Hey, remember that time....

The 2008 Tour de France is underway and after just 6 stages there have already been some significant surprises. Today was a mountain top finish (Super-besse) that you normally don't see this early in the race. One of the biggest surprises of the day was a certain American who amazingly placed 4th on the stage and now is 4th overall in the Tour de France! His name may escape most people's list of famous American cyclists as he is usually remembered for his unfortunate withdrawal from the Tour a few years ago because of a bee sting (ouch, vdv) and his unfortunate wipe-out in the rain during the team time trial on Lance Armstrong's Postal Service Team, taking out half the team with him (luckily Lance corralled his young horseman and they ended up with the team victory anyway).

I don't remember him most for either of these dubious moments. No, I would have to say that my most fond memory of him was when we were sitting on the concrete steps of some guys garage during a housewarming party. Someone dared him to eat potato chips since Lance probably wouldn't let him. To his credit, he grabbed a handful and munched loudly. I thought he should do a keg stand. He thought I should. I said no way. He said I was a pussy. I said I had the National Championships in 5 days but I would hold his legs up if he did it. Again, he wouldn't. Again, I wouldn't. Then finally... he did. There I was, holding one of Lance's cadets up by the legs, downing cheap beer in a keg in "some-guy's" garage just 6 weeks before the tour. He lasted a disappointing 8 seconds. 6 weeks later, Lance almost lost the Tour title when the team time trial turned upside down.

Fast forward to 2008 and suddenly he's in the headlines again, thankfully on good terms this time. Check it out:

Click above to watch the video.

Nice "stand" on Super-basse today vdv.