# CNN.com headline: 'Cyclist wins 2nd Tour de France' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 26, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274 "2015-07-26T23:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/1 "2015-07-26T23:04:57Z")
A _cyclist_ won his second Tour de France? A _cyclist_? Twice is pretty good. How many times has a cyclist won the Tour de France, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/2 "2015-07-26T23:10:18Z")
That’s an old story from 1904. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/3 "2015-07-26T23:12:01Z")
Cyclist is a pretty apt surname for a biker ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/4 "2015-07-27T01:11:10Z")
I don’t understand. Cyclist is a perfectly cromulent definition for someone who rides a bicycle. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/5 "2015-07-27T01:15:02Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I don’t understand. Cyclist is a perfectly cromulent definition for someone who rides a bicycle. I think the idea is: who _else_ would win it? A swimmer? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/6 "2015-07-27T02:08:18Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I think the idea is: who _else_ would win it? A swimmer? Mankind. ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/7 "2015-07-27T02:14:41Z")
Yeah, but did he have a pilot’s license. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/8 "2015-07-27T02:17:02Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Mankind. Mick Foley won the Tour de France? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/9 "2015-07-27T02:19:46Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I think the idea is: who _else_ would win it? A swimmer? Yes. It’s like _Horse wins Kentucky Derby_ or _Runner wins Boston Marathon._ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/10 "2015-07-27T12:56:27Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Yes. It’s like _Horse wins Kentucky Derby_ or _Runner wins Boston Marathon._ No, it’s not like that at all. It would be if the headline read _Cyclist wins Tour de France_. But it said _Cyclist wins 2nd Tour de France_. There is a subtle but significant difference. mmm ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/11 "2015-07-27T13:05:07Z")
The probably tried _Froome Wins 2nd Tour de France_ and someone thought, “that looks stupid.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/12 "2015-07-27T13:15:49Z")
Well, there was that seven year period where _nobody_ won the Tour, so I guess anything’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/13 "2015-07-27T14:24:12Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > No, it’s not like that at all. > > It would be if the headline read _Cyclist wins Tour de France_. > > But it said _Cyclist wins 2nd Tour de France_. > > There is a subtle but significant difference. > mmm Still sounds and looks just as stupid. “Horse wins 2nd Kentucky Derby” really isn’t that much better. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/14 "2015-07-27T14:38:34Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I think the idea is: who _else_ would win it? A swimmer? The headline helps explain the subject of the story to someone who has no idea what the Tour de France might be. Which is really rather rare for CNN; their headlines are usually shit. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/15 "2015-07-27T15:34:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Still sounds and looks just as stupid. “Horse wins 2nd Kentucky Derby” really isn’t that much better. That would be far more amazing, since the Kentucky Derby is for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/16 "2015-07-27T15:54:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > No, it’s not like that at all. > > It would be if the headline read _Cyclist wins Tour de France_. > > But it said _Cyclist wins 2nd Tour de France_. > > There is a subtle but significant difference. I agree. The gist is that someone just won his 2nd Tour de France. With the emphasis on “2nd”, without specifying who - that is, emphasis on the achievement, not the achiever. Substitute “someone” for “cyclist” and it makes sense, right? But “Someone wins 2nd Tour de France” just doesn’t look like a good headline. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/17 "2015-07-27T17:30:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The headline helps explain the subject of the story to someone who has no idea what the Tour de France might be. And thus no interest in reading the article. Talk about targeting your audience! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/18 "2015-07-27T17:45:55Z")
> [@Tread](#): > > That would be far more amazing, since the Kentucky Derby is for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Oh, details, details. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/19 "2015-07-27T17:59:52Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The headline helps explain the subject of the story to someone who has no idea what the Tour de France might be. Which is really rather rare for CNN; their headlines are usually shit. I eagerly await their follow up: Football team wins Superbowl Tennis player wins Wimbledon 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274/20 "2015-07-27T18:44:10Z")
I should have known better. I bet on the baseball player as a long shot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-com-headline-cyclist-wins-2nd-tour-de-france/726274.md?page=2)