Monday, June 30, 2003

TOUR DE FORCE

In case you didn't know, the greatest sporting event in the world starts on Saturday. The event celebrates its centenary this year. It started out as a rather eccentric advertisement for a newspaper. Today it attracts huge sponsorship and invovles a bizarre caravan handing out sponsors' freebies to spectators. It costs nothing to watch (except if you want to watch it on TV in this country as you'll have to fork out for cable or satellite). This year it starts and finishes in the same country, though it usually takes in another country or two.

There is one British competitor this year. An American is favourite. He's won it four years in a row and could equal the record this year. He is a survivor of testicular cancer. The record for wins is jointly held by a Belgian who went by the charming nickname of "The Cannibal". He's now a fat team manager.

The most famous Brit participant holds the distinction of dying whilst taking part. Drugs played a role, but then it's a way of life in this sport.

Some 22 teams take part. All told 198 competitors, but only 3 or 4 stand a chance of winning. There are prizes each day - 22 days in all, 2 rest days - and separate points, king and youngster competitions. The event sees domestiques, sprinters, climbers and the broom wagon. It covers 3,427.5 km over the flat, cols and "categories" of mountains, plus haute categorie. There used to be a women's event, but I'm not sure it's still run.

Yep, it's the Tour de France. And, bugger it, I can't get Eurosport, so I'll have to follow it on the net.

In case you didn't click on the link above, the Brit is David Millar. He stands a good chance in the Prologue, which takes place before the first stage to determine who wears the maillot jeune (yellow jersey) or race leader. Millar might finish in the top dozen at the end of the race is he can survive the challenge of the mountains.

:: Posted by pete @ 13:46