We are nearing the end of what has been an exceptionally exciting, incredible, Tour de France. No one could ever say the Tour de France this year was boring. From the beginning, every stage was hard, mainly due to the severe bad weather, top riders were breaking more bones than the human body can imagine. From Thor Hushovd’s week with yellow, to the incredible heroics of Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, the sheer brilliance of Mark Cavendish as he wins stages, to the General Classification, Cadel Evans, Andy and Frank Schleck, and the great Spaniard Alberto Contador.
To fully understand what it must be like to ride in such a race, I would think it is impossible for the mere mortal to comprehend. To me it seems and this is only as a TV spectator, but it would be like Climbing Mount Everest and then playing a game of chess when you get to the top. Only that’s too easy, you would then have to do this 21 days out of 23.
If that wasn’t demanding enough, you have to continuously calculate, assess, should I or should I not take a risk, am I going to slow, or too fast. As well as dealing with some of the craziest supporters who can run like maniacs next to your bike when you have ridden 140 km up and down mountains, ending on one of the highest peaks ever. Exhaustion, and confusion obliterate the mind, yet they have microphones thrust in their faces, when you can clearly see they are in some kind of distress.
And after all that, three people have a chance and two a realistic chance to wear the Yellow Jersey, Andy Schleck leads and is 57 seconds ahead of Cadel Evans, one of them will be the winner of the Incredible Tour de France. Then again wouldn’t it be even more incredible if they ended up with exactly the same time, in this year's tour anything is possible.
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