With twelve stages of the Tour de France in the books and only nine stages remaining many of the experts are saying that Chris Froome will win the Tour. I have no problem with that, Froome has proved he is the best rider up to this point. Cycling is a crazy sport and anything can happen, from a crash to getting a flat the under three minute lead that Froome holds over american rider Tejay van Garderen is not a major lead. With four mountain stages remaining, the last being a summit finish on the world famous Alpe d'Huez, Froome has to ride aggressively but also be a little cautious, doing that he should ride in to Paris with the maillot jaune on July 26th.
American rider Tejay van Garderen is in second and I wouldn't think for a second that he agrees with the paragraph above stating that the Tour is over. I wouldn't blame him for thinking that, I'm thinking that myself and I'm sure many die hard american cycling fans are thinking the same. If that is the case where is the love from the American press? I consider myself an extreme cycling fan, I watch and follow cycling more than most, if I was in Europe I'd be a normal cycling fan. Here in the states no one cares right now that an American rider is in second place at the most historic and world renowned cycling races. That bothers me if you couldn't tell. I just spent the past thirty minutes checking all of the major American sports websites, from ESPN.com to Yahoo Sports not one site mentioned the Tour de France on its main page.
American rider Tejay van Garderen is in second and I wouldn't think for a second that he agrees with the paragraph above stating that the Tour is over. I wouldn't blame him for thinking that, I'm thinking that myself and I'm sure many die hard american cycling fans are thinking the same. If that is the case where is the love from the American press? I consider myself an extreme cycling fan, I watch and follow cycling more than most, if I was in Europe I'd be a normal cycling fan. Here in the states no one cares right now that an American rider is in second place at the most historic and world renowned cycling races. That bothers me if you couldn't tell. I just spent the past thirty minutes checking all of the major American sports websites, from ESPN.com to Yahoo Sports not one site mentioned the Tour de France on its main page.
The article above is from Yahoo Sports and is the reason that no one cares about American rider Tejay van Garderen. Lance Armstrong is still on our minds, I don't need to explain why but I believe after Lance "dominated" the Tour for so long and had all his titles stripped the average cycling fan in the states said "I'm done with cycling". I don't blame them, Lance Armstrong embarrassed himself and American cycling, because of that Tejay is paying for it. Tejay is the all american boy that grew up in Montana and won ten junior national titles, won major professional races and has finished in the top five of the Tour de France twice!! Still if people were to see a picture or asked who Tejay van Garderen was very few would have the correct answer.
The lack of coverage for Tejay here in the states as made me a huge fan of Tejay. I like the underdog, I feel bad that this man is giving his blood, sweat and tears to win a bike race and to inspire children in the states to love cycling and no one cares. If he does find a way to win the Tour this year the American media will go crazy. You will see Tejay on all of the late night talk shows, morning shows and commercials endorsing products every time you turn around. You will also get a lot of people asking if he is on steroids or using some kind of illegal substance, no matter who wins the Tour you will always have people asking "Is he clean?". For American cycling I hope that Tejay wins, American cycling needs a role model and right now Tejay is our best chance at a Tour victory!!
The lack of coverage for Tejay here in the states as made me a huge fan of Tejay. I like the underdog, I feel bad that this man is giving his blood, sweat and tears to win a bike race and to inspire children in the states to love cycling and no one cares. If he does find a way to win the Tour this year the American media will go crazy. You will see Tejay on all of the late night talk shows, morning shows and commercials endorsing products every time you turn around. You will also get a lot of people asking if he is on steroids or using some kind of illegal substance, no matter who wins the Tour you will always have people asking "Is he clean?". For American cycling I hope that Tejay wins, American cycling needs a role model and right now Tejay is our best chance at a Tour victory!!
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