Do you like to ride your bike? Did you know that bike riding --- well, more officially called cycling --- can be more than fun, exercise and transportation? It's an Olympic sport, and wildly popular worldwide. And for serious cyclists, the Tour de France is by far the most prestigious racing event. In our cycling feature we introduce you to cycling, the Tour, and one of the sport's great champions of recent years, the U.S.A.'s very own Lance Armstrong. 

The Tour de France is held each July on a rigorous course that changes each year and covers roughly 2000 miles of roadway throughout France (and sometimes parts of neighboring countries like Switzerland), always ending up along the Champs-Elysee in Paris. The very first Tour de France was held in 1903.

The course is divided into stages or sections and competitors are timed for each one, with the entire race spanning a total of about 22-30 days of riding at up to speeds of 70 m.p.h. on some downhill portions. The rider with the lowest overall cumulative time after each stage gets to wear a yellow jersey, to show he's in the lead. And the cyclist with the lowest cumulative time after completing all the stages of the race wins. Cyclists also receive points in each stage and receive different colored jerseys to designate their standing (see below).

In this year's race held July 7-July 29, 2001, there were 21 teams, of nine riders each, competing. Only about half of those riders completed the grueling race. Lance Armstrong (who won the race in 1999 and 2000) led the pack coming into the last stage, and pulled out a phenomenal victory, beating his closest competitor by more than six seconds. Lance has now won the Tour de France for a third consecutive year --- the first American to accomplish that feat (American Greg LeMond won three Tours, but not in consecutive years). Lance's success is all the more sweet because he overcame a very serious bout with cancer in 1996, a time when some doctors didn't expect him to live very long, let alone compete on the cycling circuit again.

And perhaps even more exciting than his latest win, at age 29, Lance has said he's nowhere near done with racing yet. He believes he's just hitting the peak of his cycling career and he is already making plans to win a fourth Tour de France next year. We wish him luck! UPDATE NOTE: Read what Lance's wife Kristin, who wrote a biography about her husband, has to say about his latest victory and what lies ahead for the Armstrong family in our Q&A!

Here's a guide to understanding the special jerseys that the Tour de France cyclists wear throughout the race. With this helpful information, you'll be an expert if you watch all the action again next year!

What the different jerseys mean:

Yellow Jersey: Overall leader in standings

Green Jersey: Leader in points standings

Red Polka-Dot Jersey: Leader in mountain standings

White Jersey: Leader of young riders (born after January 1, 1975)

Yellow Cap: Leader of team standings (whole team wears a yellow cap)

Red Number: Leader of the Fighting Spirit standings (red number worn by most agressive rider, person who displays most effort and sportsmanship)

We hope you enjoy checking out this free-wheeling sports feature. And if you want to take to some wheels yourself, we at Kidsreads remind you: ALWAYS wear your bike helmet and know the rules of the road when you go riding.

   --- Shannon Maughan

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A Q&A with Kristin Armstrong

Kristin Armstrong, wife of cycling champion Lance Armstrong and author of LANCE ARMSTRONG: The Race of His Life, graciously took time away from her busy schedule to answer our questions. Kristin sent her responses from Europe where she and Lance were celebrating Lance's third consecutive Tour de France win on July 29, 2001.

Kids Reads: What inspired you to write a children's book about your husband's and your family's experiences?

Kristin Armstrong: Actually, when I was pregnant with Luke [Lance and Kristin's 2-year-old son], I wrote some stories about Lance as a gift for the future baby. I thought they turned out pretty good, so I showed them to some friends who encouraged me to look for an editor. That's how it started.

KR: Have you always wanted to write children's books?

KA: I've always been a big reader and writing is another hobby. I always imagined writing a novel sometime, but after having a child, I see that writing for children is a wonderful gift.

KR: What was the publishing/editing process like for you? How did you go about getting your project published?

KA: I was really lucky to find a great editor at Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers [Jane O'Connor]. She helped me work on keeping my comprehension levels consistent, and also encouraged me to put my stories together in chapters rather than in separate books. I originally had them in separate books, and targeted to what I thought was a younger audience.

KR: Do you plan to write more children's books?

KA: I'd love to write another children's book. We have twin girls on the way --- maybe something along those lines.

KR: What are some of the highlights of Lance's 2001 season that you have observed?

KA: Lance's whole season was focused on training and preparing for the 2001 Tour de France. I know how incredibly hard he works, so to see his dreams come true is a source of great pleasure for me. My favorite parts of the Tour are watching him excel in the mountains and in the time trials. Another favorite part is to see the fierce competitor turn to mush as soon as he sees his son after the race. It's a treat.

KR: What's next for you and your family? (what are you looking forward to in the coming months --- vacation? more cycling events? time at home?)

KA: We are going to spend the rest of the month [August 2001] in Europe while Lance finishes out his racing schedule for the season. Then we are back to Austin, TX, our US home.  At that point, I won't be allowed to travel any more because I'm pregnant with the twins. So Lance will probably do some traveling and fulfill some engagements he has state-side, but we usually try to soak up as much quality family time as possible and we always have a great time. Our twins are due in December, so all I can tell you is what we will be doing after that...babies!

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LANCE ARMSTRONG: The Race of His Life
by Kristin Armstrong
Grosset & Dunlap
ISBN: 044842407X
Ages 7-9

Kristin Armstrong, wife of cycling champion Lance Armstrong, is the voice behind this brief biography that spans from Lance's childhood in Texas, to his tough bout with cancer in 1996, to his stunning wins of the Tour de France in 1999 and 2000. An inspiring read.

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SWEET VICTORY: Lance Armstrong's Incredible Journey
by Mark Stewart
Millbrook
ISBN: 0761313877
Ages 8-12
64 pages

This biography covers Armstrong's rise to cycling fame, from his high-school training days in Texas to his numerous victories in Europe en route to the Tour de France win in 1999. Stewart highlights the strong relationship Armstrong has with his mother and his wife, and also discusses Armstrong's courageous, determined battle with cancer.

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ARMSTRONG ENCORE: The 2000 Tour de France
by John Wilcockson, Charles Pelkey and Bryan Jew
photos by Graham Watson
Velo Press
ISBN: 188473779X
Ages 11-up
256 pages

Though not specifically a children's book, serious cyclists may want to check out all the action in this vibrant, detailed look at the prestigious race. You'll see profiles of the players, the teams and the 2000 course, and you'll also pick up some behind-the-scenes information.

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THE EVERYTHING BICYCLE BOOK: A Freewheeling Collection of Bike Know-How-From Buying and Maintaining to Exercising and Touring
by Roni Serig
Adams
ISBN: 155850706X
Ages 11-up

Find out how to buy the bike that's perfect for you, how to be safe when you ride it, and how to take care of it (including all the basic maintenance and repairs). Tons of information that the whole family will be glad to have.

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THE TIME BIKE
by Jane Langton
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060284374
Ages 10-12

Eddy is less than thrilled when he receives an old-fashioned looking bike from his eccentric uncle. But Eddy soon disovers that it's no ordinary bike --- it's a time machine. Travel with him on his bike-and-time-spanning adventures.

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