Tally's Tour de Lance - A winner is crowned

OH YEAH BABY!!!!

I am READY! I have a nice bottle of Perrier Jouët Grand Brut especially
for the celebration. There are some M&Ms left over from last night when
we had some friends over after the Galaxy match to watch more soccer
games..... I highly recommend M&Ms and Champagne. Oh hell, I highly
recommend EVERYTHING and champagne!

4:30am - The final stage in the 2005 Tour de France, and Lance's HC
(beyond CAT, beyond record) 7th consecutive win!!!! Todays stage is
more party than actual race, however there are a few last minute
sprinters points up for grabs that will be fought over during the
course. It runs 144.5k from the outskirts of Paris, into town, along
the Seine, and ends with 9 laps along the Champs Elysees. The only
sucky thing today is that it's RAINING!  Paris is weeping at Lance's
departure from the Tour de France. If it's wet along the cobblestones
on the Champs Elysees, the race directors may call an early finish,
since the danger factor becomes too high especially with the insane
riding of the sprinters. Having complete carnage on the streets of
Paris is no way to end the World's Greatest Race.

There are three bonus sprints today, the first at mile 47, the 2nd on
the 3rd lap of the Champs Elysees at mile 67, and then at the actual
finish line on lap 9. Not only is the green sprint jersey still in
contention, but there are a few players in the top ten in the GC that
stand to better their time if they grab some of those points, since
there are time bonuses as well.

5:15am - One of the things I love so much about this sport, especially
this race in particular, is the amount of integrity, honor,
sportsmanship, and chivalry. Right now, as they make their way along
the wet streets into Paris, everyone in the peloton as well as managers
from other teams in the team cars are coming up, riding alongside Lance
and congratulating him. It's pretty damn cool.

Team Discovery Channel have new jerseys for today - they all have a
yellow stripe on the right sleeve and shoulder. Nice touch.

5:24am - Johann Bruyneel, sports director of Team Discovery Channel
hands Lance and the rest of TDC glasses of champagne! NOW WE'RE
TALKING! The photographers have caught them at the back of the peloton
for a photo-op and now they're having to play catch up. How, hideous
would that be if the damn media cost Lance the win because of their greed?

5:40am - HOLY CRAP - There's been a crash! Wet streets, bumps in the
road, few guys from Phonak go down and need new bikes. One has a bloody
leg. They were going along very leisurely as well - VERY DANGEROUS
ROADS today. The peloton has slowed even more to wait for them. FUCKING
RAIN!!! Needs to go away right now, and we need a gorgeous day in
PARIS!!!

It's so great to see everyone relaxing, laughing together, and having a
good time, knowing they've all gotten thru it in one piece, since there
are always so many who do not, and end up watching the end from home or
a hospital bed.

There are 2000 extra police on the streets of Paris today for security.
Nothing will happen since France did not support the Iraq war.

6:15am - Tommy is up!!! This is historical! He is up to join me watch
CrackTV™. What a good man! I think I'll keep him.

6:30am - Lance takes the only king of the mountain points as Bertolini  (DOM)
gives him a little push - that is awesome! What a nice little tribute. The respect
these riders have for Lance is quite amazing. I think they all realize they're all
riding in an historic race, with a LEGEND, and it will be for the last time.

6:40am - There has been another crash at the back of the peloton, Two
riders are down with minor bruises. The race doctor checks a CSC rider
for a broken collar bone, but he's fine, and back on the bike.

6:50am - Vino attacks, Levi comes after him with some of his
domestiques - they are 2" apart.

7:00am - Vino wins the sprint points and is now tied with Levi.

7:10am - FUCK! Hincapie, Popovych, and Rubiera (all TDC) eat the road
on a wet turn going maybe 10 mph. Lance narrowly misses them. The peloton
slows to a crawl to wait for them, and they're all ok. I have the feeling the race
directors will invoke the Rain Rule.

7:20am - It's official. The race directors have invoked the Rain Rule,
which means when Lance crosses onto the Champes Elysees on the first
circuit. They will still do eight laps, but they will get out of the way of the
sprinters, and not have to worry about anyone attacking or falling and
losing time. Smart move.

The poor people who've snaked out what should have been an awesome view
from the top of the Eiffel Tower, can't see a thing because they're in the middle of a cloud.

7:30am - They pull onto the Champs Elysees with the sun beginning to peek thru.

7:33am - The race directors have cancelled all the bonus sprint bonus
time points. So the only things still up for contention are the green
jersey and the stage win. The good thing is the the rain seems to be
clearing up a little. Rasmussen has had a mechanical problem. I think
he must be relieved his Tour is over. This is the craziest final stage
ever - there are some attacks, and a few daredevils are flying down the
road, then they slow waaaaaaay down at the turn then race back up
again. Wacky.

7:40am - CRASH with three riders on La Place de la Concorde. They're
only on the second lap.

8:00am - The sun is trying like hell to come out, and the cobblestones
are drying out. Paris loves her Race and her Lance.

8:23am - Vino attacks, McGee comes with him. Vino outsprints everyone
to win the stage. Perhaps one of the most prestigious stage wins in all the Tour.

Final results:
Team - T-Mobile
Sprint - Thor Hushovd
King of the Mountains - Mickael Rasmussen
Young Rider - Yaroslav Popovych
Malliot Jaune - LANCE ARMSTRONG!

Lance brings his three kids up to the podium to take the overall
winner's trophy (artwork actually, it's an exquisite blue and gold
china bowl thing that is breathtaking.) Then Basso and Ullrich join him
for the Star Spangled Banner being played. I must admit that I feel
emotion at it's playing for the first time in years. Ever since the
stolen election of 2000, and the hypocrisy and flag waving since 9/11,
I've felt shame  every time it's been played. But today, in Paris,
without any politics being involved, and the fact a nice guy who
doesn't support the Iraq war has won the tour, and it reminds everyone
of a time when Americans weren't hated around the globe, there is a
certain purity to it, and it actually brings tears to my eyes. Then he
gives a lovely speech about how wonderful the Tour is, how great the
sport of cycling is, how amazing his seven years of wining the Tour
have been, how wonderful Ullrich has been as a challenger, and how
Basso, who is such a good friend, might be the future of the Tour.
CLASS ACT!!!

The Dynasty is over. My addiction has to wait another 11 months to get
sated, but it will never be the same. That's not a good or bad thing,
just a different thing.

Thank you Lance. Thanks for a great seven years, and for being the
definition of sportsmanship, integrity and character. You're truly an inspiration.


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