Heartbreak at Le Tour (yep, cycling content!)

This is the sort of drama that makes cycling in general, and the grand tours in particular, so riveting. Every day there are dozens of tales of triumph, of heartbreak, of grit and determination… you know, the whole “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” thing. Earlier this week we had Zabriskie, riding in his first Tour de France winning the maillot jaune, (only the third American ever to claim that honor… even the most casual fan can name the other two) and defending it, only to lose it; crashing in the final K of the team time trial. Today Yesterday it was Christophe Mengin, racing for the stage win in his hometown crashing, in the rain, while leading, within sight of the finish. From Cycling News:

Despite the big mouse over his left eye from his last kilometre crash, local guy Chris Mengin (Francaise des Jeux) was happy. Selected as the days most combative rider, Mengin told Cyclingnews post-stage, “I had planned to attack today because the stage was to Nancy, where I live. I didn’t feel that great this morning, but I got in the good break, so that worked out well. We worked well together all day and I knew the finale today as I train on these roads all the time. It was hard in the end, but my morale gave me good legs.”

The next couple of weeks promise to be filled with even more drama, suspense, spectacular triumph and crushing defeat. Can I stand the excitement? Is there a more glorious sport than cycling?