Tour de France: John Kerry Eyes the Pack, With Envy

[whometense]

So now that he's no longer running for president, it's okay to ride a bike.

http://theclimb.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/john-kerry-eyes-the-pack-with-envy/?hp

June 13, 2008, 12:40 pm
John Kerry Eyes the Pack, With Envy



By Robert Mackey
Sen. KerrySenator John Kerry on his road bike in Boston in July, 2004. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

23 Days to L’Étape. Today’s training: a recovery ride ahead of a couple of long rides this weekend. Felt pretty strong during last night’s endurance ride and had a chance to ride briefly in a large group of triathletes training in Central Park.

Knocking down a rumor that he might be among the thousands at the starting line in Pau on July 6, Senator John Kerry, a serious cyclist who climbed Alpe d’Huez last summer, told me today that his busy schedule of election-year duties will keep him from taking part next month. “I am not doing the Étape this year, though I wish I was… it’s going to be a great series of climbs,” Senator Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, said. “I’d love to try to do it,” he added, holding out the possibility that he might find a way to give the Étape a go next year.

Mr. Kerry explained that he has been a cyclist and a cycling fan since childhood. “I was introduced to the Tour de France when I was young, because my dad was in the foreign service, so I’ve followed it for years,” he said. He has also participated in cycling events closer to home, in both Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, but knows first-hand how tough some of the Tour’s most famous climbs can be.

Having willed himself up both the Alpe d’Huez and the equally tough Mont Ventoux last year, the senator said he had an answer of sorts to the question posed last week by Jonathan Vaughters, our guest-blogger, as to why any non-professional would climb these mountains voluntarily. “For me, it’s a great challenge, and it’s beautiful, and part of the enjoyment is getting through these periods of suffering,'’ he said. “You get to a place where it’s really clicking … and it’s exciting, but challenging and intense.”

I asked him about the fact that some American sports fans with little first-hand experience of the sport seem to underestimate just how very tough cycling can be — meaning cyclists enjoy a less macho reputation here than in Europe. Senator Kerry, who has played a lot of other sports and run a marathon, said that in his experience, climbing on a bike is “as hard as anything you’ll ever do.”

* Comments (13)

[globalvillage]

1. Did you see the route for that thing?

I'm tired just looking at it. I do hope he gets to ride next year, it really looks tough, but I'll bet he can do it.

http://www.letapedutour.com/2008/ETDT/presentation/docs/EDT08_Guide.pdf

[Inuca]

2. How old did you say this guy is again?

Rhetorical question, but I think it's quite unbelievable! Even if he did not have all these other "distractions" in his life that take most of his time, it would be "stunning".