Le Tour, Lefevre

Tour Fever is in full effect. This is one of three times a year I feel an overwhelming draw toward France. Two are racing related and the other is history related. Anyway, the Tour started on Saturday. It is pretty epic this year. No not because a certain Texan is in the peloton but due to the depth of the start list. The stars usually shine on le Grand Boucle but now they are truly training to sparkle during different parts of the race. The sprinters have always clawed for wins on the flats, climbers have always lusted for steep pitches, and time trialers have their thoughts cast toward the clock. It is more apparent than ever that pros are peaking not only for the Tour, but for very specific parts of the Tour. It is no longer possible to dominate in more than one aspect due to heightened scrutiny and testing.

For the third time in five years, Fabian Cancelara has won the prolougue time trial and will fight to keep the yellow jersey for a few days. In 2008 he did so with a calculated and ferocious attack during the final kilometer of a stage he had no business winning. This year we may see more of the same as he will covet the maillot jaune until the end of the week.

Hopefuls for the general classification will begin battling on Friday as the route makes the traditional turn into the Pyrenees. Look for Carlos Sastre, Cadel Evans, Levi Leipheimer, and Christian Vandevelde to hang in, Lance Armstrong to attack, and Contador to sit pretty.

While the usual happenings happen, watch the brave and foolish hunt for stage wins to the behest of the sprinters. Riders like Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voekler, and Christophe Moreau will put themselves to the steel in order to look as foolish as possible in the name of France's withered Tour hopes (they haven't won since le Blaireau did in 1985). Someone may attack unexpectedly and pull on the yellow jersey in time for Basteele Day!

Please don't focus on the scandals of professional cycling. Consider the monumental analogy for human suffering and achievement that the Tour de France represents. These men train to the tune of 15- 20000 miles per year just for the chance to finish the Tour, let alone win a single stage (there are 21 stages and 180 riders at the beginning so you do the math)! Then they pour themselves into the forge of sport, media, and human intrigue, hoping to be cut from the mold of as a winner. They don't get paid $50000 a day to sit on the bench half the time or pick their nose on camera. Some hardly make $50000 a year!

Please try to watch some of the great HD coverage by Versus. You will not regret spending an hour watching the final 40 or so Kilometers, I promise. Better yet, try to catch an entire early morning live cast of at least one stage. Trying to figure out just what the heck is going on might fry your brain, but I promise I can answer most questions. A million tiny things make the first half of a race interesting (wrecks, feed zones, group restroom breaks, etc.) and add up during the second half to leave you with every hair on your body standing up and your heart pounding as if you were there at the finale! If I am wrong, I will pay you one French franc.