Hi Folks!!!
I am no cycling buff and the first time I came close to a bicycle was in school when I went for a DHARNA against my parents who refused to buy me one.
A few days back I read in the Sports section about Lance Armstrong a Cycling Sport Legend who won the TOUR-DE FRANCE for the 7th time and what I read inspired me to find out more about him and the sport.
What I found is Awe some and would like to share with you in brief
Tour-De-France (A brief)
1) Originated in 1903 was the brainchild of A french Newspaper L’Autos editor Henry Desgrange.
2) The First Race in 1903 had six stages covering 2388 kms
3) The Tour is held every year in July and covers 22 stages since 1988 with the longest tour in 1926 a distance of 5795 kms
4) Today the tour contains passing a Mountain at an altitude of 2802 mtrs ASL
5) A team sport consisting of 9 riders in a stage race. The amount of time each rider takes to complete each stage is recorded and accumulated and a Ranking is given to each rider based on this known as General Classification or GC.The winner is the one who is ranked first on GC at the end of final stage.
THE MAN HIMSELF (Lance Armstrong)
Born in 1971 was brought up his mother a single parent and regards his mother as his role model for her tenacity.
At age of 13 he won his first triathlon and at 16 his 1st professional Triathlon. He took to cycling and give below some of his achievement before tour-de-France
1) 1989- Qualified for Junior world championship
2) 1991- US National Amateur Champion
3) 1993- 10 titles and winning the first stage in tour-de-France
4) 1996- No1 cyclist in the world, wins Tour-Dupont, wins Belgian Spring Classic and competes as a US team member in Atlanta Olympic Games.
THE SPIRIT.
At the age of 25 when few men/women dont achieve anything Armstrong was already a legend. In 1996 October he was forced off cycling due to severe pain and was diagnosed with testicular CANCER. (The cancer spread to his lungs and brain)
He was operated twice to remove the testicle and a brain surgery to remove cancer that had spread there.
After some heavy chemotherapy and medication Lancer had the resolve and Mental strength to take this career threatening disease in his stride and began his riding and training within 5 months.
He started a Cancer foundation and in 1998 was back winning a sprint race in Austin.
Having lost his original sponsors who backed out when the disease came to light he affiliated with the US postal service and won his first (after disease) circuit race in Paris.
After some heavy soul searching and intensive mind boggling training ( a whole review can be written on his training and his single minded devotion to come back) regained his lost touch and from 1999 to 2005 he won the TOUR –DE-FRANCE ultimate in cycling sport 7 times.
FINAL WORD
1) He is the only sports personality to be tested for DOPE the most number of times
but never found guilty yet.
2) His competitive zeal has got him many enemies , with some being fellow cyclists and is facing many court cases against him
3)If there is a man who bears testimony to the undying human spirit, then it is LANCE ARMSTRONG. My humble and short tribute to THE MAN- a GOD.
regards
Courtesy- Lance Armstrong official web site
Tour –De France Web site
THE HINDU