Michael Moore is a base, obnoxious slob. He took took home the Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival, and is celebrated in France. Lance Armstrong beat cancer to win the Tour de France six times in a row. No one has ever won the race so many times, and as a result, the French revile Armstrong. Therein lies a cultural lesson on the psychology of the French.

Juxtaposed with Moore, it's quite easy to feel good about yourself. Next to Armstrong, we find ourselves lacking. Moore inspires no inferiority complexes among the French, so he's feted. Armstrong's achievements are so grand, the French contend, that he must be cheating. No one, the argument goes, can be that much better than the pack.

In France, it's three cheers for mediocrity. Greatness, however, is an affront to the national ethos of equality.

Flynn, I'm european (danish), which means I know more about Tour de France than you do. They are all doped. Armstrong too, but he is still the best among equals.

I guess surrounding yourself with mediocrity makes you less susceptible to surrender.

(Yes, it's cheap but you know it's true...)

The best thing to come out of France was the Coneheads!

Anatomically, Lance Armstrong has a heart that’s a third larger than that of persons his size and has a lung capacity that allows him to process almost twice as much oxygen as the normal person. Very simply, his body is better designed for endurance and to handle the rigors of bicycle racing. Throw in desire and mental toughness and you have the answer to why he has won an amazing six straight Tour de France races.

Hey Ole,

If you Euros know so much more about the Tour than we do, how come an American has won it over a field of some of Europes best for six years in a row now?

Apparently, our entries know a little bit about how to compete and win.

Yeah....testicles....huh huh

Dude,

You're writing from the center of all mediocrity in the United States--the area inside the Beltway. You should know...

Still, I think you are underestimating the large number of French fans of Lance at the Tour. From my friends (Germans who make special lightweight wheels for Team T-Mobil), I hear tell of massive quantities of Frenchmen pulling for Lance. The ones this year booing him (for the most part) and spitting at him were the Germans (and this is coming from Germans, so I don't think they were mistaken). It is well-acknowledged that the Germans are the most boorish travellers in Europe anyway.

The French press is another matter entirely. But you shouldn't cofuse the French with their press. How would you like it if someone from Europe attributed to you the opinions of The New York Times sports reporters writing about the immature behavior of Pedro...?

One more point: I don't think the French hate Lance, in general. At least, if you say they hate Lance, then you would have to say that they hate Lance no more than ESPN: no one has done more to smear Lance in the past month than ESPN. Their coverage of the Tour, by the way, was INANE, for a network calling themselves "The World Leader in Sports."

Mike,

Haven't you heard of the exception that proves the rule? The rule is that europeans not only know more about the Tour de France, but they also win it - Armstrong and Lemond being the only exceptions. But hey don't be sad, you guys have cheaper cars! We pay for three cars when we buy one (taxes), that's why we alle have to ride bikes. If I could choose, I'd rather be a bikemoron than a taxslave. Makes me think ... Why did Lance buy a bike in the first place? Did he flunk all the tests to get a drivers license or what?