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Good Morning fellow fanatics. PLease forgive the long post, but last night I was sitting around trying to digest my surprising sadness and dissappointment and realized a few things that I just had to put down into words.

I was truly shocked at my emotional reaction to yesterday's stage. I have watched my favorite teams lose Super bowls, lose World Series, Lose Stanley Cups, get knocked out of the playoffs early when they were supposed to win it all, etc etc -- and yes each time I was disappointed, but it was never a true kicked in the gut feeling that lasted longer than the game itself. And yet here I was last night in a funk over of all things a Bicycle Race. I watch exactly one Cycling event a year - the Tour de France. MY cycling life is a whole 6 hours a week on a stationary bike in my home office. Yet here I was utterly devestated as I watched the pain and disappointment etched on the face of Floyd Landis yesterday.

So, the question formed in my mind. Why? Why this race? Why this man? and then it hit me - I miss Lance. I wanted Levi to be Lance. I wanted Big George to be Lance. And I just knew Floyd Landis WAS Lance.

The first week I was shocked at the poor riding of Levi Leipheimer, I thought he would soar through the TT and stay perched at the top of the GC. But it was ok, because Big George was there. I ignored the fact that George did not look good in the TT. I ignored the fact that Discovery was not looking very strong as a team. I waited for the Pyrenees, because I knew that Bog George would fly up those mountains and establish himself as Lance's heir, and all would be right.

Then it happened, George was not Lance, he was not even George for some reason, I watched in horror as he fell farther and farther behind on the stages he was supposed to dominate. BUT WAIT! What's this, another hope, another beacon. Yes yes Floyd Landis! Look at him Fly. The man who rode at Lance's side through the mountains and shepherded him to all those victories. He is a great climber,he is a great TTer -- yes yes, I was just mistaken. Big George was not the Heir, it was Floyd.

And what a glorious story it was. A hip in tatters, soon to be replaced, an upbringing that was the anethema to all that is sport and racing. Yes, it was an awesome story, a fairy tale, and I drank it in.

Floyd had shown his strength in the Pyrenees, and I spent the weekend waiting in anticipation for the Climb up L'alpe D'huez. That would be the moment, that would be the stage. Floyd would ride out of the Peleton on that mountain, and it would be just like Lance. He would put Le Tour away just as Lance had so many times on that mountainside.

As the stage unfolded I watched and I realized Floyd wasn't going to ride away. He was just marking his opponents. Ahhh I said to myself - Strategy. He is waiting for La Touseirre to make his move. Smart man that Floyd. yes yes, toy with them another day. Pull away on Wednesday and then stick the dagger in thier hearts on Saturday. Just like Lance.

So, yesterday was the day, the day of greatness, the day Floyd would become Lance. I waited to see if he would attack on Galibeir, but he didn't, and that was fine, he was just waiting, setting his opponents up. I ignored the fact that he had no teammates around him, I ignored the fact that Phonak is just not very strong -- it was strategy, yes that's it strategy. Save the team for the final climb to glory.

Then they hit Croix de Fer, and again no teammates came to help. but it was OK, Floyd was right there at the front, lurking, ready to pounce. I ignored the pained expression on his face, he was just stalking his prey, waiting for the climb into La Touseirre, the climb into legend, the climb onto the podium.

Then they were on the climb, and it happened. The realization that there is only one Lance. There is only one man to fly up those mountainsides leaving his opponents in his wake. Instead of admiring Floyd Landis for his courage to ride through pain and injury, I yelled at him, I cursed him, I screamed "How could you do this to me!!!"

So, today I say "thank you" Floyd Landis. Thank you for being such a great teammate to Lance Armstrong. Thank you for being one of the best Cyclysts in the world. I am still a fan, I am still in awe. And I apologize for trying to make you someone who you are not. There will only ever be one Lance, and it is unfair to you to expect you to be Lance for us.

Here's a toast to you Floyd, and to your days in Yellow. May you ride good and strong the rest of the week. And please may you recover from your surgery quickly.