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Armstrong circus embarks on farewell Tour

Posted on: Sunday, 3 July 2005, 20:26 CDT

By Francois Thomazeau

CHALLANS, France (Reuters) - The Lance Armstrong circus, aTour de France attraction for the past six years, started itsfarewell tour Sunday in Challans with more success than ever.

The flocking of journalists, photographers, televisioncrews, personalities and fans around the American team's bus inthe morning before the start of the day's stage has become aclassic feature of the Tour.

While sweating media tread on each other's toes for thebest position to film, interview or take pictures of the Tourde France bill-topper, fans elbow their way into the scrum,waving magazines and photographs in the vain hope of anautograph.

The word has been spreading fast that Armstrong's fiancéeSheryl Crow is around and will be available for interviews andpictures and she is rushed into the "Village," the mushroomtown that springs from nowhere every morning in squares orvillage greens to entertain local VIPs and cycling sponsors.

By her side are a former Miss France and a local politicianbut all the attention is on the rock star who shares the lifeon Tour of the most successful American rider in history.

Armstrong rarely shows up before the last minute. When thevillage bell rings, warning the Tour caravan time is runningout and they should be on their way, the Texan is still sittingin the bus, to the disappointment of the sun-struck fansoutside.

While they wait for a glimpse of the six-time Tourchampion, the Texan has allowed five times Tour winner BernardHinault in the bus for the rare honor of a short audience.

Hinault's presence goes almost unnoticed. He is a man ofthe past and fans want to see the star of the day before heretires.

As the bus doors open, aaahs of expectation run in thecrowd, quickly followed by disillusioned ooohs when it turnsout the rider walking out is just Manuel Beltran or PavelPadrnos.

Finally, Armstrong shows up, clad in the unfamiliar greenjersey of the points classification he won the previous day byfinishing second in the opening Tour time trial behind formerteam mate David Zabriskie.

The Texan has made it clear he wants to be closer to thepeople on his last Tour and he kindly and repeatedly signsautographs, stops to show his best profile to the photographersand answers a few questions from an American televisionchannel.

Zabriskie? "A nice kid, a good rider."

A French journalist, holding a tape recorder at arm'slength, shouts a hurried question in franglais.

Armstrong replies quickly before rushing toward the podiumunder bodyguard escort to sign the start list, followed by thesame crumbling human pile-up, some running, some giving up,while the open space before the bus empties as suddenly as ithad filled up.

Cigarette tips, torn cycling magazines and a journalisttrying to decipher his notes are all that is left of theearlier fuss and excitement.

The Discovery Channel crew collect the barriers and loadthem up as the security cordon is dismantled before they getback on the bus and drive it to the finish.

The Armstrong circus keeps rolling to the next town. Forsure it will be missed next year.

Source: REUTERS

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