Go Lance Go!!!!!!
 

For those who follow this kind of stuff - we are now in the Alpine phase of the Tour de France, and today Lance regained the yellow jersey.

And I was yelling those very words at the tv this morning. My son thinks Lance probably didn't hear all the way from California!

Most years we're in Europe, often France during this event and every afternoon I huddle on the TV for the days recap. I can't believe how little coverage there is here in the US, when an American hero is doing what he is doing. Our paper doesn't even list any results amongst the many minor sporting events they give details for.

Go Lance! We're routing for you here in Chicago watching OLN every night!

Also....Go Fabian Wegmann go. I say this because I believe but am not totally certain that he is a distant relative of mine.

And i cringe everytime i hear Frankie Andreu (sp?) say the "tear day Frahnce" - could make a better effort for an announcer at least Phil Ligget has the nasal sounds to pronounce French well - on OLN which is covering it completely if no other media is acknowledging what an incredible thing winning 7 'Tear day Frahnces' in a row really is - especially for someone who once had cancer throughout his body. Allez Lance!

I watch it on OLN almost every night, or live weekend mornings. Go, Lance! Live strong!

"...I can't believe how little coverage there is here in the US..."

The American media doesn't waste their energy on reporting about success, hard work, ethics, or anything else positive, and therefore not 'sensational'.

PalQ, I'm cringing along with you! At least I did the first several times I heard him say it. Now I laugh. I'm totally addicted. I watch it live in the morning, but I have to do other things then too, like work, so I watch again at night so I don't miss anything. Lance is looking good - in all meanings of the phrase!

We've been to St. Honore Boulangerie & Patisserie here in Portland the last two Saturday mornings since we don't get OLN at home. On both mornings the place has been jammed with cyclists, all glued to the TV while sipping their morning cafes and munching croissants. Not nearly as good as being there, but fun nonetheless. Go Lance!

Wow, what a race! From Austin, that's our boy!!

An incredible stage today. Hard to believe that there will be anything left in those legs for tomorrow.

The Tour is front page news in my daily paper.

That last hour was the most remarkable event I've seen in a long time.

My hat off to Lance! In these days of spoiled athletes here in the US, what a wonder he is.

Yea, Lance!

Lance is one amazing athlete. He is definately one of the very few in the world of sports. A truly gifted, determined, focused competitor that will be remembered as one of the best ever in any sport.

BUT, I wish some of you folks also gave the WELL deserved recognition to his teammates. As great as Lance is he would never be able to win without his great team. Lance will be the first to admit that it takes a great team to win a grueling race like Tour de France.

His teammates are from all over the world. Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Japan, Canada, Ukraine, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Rep., New Zealand, Italy, Netherlands and US. All these riders are specialists in different type of racing. Their main job and their only job is to help Lance win the race, yet they work very hard and never really get any recognition from the casual fans. The one comparison I could think of that most Americans will understand is football. Lance is the quarterback, running back and wide receiver, all the guys that get all the glory at the end of the game. His teammates are the offensive and defensive lineman. As many of you know without a great line the best QBs, WRs or RBs in the world will quickly be reduced to average players or at best the team as a whole becomes average.

If you do understand the sport then you know that it's 50% Lance and 50% team.

I give credit where credit is due. Lance is able to surround himself with some of the best in the business because he is Lance, but as a fan I also appreciate all the work and sacrifice his teammates demonstrate daily.

Go Team Discovery! Go Lance!!!

You're absolutely right, AA... and it goes way beyond the riders. The corporate providers have personnel dedicated to making Discovery the best; Trek, Nike, the tire manufacturer, on and on. Discovery has a $15 million budget. In the past 6 victories, Lance divided his winnings between his "team" and didn't take a penny. (of course he gets millions in endorsements)

I think Frankie's pronunciation of Tour de France is a duplication of Bob Roll's. Both of these men speak French and are well aware of the correct pronunciation. This is deliberate.

We read it in the Boston globe, the New York Times but I see it here on OLN in Boston at 8:30 a.m. most mornings and earlier some.

Thanks for the news. We get OLN during the dinner hour here in California. I missed it tonight however.

George Hincapie is terrific, and we're enjoying watch Floyd Landis strike out on his considerable own.

You're all right. The whole Discovery Team is fantastic.

francophile, it's on OLN right now in California (9:15pm).

Tomorrow starts much earlier than usual at 6:30EST. That's still the middle of the night here on the West coast unfortunately.

What an awesome stage today (Tuesday). Lance and the team were inspiring! Part of the fun of the race is seeing the beautiful French countryside. Can't wait for tomorrow. Go OLN (otherwise we'd just be reading about it in the papers or seeing snippets on ESPN)

It's all over the papers here in the DC area and Bob Roll and the pronunciation...groan. I just wish we didn't already know the results before we see them on OLN but it's fun to watch anyway.

Close your ears to the results! I called my son the first day and he shouted into the phone--"I haven't seen it yet--don't tell me!!". It's already on today--6:30AM. Yesterday was simply incredible. And yes, of course, it IS a team sport and Lance is the first to say it. I do believe he had "a word of prayer" with his team after Saturday however. And they sure did all show up yesterday. Unbelievable.

I really hope that Lance wins because such an incredible story, Such inspiration. Such a totally excellent sporting event that to me even the Olympics pales in comparison.

I have to note however that he does rely on his team as all do but it is further testament ot his gretaness that he commands such respect and loyalty from his team. Takes great leadership.

So he has great power, great leadership, great tactician, great luck !

Legend. !!

Have you noticed along the route the pretty villages, no sign of advertising?> Quite nice.

Also love Phil LIgget, the race would never be the same without him. I CANNOT even imagine a Tour without Phil.

Here are two sites that have daily posts:

www.cnnsi.com -- in the top bars you'll see "more sports" and the Tour is currently at the top of that list

www.espn.com -- on the left side bar you'll see "Tour de France"

And these are great sites for any other (American) sports, too.

Stage 11 update:
Lance is currently (14:40 CET) trailing a breakaway of 4 [ Vinukorov, Botero, Pereiro, Martinez) by 1:35

Visit www.letour.fr for up to the minute news

At 15:18 CET, he's 1:40 behind Vinukorov, Botero & Pereiro, and 12" behind Martinez, 5Km from the summit of the Col du Telegraphe

The LeTour site is fabulous...wish it had pictures, too!!!!

Yahoo has a very good up to day coverage and it does have photos. Amazing how fast they get those photos up.

Why a Yellow Jersey? Seems (from today's NYTimes) a French sporting newspaper printed their issues on yellow paper and thus they gave out a yellow jersey out to the tour leader in 1919 in Grenoble - starting the tradition of the maillot jeune.

Still in yellow, 38" in front of Rasmussen, Moreau 3rd at 2:34

Lance is Michael Jordan on wheels. He just knows how to win and is just as competitive. Now big cycling fans might want to say that Michael was Lance on a court.

No, Lance is way, way superior to Michael Jordan. I don't recall reading about Michael Jordan surviving a terrible bout with cancer. I can't think of anyone in any sport who comes close to Lance.

Go to www.cyclingnews.com for terrific coverage. You can read it in real time also when they are racing. Great effort today again. And they DO give the team a huge amount of credit--saying things like "these men give up their July just to ride for Lance considering it a great honor".

We caught a glimpse of a really interesting road sign during yesterday's stage, right outside Courchevel, I think. Did anyone else notice it and figure out what on earth it meant?

Sorry underhill missed it, but will try to catch it on this evening's program.

What I find really exciting about this tour ( besides Lance and the Discovery Chanel team) is the number of Americans doing so well. We have much to be proud of in George,Floyd,Bobby, Levi, David and Chris. Did I leave anyone out? All have been in the top 10/20 results.

This is one time I really wish I was there! I'm watching this twice a day (morning and evening).

LOVE the Tour. and what a boon to French tourism. Have nearly convinced DH that we've got to rent a car and go explore the French countryside next time.

The first few days when they were flying by the castles and fields of sunflowers was breathtaking...

Watching yesterday's breakneck descents from the mountains, with switchback after switchback, was damn near nauseating (Mach speed on such crazy skinny tires with most of their skin exposed!! Madness!!)

How OLN cameras manage to inadvertently catch a glimpse of the peloton members off to the sides on "biobreak" at nearly every stage...always makes me giggle.

It is without a doubt the hardest physical feat on the planet. I couldn't even WALK a bike up L'Alpe D'Huez. Not to mention Lance's RESTING heart rate is THIRTY-TWO bpm. Good God.

GO LANCE GO!

It's exhausting just watching this twice a day. I have to go take a nap now to get ready for the replay tonight!

Did you catch that mechanic grabbing the transponder from the back of one of the rider's wheels as he was speeding down the hill? No, thank you.

Go Team Discovery!

We will be there on the 24th to cheer Lance on to victory. I am giddy with excitement.

Live Strong!