| | Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas -- It's enough to make the French cringe.
Not the way Lance Armstrong dominated their big race -- but the
way his fellow Texans have tinkered with the language of love for
their own Southwestern celebration of his second Tour de France
victory.
Signs around town shout "Lance de Triomphe" and "Vive Le
Lance." For Austin, which has followed the cyclist's rise from the
abyss of grueling cancer treatments, Armstrong's second victory
proved 1999 was no fluke.
"Last year people said he won a Tour without the top riders,"
said Eric Loberg, standing outside a bicycle shop Sunday looking
for a deal on a used ride.
"Well, they were in it this year and they dropped out," he
said, referring to Italian star Marco Pantani, who tried to push
Armstrong but pulled out of the race in the final week.
Normally dominated by the burnt orange of the University of
Texas and the browning of neighborhood lawns during the oppressive
summer heat, Armstrong's hometown developed a distinctive yellow
streak as he pedaled toward Sunday's finish. Armstrong crossed the
finish line in Paris with a lead of 6 minutes, 2 seconds over
second-place finisher Jan Ullrich of Germany.
Most of the posters and banners in town are yellow, the
signature color of the Tour's leader. Fans were encouraged to wear
yellow to celebrations Sunday at city pubs.
Corbett Wood, who races mountain bike, said he's avoided the
temptation to buy a yellow cycling jersey.
"I don't think I deserve to wear one yet," said Wood. "It's
not really human what he (Armstrong) does."
Racing fans said they never doubted the local hero could hold
the lead after an extraordinary charge early in the mountain stages
thrust him to the front of the pack.
"That's where he took it over," said Shannon Smith, who also
races mountain bikes. "It was amazing."
Some of the celebration went to Armstrong.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, himself a testicular cancer survivor,
vacationed in Paris this year to be at the finish line on Sunday.
Dr. Craig Nichols, the oncologist Armstrong credits with saving his
life, also went overseas to see his patient dominate the Tour for a
second straight year.
"Lance ... is truly a role model of strength and determination
for all of us to follow," Watson said.
One of Armstrong's main sponsors, Bristol-Myers Squibb, which
created the chemotherapy drugs used to treat his cancer, paid for
nine cancer survivors to attend the Tour's last five stages.
And Nike, another Armstrong sponsor, has been conducting a
letter-writing campaign at it Niketown superstores in Chicago, Los
Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu, asking customers to write
notes or encouragement and congratulations to Armstrong on yellow
paper. The letters will be presented to the cyclist when he returns
stateside this week for a tour of scheduled appearances.
The apparel company also pulled off a tribute of gigantic
proportions when the Sears Tower in Chicago was bathed in yellow
light last week to honor Armstrong's lead.
Austin city officials also plan a victory parade, although plans
for next Friday have been postponed until sometime this fall to fit
Armstrong's training schedule for the Olympics.
The payoff for Armstrong's cancer foundation and his personal
bank account promises to grow.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation raised about $1.4 million in 1999
and has already reached the $2 million mark this year. Most of the
money goes toward medical research grants. Such a drastic leap
wouldn't have been possible without Armstrong's success in France,
said foundation director Karl Haussmann.
"People want to know about us," Haussmann said. "He's given
us the perfect opportunity to spread our message all over the
world."
Before his first Tour victory, Armstrong earned about $500,000
from his U.S. Postal Service team contract and endorsements. Since
then, he has re-signed with team for $2 million a year and his
reported total income for 2000 will be in the $7 million range. He
now commands $100,000 per speaking engagement.
| |
|
