the week that was – Santos Tour Down Under

Were you there? Because I wasn’t – sadly, the administrivia that was won over our desire to see Lance Armstrong’s butt in person and the manfriend and I were forced to enjoy Australia’s only Tour from the comfort of our couch. And what comfort it was. For those who want to enjoy the uncomfortable view, I suggest you check out Andy White’s Fyxomatosis in a few days or so to see what the Tour Down Under would have looked like had you just ridden seven hundred something kilometres to get there. From the point of view of this humble couch potato, I won’t add much to the available commentary except to say, I am perpetually astonished at how much I love Phil Ligget, which is hardly an original thought but certainly not one I’d have considered myself having a few years ago.

Setting aside the race for a moment, I was compelled to get onto the phone to a friend who was coincidentally in Adelaide watching the final stage – somewhat bemused. As someone who has relatively recently come to love watching cycling (as opposed to loving cycling itself), I felt delighted to share in the excitement of another friend who was watching for the first time with fresh eyes and energy. Whatever your opinion on Lance; on the amount the SA Government must have spent on getting the Tour; whether or not the whole things going go the way of the Grand Prix and have to come to Melbourne in the end; if you care, or don’t care that Cadel just seems a wee bit down in the mouth when he’s not winning; you’d be hard pressed to find yourself in the crowd and to not find that there is something inherently exciting about all that power and strength harnessed for one purpose – just getting to the end of that line, faster than anybody else. I won’t question for a moment, that it’s hardly the most noble of purposes the world has ever seen, but for a sporting event, it’s pretty damn exciting.

And you know, and I know, Team Sky rocked the best helmets flat out. Nice to match. Nice to win.

(Image credit: AAP; from SBS Cycling Central)