Another year of Le Tour De France has come and gone, and I have to show for it is a larger depression in my sofa! I love this event and can’t hardly wait until next summer as Leah and I are planning a vacation to France to take in a few stages of the 2008 Tour. I have a not-so-secret dream of being a professional cyclist; I only need more time in my day to dedicate to training.
In my younger days I focused on team sports and cross country running; it wasn’t until some sore knees told me that running was no longer an option that I started cycling. In hindsight I wish that I had of started cycling at a young age and skipped the running altogether. I get the high of the adrenaline rush from the physical activity, another kick from the high speeds, and suffer none of the repetitive pounding that is inherent to running.
But I digress, Le Tour 2007 was filled with controversy. So much so that some boobs were calling for the cancellation of the event! In an event as physically demanding as Le Tour, you are bound to have at least a few participants seek the assistance of illegal substances. Of the 189 riders that started the race only two tested positive for doping, and one rider was removed for not telling his team the truth about his whereabouts during pre-race training, and missing a couple of off-season drug tests. Rasmussen never tested positive for any illegal substances.
After all of the hoopla of the doping died down and fans were able to reflect on the event, it became clear that this was a fantastic event that went righ down to the penultimate stage before a winner emerged.
Which brings me to my only issue with Le Tour: Why is the final stage just a parade rather than a race for victory?
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