Infinite MonkeysI have failed you. You readers, checkers in on what goes on here, and fellow Monkeys. I have failed you all.
I have not prepped you on the Tour de France. I have not given you the background. Not set the stage. Not enticed you to check out some of the coverage. Not helped you to get the lay of the land in suuch an epic, yet foreign event. And now my failure is my ruin.
Words fail. Yesterday's stage, the final stage in the Alps was beyond words. Floyd Landis, the Flying Mennonite, now "The Phoenix," did something the likes of which have not been seen in the Tour for 37 years. And he did it in a style unparalleled, unprecedented. Rising from a performance the day before that had almost every aficianado describing his chances at victory as certainly, tragically ruined just 24 hours before, Landis ground his way back into a position of probably overall victory. "Epic" does not begin to describe it. (See, I haven't even given you the background on how Landis is scheduled for hip replacement surgery immediately following the Tour. It's unbelievable. I don't know how I can ever catch you all up adequately.)
I watched the stage yesterday. Then last night, I read the live minute-by-minute report of it with my wife. Then we watched nearly the whole thing again. And we're talking about coverage lasting 3.5+ hours (of a 5 hour 23 minute ride). I was up late.
The accounts online have likely put a drain on the web's supply of superlatives today.
For a taste, see the comments at PodiumCafe. You don't have to know anything about cycling to pick up on just how special the day was. My favorite quote was Koppenberg's: "He's more powerful than language."
It's true. Words fail. Although I'm sure Monkey David will appreciate the headline of the stage report over at Cycling News: Raging Phonak freak turns groupe maillot jaune upside down.
Posted by Brad at July 21, 2006 09:11 AMI forgot to mention that it had already been the best Tour I've ever watched, having tied the record for the number of different race leaders, and one of the hardest versions of the Tour in some time. There's still one stage today (over by now, but I've shielded myself from any word - Tivo), an individual time trial tomorrow, and the final stage into Paris Sunday. It's on OLN and there may be a summary on CBS sports Sunday or some time soon.
Posted by: Monkey Brad at July 21, 2006 09:15 AMWow - I REALLY never expected him to plummet to his death like that. This IS a dramatic sport.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at July 21, 2006 09:49 AMRemember that scene in Breaking Away, Robb? The one where the gyu from Team Cinzano slips the frame pump into the spokes of young "cutter" Dave Stoller?
You should come out for a ride with me...
Posted by: Monkey Brad at July 21, 2006 02:03 PMBy the way, riders HAVE in fact died in the mountain stages in the past. Several of the summits and passes have monuments to those riders.
Posted by: Monkey Brad at July 21, 2006 02:04 PMYeah, I made sure I checked ESPN coverage to make sure there wasn't an ACTUAL death. That would have made me feel guilty. For a good five minutes, I'm sure.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at July 21, 2006 04:50 PMI'm trying to compile some details about the attrition of this year's Tour. Many broken bokes, some facial, lot's of lacerations and stitches, some lost teeth, one cracked vertabrae (early on and he's about to finish the Tour), etc.
They look silly, with their spindly arms, spandex, and a few girly-looking European reactions to stage wins, but they are some tough [edited]s.
Posted by: Monkey Brad at July 21, 2006 05:14 PMDon't look now, but the Townhall censors got to your comment.
Posted by: Monkey RobbL at July 21, 2006 08:41 PMYes. Yes you have failed us all. I for one am dissappointed that we are getting what amounts to a tape-delayed blog of one of the great sporting events. A true testament to the human spirit.
I've nagged, I've cajoled, and I've abused. But apparently I cannot inspire.
Don't feel bad, Monkey Brad. I don't blame you. I blame me.
JamesPh. delenda est.
Posted by: JamesPh. at July 21, 2006 09:05 PMI love you, JamesPh.
Posted by: Monkey Brad at July 21, 2006 11:25 PM