Date:         Mon, 26 Jul 2004 01:26:00 -0400
Reply-To:     Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject:      Tour De Lance ... LVC
Comments: To: Stephen Overmyer <S.OVERMYER@UWS.EDU.AU>
In-Reply-To:  <0D84A34E81DC7D49B11CBC93B168973E18BEAB@OTTO.AD.UWS.EDU.AU>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

OK right up front let me say, "I am a Lance fan."
I really thought that there would be some chatter on the List about the
history in the making of today.  I, too, enjoyed catching most of the Tour
throughout the last month. Here, it was only broadcast on Outdoor Life
(cable network) which I don't get at home.  Most of the race days I was able
to tape a lot of it at work for later viewing.

I have watched Armstrong in the past and this year he was nothing but
spectacular.  He managed the Tour like the true pro that he is. He let Basso
(IT) take a mountain stage; on Saturday, when it was all but wrapped up, he
chased down and brought back to the pack one of his main detractors in a
show of what I saw as humiliating for the detractor. The French press may
not like him but the world of cycling certainly must respect him. Six times.
What a feat!

LVC:
I saw several high top Vanagon campers throughout the race.  There were a
few buses on the road sides, too.  The Eurovans seemed more prevalent. Is it
the Polos that are the smaller than Golf Euro cars?  Lots of those.   One of
the riders had a Passat Wagon for a chase car on the grueling  Alps d' Huez
uphill time trial... I believe it was Jan Ulrech, the German rider known as
"The Diesel" because of his legendary hill climbing ability. BTW, for you
Soobies ... Lance's USPS team is co-sponsored by Subaru.
Sorry for the OT rant. Couldn't help it.
--
Stephen
Chillicothe OH