WASHINGTON,D.C. (WUSA) - For a few short years Lance Armstrong made Americans actually care about the world's greatest bike race. And even though Lance is back in the news for all the wrong reasons, I've got the 5 reasons you should still TIVO the tour.

Reason number five: Cycling is edge-of-your-seat dangerous. Big crashes happen all the time. Sure, it can get ugly, but let's be real, the threat is also part of the thrill.

Reason number four: the gear. Check out these garmin team time trial guys. Totally cool. And even if the colors can get out of hand, isn't it nice to see guys in Spandex whose bodies actually belong in Spandex?

Reason number three: these guys do the impossible most every day for three weeks. Tell you what: Go out tomorrow and try to ride your bike 15 miles in an hour. Collapse on the couch, watch these guys go 120 miles in five. Oh yeah, and there's a mountain at the end.

Reason number two: Phil Liggett. The greatest cycling announcer ever. Maybe the best sports announcer ever. He could make soap box derby feel like NASCAR.

All of which adds up to the number one reason to watch the Tour de France: the drama! Imagine a single rider pouring heart and soul into a 100 mile breakaway, only to be caught and passed just meters from the finish. Or a sprint finish with the fastest riders in the world careering to the line at 45 miles an hour. Or, let's be real, even a cancer survivor coming back to win 7 Tours in a row. Vive la tour.