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Lance is the greatest cyclist ever. There have been other greats - Indurain, Mercck, etc. - but at a time when athletes are so advanced there is no comparison. I contend, and always have, that cyclist are the best conditioned athletes in the world. Indurain at his peak, when he won 5 tours in a row, had a standing pulse rate of 22 BPM (That's incredible). I don't know what Armstrongs is, but I think it's in the 30's. When he is cycling, though, is aerobic pulse rate is around 200. Most people's hearts/bodies couldn't handle that. Anyone who has ever biked up a modestly steep HILL knows how difficult it can be... think about climbing MOUNTAINS like the Pyranees and Alps.
It's a little too early to say that Lance has this race wrapped up. Basso is a great cyclist (although new on the scene). Someone mentioned that Lance is, in essence, letting Basso stay with him, but that nonsense. Lance was out of gas two stages ago and didn't have enough strength to thwart Basso's attack. Lance won the last stage, but if you watched the climb, Basso stayed in the saddle while Lance was up and standing on the peddles. Perhaps it's a different style of racing, but both are very effective and I wouldn't expect Lance to lose Basso in the Alps. It will be very close.
Don't forget Ulrich. He is 6.5 minutes behind Armstrong, but in the midst of Armstrongs success and well deserved fame, Ulrich is another great cycling story that has gone somewhat unheard. Ulrich won the tour 6 years ago and has finished 2nd for the past five years. In the absense of Armstrong he would have been the first 6 time winner. Don't think Lance has forgotten about him.
Bottom line... Lance is the man, but there is still alot of racing to do.
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