Do
you look forward to July with more anticipation than the other
months? Each of us may have our own reasons...summer is here,
vacations are scheduled, family events, the All-Star Game and my
own reason...the Tour de France. This year Lance Armstrong was
racing for the U.S. Postal Team. On those early days of the race
I thought how heroic to participate after his struggle with
cancer. He appeared very thin and drawn. Perhaps he would go as
far as possible, winning stages before dropping out. Yes, this
seemed reasonable, ride to the mountain stages then stop.
The Prologue Stage was won by Armstrong in 8 minutes, 2
seconds...and Lance was in the Yellow Jersey! Well, just as I had
thought, he would win as many stages before burning out. He then
surrendered the lead in Stage 2. This only served to confirm my
strategy. Good to see you back, Lance...but I thought the end was
nearing quickly.
By Stage 7, Lance was behind by 54 seconds. Ahead of him were
Mario Cipollini, Stuart O’Grady, Eric Zabel and the very
tough mountain stages. Nice to have seen you, I reasoned, maybe
next year you will have a chance to win.
But wait...Lance continued to race in the mountains! Then came
Stage 9. This was a long climb up Col du Galibier, the highest
pass of the race. Incredibility, there was Lance with the worlds
best climbers. Then Armstrong broke away! I watched in awe as his
lead widened. Could this be real? Would Lance explode and fall
well back in the Pletheon? My mind was having a difficulty
believing what the eyes were seeing! I then heard someone
screaming, “Go Lance, go.” The voice sounded
familiar..it was my own!! Yes, I screamed...I cried...I held my
breath...as the end of the Stage approached. Then he was crossing
the finish line with arms held high...not only the winner of the
Stage but the leader of the Tour.
Yes, Lance was back in the Yellow Jersey...that he would wear in
Paris. Beyond the obvious accomplishment of besting all the other
cyclist, he proved cancer was beatable. In the last Tour de
France of this millennium, Lance struck a mighty blow!
*****
So fast the year has flown...just think, the next Freewheel’n
update will be the last before the holiday release! What will be
the topic? Check my web site around the middle of September for
an advance preview!
RePete
repete@worldlynx.net
http://www.oocities.org/Colosseum/Arena/6870
8/17/99
