THE SIXTH STAGE of the Paris-Nice arrived in Cannes on Saturday afternoon. We decided to catch a glimps of the race and found a great spot about 12 km from the finish in the village of Pegomas, just at the bottom of the trecherous descent down the Col du Tanneron. On the way to Pegomas I was trying to explain to our kids that we were only going to see about 15 seconds of racing, but if were were lucky we'd be able to see some well known riders and the Slipstream-Chipotle team. (Note: we were all eager to see the Slipstream-Chiptole team because, as long as we are living in France, that's the closest we're going to get to one of those beautiful, delicious, guacamole-filled Chipotle burritos.)Patrick and Julia were wanting to know which famous riders we were going to see. They don't know too many cyclists by name, but I mentioned that we might see Bobby Julich, making sure to add that it would probably be hard to pick him out in the mddle of the pack. I chose to mention Julich because I've really liked him ever since he finished 3rd in the 1998 Tour de France (pre-Lance, by the way). Because Julich was one of the few Americans to experience real success in the Tour in the years between Lemond and Armstrong, I think all American cycling fans really like him.
Anyway, when we arrived at our spot -- right in the center of the village at a sharp right-hand turn -- we got ready to watch the blur. But the last climb of the day, the Col du Tanneron, really broke up the field and the first rider to come into view was on his own, about 20 seconds ahead of another small group. As the lone rider got close I saw the distinctive 'CSC' on his shoulders. As he whizzed by (with the kids looking on in awe) I realized that it was...Bobby Julich! Couldn't have planned that any better. Julich eventually came in third in a sprint finish won by Sylvain Chavenel.
CJS
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