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Column: Is the Tour de France sporting fact or doping fiction?
Tour de France Cyclin Heal
In this July 26, 2009 file photo, Mark Cavendish of Britain reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the 21st stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Paris, France. The Tour de France, which starts next Saturday, June 29, 2013, remains a fantastic idea, not old even as it is put into practice for the 100th time. Asking riders to pedal around Western Europe's largest country and up and down some of its tallest mountains for three weeks is zany and whimsical enough to always be interesting. But is the Tour still worth taking seriously as a sports event? (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski, File) - photo by Associated Press
PARIS — Ahead of its 100th running starting next Saturday, the Tour de France remains a fantastic idea. Asking riders to pedal around Western Europe's largest country and up and down some of its tallest mountains for three weeks is still zany and whimsical enough to be interesting. But is the Tour still worth taking seriously as a sports event?