Today is la Fete Nationale.
In France, there are lots of fetes. But today is "La Fete". Yes, La Fete. In much the same way that people in other countries say "The Holidays" for the season of Christmas and New Year's Day, in France the holiday is today, Bastille Day.
Everything in the country is closed. And, it seems, everyone watches the sporting event most associated with France: Le Tour.
In much the same way that Bastille Day is La Fete, the Tour de France is Le Tour, or the race.
And, every year on this date, every French (and Francophile) fan hopes to see a Gallic cyclist win the day's stage. This has been especially true in recent years, as even stage victories have become less frequent for riders from the land of the Tricolore.
Helas, there would be no French victory today. Chris Froome, favored to win the Tour, took Stage 10, the first in the mountains. Froome certainly has the talent and skills to win; perhaps more important, he has teammates like Richie Porte.
And one of France's best hopes--Warren Barguil--crashed.
Alberto Contador and Vicenzo Nabali lost ground to Froome and Porte. Still, their finishes were more than respectable, as the Pyrenees, while not as high as the Alps, include some very steep climbs. I know: I've ridden there! I wouldn't mind being there again for La Fete.
In France, there are lots of fetes. But today is "La Fete". Yes, La Fete. In much the same way that people in other countries say "The Holidays" for the season of Christmas and New Year's Day, in France the holiday is today, Bastille Day.
Everything in the country is closed. And, it seems, everyone watches the sporting event most associated with France: Le Tour.
In much the same way that Bastille Day is La Fete, the Tour de France is Le Tour, or the race.
And, every year on this date, every French (and Francophile) fan hopes to see a Gallic cyclist win the day's stage. This has been especially true in recent years, as even stage victories have become less frequent for riders from the land of the Tricolore.
Helas, there would be no French victory today. Chris Froome, favored to win the Tour, took Stage 10, the first in the mountains. Froome certainly has the talent and skills to win; perhaps more important, he has teammates like Richie Porte.
And one of France's best hopes--Warren Barguil--crashed.
Alberto Contador and Vicenzo Nabali lost ground to Froome and Porte. Still, their finishes were more than respectable, as the Pyrenees, while not as high as the Alps, include some very steep climbs. I know: I've ridden there! I wouldn't mind being there again for La Fete.
