The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 4 of 15)

br> -- Scott Warren br> Hohenfels, Germany /p>

Regarding this otherwise fine article, I need to rectify certain facts about the 1995 Tour De France.

This race was not won by a Frenchman. Sadly (well, in my opinion, happily...) The French have been inept at their own race. A frog hasn't touched the top step of the podium in twenty years now. Not since five-time winner Bernard Hinault in 1985. The last time the home team smelled victory they crapped it away on the last day. Two-time winner Laurent Fignon lost the 1989 Tour by eight seconds on that final Paris time trial. The winner, by the by, was American Greg LeMond.

Back to 1995: Miguel Indurain did win that year, but he is and was a Spaniard. He became the first to win the Tour five times consecutively, a record now bested by a certain Texan.

What the 1995 Tour will be remembered for is the tragic death of Lance Armstrong's teammate, Fabio Casartelli. He died when he hit the back of his head on a rock during a particularly nasty descent. Three days later, Lance rode (as he described...) with the "strength of two men" as he won stage 18 in Limoges. To this day, Lance remains close to the Casartelli family, and has dedicated stage wins in 2001 and 2003 which passed the memorial to his fallen teammate.

p>Just to set the record straight on the Tour. br> -- Rob Hartsock br> Bend, Oregon /p> p> Great article by L. Henry -- brings back many good memories. One minor point, Miguel Indurain is a Spaniard, not a Frenchman. br> --

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