American tourists sit in laps on the couch, chairs and floor. Lance motors up Hautacam. The locals realize who we are. They smile and boo. We realize who they are.
TV shows their hero.
We cheer with them. Lance wins Le Tour de France that day, but we don't know it yet. We finish a class in international relations. We pedal in front of Stage 12 into Revel. Bule firmament and heavy clouds compete for the sky.