Controlled falling.
Jul. 12th, 2005 08:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysobelleFirst major mountain of the Tour today-- over 6,000 meters. Then they do it all again up Courchevel to the finish. In between, though, I'm watching the descent: 100 kmph. That's 60mph for us. These men are half off their seats, crouched down with their noses below their handlebars, tucked in to be as aerodynamic as possible. With their hands in the centre of the handlebars, I can't imagine their control is all that great if, G-d forbid, anything should happen. And some of them are pedaling to go even faster.
Another reason I'll be watching from the couch, thank you.
Lance is in third, 2.18 behind the pack. Not that much of a deal. He'll not want to let the yellow jersey-- on Jens Voigt at the moment-- get too far ahead, but he's perfectly content to let someone else carry it.
So, much later, we're now 10k from the end, and I'm realising something: not everything that's hyped to hell and back is ALL hype. I'm watching Lance power up Courchevel with grom-faced, singular determination, and I realise I'm watching one of the greatest athletes of my lifetime. It's not a joke-- this is the longest, most grueling sporting event in the world, and he's won it seven times. It's not just brute strength: it's planning and strategising, and knowing your team, and knowing your competitors. It's knowing when you see someone's muscles twitch, they're just about at the end, and the next attack will leave them behind. It's knowing that this team has a great sprinter, but their climbers can be tempted to overreach and blow out. It's knowing who did well in which race, and who's having a bad season. Yes, this is all stuff your trainer and team talks over thoroughly beforehand, but I can't imagine keeping it all in my head and being able to access and act on it instantly.
Alejandro Valverde wound up winning the stage, but by inches. He and Lance were the only ones at the line. Lance had long since won by time, and seemed to let the other rider go at the last. "No, no, you go on. I'll just take this yellow jersey, thanks."
More mountains tomorrow. Man, those fans up there are CRAZY. Out of their minds crazy. I love them-- even when I want to beat them for closing in on the riders like seaweed over a fish.
Another reason I'll be watching from the couch, thank you.
Lance is in third, 2.18 behind the pack. Not that much of a deal. He'll not want to let the yellow jersey-- on Jens Voigt at the moment-- get too far ahead, but he's perfectly content to let someone else carry it.
So, much later, we're now 10k from the end, and I'm realising something: not everything that's hyped to hell and back is ALL hype. I'm watching Lance power up Courchevel with grom-faced, singular determination, and I realise I'm watching one of the greatest athletes of my lifetime. It's not a joke-- this is the longest, most grueling sporting event in the world, and he's won it seven times. It's not just brute strength: it's planning and strategising, and knowing your team, and knowing your competitors. It's knowing when you see someone's muscles twitch, they're just about at the end, and the next attack will leave them behind. It's knowing that this team has a great sprinter, but their climbers can be tempted to overreach and blow out. It's knowing who did well in which race, and who's having a bad season. Yes, this is all stuff your trainer and team talks over thoroughly beforehand, but I can't imagine keeping it all in my head and being able to access and act on it instantly.
Alejandro Valverde wound up winning the stage, but by inches. He and Lance were the only ones at the line. Lance had long since won by time, and seemed to let the other rider go at the last. "No, no, you go on. I'll just take this yellow jersey, thanks."
More mountains tomorrow. Man, those fans up there are CRAZY. Out of their minds crazy. I love them-- even when I want to beat them for closing in on the riders like seaweed over a fish.