Tour de France 2004 - Final Week: The disgrace of the French

07-17-2004, 10:22 PM

The good news for France is that Frenchmen are enjoying their best
Tour in a decade - particulary as a determined young Frenchman, the
current maillot jaune Thomas Voeckler has kept the yellow jersey for
far longer than any thought possible.

Race favourite Lance Armstrong commented on the matter during a post
13th stage interview. "Well, yellow traditionally is associated with
cowardice, ...so in a way actually, it's good that a Frenchman has
worn the jersey for most of the race.... But he shouldn't count on
wearing wearing anything by the final stage - except a soiled diaper"

Indeed, Lance is expected to take over leadership of the race for good
after the next stage of any noteworthy difficulty, on July 20th.

Added Lance, "I doubt the French could beat me, even if they were
using recumbents, which, I think, well obviously, are more suited to
their style."