All of Kevin's results came towards the end of the '97 season and once again, his early season was hampered with injuries. It was that kind of year for Cofidis. Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the beginning of the season and it became known that he would not be able to race. Everyone wondered if he would even live, much less ever race for Cofidis again.

Kevin was experiencing great race form early in the season and as Milan-San Remo approached, he was riding very strong. Cyrille Guimard, the coach, made Kevin the team leader for the race. With his top form, it was a logical decision. But again, the unthinkable would happen to Kevin.

He was racing well and making his presence known at the head of the race. Then, a crash. Kevin felt the immediate pain of a broken collarbone, and again, he would be out for a portion of a racing season. How could he recover that form? The team needed him. Some hasty plans were made to set the bone and get Kevin back on the bike in just two weeks or so. Kevin thought about it and decided to take more time with the healing and he left Europe and returned to rest and heal in Austin. He rode the windtrainer in the kitchen of his appartment, trying to hold on to that fitness level. It lasted for weeks and he missed more races. Then, Guimard told him to think about returning for the Tour de France and to train accordingly. Kevin planned to return to ride his first Tour. The time in Austin was good because it coincided with Lance's cancer treatment and the two could be together through Lance's trying times.

Tour de France 1997

Kevin probably had no idea that he would return to Europe with the form that he had left with, just in time for the Tour de France. It was a very special first Tour, one that would be celebrated with family and friends. Kevin shined in the Pyrenees. On one of the hardest climbing days of the Tour, he joined Ulrich, Pantani, and other select climbers as the sole American representative. Among the French people, he was chiseling his reputation as one of the beloved "grimpeurs."

His own cheering section was following him that year. Kevin's father, who had been part of his racing development from the beginning, was there to witness the rise. He had bought Kevin his first expensive racing bike and had been there every step of the way. Kevin's uncle George had flown from Montana to follow the Tour for two weeks. George had also played a role in Kevin's start. Along in France that year was Kevin's brother, John. He had come from Colorado to see the realization of the dream. John was the first one to start Kevin bike racing and joined him in his first races. Now, this! Steve Gordon, John's best friend and old cycling teammate from the University of Colorado rounded out the group of four fans. A cycling fanatic and fluent French speaker, Steve served as the group's guide. Kevin was thrilled to have them all there.

Cofidis had a respectable Tour placing American teammate, Bobby Julich 18th, and Kevin, 38th. Frankie Andreu, another American, also finished.

After the Tour, Kevin carried excellent form. At the Tour de l'Avenir, the race for the younger pros, he finished 2nd to Laurent Roux. He was proving himself a noteworthy opponent.

1998 looked very promising.

1998 Results:

12th Route du Sud
18th G.C., Criterium du Dauphine Libere
4th Stage 6, Challes-les-Eaux to Megeve
17th G.C. Tour de France
14th Stage 10, Pau to Luchon
9th Stage 11, Luchon to Plateau de Beille

During the '98 season, Kevin was riding for Cofidis for the second and final year. He had a 2 -year contract and as events occurred during the season, he knew that he wanted to move on. Lance Armstrong was making his way back to professional cycling and his old team, Cofidis, wanted nothing to do with him. This didn't please Kevin. Kevin was basing his entire season around preparing for the Tour de France and as the end of June approached, he hadn't even been informed whether he would help represent Cofidis at the race. All of this took a lot of energy out of Kevin.

Still, in the Dauphine Libere, the preparation race for the Tour, Kevin proved that he was on form. He broke away in his typical "solo attack" fashion during Stage 6, the race's big climbing day. He was caught with around 20 km to go and edged out for the win by Richard Virenque.

Tour de France 1998

The '98 Tour will go down in history as the year that Marco Pantani and the Cofidis team broke Team Telekom and the '97 defending champion, Jan Ullrich. When Ullrich won with such convincing fashion in '97, many said that the Tour had found its next Indurain. It looked as if Jan Ullrich could dominate the Tour for the next few years. However, in the two most difficult mountain stages, Stages 10 and 11, Ullrich cracked.

Cofidis had bought their team of mountain climbers to the Tour and they set a pace in the mountains that was difficult for others to follow. Bobby Julich soon emerged as a top 3 contender and Kevin took part in protecting Bobby's position and climbing to defeat Team Telekom. Cofidis, by the conclusion of the Tour, had been declared the #1 Tour team. Kevin had finished in the top 20 of The Tour de France.

By the end of the season, Kevin knew where his new direction was. He had already been talking to the United States Postal Service Team and by the end of '98, he was signing a lucrative deal to join the Postal Service boys for the '99-'00 seasons. He would rejoin with his old teammates, Lance Armstrong and George Hincappie, from the Motorola days. Also, he was back together with John Vaughters, his teammate during the U.S. National Team years.