James Oberstar: “The Tour de France, Mr. Speaker, is the oldest, most important and most challenging bicycling race in the world. The…”

“The Tour de France, Mr. Speaker, is the oldest, most important and most challenging bicycling race in the world. The 2,300 miles covered by the cyclists in only 3 weeks, from the time trials in the flatlands to the sprints on rolling terrain, the exhausting climbs in the Alps and the Pyrenees encompass the most demanding skills of both individual and team effort. The Tour, in my judgment, is the greatest test of fitness and endurance in all of athletics. This year, for only the second time in its 86-year history, the Tour was won by an American, Lance Armstrong. The only other American winner was three time Yellow Jersey holder, the now legendary Greg Lemond. Lance Armstrong's victory is especially remarkable for several reasons. At 26 miles per hour, it was the highest average speed in tour history. It was the first tour won by a predominantly American team. Greg Lemond won with largely European teams. And it was the first time a cancer survivor won the tour. Two years ago, Lance Armstrong was clinging to a 20 percent hope of survival from a virulent attack of testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain tissue.”