卓越竞技——环法自行车赛

来源：时间：2008-03-07 09:22:45

　　
　　The lanterne rouge is the rider ranked last in the general classification, who may wind up in Paris with an overall time five or more hours longer than that of the winner. The rider may just be a lowly domestique, but such is the sympathy of the French public that finishing last is actually very prestigious. The money a rider can generate through publicity is much greater if he finishes last than second from last. Thus, in the past many riders have attempted to engineer themselves into last place by artificial means. Other riders may just be ill or slightly injured and unwillingly end up as the lanterne rouge.
　　
　　As the Tour becomes ever more international and commercial, it remains to be seen whether the customs of the past will continue to be observed.
　　
　　Terminology 术语
　　Much of the terminology used to describe the Tour de France is frequently used in bicycle racing across the world.
　　
　　Terms specific to the Tour de France include:
　　l course - all riders taken together, from the tête de la course to the arrière de la course
　　l hors catégorie - a climb that is "beyond categorization", an incredibly tough climb
　　l flamme rouge, or red kite - the red pennant hanging from an archway at the start of the final kilometer (it may not always be exactly one kilometer from the finish; it is roughly 1000 meters from the finish, sometimes before where a crash may be likely, and/or where the erection of a large, tent-like inflatable arch is easiest)
　　l lanterne rouge - meaning "red lantern" (as found at the end of a rail train), the name for the overall last-place rider.
　　
　　
　　Key words 注释
　　prestigious adj. 享有盛誉的
　　UCI [法]Union Cycliste Internationale (=International Cycling Union) 国际自行车联盟
　　enthusiast n. 狂热者
　　in contrast 相比之下
　　ancestor n. 先辈
　　slipstreaming n. 滑流
　　tactics n. 策略
　　condemn vt. 谴责
　　reinstate v. 恢复
　　itinerary n. 路线
　　anti-clockwise 逆时针方向
　　all-round adj. 多才多艺的
　　jersey n. 紧身运动套衫
　　spectacular adj. 壮观的
　　sprint n. 冲刺；疾驰
　　first-hand adv. 直接地
　　prevail v. 风行
　　garish adj. 浮华的；过分艳丽的
　　cavalcade n. 队伍
　　toss v. 抛，投
　　platoon n. 小队；一群
　　bask vi. 享受乐趣；得到满足
　　wind up 到达
　　domestique n. 赛队中的辅助成员。
　　pennant n. 三角小旗
　　