Um * little coff from Down Under* I vote for Lance being one of the most inspirational and motivational atheletes in our history

Perhaps not the "most important" but I would need to be clear about what qualified the 'importance'

But he wins the yellow jersey for the athelete who has given the most hope and heart to countless sick people - and perhaps a new lease on life (how many cancer victims become survivors just because they change their mind and choose to defy doctor's advice?)

He wins the yellow jersey for inspiring thousands across who knows how many countries, people of so many ages, to get on a bike and have a go

He wins the yellow jersey for proving that if you can set your mind to tough it out, just about anything is possible