Yellow jersey makes it all worthwhile

IF Bonnie Tyler was still holding out, she was spoilt for choice in the Alps on Thursday. There were heroes everywhere en route to the Galibier summit.

Andy Schleck’s lone furrow. Another no guts, no glory reaction to bitter disappointment from Nicolas Roche. Thomas Voeckler, misery and pride etched on every feature, clinging by his fingernails to the yellow jersey for one more night.

For the millionth time, we asked ourselves how these fellas do it and, in truth, we don’t much care what shortcuts they take with the physiological side of things.

In a world where beaten provincial finalists don’t want to summon 70 minutes six days on, how can they face this torture day after day? The financial rewards certainly aren’t commensurate.

Does David Millar really explain it in Racing Through the Dark, talking of his first time in le maillot jaune?

“Three hours after the race ended, doping controls, press conferences and TV interviews were all over, I arrived back at the hotel. Even though it was late, I was still wearing the yellow jersey. I kept it on for the rest of the night.”

Truly the costume of a super hero.