While it’s always been a major sport in European countries, cycle racing has often been a long way down the sporting ladder in countries like the USA and Australia. It’s popularity and recognition has grown tremendously in the land of stars and stripes over the past few years thanks to Lance Armstrong.
Understandably a lot of cycling enthusiasts in the US were worried about the possibility that the profile of their favourite sport would take a dive after Lance Armstrong‘s retirment at the end of last year’s Tour de France. They needn’t have been concerned, with American Floyd Landis taking home the coveted Yellow Jersey after Sunday’s final 2006 stage into Paris.
The Washington Post trumpeted the victory by reporting on how Landis had recovered from a devastating mountain ride earlier in the week to stand atop the victory podium on the Champs-Elysees.
It was truly an amazing tour and Floyd Landis was a deserving winner.
Back home in Australia, the profile of cycle racing continues to climb with more and more people tuning into the live coverage of the annual three week event.
Australian riders are gaining respect with greater and greater success at the world’s greatest annual sporting event. Robbie McEwan won his third Green Sprinters Jersey and both Cadel Evans (5th) and Michael Rogers (10th) finished in the top 10.
With Cadel Evans continuing to show his considerable talent, I wonder if his team might change its structure to be able to support him having a real crack at a podium finish in 2007. The problem seems to be their wealth of talent, with a lot of resources being given to team mate Robbie McEwan in support of winning sprint stages. It’d be pretty hard to fully support the Green and Yellow Jersey winners within one team.
As for me, I’ve got my evenings back. I no longer have to sit in front of the television late into the night watching all the action ….. until July next year.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Floyd Landis – Tour de France – Cycling – Cadel Evans – Robbie McEwan
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