He has done it! 5 Tour de France wins. Only the 5th to achieve that and the second to do it consecutively.
The others, for the record.
Jaques Anquetil 1957-1961-1962-1963 and 1964.
Sadly, Jacques died in 1987 aged 54.
Eddy Merckx 1969-1970-1971-1972 and 1974.
Eddy is, arguably, the greatest cyclist ever.
Bernard Hinault 1978-1979-1981-1982 and 1985.
[B]Miguel Indurain[/i]1991-1992-1993-1994 and 1995.
A very elite club.
Lance will be back next year to try for 6 wins, it will be tough. Jan Ullrich has a point to prove, he will have to wait a year. But he will be 'up for it' to use the modern parlance.
It took Lance 83 hours 41 minutes 12 seconds to cover 2142.19 miles. He beat Ullrich by 1 minute and 1 second. At the start of today's stage he was 1m 16s ahead, where the 15 seconds went I don't know. We only got the final 10 laps of the Champs-Elysees on the TV. There was not 15 seconds between them at the line. An enigma.
The one thing I like about Armstrong above all is his graciousness in victory, unlike other 'champions' I could mention who disply arrogance and disdain for their rivals.
I can recommend Armstrongs book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back To Life
An inspiration to anybody who feels life has dealt them a bum hand.
I have enjoyed posting these posts. Thank you to all who took the time to read them.
Back to the obscurity of reading and not commenting.
Well done Lance Armstrong, a truly great American champion.
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