Spyns 2010 Tour de France: Lance Armstrong Falls / Giro Starting in DC?

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Giro d'Italia 2012 Start in Washington DC?

Former Spyns clients have often asked us to run trips to Italy's Giro d'Italia - the Italian equivalent of the Tour de France. Cyclists competing in the 2012 Giro could start their race weaving around the monuments of the U.S. capital. Officials hoping to start the race in D.C. are hosting a reception Thursday night at the Italian embassy to promote the idea. Some media outlets had reported that officials would announce Thursday that The Giro would start in D.C., but people supporting the city's bid say the evening is just a party.
Both the 2010 Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia will cover more than 2,000 miles in separately raced stages. This year Giro cyclists will compete in the Netherlands before flying to Italy for the remainder of the competition.

Armstrong Falls During Training Ride

Lance Armstrong fell February 25th near the end of a four hour training ride. It happened when a cat darted out in front of him and he went over the top of the handlebars. He indicated on Twitter that both he and the cat were fine. Despite some bumps and bruises, Spyns clients can still expect to see Armstrong for the 2010 Tour de France.

“Back from a nice/easy 4 hr ride.” Lance Armstrong tweeted. “Well it was nice til that cat decided to run out right in front me and I go ass over bandbox. Wasn’t even a black cat. And for all you cat lovers, cat was fine. At least I never saw it again. Bad kitty.” He also noted that he suffered minor some road rash and post-ride soreness. Last year, Armstrong suffered a broken collarbone while racing in Spain.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. We offer week-long trips to Europe including tours to the 2010 Tour de France. For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyn 2010 Tour de France: Don't Count Out Carlos Sastre

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Spyns Tour de France clients are gearing up to see an epic battle in the French Pyrenees. Lance Armstrong is a contender, but Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre also feel they have a shot. Sastre recently described his decision to ride this year's edition of the Giro d'Italia in addition to the Tour de France as 'masochistic' but is relishing the challenge of another assault on Italy's national tour.

Speaking in a video chat where fans asked questions through Facebook and Twitter, the 2008 Tour de France champion explained that his experience in the 2009 Giro prompted him to return to the race. Last year he finished third overall following the suspension of runner-up Danilo Di Luca. "Last year left me feeling good and I wanted to start like this in 2010," said Sastre. "I think the Giro is the most dramatic race and therefore this year I have opted for it again."

Whilst Sastre went into last year's Tour de France as the title holder, he faded in the final week of the race to finish 17th overall in Paris. He refuted suggestions that his Giro effort - which earned him two stage wins - hurt his campaign in July. "This year I will do what I did last year. There were people who said I had gone too well in the Giro which took its toll in the Tour, but I think they are two completely different competitions, which have nothing to do [with each other]," said Sastre. "I think I'm a little masochistic, I like to be hit twice with the same stone and I want to try [to ride both races]," he added.

The 34-year-old Madrileño believes he can capitalise on his performance in last year's Giro and earn another podium spot because the course for this year's edition "benefits climbers, so there's the motivation and desire to do something important," he explained. "Without thinking too much about the Tour, I am aware that the Giro is my first goal of the year," continued Sastre. "I'm preparing well and want to get in the condition necessary for a race of this category." Sastre stressed that his focus is primarily on the Giro for the time being but said that there are elements to each of the three grand tours that he likes this year. Spyns 2010 Tour de France trip will surely be the most exciting edition of France's beloved cycling race in years.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. We offer week-long trips to Europe including tours to the 2010 Tour de France. For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Armstrong Calls 911 / French President Sarkozy Needs 911

In yet another example of the Tour de France champion's star power, even Lance Armstrong's mistaken 911 call passes for news these days. Lance was at his home in Austin, Texas with his children, Luke, Isabelle and Grace, when he attempted to dial his friend Dave Bolch. But he accidentally entered a digit of Bolch's number wrong - and was left stunned when cops turned up at his house minutes later. Armstrong explained the mishap in a post on his Twitter.com page. He writes, "Cops at house. Someone dialled 911. After interrogating the kids we figured out yours truly misdialled (Bolch) whose number starts with 913. Doh!!" I can't wait to read about Contador's misdialled numbers. Oh wait, who's Contador?

Greek Debt Now Political: President Sarkozy vs the IMF's Dominique Strauss-Kahn

No clear European plans means a falling Euro - good news for Spyns Tour de France 2010 clients. And now it's political. I've often written that a devalued Euro is exactly what the core economies of France and Germany wanted, however the struggle to prop up Greece is now personal and presidential. Back in 2007, France elected the young, energetic Nicolas Sarkozy as president. Through a series of brilliant maneuvers, Sarkozy "the capitalist" set about destroying what was left of the rival socialist party.

He appointed several shining socialist stars to his cabinet under the guise of bi-partisan cooperation. Sarkozy also dispatched Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund - then just a benign, mismanged financial institution. Strauss-Kahn is one of the French socialist party's wise old men. Despite this eminence grise, he was a virtual non-entity during the 2007 presidential election yet the crafty Sarkozy saw a potential rival in the 2012 presidential elections. Once in office, he campaigned for Strauss-Kahn to head the IMF in Washington. Cue the crash of 2008.

Despite reports of "0.01% growth!" and stabilization, Greece proves that we have moved from a period of stockmarket upheaval to a new era of soverign debt crisis. Governments worldwide borrowed too heavily to sustain unrealistic spending habits and articifically prop up GDP. For example, governments started subsidizing automobile purchases with the questionable goals of propping up failed car companies and driving up consumer debt. Brilliant! This only delayed a second crash as we have seen with Greece. While European governments criticize the Greeks and ironically attempt to impose budget restraints that would cause civil unrest in Paris or Berlin, Athens is but the tip of the iceberg. Great Britain, the United States, Japan and France to name a few have deficits equal in real terms to Greece and yet that small country has become the world's scapegoat. It is political diversion and it won't last forever.

We've also entered a new era when deficits have become both unsustainable and political. I've always enjoyed the phrase "quantitative easing." It's an elegant term for printing money and giving it to banks. Central banks hope that by giving billions to banks, the banks will then lend it to customers to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Increasing the money supply simply drives up inflation but no one seems to think that's going to happen this time round. Wrong.

As risk increases, the cost to borrow increases, interest rates increase, and finally inflation increases. Take the UK for example. Prime Minister Gordon Brown reluctantly mentioned new taxes to pay for that country's version of "printing money." In indebted France, Sarkozy wants to lead a European coalition to bail out Greece but he needs German money and the Germans are universally hostile to helping out southern Europe. This is where it gets political.

Greece is a member of the IMF and can rightfully ask for IMF assistance. But who heads the IMF? Sarkozy's arch-rival Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Monsieur le President will do everything possible to avoid relinquishing the Greek crisis to Strauss-Kahn's IMF. To do so would boost his rival's international stature and the French love seeing their leaders on the world stage. As Athens burns, a bizarre joint taskforce of EU-IMF flunkies have landed in Greece to audit the books. It's pathetic and only distracts from France's own disastrous finances.

Rather than fiddle with Greece (population 11 million), G-7 governments like France should tell their citizens, "We spent your pension money, you can't have the latest gadget (on credit), say goodbye to healthcare and your standard of living is going to drop considerably in the coming years." That is the new reality.

Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. We offer week-long trips to Europe including tours to the 2010 Tour de France. For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Contador Triumphs in the Algarve

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Will Spyns Tour de France 2010 clients see another Contador victory? Lance Armstrong has certainly been talking tough of late but can the 39 year old best the Spanish rider - 12 years his junior?

While the media hounds lap up Lance's friendly time-trial showdown in Maui, Alberto Contador quietly demonstrates why he is currently the world's #1 rider with an impressive win in Portugal's Volta ao Algarve.

The Astana rider was second to fellow Spaniard Luis León Sánchez in the fifth and final stage, a 17.2km time trial from Laguna to Portimão, but had enough in hand to finish 30 seconds ahead of his compatriot in the general classification.

Contador, who won the third stage to claim the overall lead, hadn't raced for seven months and his victory sends out an ominous message to Lance and others as he targets a third win in the Tour de France later this year.

Final overall standings:
1 - Alberto Contador - (ESP) - Astana - ( 19:57:48)

2 - Luis León Sánchez - (ESP) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+30)

3 - Tiago Machado - (POR) - RadioShack - (+32)

4 - Levi Leipheimer - (USA) - RadioShack - (+37)

5 - Samuel Sánchez - (ESP) - Euskaltel - (+57)

6 - Rui Costa - (POR) - Caisse d'Epargne - (+1:11)

7 - Frantisek Rabon - (CZE) - HTC-Columbia - (+1:16)

8 - Andreas Klöden - (GER) - RadioShack - (+1:25)

9 - Tejay Van Garderen - (USA) - HTC-Columbia - (+1:33)

10 - Peter Velits - (SVK) - HTC-Columbia - (+1:45)

Incidentally, I was thrilled to see Levi break the top 10. Leipheimer has been too long in Lance's shadow and I was hoping he'd be designated lead rider for Radioshack yet there can only be one alpha dog - and that's Lance Armstrong. Lance clearly has the stronger team however Contador is clearly the stronger rider. It will make for a very interesting 2010 Tour de France.

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Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler BC (Canada) and Beaujolais France. We offer week-long trips to Europe including tours to the 2010 Tour de France. For more information about our Tour de France trips, please visit our website http://www.tdf-tours.com/, email us at info@tdf-tours.com, or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: LeMond and Trek Finally Settle

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Spyns clients travel with us to France for the world's greatest sporting event, but few understand the Tour de France is huge business. Millions of dollars in ad revenues and sponsorships are at stake and money tends to complicate or even corrupt. Case in point: a battle royal ptting three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and the Trek Bicycle Corporation (or Lance Armstrong Inc). In short, Greg casually accused Lance of doping. Trek is Lance's sponsor. Lance wasn't happy. Cue the lawsuits.

Recently Greg LeMond and Lance/Trek have reached an out-of-court settlement in their bruising breach-of-contract dispute, a fight that lasted nearly two years and often centered on allegations about Lance Armstrong and doping. The terms of the settlement, which comes just a month before the case was scheduled to go before a jury in a federal court in Minnesota, are confidential. But a joint statement shows that Trek has agreed to make a contribution to a charitable organization with which LeMond is affiliated.

LeMond's attorney, James DiBoise, told the Daily News that Trek will donate $200,000 to 1in6.org, an organization that supports victims of sexual abuse. A $100,000 installment is expected to be given in 10 days, and the remainder of the donation will come in one year, DiBoise said.

The settlement comes after a week of negotiations. Lawyers for Trek and LeMond resolved the case over the weekend and issued their joint statement yesterday. "Greg has a hard-won place in the pantheon of bicycle racing, and we are proud of what we were able to accomplish together," Trek's president, John Burke, said in the release.

"I am pleased to resolve the issues between Trek and myself and am happy to be able to move forward with the things important in my life," LeMond said in the release. With the settlement, neither side can bring the same claims again in future lawsuits. LeMond sued Trek in March 2008, and the company countersued a month later. Trek's lead attorney, Ralph Weber, declined to comment on the settlement. DiBoise, who took over as LeMond's attorney last fall, said the dismissal doesn't prevent his client from initiating legal action against any other parties, including Armstrong.

"Greg would still be permitted to pursue action against anyone who he determines in the future interferes with his business relationships, and he's also free to make certain that folks who have maligned him are held accountable," said DiBoise. Trek, which is based in Minnesota, got caught in the middle of the war between America's two most accomplished cyclists nearly a decade ago, as the two men became bitter enemies amid the finger-pointing that characterizes their sport's doping epidemic.

For years, Trek had distributed LeMond's line of high-end bikes while sponsoring and supplying Armstrong's winning teams at the Tour de France, but in 2001, LeMond angered Armstrong by speaking to a journalist who was writing about Armstrong's relationship with an Italian doctor who was at the time facing accusations he assisted cyclists in doping.

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Spyns 2010 Tour de France: Lance Armstrong Triumphant in Hawaii

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Oh happy days! Spyns Tour de France clients are clearly going to get more bang for the buck come July. More on that in a moment. And Lance Armstrong's 2010 Tour de France bid shows some teeth with Lance winning a friendly time trial against professional triathlete Chris Lieto. Lance will clearly be in fighting form for Spyns 2010 Tour de France tours (July 20-26, 2010).

I never believed in a Lance victory in 2009. In fact, I was worried that French Anti-Doping authorities would ban Armstrong from competing in the Tour de France. Spyns former clients may recall that Lance made the mistake of taking a shower before a urine test. This was incredibly stupid. Then he broke his collar bone. With over 100 clients signed up with Spyns in 2009, I was getting a lot of grey hairs. But Lance raced and placed a respectable third. As a confirmed Lance watcher, I didn't feel as though his heart was in it. This year feels quite different and I fully expect to see Armstrong win the 2010 Tour de France.

In addition to a Lance win, the US dollar is strengthening against the euro. Spyns clients should be cautiously optimistic at the euro's continued decline. The 27-nation currency recently touched a 9-month low of $1.35. While the media continues to squawk about Greece, the general public is slowly waking up to crushing debts their governments incurred as part of the 2008-2009 stimulus. G7 finance ministers are terrified.

From Greek Salad to Fish and Chips, sovereign debt worries clearly aren't confined to troubled Greece. To no one's surprise, the British government announced an embarrasing 12.8% annual deficit. This is the highest deficit in the eurozone and yes, even higher than Greece. This is disastrous news for Gordon Brown's Labour government as they face a spring election.

European reaction in the coming weeks and months will underscore the two-track approach to "core" members (like the UK, France, and Germany) and periperhal members (like Greece, Spain and Portugal). It's unlikely there will be an emergency meeting in Brussels about Great Britain's monstrous debt or France's creative accounting. This is wrong. Unlike Greece, neither France nor the UK plans to cut spending until 2012. They're simply deferring disaster in my opinion.

The Euro has recently dipped below $1.35 for the first time in nine months. This isn't a crisis. The media loves a crisis while markets want stability and growth. Blaming speculators is a convenient political manipulation of pure government financial mismangement. In fact, the Euro has been hovering at this level for the past five years so the anomaly wasn't the recent drop but an overvalued Euro. We're experiencing more of a soft landing as global markets realize the Euro isn't the Deutschmark (backed by a sound German economy), but also a drachma, franc, and lira.

At some point in time, European governments will have to stop borrowing and drastically curb spending. They won't until it truly becomes a crisis. But Spyns 2010 Tour de France clients can delight at the falling Euro. Every tick lower means another glass of fine French wine come July!

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Spyns Former Clients Remember Madame de Loisy

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Burgundy mourns the loss of its greatest ambassador: Christiane de Loisy. Rarely does an individual represent not only a region, but also its history, wines, and very soul. That was the Countess de Loisy. She died in Nuits-Saint-Georges January 21, 2010, aged 90.

I first met Madame de Loisy in May 2003. It was a life-changing event. I had moved to France for the summer and took up a part-time job as a guide for a small cycling tour company. The Countess regularly welcomed groups of cyclists into her salon. She would tour us around the winery and later mesmerize everyone with stories about her family as we drank champagne cocktails. Over the months and years, I heard many stories about her ancestors, the war, and Burgundy's rich history dozens of times. I have never met such a talented storyteller.

Madame de Loisy's elegance and poise were a tonic in a world where vulgar self-aggrandizement and self-promotion run rampant. It wasn't unusual to hear such conversation stoppers like, "That was when I was finishing my Ph.D in Italian literature," or "I heard that story when having dinner with my good friend the King of Belgium." She could discuss Australian politics with one guest and then answer another's question about Grand Cru grape yields. And all of these conversational pirouettes well into her 80s and in English - her third language.

One story was particularly moving. Following the German invasion of France, in a panick her family fled Nuits-Saint-Georges. There was a snarl of traffic on the main road out of town when a Luftwaffe plane strafed the gridlocked cars. Madame de Loisy recounted, "We slowly emerged from the ditches. Happy to be alive and yet still in shock that war had finally come. I ran to the destroyed car in front of ours to check on a young family." Tears filled her eyes. "There was nothing we could do." She could have spoken of mangled bodies, death, the years of German occupation. But that wasn't the Countess. That was the only time emotion came to the surface when speaking about the war.

Born of an aristocratic winemaking family, she was the region's first woman oenologue (an expert in the chemistry of winemaking). She came from wealth and power yet also knew hardship and personal tragedy. The German occupation, her husband's premature death, and the loss of a son were rarely topics of conversation; although she often mentioned them in passing.

Following an hour or more with the Countess, we all felt uplifted. She possessed that rare quality of making every guest feel they were the most important person in the world. She will be missed.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Armstrong in Hawaii / Europe says "Hold the Uzo"

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Lance Tour de France 2010: Armstrong Testing New Time Trail Bike in Hawaii

Lance Armstrong is currently in Hawaii testing out a new time trial bike for the 2010 Tour de France. Spyns clients will be able to see Lance's new ride at the Stage 19 time trial in Bordeaux, scheduled for July 24. The blogosphere is also atwitter with rumours that Armstrong and Chris Lieto, the second place finisher at last year's Ironman World Championships in Kona, plan a time trial showdown in the next few days. Showing newfound restraint, Armstrong has apparently agreed - if team Radioshack coach Johan Bruyneel gives him the green light.

European Ministers to World Media: "Please Forget Greece"

Spyns former clients have always grumbled about the high euro-dollar exchange rate. A change is coming. I feel that the euro will continue lower over the coming months, largely because Europe has no credible plan to deal with the crisis. Germany won't foot the bill, most European goverments are just a few percentage points below Greece's record deficit (bonjour la France), and taxes in the Eurozone will inevitably move higher.

Europe's 27 finance ministers met in Brussels. The sum total of their two-day meeting was a stern warning to Greece to continue drastic deficit slashing. This reminds me of a Robin Williams sketch about London Police officers, who don't carry guns. The punchline went something like this, "Stop!" says the police constable, "Or I'll say 'Stop' again!"

They didn't announce any firm measures. However, they demanded Greece reduce the deficit by 4%...by next month! Not surprisingly, the Greek finance minister stated this would be impossible. Clever. They asked Greece for the impossible and set a one-month deadline, typically modern media's attention span for a "crisis." A devalued Euro helps everyone so Greece is now the Eurozone's scapegoat. With just 3% of Europe's GDP, Greece isn't large enough to warrant a bailout. Moreover the sinking Greek ship serves a dual purpose: distraction and devaluation. By focusing on Greece's problems, the core yet troubled economies of France, Italy and Spain won't be subject to greater scrutiny. France is facing regional elections in the coming months so the goverment is focusing on non-issues like school violence in largely Arab Paris suburbs to distract from the terrible state of the economy. And second, as I've written many times before, the Euro is long overdue for devaluation.

Coincidentally, Greece has to roll over billions of loans in the coming months. For whom the bell tolls? While outright default seems unlikely, ratings downgrades and civil unrest are inevitable. The Europeans have sidestepped a crisis and the Euro has rallied to some extent however the fundamentals are the same. A debt crisis is looming. The only question is: when will Europe and the world face up to it?

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Exit Landis

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Sadly, Spyns Tour de France 2010 clients won't see a Landis comeback. That's because he'd be arrested the minute he sets foot on French soil.

Poor Floyd. Humiliated in 2006, dragged through the legal mud for four years, and now an arrest warrant by French authorities on a bizarre computer hacking charge.

Landis is an incredible athlete. There was speculation last fall that he might join Team Radioshack and be reunited with former US Postal teammates Armstrong & Leiphheimer. Sadly, the rumours proved false. I was disappointed. It would have been a vindication for Landis and an opportunity to benefit from Lance Inc's lustre. A recent arrest warrant has guaranteed the once-talended Floyd will become a game-ending trivia question.

French authorities have accused Landis and his doctor-trainer Arnie Baker of hacking AFLD (French Anti-Doping Agency) computers. They further accuse the pair of accessing classified files about Landis' urine tests. A French judge issued an arrest warrant last month. The whole thing is ridiculous.

Landis can bike, but as a cyber-criminal mastermind he's a bit of a tough sell. I've just watched about a half dozen Landis interviews and press conferences. Underwhelming is the word that comes to mind. Floyd may look like an IT nerd, but he strikes me as someone who calls tech support rather than hacking secure computer systems. Moreoever, there are several glaring oversights: Landis doesn't speak French. I can only assume that most of the files hacked were on French computers, in French offices, using French software. Who's leading the investigation: Inspector Clouseau? Another error perhaps: weren't all of these files already released as part of the 2 lawsuits and 2 arbitration hearings about the doping scandal?

It's a sad end for a great athlete. Unfortunately, Lance Inc. is America's only cyclist and the sport isn't popular enough there to support one superstar (Armstrong) and one fallen angel (Landis). Spyns clients may have rooted for Landis under the Lance banner during the 2010 Tour de France, but on his own, the poor boy can only hope for a second-rate reality TV show. We wish it had ended differently for this great athlete.

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Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Can he win again?

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Will Spyns clients see Lance's 8th Tour de France victory? He's a grandfather in terms of cycling years (see photo). Spyns is an active travel company based in Whistler, BC. We organize cycling and hiking adventures throughout Europe. We are offering deluxe Tour de France trips for the July 2010 Tour de France to see the final 5 (of 6) stages including a stay in Paris for the finish. For more information please visit Spyns Tour de France website http://www.tdf-tours.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720.

As Lance Armstrong flew out of Australia on a private jet, the big question was left hanging in the Adelaide air: can he really win the Tour de France again? The Texan, 38, was in better shape than in last year's Tour Down Under, when he returned after three-and-a-half years in retirement. He is apparently happy with new team RadioShack and his 25th-place finish this year is four places better than in 2009. Is that good enough?

Armstrong's form will not trouble his great rival, Tour de France champion and early favourite Alberto Contador, but the American believes the dream of an eighth Tour de France is alive.
"It's something I think would be possible," Armstrong said. "It's going to be the hardest one to win. The competition is better than it ever has been before. "I think I can win the Tour again. I might be a fool to think that but I'm going to go down my foolish way and find out."

Some are doubtful. Armstrong only made two notable breaks in Australia, one during a 50-kilometre (31-mile) warm-up and a doomed foray in the latter part of stage four. His best finish was 30th on day three. He stresses that it is far too early to make predictions for July, when the three-week Tour de France, a race he won a record seven times, rolls into action.

"Not much can be taken from here in terms of what happens in the summer, in fact nothing," he said. Armstrong, who finished third in last year's Tour de France, will compete against riders a decade his junior -- Contador is 27 -- as he bids to break Belgian Firmin Lambot's 88-year-old record in winning the Tour aged 36 in 1922. However, he has made a habit of silencing doubters after surviving testicular cancer to win one of sport's most gruelling events, not just once but seven times, and in consecutive years.

RadioShack team boss Johan Bruyneel, who masterminded each of those victories, sees positive signs in a man he knows so well that he sometimes finishes his sentences. "Lance is good. He's a lot different than last year. Physically his form is a lot better, he feels good in the bunch and he feels good in the team so that's three things that are better than last year," Bruyneel said.
He added that Armstrong is carrying less unnecessary muscle than last year and is more comfortable on the bike after adjusting his riding position.

Dave Brailsford, principal of Britain's Team Sky, describes Armstrong as the "benchmark" and warns it would be a mistake to write off his chances. "He's definitely got it in him for another Tour de France and being right up there, there's no doubt about it," Brailsford told AFP.
"Whether he can win it or not, time will tell. You can't say that he will but you certainly can't say that he can't. As long as you say that Lance Armstrong can't, then he's in with a chance."
Armstrong, a popular figure in Adelaide, has given himself only another two seasons to pull off one of the great sporting comebacks. "I don't want to say I'm going to win an eighth Tour, but I will tell you that I expect to be better than 2009," he said.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could do it."

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Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: "I'll have the Greek salad."

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I was delighted when French President Sarkozy spoke of "determined co-ordinated action" to save the Euro zone from the Greek debt virus. And yet he provided no concrete plan. The markets responded to this wan response accordingly: the Euro dropped.

Spyns sells its Tour de France tours in US$ yet pays its expenses in Euros. We in the travel community are delighted with Greek implosion because it devalues the Euro. It's not that I have anything against that country, my former business partner was Greek, but the situation is finally exposing the myth that is European unity.

The European community consists of 27 member states however only two truly count: France and Germany. Anyone who has ever traveled with Spyns to France knows how much I love that country. I love the wine, the people, the cycling, and of course the Tour de France. I speak French fluently as do my children. However, the French are in love with la grandeur and have always longed for a US-style role in international affairs. France alone is not important enough to have such a role but they've found a convenient vehicle via the European Union.

Since 1945, the French have consistently invited Germany to dinner, yet always left the table once the bill was presented. Robbed of any military deterrent, post-war Germany has largely deferred to France to handle its international affairs. Unfortunately, the French have become a bit too confortable in taking initiatives, and writing checks, on Germany's behalf. Enter Greece.

I found it rather symbolic that the French and German heads of state walked astride the Greek Prime Minister while the little-known EU flunkies trailed behind. President Sarkozy loves the international stage because it reinforces French grandeur so of course he was front-and-center talking (endlessly) about his plan to save Europe...and (in his mind) the world. Chancellor Merkel blanched. She was rather vague because she faces strong domestic opposition to a Greek bailout. Even a member of her own coalition mused publicly that you don't hand an alcoholic a bottle of Schnapps. Germany is about to turn down the next French dinner invitation.

While the euro is a common currency shared by 27 nations, markets consider it a glorified Deutschmark - hence the euro's inexorable rise against the greenback. Money markets see Europe as France + Germany with relatively stable and prosperous economies. Few remembered that Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece also share the Euro. That is until a few weeks ago when Greece's deficit reached a staggering 13% of GDP. The markets woke up and smelled the bond spreads.

Here are my predictions: France (via Sarkozy) will continue to grandstand speaking about a common approach with little action; Germany (via Merkel) will retreat from any bailout because German voters are too pragmatic to extend more money to a country on the verge of bankruptcy; Greece will languish but like anyone who has declared bankruptcy will finally learn prudent financial management; the EU will hold another few summits (Spain gets the rotating presidency now and desperately needs a bailout as well) yet everyone will return to their respective capitals where domestic concerns far outweigh saving a few million Greeks on the periphery of Europe. I haven't mentioned the British as they are not part of European monetary union. Not surprisingly, the Brits say this is a continental issue.

As the Eurozone's largest exporters, every drop in the euro greatly benefits both France and Germany. Therein lies the true problem. My father always said, "Follow the money." While politicians speak of unity, every Eurozone finance minister knows the Euro is overvalued. They bemoan the souless traders attacking poor Greece yet everyone wanted this benefit: a devalued Euro. For every percentage drop in the Euro, a Spyns customer gets more wine during their Tour de France trip. So I daresay, "More Greek salad please!"

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For more information about our company or Spyns Tour de France tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/, http://www.spyns.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 or email info@tdf-tours.com.

Spyns 2010 Tour de France Trips: Is Le Tour Appropriate for Kids?

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A number of clients have asked, "Is the Tour appropriate for children?" My answer is always, "Yes!" The Tour de France is essentially a moving circus. The "caravan" arrives about an hour before the peleton and the kids absolutely love it.

The "caravan" is a steady stream of promotional vehicles giving away everything from Tic-Tacs to hats to key chains. The water trucks are always the best crowd pleasers, spraying spectators from back-mounted water cannons. Most vehicles play music and have comely go-go dancers. It really is like a moving carnival.

The anticipation is palpable when the peleton arrives. Motorcycle "gendarmes" alway precede the riders and there is a steady stream of team vehicles, bike trucks, and helicopters above around and among the riders. It's basically every kid's dream to see so much activity.

The riders are no less spectacular. I'm always amazed at their stamina particularly under the hot July sun. There is always a break away group followed a few minutes later by the collected mass of riders in multicolour jerseys. It's an incredible show and the perfect family-friendly way to see France.

The Paris finish is no less spectacular. In a country known for striking workers and (ahem) indifferent customer service, I'm always amazed at how many Parisians wave flags, paint their faces, and scream "Armstrong" streetside. The Tour de France is more than just a sporting event. For the French, it's more of a cultural institution. And the kids love it.

Even if you removed the Tour de France from our trips, any family would have an unforgettable experience. With canyoning, luxury hotels, the Pyrenees, Bordeaux wine country, and Paris (particularly dinner at the Eiffel Tower), Spyns' Tour de France is an unbeatable holiday experience.

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For more information about our company our Spyns Tour de France tours, please visit http://www.tdf-tours.com/, http://www.spyns.com/ or call us toll-free at 1.888.825.4720 or email info@tdf-tours.com.