A lot can happen in 11 years. When Lance Armstrong returned to professional cycling to win the 1999 Tour de France, it pretty much shocked the tifosi and television commentators. A cancer survivor, depite doctors giving him razor-thin odds to live, Armstrong has since cemented his place in cycling history. Seven consecutive Tours de France titles does that. The streak began when he was 27 years old. Now 38, he’ll attempt (likely for the last time) to reach the top step of the winner’s podium in Paris this July.
His main foil is Alberto Contador, who happens to be 27 years old. Contador already has two yellow jerseys in his trophy case, and plenty of years in front of him to win more. Short a complete Team Astana–or individual rider–breakdown, Contador is the odds-on favorite to repeat in France this summer. Watching him pull away from his rivals on steep climbs during this past week’s Paris-Nice stage race reminded me of Lance 11 years ago: Explosive, seemingly effortless, and unbeatable. Eleven years of life is nearly 4,000 days and untold heartbeats. More mileage on the engine. If Armstrong were to somehow win the Tour de France in four months, amateur Masters racers and 40-somethings everywhere would hoot and holler. Age and treachery overcoming youth and skill. Could it really happen? Long shot, for sure. I wonder if Armstrong ever dreams about the day he decimated his rivals on Mount Sestriere. Take away the quill stem, 26.0 bars and Concor saddle on his bike, and it could be Contador today. Dancing on the pedals. Leaving his closest compeition to fight for second and third place. A lot can happen in 11 years. Here’s the link to Garmin Data from today’s Valley Center Circuits. Great morning on the bike.
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he sure can dance in those pedals…still exciting 11 years later