Linus Gerdemann, stomping away on a day he'll never forget. His DeFeet Aireator High Tops pushed low.

This was a very special day for DeFeet at the Tour. No one could have known that Linus wanted the yellow blanket that badly, and DeFeet went along for the ride. With his Aireator High Top socks pushed down, that boy lit into the slopes of the Colombiere and created a day that he will always remember. Today's stage was absolutely stunning. In the United States, that would have been a race through a National Park. The way the Colombiere is etched up the right side of that valley made me immediately think of Tioga Pass, the east entrance to Yosemite National Park. If you want to climb the Colombiere and can't buy enough Euros for your dollar, go to Yosemite this Summer.

Tomorrow morning, DeFeet socks will be put on with the Maillot Jaune. Linus probably won't last too long in yellow, though. He's unproven in the really steep mountains, and did you see how easily Rasmussen flickered away at that last summit? Like an elven fairy, he was. Look at him and tell me you don't see transluscent wings fluttering on his back. He's Peter Pan, resurrected. Or, wait.. Pan doesn't have wings. Tinkerbell does. Well, he still flies. This Tour will get widdled into a race amongst guys that came from mountain bike backgrounds: Peter Pan and Cadel Evans. I'll have a name for him, soon, if he starts prancing with Peter. Hold it.. I've got it. Evans looks more like Pan, anyway, and he flies, too. Thus, those two shall be Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.

Thousands of miles from France, a young girl, also wearing DeFeet socks, participated in her first bike race. She's only sat on a bike for a total of about 12 minutes of her life, so far. She loves racing, though, and she sprints around on foot wherever she goes. It ripped at my heart strings to see her compete, finish 3rd, and get a medal. As you could guess, my blood flows through her veins. If the apple didn't land too far from the tree, she won't need pushing. May she toe the line many more times in her life, if she wishes.

My goodness, what a tough bunch this is. Enough to make a dad jelly-kneed.













The selection was made at the halfway mark, and the podium was decided.













Eureka! This feels good no matter what age you are.