Me!

Me!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

And...they're off!

The names roll off my tongue...Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, Jan Ulrich, and yes, Lance Armstrong. The 2008 Tour de France started today - 23 days, 4 mountain finishes, 2,175 miles of road before them. This will once again be a feat of almost unimaginable pain, sacrifice, challenge, pride, sweat, tears, teamwork, comradeship, joy and beauty. 

Cycling and the Tour de France comes to the world's stage every July to capture my heart and imagination as I watch these men journey across France on their two-wheeled steeds. I cannot explain why I love it; I can only assert that I truly do. There is something beautiful in the symmetry of the sport...
...the round wheels turning
...the legs and feet moving in circles
...the cyclists riding in one group, snaking around mountain passes 
...their rounded backs
...their legs pumping, the picture of perfect movement...

I admire them, I'm amazed by them, I defend them. For me, this is one of the best parts of summer - the early mornings watching the Tour de France. They're off and I'm thrilled!

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