Tour De France 2009: Expectations
This year promises to be particularly interesting, we have Lance Armstrong back and another rider as old as 40 years old!
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So far the first stage was a little boring one. Time attacks are the fastest ones but since they release just one rider per five minutes or so they never find each other, we do not see the real competition between them and this kind of race is really boring to see. What really catches the eye is the astonishing speed they ride: average of 50+ KMH! On the other stages they make an average of 40 KMH or so because of all the climbs they have to endure.
Image via Wikipedia
What makes these people ride so fast? First they have the best bicycles in the world. You can pick one bicycle with just one finger. The materials they use to make such bikes are simply the best ones in the world. The lighter the bicycle is, the faster you can ride, specially in the climbs because it’s less weight pushing you down thanks to gravity.
Aerodynamic is a real science for these kind of races. They invest more in making aerodynamic bicycles than they do in tires because with right aerodynamics you can ride as fast as 130 KMH, too bad they cannot achieve such speed with just these bicycles.
The race itself is a great training session. They ride more KM in the race than they do all the year with all their training. The last stages are the fastest ones because they have the best bodies at those stages even if they are already tired!
Do you think you can have fun with such race? Just take a look at their faces. They have to endure all pain in the world in just a few hours per day. You have no idea about what it takes to be a professional cyclist. Trust me, it really hurts.
For the average Joe the bicycle is probably the easiest, fastest and most secure way to exercise your body. You do not have to waste a a lot of money, nor a lot of time, nor a lot of tools just to have a bicycle running. All you need is to get one, one helmet and to hit the streets.
Who will win this Tour de France? I bet it will be Lance Armstrong. With 7 straight victories it will be easy for him to get another one, despite being already 38 years old.
