Another Great Performance in the Tour de France

An amazing sporting event story is happening right now. It unfortunately is being overshadowed by the news of the tumultuous events in the Eastern Mediterranean.

I am talking about Floyd Landis. For the uninformed (for us in the states, that's most of us) Floyd has been the number two to Lance Armstrong; and lances may be the only story in cycling more inspirational and powerful than Mr. Landis'.

Tomorrow, Floyd Landis will inherit the title Champion of the Tour de France from 7 consecutive tour winner Armstrong. This will keep the title with an American rider, sure to annoy countries where they actually follow cycling. (The U.S. seems to be genuinely apathetic to the sport, sans any Lance Armstrong story.)

What makes his ride notable, aside from winning the tour, is that in the very near future, Floyd Landis will need a hip replacement, similar to the one that effectively ended Bo Jackson's sporting career. When I say 'near future', I mean it. It has been reported that he will be getting it soon after completing the race.

This is a man that when he walks, it hurts; when he runs, well, it hurts. Yet on a cycle he has a lead in the most prestigious cycling event in the world. To be fair, his accomplishment still pales next to recovery from testicular cancer that has spread virtually throughout Lance Armstrong's body, but it is still an amazing feat nevertheless. A feat worthy of more coverage especially in a time where the media is fixated on the unrest in the Mideast.