The relatively flat of today’s stage made me anticipate a replaying of “The Fasso Bortolo Train” from the Giro d’Italia earlier this year. Alessandro Petacci won nine stages of that tour. Fasso Bortolo dominated the peleton, setting the pace until they successfully brought Petacchi to the finish line as his lead out men dropped off one by one. It was an absolutely amazing sight.
The Tour de France however, is not the Giro and this year the sprinter’s competition is fierce. The teams are better and stronger and Fasso was not as well organized today as they were in the Giro.
In the 2003 Tour de France Petacci won several stages by sprinting it out at the end, but when the high mountain days began, he got off his bike at the base and went home. I thought at that time he was a prima donna and did not begin to respect his talent until this year’s Giro. His team got him over the mountains in Italy and he stuck it out to the end of the race. My estimation of him grew, and hopefully he and Fasso Bortolo will give us some good race endings to watch in the 2004 Tour de France.
It’s probably obvious to anyone who has followed the sport of Professional Cycling that I’m relatively new to the sport. I’ve mentioned before that I don’t care much for any professional sport. I remember losing interest in baseball the year Ricky Henderson demanded so much money because he had stolen so many bases the year before. I think that was in 1990 or 1991. Baseball seemed to me to have gone downhill after that, with the expansion teams and more focus on the stars of the game rather than the game itself. I have a feeling that if Lance wins this year’s tour, pro cycling may start going the same route.
I mentioned in yesterday’s blog how irritating the Messinger ads are to me. Lance is not a god, he is not jebus, he’s just a guy who is more dedicated to his job than many others (myself included). Also, he’s got a strong team, dedicated staff and millions and millions of dollars in backing by sponsors, gear manufacturers, and of course, the United States Postal Service. And he’s dating Sheryl Crow, fer cryin’ out loud, who said in one of the “Lance Chronicle” programs, “I think doing laundry is sexier than anything Paris Hilton’s ever done.” (Gag me with a spoon, Sheryl. Do you suck up to all your boyfriends that way?)
So, the hype begins. America discovers a sport relatively new to its consciousness. It’ll be a pity, really, if it grows to the likes of football, hockey, or basketball with all its attendant phoniness. As it stands right now, you don’t have to buy a ticket to watch a live bike race, all you have to do is pack a picnic and stand by the side of the road. Even our little town of Hurricane Utah and our neighboring town of Virgin sponsor amateur cycling. It’s not just the pros that are fun to watch.
Gosh, I just went off on a CKS tangent.
Spoiler:
Today’s photofinish sprint win between Jaan Kirsipuu and Robbie McEwen was worth watching twice, and with OLN’s nonstop coverage, watching the ending twice or even three times is possible every day of this tour.
The best cycling photogallery on the ‘net is Graham Watson’s. Check it out.
Today’s Tune to the Tour contest word is “Lance”.
Today’s CKS/bl Tridiot Rating was determined by riding a stationery bike hooked up to a battery pack, until enough electricity was generated to power up my ancient LC, which after a grueling 225 kilometers at 33 kilometers an hour, crunched out this number: 101.895%
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