I turned professional in 1978 and raced the Tour de France seven times. I have been at the Tour de France for 26 summers. I thought I had seen everything in this sport that I love.

I raced the Hinault era -- he was tough and impressive. Then Miguel won the race five times in a row and I was convinced I had seen it all. I thought I had seen something that would never be repeated.

Then in 1996 I had to organize a press conference announcing to the world that Lance Armstrong had testicular cancer. It was not the nicest week of my life. I visited him in Indianapolis hospital a few months later and saw him with no hair, eyebrows or lashes and thought that was it. I thought it was my last meeting with the man.

How wrong I was, and most of my medical friends who gave him three months to live. That is not knowing the man. He lived, survived and beat that dreaded beast in his body.

Then he started racing again. It was tough but he carried on. Then he won the Tour in 1999. Great. Now I have witnessed something really special. Not only did he live and survive but now he has won the Tour for the sixth time in a row.

You know I think he really enjoyed this one. Something tells me that this one was for pleasure. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did (and Lance did!)

See you down the road.

Paul