It's that time of year again. The time for quirky, unpopular, mostly European sports to come around while everyone waits for football, Midnight Madness, and the MLB playoffs. We've already had soccer and the French Open. We've made it to the finals of Wimbledon. And the British Open is right around the corner.The event I've been caught up in and always enjoy, though, is Le Tour de France. It's a strangely hypnotic event high on drama, comedy, and boredom.
Time trials, sprint finishes, and mountain breaks provide plenty of drama if you're an objective sports fan. Annual videos of French authorities busting in posh hotels and dragging out doping cyclists by the collar for the world to see is almost guaranteed. Not to mention 200 cyclists going 35-45 mph on century old cobblestone streets, sometimes wet. The crash factor is very high and very unforgiving. A guy fell off the side of a mountain last year, one hit a dog in '07.
The fans (above) and analysts (Phil, Paul, & Bob) provide tons of humor. A very unique sport for fans because they are literally right beside you the whole day throwing anything from urine to water to liquor on the cyclists. The commentators are also so blunt when they talk about the cyclists that it is very refreshing to hear. If something doesn't look right, they'll call you out and make you explain yourself. Partly because they've all been around the sport a while and are well respected.
Then there is the boredom. Each stage has it, and many are heavy on it, but for some reason I keep coming back. Can't get enough. I'm quirky though. See how I tied that in? Very elementary, huh?
The Rookies Blog has a really good Drug-Free Tour de France Preview if you're interested. Le Tour starts in Monaco Saturday morning and can be seen on the Versus channel. Oh yeah.......and Lance Armstrong is back too.
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