One difference between the media pro and the pajama-clad blogger, is that the pro writes a developing story weeks in advance, writing different takes on how it might all play out. The blogger on the other hand wakes everyday anew to a world changed and surprising. And writes it as it plays. Which is by way of excuse for coming late to the amazing 7th Tour de France ("TDF") win by Lance Armstrong.

Mr. Armstrong began* his TDF streak on Sunday July 25, 1999, finishing first in the Classement Général, the overall winner, in the 86ème édition -- an awful year for French cycling:

The 1999 Tour de France was a disappointment for French riders, with not a single stage won by a Frenchman. It was only the fourth time since World War II that one didn't finish in the top five overall.

"The French, what a mess!" screamed a headline in sports daily L'Equipe.

First, a quick thumbnail of the Tour de France. The TDF began as a publicity event for the newspaper L'Auto (predecessor of the present l'Équipe) in 1903. It is a staged race of 20 or so stages over several days. Each stage is a complete race. A stage is ordinary (all riders start together and share the road), or an individual time trial (a rider races against the clock), or a team time trial (a team of riders races against the clock). The total length of the race is between 3,000 and 4,000 kilometers (1,864.2-2,485.6 miles).

We cannot retell the whole of Mr. Armstrong's amazing story, but here are his TDF highlights: Besides his 7th overall TDF win in the 92ème édition, he has won 22 individual TDF stages (1993-1, 1995-1, 1999-4, 2000-1, 2001-4, 2002-4, 2003-1, 2004-5, 2005-1), 11 TDF time trials, with his team winning the team time trial three times (2003–2005). Alas, his successes have provoked many French to grouse and wish Mr. Armstrong diminished.

We reported last year on the sour French reactions to Mr. Armstrong's record-breaking 6th consecutive win. This year's astonishing record-breaking 7th consecutive win earned him more of the same:

ARMSTRONG NOT GREATEST- HINAULT

July 25, 2005 (BBC) - "You cannot compare. The bikes are different, the opponents are different," said France's [five-time TDF winnerBernard "Le Blaireau"] Hinault. "Armstrong was obsessed by the Tour. He does everything to do it and as he wins, he is the one who is right. The others, who finish second or third, are not good. They have not understood everything yet."

Just what, we wonder, is M. Hinault's basis for any comparison? By his logic there can never be a greatest cyclist outside of any one race because things are different. The TDF itself is redesigned every year, rendering it useless as a race-to-race tool of comparison for M. Hinault.

We found it curious how the official TDF site reported the play-by-play when Mr. Armstrong clinched this year's win:

17:41 - Vinokourov Moves To Fifth Overall!
The winner of the final stage of the 2005 Tour de France was awarded the 20 second time bonus for his victory. He has moved from sixth overall to fifth after starting today just two seconds behind Levi Leipheimer in the general classification.

17:40 - Armstrong 118th In The Stage
Lance Armstrong finished the final stage of his career in 118th place. The American has won his seventh Tour de France by 4’40". The average speed for the 2005 race is a record, 41.654km/h.

What a yawn. Yes, well, a historic win hardly deserves headline treatment, much less exclamatory punctuation. Now, fifth place -- there's the real excitement!

Then there are the not-our-kind-of-winner complaints (Hat tip for the article: Hervé; big thanks for the translation: Carine):

ARMSTRONG LE MAL-AIMÉ [UNLOVED ARMSTRONG]

July 24, 2005 (Sporever.fr) - An undisputable victory for the emperor rider of Discovery Channel which nonetheless leads to a multitude of contrasted feelings. How not to remain speechless in front of this sports prowess, a first? How not to remain indifferent to the man, to his hardly expressive face, to his displayed reserve which often, too often maybe, flirts with contempt and arrogance.

Armstrong disturbs, his lack of humanity annoys [some of that inhumanity in evidence here], exasperates. Johan Bruyneel's protégé is a faultless man, some kind of "proto-type" made to win. And this is what it's all about in this fall-out-of-love story between this exceptional racer, and the public, heir and guardian of the memory of this part of the [cultural] heritage that is le Tour de France.

For if Armstrong has done much for the Tour, he unfortunately killed its essence: suspense. The 2005 edition of the Grande Boucle ["Big Loop", scil., TDF] was no exception.

The Texan firmly holds the reins of the competition with his gloved hands, a competition he mastered beyond all limits, dominating all sectors of the race, winning key stages of a competition he was obliged to share - calculated charity - some crumbs, precise and greedy. Though not enough to pacify our minds.

As for the persistent ginned up doping claims, it is good to remember that with his first TDF win, Mr. Armstrong was widely praised for restoring a sport lost to doping scandal. No accuser has ever produced evidence to substantiate a drug claim against Mr. Armstrong. Why bother? Rumor, hearsay, and pettiness sufficed for Le Monde. We will let Mr. Armstrong have the last word on this:

ARMSTRONG FIRES SHOT AT ACCUSERS

July 24, 2005 (BBC) - Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the world but has never been found guilty of doping.

"To the cynics and the sceptics, I'm sorry you cannot believe in miracles," Armstrong said on the podium in Paris.

"This is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it. Vive le Tour forever."

[All emphases added.]

* Mr. Armstrong had earlier raced in the 82ème édition, winning the 18th stage and finishing 36th overall.

PFFT (What is this?): Bad losers 4 | Bad sports 5 | Rayonnement français 0

Never mind the praising headlines about Lance by France's leading sports newspaper, never mind Lance was cleared by French cycling authorities 3 years ago, and never mind he has legions of French fans but hey, Pave has to make a living...

True, Lance was accused of doping (and we know US athtletes would never dope themselves) by a French journalist in a well publicized book...

... and also by a British reporter who co-wrote the book, his ex-personal assistant from Texas, his Irish masseuse, an Italian "doctor", an ex-team mate from New Zealand, and Greg Lemond himself. Oh, and remember those American yahoos last year foaming at the mouth regarding the spitting incident? Turned out a German "fan" was responsible...

(for the record, I like Lance Armstrong)

I never cared much for Armstrong but he won me over in the end. Surely if he was motivated another tour de france would be in the offing if not more. As for for being the best(road) cyclist of all time any rational comparison would rank Eddy Merckx a long way above the next tier of champions such as armstrong, indurain ect. Still Lance is the best of his time, all that anyone can be really. The TDF is unrivalled in sport thats why americans along with everyone else we continue to covet it. The events' continuing global reach must be "gauling" to all at pave france.

nah they wouldn't that bitter and twisted.....would they?

M. Zmx,

Your single link to a single 2004 headline is hardly "headlines". Click on the link in our post to read our 2004 report for the sour and niggly French praise typical of last year.

Also, we know a little about the gush French sports headlines lavish on their favorites. Even for 2004 "L'AS DES AS" is rather modest given Mr. Armstrong's accomplishments.

We are completely unaware of MR. Armstrong's legions of French fans. Please clue us.

The accusations of doping against Mr. Armstrong were taken up and reported in the French press as a species of fact. As for the book you mention, L.A. Confidentiel: Les secrets de Lance Armstrong:

[It was] released less than three weeks before the Tour de France. The book was publicised on Le Monde billboards which featured a menacingly dark photo of Armstrong. The book was written by David Walsh and Pierre Ballester, who readily admitted that "There's no smoking gun. It's all circumstantial evidence." Walsh is a sportswriter with the London Sunday Times and Ballester a former sportswriter for l'Équipe in France. Armstrong's solicitors issued proceedings in the High Court in London against the Sunday Times and David Walsh, seeking substantial damages, and in Paris against Walsh, Ballester, the publishers of L.A. Confidentiel and the publishers of L'Express which printed excerpts from the book.

Now, M.Zmx, you know something about business. Why would anyone write, why would a publisher publish, a damning book based on "all circumstantial evidence" if there wasn't a ready audience? The French bought the book because it confirmed their predispostions to Mr. Armstrong.

Whether other athletes, American or otherwise, dope themselves is hardly evidence against Mr. Armstrong. But it is obvious that you, like the French press, enjoy the insinuation rather than the facts.

As for the spitting incident, Pave only reported the news wire story. That they were Germans and not French spares France that opprobrium. That your reply post is solely grounded in 2004 makes us wonder if you read the current post at all.

M. Bart,

Who is the greatest cyclist of all time? That's a tall order to which we do not pretend competence. But to put forward a claim, one needs to define the basis of the judgment. Mr. Merckx had an amazing career in its way. Mr. Armstrong has also had an amazing career in its way.

Why the "continuing global reach" of a sport dominated by an American for the past seven years would be "'gauling' to all at pave france" is beyond us. Perhaps if you readjust your face so that your smirk doesn't push the chuff over your eyes and re-read our post you will discover that it is predicated on the premise that the TDF is the grueling crown of cycling.

We support your right to sneer as it pleases you, but you might want to stay on point if you hope to bruise our feelings.

Regards,
DGB

Your single link to a single 2004 headline is hardly "headlines".

I guess the headline "L'As Des As" ("The Best Of The Best") is not good enough for Damian. "Un Cas A Part" ("A Different Class") was another one from L'Equipe, by the way.

Maybe France should replace the overrated 14 Juillet with "Lance Armstrong Day" until you're satisfied? How about renaming CDG "Aéroport International Lance Armstrong"?

We are completely unaware of MR. Armstrong's legions of French fans. Please clue us.

Obviously (who's "we"?), and why would you care anyway? Are you even aware that scores of US athletes and celebrities come to France each year? Even McEnroe (who once said "I hate this country!" during one of his on-court tantrums) comes on French TV from time to time and obviously has a great time. Proof he and "the French" have more humour than you do.

The French bought the book because it confirmed their predispostions to Mr. Armstrong.

Ah yes, "the French". Did only "the French" buy it? (by the way, the French wtiter was fired from L'Equipe for questionable professional ethics). How can you prove your assertion? People bought the book the same way people like to pay for celebrity smearing, it's not a French phenomenon. Besides, why wouldn't some people be legitimately interested in this book when some of his biggest accusers were his own teamate, his American assistant who had nothing to gain, his ex-doctor (a convicted dope distributor), his Irish masseuse, and Greg Lemond himself?

Never mind, just blame the French.

Proof he and "the French" have more humour than you do

Is this French humor?

Is that French humor to send death threats too? How funny is it that for the first time one of the participants had to have bodyguards?

Et pour preuve. L’Américain exacerbe tant et si bien les passions qu’il avait fait l’objet, l’année dernière, de menaces de mort. Encadré, à son arrivée dans l’Hexagone en 2004, de deux gardes du corps dont un ancien sbire autrefois attaché aux services du président Bush, le coureur de la Discovery avait, en sus, bénéficié de la protection de quatre professionnels attachés à sa seule personne.

Funny, funny fans, the French fans.

Mr. Zmx,

Well, the adoption of your suggestions for Bastille Day and the Aéroport Charles-de-Gaulle
would go a ways toward winning us to your point of view. Let us know how you get along.

The "we" is Pave. We care because we believe you have made an exaggerated claim. We ask that you clue us about your "legions of French [Lance Armstrong] fans" and you tell us that "scores of US athletes and celebrities come to France each year". Fascinating. Now, any word on those legions of the French Armstrong fans?

As for L.A. Confidentiel: Les secrets de Lance Armstrong the book was not published in English. It's a good bet that it probably wasn't bought by the legions of American Lance Armstrong fans. But we do know it was a bestseller in France. We don't know who else bought it, but, again, we do know the French did. We presume some read it.

You go on to identify the book as a "celebrity smear" then say it is of "legitimate interest". If it is of "legitimate interest" then it is not a "celebrity smear". You appear not to have made up your mind about this book, the premise of which its authors readily admit is supported by nothing more than "circumstantial evidence."

Even if we grant your broad claim that "celebrity smearing" is not a French phenomenon, smearing Lance Armstrong is.

We are not here "blaming" the French. The French are free to hold malicious opinions and believe false reports as such pleases them. We only point out that they do and such does.

Lastly, we are disappointed to learn that John McEnroe has more humor than us.

Regards,
DGB

"Et pour preuve"

Preuve de quoi?

You would make a terrible prosecutor, Carine. First the article praises Armstrong ("C’est un véritable coup de maître" - "A real master stroke" ), second - although it is possible, where does the article mention the death threats originated from a deranged French national? Remember the spitting incident?

We care because we believe you have made an exaggerated claim.

Fine. Armstrong has LOTS of French fans (French people admiring an American champion? How completely crazy!). As far as making "exagerated claims", I hope you realise the irony of your statement.

You go on to identify the book as a "celebrity smear" then say it is of "legitimate interest". If it is of "legitimate interest" then it is not a "celebrity smear". You appear not to have made up your mind about this book, the premise of which its authors readily admit is supported by nothing more than "circumstantial evidence."

You are leaving out of the equation the fact that the very mediatized charges against Armstrong were also brought up by many "believable" people very close to Armstrong (most of them non-French incidentally). In that context, why wouldn't people buy the book? Yes, some may be Armstrong-bashers, but some may have bought the book out of sheer curiosity, a "legitimate interest".

Whether people pay to read books "proving" Apollo XI or 9/11 was a hoax does not mean they have a pre-disposition to beleive it (I read some of the claims myself and I'm still not convinced). As uncircumstantial the evidence may be, it may be a "legitimate" interest.

And since your insinuation is "French anti-Americanism", why was Richard Virenque (top French rider at the time) fined and banned 9 months for doping in 1998 along with his entire team?

Preuve de quoi?

I'm not the one saying it. The article is. Evidently you did not read it. You know, the article which supposedly - according to you - praises Armstrong.

Your inuendo is directed at French fans vis-à-vis death threats against Armstrong. Where does the article make mention the two are related?

You know, the article which supposedly - according to you - praises Armstrong.

"Supposedly"? I'm afraid you're the one who can't read your own sources.

Funny, funny fans, the French fans.

Some are, and they're not the only ones apparently.

FUNNY HOW..
This article only appeared the day AFTER Lance rode with George Bush....