TOUR DE SWEEPS

The French love to make things complicated. This sweeps, with a grand prize of two nights in Paris at a three-star hotel for the 2007 Tour de France final stage, involves a daily quiz. It’s one of those contests that makes you work, do things like think and concentrate when all you probably want to do is contemplate luck and escape and winning the damn trip.

I just registered, and have yet to go through the first stage of the quiz, but it’s supposed to work like this: Entrants get a daily question via email, then go online to answer a question. Besides the grand prize, there are a slew of other prizes, including a three-night stay in Alsace. I suppose this should not be too bad. It only runs through the end of the month.

I think I've said all I can say about France and the French lately. Yes, I’d love to go back, especially to Auvergne. But I’d much prefer to go to francophone Africa or to one of the French-speaking Caribbean islands. Je rêve de quelque chose plus exotique.

As for the Tour de France: I’m not following it like I did the past several summers. I’m vaguely aware of doping problems, but it’s just not holding the same pull without Lance Armstrong. I did follow the World Cup pretty closely. Pauvre Zizou. My heart goes out to that man. I know he felt terrible after his volcanic eruption. Of course it was wrong. I still feel for him. It was the sports version of a crime of passion. If Materazzi uttered any racial or ethnic slurs, or insulted a specific family member (mother or wife are two possibilities floating around), I hope FIFA condemns the verbal assault. FIFA is investigating.

Of course, if I won one of these trips to France, either to Alsace or to Paris, sponsored by Air France, La Maison de la France and RailEurope, I would be thrilled.

To enter, click HERE.

Deadline to enter: July 31.

To review the prizes, check out the Official Rules.