the prologue

(That subject heading is so unfair, I know, to anyone who is expecting this post to be about BOOKS.)

If today's any indication this year's Tour is going to be amazing. Here's the thing about Armstrong -- even when you don't want to cheer for him, you get swept up in his performance. Not the hype, but the way he conducts himself, his riding style is just damn exciting and when you see someone putting it on the line the way he does it's hard, if not impossible, not to get caught up in it. So, as usual, there are a dozen people I'd be happy to see win, especially Tyler Hamilton, but Lance is farther up in that ranking than I would have said yesterday. Because he put in an amazing time trial performance today, almost winning -- though I'm glad he didn't since 23-year-old Swissman Fabian Cancellara won, on his very first ever day in the tour, with an amazing ride. (Click that link and take a look at that picture and you'll see what was so exciting about today; Armstrong almost beat him... he was sobbing as he watched from his team van. This is a kid to watch.)

One of my favorite moments of the day was old-style rabble rouser Mario Cippolini's super-aerodynamic crazy outfit being decaptitated at the knee just before his ride after a last-minute ruling from the race officials that it violated some rule. But, as this NYT profile will tell you, that's just Mario:

Packed away in a dresser are the golden shorts that accessorized the bicycle, along with the skintight outfits sporting zebra stripes and the human skeleton, both of which he was fined for wearing in the Giro d'Italia.

These violations of dress code and solemnity, coupled with his habit of bailing out of the Tour whenever it neared the mountains, finally cost him dearly. Not since 2000 had Cipollini's team been invited to the Tour, not even last year while he wore the rainbow jersey of the world's road race champion.

But he's back this year one last time. And yes, you should be finding out who among your friends has the Outdoor Life Network. Early indications point to a recommendation to avoid the Roadside Tour show, but I like Kirstin Gum and could change my mind. Also, new sort of host Al Trautwig must be stopped. He looks like someone who escaped from a nightly newscast in NETWORK. I don't know who he has dirt on at OLN, but there must be somebody who buried a body in his backyard or something.

Sorry, Justine, that today wasn't better for the Aussies. Tomorrow, no doubt, will be.

And, of course, Daily Peloton's Jambon report is up and worth a look, as is the first Crazy Jane Jambon Delicieux report (same page, further down, also at the blog linked to over on the blogroll).

They even explain the relevant terminology:

For those of you who don't remember, here is the scientific language that the DP's linguistic engineers created to describe that certain aspect of the sport of cycling: ham-gaze verb: 1) in cycling, the practice of watching other riders make the race; to sit on while other riders take off down the road. 2) the act of staying in the peloton and watching the "hams" of other riders in front of you. 3) the visual aspect of going off the back when other riders increase the tempo. noun: ham-gazer. synonyms: ass-watch, rear-view. antonyms: attack, hammer.

That's all, and no, this isn't all you'll be hearing about for the next three weeks, but it's all for now. The parade was hot and slow and fun. Our wireless is down and we're at the coffeeshop. Lalalalala. Happy today.

We have to go protect George from the Fearsome Firecrackers of Doominology Street

worm "This is a Hit," Rilo Kiley

namecheck Barb "Did You Catch the Scissor Job?" Gilly