Sunday, July 24, 2011

Respect the Lanterne Rouge


Every year I see dumb comments and jokes about the Lanterne Rouge of the Tour de France and "the race" for the honor. I don't like that type of demeaning ridicule, personally (at least not at the guys who are doing massive amounts of work for relatively little pay and attention), and they're one of the reasons I started this blog.

Before anyone jokes about 2011 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge Fabio Sabatini of Liquigas - let's recognize the magnitude of his accomplishment. Over a span of 3 weeks, he was racing for 90 hours, 10 minutes, and 5 seconds at an average speed of 23.63 mph. Over the Pyrenees and Alps.

166 fellow professional cyclists were with him along the way and took up to 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 43 seconds less time to pedal exactly the same course - a difference of only 4.39%.

And 32 of the pro cyclists who started the race 3 weeks ago were unable to finish it at all (16.1% attrition).

Bravo, Fabio. Carry your Lanterne with pride.

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This item posted by Nancy Toby @ 1:50 PM
Comments:
Props and respect to Fabio! Thanks for pointing out that finishing in *any* place in the Tour is no mean feat…and that the difference between Cadel and Fabio is not that much.
# posted by Blogger Douglas : 3:21 PM
 
Anyone who has ever raced, at even the lowest level, knows how much time, effort and dedication it takes, to even reach a point of fitness where you could consider racing, let alone finishing. I think the way you have chosen to honor the Lanterne Rouge is great. There is certainly no dishonor in finishing the Tour with that designation.
# posted by Blogger Michael : 11:13 PM
 
...but he's STILL finished more Tours than Cipo....;-)
# posted by Blogger Middle Class Middle Aged White Guy : 6:20 AM
 
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