No Number 1 in This Year’s Tour

No Comments | July 4th, 2007 | Trackback

The number one dossard traditionally worn by a defending Tour de France champion will be nowhere in sight when the race begins in London this Saturday, according to race organisers ASO.

With the outcome of 2006 winner Floyd Landis’ arbitration hearing still pending, ASO have elected to start the numbering at 11, which will be awarded to a rider from the Caisse d’Epargne team. However, it is yet to be revealed whether team leader Alejandro Valverde or 2006 runner-up Oscar Pereiro will wear the number 11.

It’s an interesting tactic; I don’t know if it draws more attention to the problem or skirts it, however.

And, as an aside, here’s a trivia question for you (no Googling!) - what was the last number Lance Armstrong wore in a Tour de France before he began his long string of years wearing No. 1?

(My brain has ferreted this piece of information away for some unknown reason, and I’m just waiting for the day that it appears in some real trivia game so I can finally use it. Until then, I guess I’m forced to bother you people.)