Maillot Jaune - Have We Got It Bad!
With all the drama the 2005 Tour de France promises, Lance Armstrong is not disappointing as he returned to the yellow jersey with a stage 4 win. Today's team time trial put Armstrong and other Discovery team riders on top as they posted the fastest average team time in Tour history. Team CSC, Dave Zabriskie's team (the only man ahead of Lance before today), fought hard until the end coming in only 2 seconds behind the Discovery boys.
The real drama came with under 2km to go. Dave hit a teammate's wheel, crashing and losing his teammates. As he rode to the finish he was torn, bloody and skinned - let's hope that his injuries are just surface deep.
Now that the tour is heating up and turning into a slugfest, there are many options for the Austinite wishing to keep up. There are a ton of viewing parties, so don't worries if you are like this Austinist and don't have cable.
Central Market has become "Lance Central" with viewing parties on 61" Hi-definition televisions. Austin PodCasting has mp3 podcasts and online feeds of tour coverage. The viewing parties and coverage will happen through the end of the tour, look for giveaways, refreshments and loads of yellow fever. On hand will be another of Lance's passions, the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Peloton Project.
Bicycle Sports Shop offers up comfy seating, a plasma TV, complimentary drinks and OLN coverage of the Tour from open to close everyday till the ride into Paris on July 24th. Starting on the 10th, when we can no longer tear ourselves away from the constant updates of Lance's progress, vital stats and talk of his overall greatness, they will offer snacks and sandwiches for purchase as well. They have a helpful page of Tour info, stages and terms.
That's not all, Bicycle Sports Shop and Cool River Cafe (map) have teamed up to host Friday night parties. They've promised giveaways, trivia and stationary bike races in addition to food and drinks and of course the TdF. These 'parties' will take place every Friday from 7-10pm, starting this week, until the 22nd of July.
If all this isn't enough to satiates your appetite for all things Lance and yellow, check out this piece on Outside Online. Lance even begins a rumor about his possible future in Texas politics.
