Well after two weeks in the Tour de France we still have a French man in yellow. Normally I'd be disappointed by this lead, not seeing my favourites like Andy or Frank Schleck in yellow, or a the faint hope that Cadel Evans after years of trying final wins it. However, with Thomas Voeckler I find myself cheering the plucky French man on. It would be good for the tour if he won, its about time the French won it again. I remember a few years again watching him in the yellow suffering like hell on the climbs just to hold onto that jersey. He was embraced by his country after that for showing such character and pure bloody will. It's good to see he still fights the same way, but with better form in the mountains he may be a hard man to beat. 
But the tour is full of great and hard men. On stage 14 Jens Voigt, led his team at an amazing pace up the climb of the Tormelet, one of the toughest climbs of the tour. He pushed pain barriers seen to have said 'shut up legs' as he powered on up. Isn't he nearly 40? There is hope for us all! Thor Hushovd was clocked at doing 112kph on one of the descents. On a bike. In Lycra. Hard as nails!
Here is a picture of Laurens ten Dam who crashed at high speed on Saturdays stage Plateau de Beille. He was described by his Rabobank team as being as 'hard as rock'
Whatever, people may say about the tour, (drugs being its curse), it still amazes me the character, skill and fitness that is required to ride this race.Long live the Tour.
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