Larry,

I'm lucky to live in the Netherlands so I've seen the TdF hours a day instead of seconds. Now we only need all matches (at least the playoffs) of the 'American games' and I'm happy <s>.
One of the main reason that Amstrong improved so much is his way of cycling in the mountains. In the "pre-cancer" days he used to climb the maintains with a "large gear" (ie. one rotation of the peddles 'delivers' a large distance on the road) His team-leader as the U.S.Postal team (Johan Bruyneel, a Belgium 'classic' cyclist) suggested that he would become a better climber (and tour-cylist) by adopting the style of the 'old giants': use a 'small gear' and use the high rotation rate of the paddes to climb the mointains and create easier (counter-)attacks.
Before that he has a great 'one day event' cyclist. But thanks to his new way of cycling he is more all-rounder. He can win one-day classics, tours (de France, the Giro (Italy) or Vuelta (Spain)) and even races against the clock, because he won it the last time in the TdF against the currunt World Champion (Ullrich) in that decipline.
I really think the Cycling is a underestimated sport. There are few sports where an atlete must compete 6 hours a day for 3 weeks at his maximum potential.

>And from what I've heard on the sports stations, the chemo actually helped make him a better cyclist. It caused him to lose over 20lbs which he has never gotten back. Before losing the weight, he was "thumped" in the mountains. Now he is Mr. Mountain Man.
>
>While no one would ever think to add this to their regimen, it makes you wonder if things do happen for a reason. *s*

regards,