look forward to every summer. The Tour de France! It is the most prestigious race of the cycling “Grand Tours”, covering over 2,200 miles during the month of July. Lance Armstrong is responsible for bringing the race to main stream America while winning 7 consecutive tours but it has a much richer and deeper history dating back to 1903. There are few sporting events that have the history and the controversy the tour has had in the past couple of years. Unfortunatly, the history and tradition has been over shadowed by doping scandals ranging from local boy Floyd Landis to Alberto Contador. I’m hoping things may begin to change this year.
Photo by Graham Watson
Many Americans see the tour as being a Euro sport but there are 4 American teams in this year’s tour and they are 4 of the strongest teams in the group. The Americans are responsible for bringing many advancements to the sport since the first American team raced in the 1986 tour, the 7-11 team. The Americans are the ones who first showed up with aero-bars and the revolutionary skin suits of Armstrong. They also changed how teams train and prepare to race.
I not only enjoy the tour for the sport of it but I love the scenery, the crowds, and those creative farmers with the hay bales. I have yet to see the tour live and in person but some day I will. I look forward to being one of those crazy fans who run a long side the riders as the climb the mountains. If you haven’t sat down to watch the tour I highly suggest you do. You may not understand what is going on but you will fall in love the many of the riders and teams and the country side.
You can catch the Tour de France on Versus daily!
