Saturday, July 22, 2006

Sick Americans...

    What is it with Americans and the Tour de France?  Why do we seem to win this thing all the time?  Even crazier, why do those Americans who are less than 100% always win this grueling race? 

     This year, unless someone decides to be rude and challenge the yellow jersey on the last day of the race into Paris, American Floyd Landis will win the Tour de France.  For those of you not keeping score, that's an amazing eight years in a row that an American has won this thing.  And, even more amazing is that Floyd Landis seems to have won it on a bad hip which will have to be replaced as a result of osteonecrosis.  Last I checked, you need hips to ride a bike, don't you?

    The thing is, I'm thinking if you're an American and you show up in perfect health to this race, like George Hincapie, you don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning so long as we're able to field a sick American somewhere in the race.  Consider the following:

     Greg LaMond, was actually the only truly 100% healthy American to win the Tour when he did so in 1986.  However, after getting riddled with buckshot in a hunting accident, he came back to win in 1989 and 1990 despite being a little heavier as a result of the shrapnel still embedded inside him (including in the lining of his heart). 

    And then there's Lance Armstrong.  Do I really need to talk about Lance Armstrong?  If you're not familiar with his story, then welcome to Earth.  Sorry about the mess. 

    However, today we have Floyd Landis and his degenerative hips.  A friend of mine had a similar osteonecrosis, and he can barely walk much less think about riding a bike.  Can Floyd Landis come back to win the Tour de France after he has his hip replaced?  Your guess is as good as mine.  I wouldn't bet against it though.  The only other American apparently capable of winning would be the perfectly healthy George Hincapie or David Zebriske.  And, though I don't want to wish them any ill, it seems it may actually improve their odds. 

-DP

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8 comments:

  1. "Do I really need to talk about Lance Armstrong?  If you're not familiar with his story, then welcome to Earth. "

    heh. heh.

    http://2writehands.blogspot.com

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  2. It is a bizarre phenomenon... I was just talking about the hip thing with a friend of mine in my RA email loop.  We both occasionally get inflammed hips (no necrosis yet, thankfully) and that is painful enough to require a cane... how this guy rides and plans to come back after a replacement???  Mind blowing... they must be some kind of genetic freaks that don't feel or process pain like normal humans...

    Well, that's my guess anyhow...  lol

    be well,
    Dawn

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  3. Americans win at cycling for the same reason some skinny guy from Kenya wins every running marathon in the US.

    http://journals.aol.com/ladeeoftheworld/PossumsPrepareforBattle

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  4. As usual, I have no idea what you're talking about!...am I the only one who doesn't know who Lance Armstrong is?...I'll check out the blue words( is it because I'm English?!or is it because I'm thick? You don't need to answer that...retorical q!) But as usual I'm loling big time!
    Hope you didn't blitz your neighbour yet...tell us if you do!
    love Phoenix
    http://journals.aol.co.uk/phoenix71011/Phoenix/

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  5. Ooh err...just read the Lance Armstrong thing. Maybe they gave him bionic bollocks!( sorry poor taste but couldn't resist!....no offence meant!)
    Phoenix

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  6. maybe I should ride, I'm heavy and out of shape, LOL. I can win. No really good luck to the Americans who keep winning.

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  7. Americans have a high pain threshhold because we've grown up on bacon cheeseburgers and Kool Aid.

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  8. a challenge? hugs
    nat

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