LE TOUR

LE TOUR

Later today, American Floyd Landis will win the Tour De France barring a wreck. In a couple of weeks, he will have his hip replaced. What a story. He can hardly walk. He can only get on his bike from one side. The ball of his femur has deteriorated so badly and the socket in his pelvis is so abraded that the motion of pedaling is barely tolerated. Yet, with a will of iron, he overcame a meltdown in the Alps when he couldn't get water and became dehydrated. He got so far behind that he was counted out after leading for several late stages. He made up all of his lost time on the last mountain stage and blew away his competition in the final time trial. The story of Lance Armstrong overcoming cancer to win this race is impressive but no more compelling than this one.