Well, the Tour de France 2008 has come to an end, which means it’s also time for the Tour de France KAL to conclude for the year. I’m definitely glad I chose the polka dot jersey category, and didn’t feel the pressure to finish my project by the end of the Tour.

Speaking of the TDFKAL and my project, the co-hostesses have asked us to submit one last, final intermediate sprint about our personal TDFKAL highlights. I’ve been pondering my experience over, and I think my project was perhaps personified by one of the riders in one particular stage in this year’s tour. I’m, of course, speaking of South African cyclist John-Lee Augustyn and his unexpected (and somewhat scary) crash off the side of a mountain in Stage 16.

The more I thought about John-Lee’s crash being a metaphor for my project, the more I started to hear the voices of Craig Hummer and Bob Roll (two of the Tour de France commentators on Versus, the cable network that provides Tour coverage in the United States) in my head. (I probably would have preferred to hear Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin in my head, but since I usually only caught the evening “extended” broadcast of the tour, which has minimal Phil and Paul, I guess my brain was trained to listen for Craig and Bob.) Next thing I knew, I had started a running Craig-and-Bob commentary on my own project’s crash… This is how I imagine it going…

Craig: Welcome back to the extended coverage of Stage 16 of the 2008 Tour de France knitalong. If you’re just joining us, it’s been an exciting KAL for us so far, wouldn’t you agree, Bob?

Bob: Yes, it has.

Craig: Perhaps one of the most surprising developments has been Madalyn’s progress with her project. For a first-time Tour de France KALer, she certainly has taken this challenge on full-force. What do you think, my friend?

Bob: She certainly has, Craig. No one can deny she came here to show herself and the world that she could tackle the challenge of lace.

Craig: Speaking of Madalyn, here she is rounding the corner on Stage 16. At this point in the stage, it would appear things are going well for Madalyn.

Bob: Yes, it does. But things are very unpredictable in the Tour de France KAL, so knitters always have to be on their guard.

Craig: Bobke, what would you say is the one thing that knitters need to watch out for most when attempting such a difficult project?

Bob: That’s a very good question. Of course, when you’re first starting a new challenge, the nervous energy makes you alert and the adrenaline begins rushing. After a while, knitters begin to get into their groove — but they need to watch out and stay alert, so they don’t miscalculate and make a bad turn.

Craig: Speaking of which — do you see that?

Bob: It looks like…

Craig: Yes, yes, it looks like Madalyn has crashed…

Bob: Yes…

Craig: She has! Madalyn has rolled off the side of the mountain… Her knitting needles are rolling further past her….

Bob: She appears to be ok. I don’t know how she’s going to climb back up that hill, though…

Craig: This doesn’t bode well for her standing in the knitalong… and on that note, we have to take a break. We’ll be right back.

[Insert Tour de France commercial of your choice. I personally like the one by Trek where Lance Armstrong says "We believe in bikes." But, the mojito dancing commercial is also catchy. How can it not be, after seeing it a gazillion times every day during the Tour?]

Craig: Welcome back to the extended coverage of Stage 16. Bob, it appears Madalyn is ok after her crash.

Bob: I believe she is, Craig, following that spectacular crash. She’s now waiting for help from her Quick.Stitch team, and other bystanders have also come to her assistance.

Craig: Bobke, this is exactly what you were talking about, wasn’t it, about staying alert?

Bob: Yes, it is, but you also have to keep in mind how grueling this Tour can be on a knitter.

Craig: Very true, my friend. Very true.

[And then the two of them start talking about one of the other fantastic knitters who's making much better progress on their project than me...]

If you watched the Tour this year, you already know that John-Lee Augustyn was unscathed in his crash, and was very upbeat in the interviews he gave afterwards. He seemed guinely grateful to be ok and to be participating in the race — and that’s exactly how I felt after my original Lucy shawl crashed and burned. I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and started fresh — with le châle chaleureux. In the end, I didn’t come in first. But I made it. And I’m happy.

And speaking of le châle chaleureux, here are some pictures of my progress over the last week!