Every year I watch every minute of the Tour de France. In fact, during the month of July, I let most every other commitment I have slide. Often I wonder what it might be like to ride along in a team car. Sadly, I know this will never happen. However, today, YOU made this dream close enough to being a reality that I'm truly happy. The (sort of) closed roads, the cars driving in the wrong lane, the motorcycles with photographers on the back zipping from place to place and people shouting in languages I do not understand set the backdrop.

But it was the sight of your beautiful peloton -- the way you moved, the bikes you rode and the uniforms you wore -- that made it totally convincing. And, when you hit the climb, I saw those things Bob and Phil talk about year after year. I saw you reach into your suitcases of courage. I saw you dance on the pedals. I saw you fly. It was amazing. To those who may have been struggling today, I say "congratulations" because you wouldn't have known it by looking at you. To all of you a hearty thanks for helping me live my dream -- if only in my mind.