Today a Texan with a name that sounds like it ought to belong to a character in a Buck or Roy Rogers movie won the most grueling elite endurance contest on the planet for the seventh straight time! If he had never been near death with the "big C" today's accomplishment would've been enough. Indeed, it would have been enough had he stopped six years ago, after winning in 1999, but his recovery and return to bicycle racing not only at the top of his sport, but to create a legacy that will probably never be matched, has inspired people I love to fight against a similar infirmity. (Isn't it odd that he's the second great American cyclist in 20 years to live such a lesson?)
What I like about bike racing is that it's a great analog for life. Unlike those silly survivor shows where you're almost certain to be defeated by mean-spirited and petty coalitions, a GC (General Classification) winner of a "Grand Tour" (a three-week race covering over 2,000 miles) must excel as the team captain, as an individual athlete, and as a coalition partner. There are two primary enemies that all cyclists battle against: aerodynamic drag and gravity. Except for time trials where you race alone against the clock you can defeat aero drag by cooperating with other riders in a paceline, with your own team members and with competitors. No amount of cooperation can help you defeat gravity, however. And that's why it's climbing that separates the champions from the also-rans.
It isn't clear what Lance's politics happen to be, although his girlfriend's are probably firmly idiotarian. John Kerry showed up for the penultimate stage of this year's Tour just to borrow a little of the Texan's winning glow. He sat in the pace car following Lance as he raced to the last time trial victory of his career, and his first and only stage victory this season. (He had lots of second place finishes, however, and ended in Paris with over a four-minute lead.) When his team faltered in the foothills, and his opponents isolated him (something they love to do to Americans), he played them off against each other, picked up the challenge and gained time on them all. Kerry admits he doesn't know Armstrong's politics, but it is true that in the early stages of the Tour this year Lance entertained a group of Special Forces soldiers, and was inspired by them. He wore a cap they gave him at the start of the next day's stage. So it's possible his orientation isn't as "progressive" as some people think.
One of a kind.
(Cross-posted by Demosophist to The Jawa Report)
Posted by Demosophist at July 24, 2005 07:55 PM | TrackBackI heard on the TV news tonight that Armstrong is considering a run for governor of Texas. Hopefully Sheryl Crow will not affect his brain with her "idiotarianism." She's already put her foot in her political mouth once too often. Maybe Lance's three kids will help keep his feet on the ground. But his taste in girlfriends is lousy - so, who knows?
Posted by: PatC at July 24, 2005 10:47 PMPat:
He gave an interview a few months ago in which he mentioned the possibility of running for governor, and if all someone saw was that clip they might take it seriously. But viewed in context it was clear he was just pulling the interviewer's leg. I don't think he has political aspirations. If the relationship with the singer survives in the long term more power to them, but I sorta doubt it. It wasn't Sheryl who was up there on the podium with him.
Posted by: Demosophist at July 25, 2005 11:08 AM