Lance Gets Taste of Domestique Life

I searched my memory for an instance of LA crashing hard enough to break a collar bone and could not recall one. The most remarkable spill that came to mind was the infamous crash in the 2003 Tour on the climb up the Col du Tourmalet. You know the one that was caused by that errant musette bag held by a fan. Sure enough he told Velonews that indeed this has never happened to him before.

Lance's comeback to race in Le Tour is not the real story here. What is revelatory is how "The Boss" has been relegated to domestique. No longer sandwiched by fellow team mates Armstrong has been left to fend for himself in tight situations on the race course. Gone is the prioritization of keeping this guy upright, in the front group and well hydrated. Life out of the bubble can be harsh.

It's not all bad though. The broken collar bone is a badge of courage amongst lesser professionals. In the end I think LA will be better person for experiencing more of what he hasn't known since his formative years with Motorola. A taste of the domestique's life, grueling and selfless. He may even lug a few water bottles from the team car before the comeback is over.

Update: Johan Bruyneel tells Velonews that Lance may still be up for the Giro in May. Let's hope so.

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