The first few years I watched the Tour, I only paid attention to Lance and the fight for GC. But I'm now into the more obscure parts of it -- who will win the polka dot jersey? -- particularly the crazy sprinters. JPS notwithstanding, cyclists have always struck me as pansies. It's not just the outfits, but the ones I've come into contact with several times out running who are all about talking shit to runners, etc, only to ride away in their spandex. In any case, that doesn't hold for the sprinters, the wild men like Stuart O'Grady, Robbie McEwen and Tom Boonen. These guys are insane, hurling themselves to the finish without much regard to safety during the flat stages. McEwen showed today what he was made of by going over his handlebars with 15 miles to go, only to get up, dust himself off, rejoin the peloton and win the stage.8 miles, 1:05:10
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McEwen is the man...a true man among pansies, as you say. It is funny to think that if I was riding in the TdF, I would probably be one of the 3 or 4 biggest guys participating. "Big George" Hincapie is 6'1" and 160 lbs. Tom Danielson is 5'10" and 135 lbs - that is not normal anywhere but pro cycling.
A little on his technique for getting back into the thick of things: http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=5065&status=True
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