|
The Tour de France is the world's finest bike race. The fastest and most savvy rider wins the race with the help of his teammates and a good share of luck. But as the historic event weaves its way through the French countryside and into the thin air of the Alps and Pyrenees, a lot happens away from the intrigue of the competition.
Witnessing Lance Armstrong dominate the peloton, watching the riders' sportsmanship and showmanship and experiencing the niche competitions within the overall race is sport at its finest.
But for all of riders' misfortunes, every perfectly timed finish-line sprint and all the cyclists' attacks on steep climbs, so too are there many fleeting, yet memorable human-interest moments at the Tour de France.
And thus, The Tour Within The Tour De France, a collection of vignettes and postcards from seven years of attending the race, emerged.
Hotel proprietors to French policemen, elderly women sweeping the streets in small villages to generous and flamboyant cafe owners, the daily grind at the Tour de France is a wonderful mix of people, places and things — all tossed into the spirit of the adventure.
|