Taste of the Tour: Stunning prizes, tasty steaks in Auvergne
(WorldNews Europe)

BRIOUDE, France (AP) - After thrusting their arms in victory at the finish line, Tour de France stage winners are greeted by hostesses on the podium. As well as the yellow jersey, the Tour de France race leader is usually handed flowers and a fluffy lion, the mascot of a long-time sponsor of the race. In the Massif Central mountains, they can get bigger - much bigger - animals. Trophies that would not fit in their suitcase, or even on their teams’ buses. A 700-kilogram Salers cow, for instance. That was the gigantic prize for Frenchman Richard Virenque after his stage win on...