1999 Tour de France (an long overdue)...
But a work in progress still. Let's just say I had someone remind me that I forgot about my web page. Which I did. (Thanks for the reminder)If there ever was a year to see the Tour de France (unless you were a nationalistic Frenchman) this was the Tour to see.
It was filled with much pride, tears of joy, tears of sadness, triumph and tragedy. It is a cliché, but totally true.
I went there with a single thought on my mind, "Julich is going to take this one!" It may not have happened this year, but it still does not stop me from thinking he will rise to the occasion next year. As for Lance Armstrong, what can you say. It was the Tour de Lance. I was very happy to be present in the US Postal area during the Metz time trial and at other points along the way. To Lance and all the Postal team, congratulations. (Moreover, thank you for tollerating bumping into me for 20 days along the roads of the Tour de France)Stage 8 - Metz Time Trial
Ok... let me say this. JUMP THE FENCE! It is good to see them from a crowd 30 people deep. But if you are smart you find a way in to the closed off area and get to hang out close to the teams. Believe me, it was wonderful to be a few steps away from these guys. Also, instead of being in a crowd 30 people deep watching Virenque, you are in a crowd only 10 people deep.This day was a day of extreme happiness and extreme sadness for me. For Lance, well, words can not describe how happy I was for him. I stood around the US Postal area with a handful of people. Boy were we overwhelmed when we saw Lance come back with half the press-corp. Bobby Julich's crash was a major disappointment for me. Although I may have been traveling with some of Lance's close friends during this year's tour, Bobby is still my #1. Your #1 does not change because they crash.
Lance Armstrong
- Lance after the time trial in Yellow!
Bobby Julich.Other Riders & Cast of Supporting Characters
- Bobby Julich's road bike. Now is that a French MBK or the a Tennesse MBK (Please note the race number, #1)
- Bobby Julich heading off to the Time Trial
- Clipped in, just on the saddle, and ready to go.
- Number 1 heading out of the warm up area.
- You get the #1 and the crowd parts for you. The would unfortunately be the last time I would see Bobby passing through my lens at this year's Tour.
Stage 9 - Col de Galibier
- So you like your photographs in L'Equipe. This guy might be the finger behind the shutter lens.
- Belgian Nation Champion Ludo Dierckxens.
- Mario Cippollini warms up.
Stage 10 - Alpe D'Huez
- Let the flag fly. In the rain, in the hail, in the glory of the Tour.
- Kevin Livingston leads Lance Armstrong up the climb
- Udo Bolts gives us his best grimace as he climbs this giant of a mountain
- Pascal Simon of Credit Agricole also gives us a grimace.
So the last time the Tour visited this mountain I was not able to make it. I made it as far as the Grenoble train station but no further. This year I made it!Stage 15 - Saint Gaudens-Pau Englay
- Tyler Hamilton leads Lance Armstrong up the climb.
- An isolated shot of Lance Armstrong at the 10km banner.
- Frankie Andreu is not far behind up the climb.
This is the first day in the Pyreneese. The day before I found my way inside the Tour press conference. They asked Lance "Tomorrow all the Spanish riders are going to attack. How do you respond?" He said, "I did not know that. Thanks for the information!" Escartin goes on to win a deserved stage win, but Lance puts a strangle hold on the Tour.Stage 16 - Col de Tourmalet
- Richard Virenque at the starting area of the stage.
- This year's leader at Mercatone Uno. Stefano Girzelli.
- It is amazing how defending a Yellow Jersey can change riders. This year I noticed that Frankie Andreu
- no longer leads the Laughing Train, He always seems to be somewhere further up the road trying to bridge up to his leader.
- Lantern Rouge Jay Sweet. I had the opportunity to meet this gifted rider years ago at the Tour DuPont. He is super friendly and it is a shame that his injuries forced his early retirement at this year's Tour. Perhaps next year he can bag a stage win against the sprinters.
This was possibly one of my best days ever, cycling or otherwise. That night I drove with some friends to the Tourmalet. We camped in a cloud bank about 2 km below the main ski town near the summit of Tourmalet (right next to the last set of avalanche tunnels to be exact). From there I went into town for their late night festivities. We drank, danced, partied, and made merry until 2am. At which point the kareoke bar did Frank Sinatra's "My Way" with 500 drunk French and 1 drunk American singing this tune. What was once an American classic will always remind me of this French Alpine town. Then I walked 2km back down the mountain in the pitch black to find my tent. Luckily I did not walk off the cliff.Stage 19 - Futuroscope Individual Time Trial
- Cedric Vasseur climbs the Col. I like the forshadowing of an American flag behind him. A flag he will be sponsored by in 2000.
- Alberto Elli stuggles to make it up this beast of a mountain.
- Lance makes it look easy up the Tourmalet.
Stage 20 - Paris
- Former World Champion Laurent Brochard has a few minutes to talk to his fans before he goes out and rides.
- Richard Virenque storms throught the time trial course. Please note how aerodynamic he looks. Great photo for one of my most despised riders.
What can you say about this stage. The Tour de France becomes the Tour de Lance. It was with great pride that I watched the Third american ever get to the podium and the second ever to get to that top step. It was like little America in Paris. The feeling was truely wonderful.
- Lance dons yellow and a flg to boot in his victory lap!
