When Floyd Landis was leading the race for the yellow jersey in Le Tour de France by 10 seconds, a French newspaper said, "Landis leads, but he has no panache." Well, he doesn't lead today, but he definitely has panache. After physically falling apart yesterday, he came back today, winning the stage, coming to within 30 seconds of the leader. He may well win the Tour -- in my opinion -- the greatest sporting event in today's world. Most agree that he raced possibly the best one stage race of the Tour's history. After falling apart yesterday, he came back, racing alone with no help from his team or anyone else to win this stage, a race of 200 kilometers over five mountain peaks, in 5 hours, 23 minutes, 36 seconds -- and seconds count. Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour, won his first one by 8 seconds. That's after about a hundred hours of racing.

Although the Tour -- like most sports events -- has been tainted by reports of doping, I think -- in the main -- it exemplifies that which is good in Man, because to win the Tour, one has to defeat his toughest opponent -- himself. He has to keep going -- keep pedaling -- when ever fiber of his body is screaming for him to quit.

Everyone said yesterday that Landis had lost all chance to win the Tour. Now, he's the favorite. Of course, the question is, does he have anything left. But win or lose, he's a hero in my eyes.

Oh...by the way. He's riding on what is essentially a dead hip bone. After the Tour, he plans to have hip replacement surgery.

Slammr (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:10 am When Floyd Landis was leading the race for the yellow jersey in Le Tour de France by 10 seconds, a French newspaper said, "Landis leads, but he has no panache." Well, he doesn't lead today, but he definitely has panache. After physically falling apart yesterday, he came back today, winning the stage, coming to within 30 seconds of the leader. He may well win the Tour -- in my opinion -- the greatest sporting event in today's world. Most agree that he raced possibly the best one stage race of the Tour's history. After falling apart yesterday, he came back, racing alone with no help from his team or anyone else to win this stage, a race of 200 kilometers over five mountain peaks, in 5 hours, 23 minutes, 36 seconds -- and seconds count. Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour, won his first one by 8 seconds. That's after about a hundred hours of racing.

Although the Tour -- like most sports events -- has been tainted by reports of doping, I think -- in the main -- it exemplifies that which is good in Man, because to win the Tour, one has to defeat his toughest opponent -- himself. He has to keep going -- keep pedaling -- when ever fiber of his body is screaming for him to quit.

Everyone said yesterday that Landis had lost all chance to win the Tour. Now, he's the favorite. Of course, the question is, does he have anything left. But win or lose, he's a hero in my eyes.

Oh...by the way. He's riding on what is essentially a dead hip bone. After the Tour, he plans to have hip replacement surgery.

The tour is the closest sport to boxing for pure raw courage. Landis is a great hero.

Thank you, Slammr...



A-1

A-1 (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:24 pm Thank you, Slammr...



A-1

Slammr, I am in Paris right now and will there Sunday at L'Arche de Triomphe to watch the winners. The Tour will be passing by where I am staying so this should be exciting for me.

I have been watching it live on TV and the thrill is exuberant.

Looking foward to see him take the Yellow this Sunday.

Studlover

I picked up that one BiCycle weighs 2.5 pounds and is made with carbon fibre. Can I buy one of these here in the USA. No I am not going out to pedal on the Highways, but when YOUNGER back in the OLD COUNTRY we did Bicycle a lot and when I was in military service I took my Bicycle with a Victoria Back pack motor to drive home until one day I slipped on the Ice (it was winter) and broke my Wrist. That really HURT. That Victora Side motor was a Chain driven attachment to the Bicyle made in Austria (that was in 1952)

I have seen lately other "hang on motors" for Bicycles using a Roller on the Wheel. A very economical means of getting around ... Hi /N3RF

I'll RACE You - if I had one ... Hi

How come there are NO females in this RACE ???

JSm n3rf

Studlover (imported) wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:32 pm Slammr, I am in Paris right now and will there Sunday at L'Arche de Triomphe to watch the winners. The Tour will be passing by where I am staying so this should be exciting for me.

I have been watching it live on TV and the thrill is exuberant.

Looking foward to see him take the Yellow this Sunday.

Studlover

I would love to be there for it. I've watched every minute of it on TV. What a showcase this race is for France. It's a beautiful country. And, the French definitely love le Tour.

Slammr (imported) wrote: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:13 am I would love to be there for it. I've watched every minute of it on TV. What a showcase this race is for France. It's a beautiful country. And, the French definitely love le Tour.

Slammr, I got to be here for the World Cup playoffs, also. Paris went crazy when they won the playoffs. The enthusiasm was infectious.

I can hardly wait for the Tour to by where I am living, but I will probably see it at the Arc. More action and then the winner.

SL

n3rf (imported) wrote: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:34 am I'll RACE You - if I had one ... Hi

How come there are NO females in this RACE ???

JSm n3rf

Because France IS NOT AMERICA. Ain't no women in the Vienna Philhormic either.

SL

Studlover (imported) wrote: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:30 am Because France IS NOT AMERICA. Ain't no women in the Vienna Philhormic either.

SL

I think that after 1997 women became full members of the Vienna Philharmonic. There is only one female member. One woman played for 20 years, but she was not a member until 1997. Some other women have performed with the orchestra as guests. I do not recall any woman who has conducted the orchestra.