Tour de France: Utah's David Zabriskie still riding high despite disappointing showing

With just a few days of racing left, Utah's David Zabriskie is not exactly in contention to win the Tour de France, but the cyclist known as Captain America is hardly complaining.

In fact, in his trademark style, Zabriskie is enjoying the experience perhaps as much as he ever has — well, as much as is possible while pedaling more than 2,000 miles over three weeks can be enjoyed.

"It's always tough," Zabriskie told the Deseret News during a "rest" day Wednesday in France. "Starting out with the cobbles was not easy. It's also been very hot and that just takes (it out of) you."

Zabriskie is currently 116th in the overall standings and sits 2 hours and 48 minutes behind Tour leader Alberto Contador. That doesn't really bother the popular cyclist, though. As a supportive rider, Zabriskie's job is to get out front and work for his team's top cyclist.

That person (after crashes and injuries forced overall threat Christian Vande Velde and sprinter Tyler Farrar out of the race) is now a youngster from Canada, Ryder Hesjedal, who is currently 10th overall and just 7:51 off the pace set by Contador.

"Yeah, it sucks those guys are out of the race," Zabriskie said, "but it is super cool to see Ryder step up and do so well."

Trying to keep Hesjedal in the Top 10, Zabriskie has been out front frequently leading the charge as the peloton chases down breakaway attempts. After that hard work is done, Zabriskie often fades to the back, conserving energy so he can again throw himself into the wind the next day.

He remains the only American cyclist to have a stage victory in each of the three Grand Tours (Italy, France, Spain) of professional cycling.

Racing in his fifth Tour de France, Zabriskie is looking forward to finishing today's charge back up the backside of the Col de Tourmalet.

After that, the race turns fairly flat and Zabriskie will rest his legs a bit before he gets his shot for individual glory during the Stage 19 time trial — a 51-kilomter race against the clock that will see exactly who has the endurance for an all-out sufferfest.

Zabriskie, who battled some knee pain early in the race, is excited for that day.

"I have been feeling better and better. My knee is doing much better," he said. "I wasn't sure I was going to finish the race at one point. So I am happy to have gotten this far."

After crossing the finish line at the Champs Elysees on Sunday, Zabriskie will have finished his third Tour de France. He will then hurry home across the Atlantic where his wife, Randi, is expecting to give birth to their second son any day.

"It's always nice to get to Paris," he said.

Never more so than after 21 days of racing across some of the most challenging mountains in Europe.

e-mail: jeborn@desnews.com