Why American cycling needs a new Greg Lemond or - whisper it - Lance Armstrong

A look at America’s fickle relationship with the Tour and the hero needed to restore fandom

American fans watch the Tour de France
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We love sports in America. The hype, the drama, the speed, strength and skill. And the stats, always the stats. Mostly, we love ball sports —football, basketball and baseball. They’re a battle in a set arena, where two teams of five to eleven players face off and the team with the most points at the end of regulation wins. 

There are no balls at the Tour de France, at least not for sport. But there is coordination. Just watch a pack of sprinters maneuver for the line in slow motion. Or Tom Pidcock lay his bike over like a MotoGP racer. The drama unfolds on a network of secondary roads that wind through towns, up over mountains, through valleys, gorges and ultimately up and down the most famous cobbled boulevard in the world, the Champs Élysées. 

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1