Lance - Don't Give Up

I've been following the Tour de France on OLN - Cable 57 in Barrie. Thank goodness for the PVR or I'd be up real early every day!

This been a really bad year for Lance. He's gotten wrapped up in two crashes and had one flat. The flat really messed up his timing.

Today Lance is in 31st position and after 1,000km or so he's only behind first place by 15 minutes! 15 minutes! That's amazing!

Going into the race he said he was in great shape but ready to retire. (Again) I guess he figures his days in the sun are done, and at age 39, maybe he can't win. Maybe he can't place in the top ten.

So what. I have a thought for Lance, in case he's reading my blog.

Lancy, buddy, - we don't expect you to win. You've brought attention to the sport, you've encouraged cancer survivors, you've encouraged people to ride their bikes. And - despite the pain of the sport and the variable weather conditions - you don't give up.

We all know you won 7 Tours in a row, which is miraculous after having had cancer. Now, there's younger guys, and stronger guys and that's ok.

You have nothing to prove. So why not be modest and let someone else on your team be the leader? It's time for someone else to take that position of honour and you can ride along side on the team and still enjoy the sport you love.

If Mick Jagger can keep touring the world at age 68 and not give up after all he's been through, you, Lance, can keep pedaling in the Tour because every time we see "the older guys", we see perseverence and "living history". We admire you for doing what we only dream of.

If you love it, why quit?

Wait a minute.... am I talking to myself???