It was 1999 and I tuned into OLN’s coverage of the Tour De France. I remember watching Greg Lemond when I was a kid and loved watching bike races so I tuned in to check it out. I had missed most of the race but caught the last bit of it and there was a great deal of hype about the first american to win the GC since Lemond and he did it after nearly dying from cancer.
I bought his book, I became a fan. For the following 6 years I tuned in for every Tour. It was like a 3 week long superbowl party in my house! I loved watching him ride….like all of the great athletes- poetry in movement. Watching him crush those time trials. One of my favorite moments was during the 2001 race when he turned and gave Ullrich that Look just before the assault on Alpe d`Huez.
He may be a bit of a “rockstar” in his personal life but on the bike, he is awe inspiring. I look forward to his big comeback in 2009.
Welcome back Lance…prove ‘em wrong!
Here are some of my favorite moments:
