Day 17
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries and is the most important cycling event in the world. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than 3,600 kilometers (2,200 mi) and lasts about three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are aggregated to determine the overall winner at the end of the race. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears a yellow jersey. The course changes every year, but the race has always finished in Paris. Since 1975, the climax of the final stage has been along the Champs-Élysées.
The team from the United States is currently under investigation having been accused by the Belgium team for taking “short cuts” and mysteriously “disappearing” from the course. Being that all U.S. team members have crossed the line having obviously exerted as much energy and stamina as their competitors, these allegations have been seen as folly and an attempt to stir public interest in the race. Recently though, a photo emerged concerning the lead U.S. racer, just after winning the yellow jersey on day 5. The rookie, and “Elliot” from Northern California, burst on the scene just last year. The photo shows the rider carrying an unidentified object on his handlebars. It is unknown if this is what the Belgians are considering an advantage, but it is unlikely that additional weight would enhance a riders speed or ability.
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