Prior to marrying Rob, I never paid attention to the wonderful world of cycling. Back in 2001 when Rob insisted we watch the tour, I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind! I thought that I was doomed to be a wife of a man that obsessed over sports I would never care for. Never did I think that I would actually like (correction-obsess over) watching a pack of men ride across France for approximately 22 days. I had no idea how much "strategery," team work, and talent was actually involved in this sport! This race is very much raced by extremely talented and intelligent men which I find refreshing when compared to parts of the NFL and the NBA.
Prior to watching this epic race, I thought it was simply a large group of men riding bikes for a REALLY long time. Boy was I wrong! There are different jersey's the men race for: the polka dot for the best climber, the green jersey for the best sprinter, the white jersey for the best rookie, and of course the yellow jersey-the overall winner. They even have a prize for the man that finishes dead last. It is the French word for "caboose." It is an honor just to finish.
The best part of this race is it is something that both Rob & I love watching together. It only lasts 3 weeks and that is it! I am fortunate that Rob does not obsess over an incredibly long season for a different sport. (He does enjoy college football, but our world does not revolve around it.) It is just 3 short weeks of recording and watching. (Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin are my favorite sports commentators BTW.)
We hope to actually attend a few mountain stages in the future. I want to be one of those crazy fans that runs next to the riders as they ride up the crazy Alp's with a Texas flag hanging on my shoulder waving behind me! That is assuming that I can run up the side of an incredibly steep mountainside.
Rather than go on and on and on...I love the month of July for several reasons. E was born this month, and it is also Le Tour de France! Hooray! I can't wait to see how the rivalry between Lance and Contador plays out...I can't wait!
4 comments:
I never knew this about you! I love learning new things about you! So, has the race started yet? Maybe I'll tune in to catch the fever too :)
We just watched the prologue and stage 1. Today there were CRAZY crashes! Fortunately everyone will be able to return to the race as far as I know. Last year I remember being upset in the hospital because I could not keep up with the race when E was born. Fortunately Rob recorded the whole thing for me, so when I had some long nights with E-I would have cycling on in the back ground. It was the best!
Gosh, I never knew this about you either! I might have to tune in myself...I saw some highlights on Sports Center tonight of crashes yesterday and something about riding on cobblestones rodes for the first time in 20(?) years...it's really pretty cool all the tradition involved.
Thanks for the cliff notes on the jerseys...I was always just looking for yellow.
So, now I have a visual of your toes flinching and legs twitching while you watch So You Think You Can Dance, and now...do you corner hard on the couwith the pack? Do you stand up in a somewhat crouched position while they stand and sprint? He He He! :o)
you are funny!!
I meant to write "on the couch with" not sure what happened!!
:o)
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