Sunday, July 23, 2006
THE NEW AMERICAN IN PARIS
He's been there before. He's been on the Champs Elysees as a member of the championship team before. But now Floyd Landis is in Paris in the manner which every cyclist dreams. He's there as the winner of the Tour de France, the wearer of the 21st and final Maillot Jaune.It's been a long, hard-fought battle out on the roads--across the fields, over the mountains, in the time trials, through 23 days and over 2,000 miles. Out of 189 entered into the greatest race, one achieves the best overall time. And this year, this time, it's an American from San Diego. Congratulations, Floyd. Well done.
I'm not sure how many people in America or around the world thought the next winner of the Tour de France would be an American. When Lance Armstrong retired, the crown was up for grabs. It was anyone's dream. Landis had faith in himself and, even after falling overwhelmingly behind in Stage 16, willed himself back into the lead and on to the top of the podium.
# posted by John Franklin Hay @ 1:25 PM 
