Legal Commentary

Tourmalet

By Big Tent Democrat

Some of you might have noticed that I have not posted as much lately until today. Part of the reason has been a busy work schedule (I have things to do today but have been goofing off.) But the other reason has been I've been engrossed with the Tour de France, which has been a classic battle between Alberto Contador, the defending, and 2-time, champion and Andy Schleck, last year's runner-up. It has been, as they say, epic.

Today is a rest day in the Tour and tomorrow is the Queen Stage (the most difficult stage of a multi-day road race, typically involving multiple low- or beyond-category climbs) culminating in a mountaintop finish on the Col de Tourmalet. The Tour is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the inclusion of Pyrenees finishes - where this famous story adds to the mystique:

Back in 1910, the Pyrenees were first added to the Tour de France route, and the Col du Tourmalet was part of the experiment. At the time, the road wasn't much more than a sheep track barely wide enough for a car. (The sheep are still there...). When Octave Lapize, who was some 15 minutes behind the leader, reached the pass of the Tourmalet in great pain and pushing his bike, he saw a group of race officials and yelled “Assassins!” Lapize sucked it up, though, going on to take the stage and the overall title.

If you are ever going to watch a biking race, tomorrow is the one to watch.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on July 21, 2010 (boomark / email).