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17 Jul 2004
Thomas Voeckler is my new cycling hero. He looks about 16 years old, has a funny honking1 style, and manages to get dropped on just about every climb of the mountain stages. But he still—somehow—manages to drag himself back through the peleton with very little support from his team, and is still just hanging on to the yellow jersey after 9 days. Every kilometre looks like torture for him, but when he gets on the podium he has such a sweet smile. I don't think for a moment that it's possible, but if he won the Tour this year it would make me very happy.
On a completely different topic, I noticed yet another PowerBook with a 'modesty patch' on it in the coverage of the Tour today. I don't know why (especially on commercial TV), but the Apple logos on PowerBooks always seem to get covered up, while equivalent Dell or IBM logos don't. Is this the Microsoft mafia at work? Today's example was partially covered by an ITV2 sticker, though the stalk of the Apple peeked cheekily over the top. On other programmes I've seen the cover-ups performed by Post-It notes, pixelation and even digital editing to make it look like a blank titanium shell (Six Feet Under). To those Producers/Directors, I say, "You're not fooling anyone, pal. We can see it's an Apple a mile off."
1 Honking: cycling term for standing up out of the pedals. Also the noise I make when performing this action up a steep hill, just before I give up and walk.
2
That's funny, I always thought Mac had some sort of exclusive rights thing going with every film and TV studio. Here in the States I can't remember the last time I saw a commercial, TV show, or movie in which a computer was shown that wasn't obviously a Mac.
3
never mind the podium, thomas' smile as he got to the top of Plateau de Beille on saturday was a sight to behold. alas, i fear the only chance he has of winning is the usp team bus going over a cliff...
4
pete: They certainly are, though every Tour is reputed to take a year off a rider's life. I think I'd rather be well-padded and live longer.
1
They're very clean-cut, these guys, aren't they? It must be the 0% body fat that does it. Must try it one day...
I noticed that Powerbook too (it's Phil Liggett's isn't it?). Mac laptops are the logical choice for people that spend 100s of pounds on Campagnolo chain links and carbon-fibre water bottles.----- I am going for Piil myself, though he has no chance. And Virenque for King of the Mountains. And Lance for the hell of it, to win, just because it would be good to see someone do it 6 times and in a row.
See my own bicycle woes, though - and just when I was thinking of doing the London Bikeathon tomorrow. Hope their hands (and more) drop off, thieving scrotes.
BTW, do you know Bill Ketzer's stuff on Bike Reader? His story of an absurd chase with the Albany bike cops is funny, and well-observed about humanity in general (particularly the illogical reasons why people do mad things).
by Jolyon @ 17/07/2004 8:08 pm • Permalink •