presents
						Vittoria Shoes: winner of the 1998 Tour de France, and 1998 & 2000 Giro

Thursday, October 25, 2001. The Tour de France has revealed the course for the 2002 Tour, one of the shortest in Tour history. It will run counter-clock-wise starting in Luxembourg, with the climbing stages concentrated in the second half of the race. They will cross the Pyrenees before hitting the Alps.

Some TDF 2002 details:

Running from Saturday July 6th to Sunday July 28th, the 2002 Tour de France will be made up of one prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,300 kilometres.
These 20 stages have the following profiles:
* 10 flat stages
* 1 medium mountain stage
* 6 high mountain stages
* 2 individual time-trial stages
* 1 team time-trial stage
* 5 mountain finishes
* 2 rest days
* 108 kilometres of individual time-trials
* 68 kilometres of team time-trials
* 1 transfer by plane and 1 by train (TGV)
* 21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed.
* 8 new stop-over towns: Sarrebruck, Château-Thierry, Saint-Martin-de-Landelles, Bazas, Lavelanet, Vaison-la-Romaine, Bourg-en-Bresse, Régnié-Durette.

Stages:

Saturday, July 6: Prologue 7.6 km Individual Time trial, Luxembourg. This is a tricky and winding course with many turns, cobbles, bridges and narrow streets. At km 5.3, there is a category 4 rated climb. The first of 189 riders (Stephene Auge of Jean Delatour) will depart at 4:00 PM local time (7:00 AM Pacific), with the rest following at one minute intervals. Armstrong should depart at 7:08 (10:08 AM Pacific). It should take about 9 minutes to cover the course.

Weather in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg at 1:12 PM local time: 57F (14C), 87% humidity, partly sunny, wind is from the SSW at 6 MPH (10 KPH). Rain starting in the early afternoon, but it stopped while the first riders were on the course. The later riders had dry streets.

Provisional Results:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 9min 8sec

2. Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) @ 2sec

3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 3sec

4. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 4sec

5. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 5sec

6. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) @ 6sec

7. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) @ 8sec

8. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 9sec

9. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 13sec

10. Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) @ 13sec

16. Tyler Hamilton (CSC Tiscali) @ 16sec

18. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 16sec

23. Richard Virenque (Domo) @ 18sec.

Sunday, July 7: Stage 1, Luxembourg - Luxembourg, 192.5 km. This relentless grinder might see a breakaway. It is a giant, clockwise tour of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, starting at about the 7:00 point on the loop. There are 4 rated climbs and a little sting in the tail at the end before finishing on the same street in Luxembourg as Saturday's prologue ITT. Will Armstrong and the Posties defend the Yellow Jersey this early in the race? Will the Postal team work to keep things together and chase down breaks or will they play chicken with the sprinter's teams like last year, allowing breaks to get away?

The climbs:
Km 69.5: Côte de Hoscheid, 4.2 km climb at an average of 5.9%, 3rd Cat.
Km 87.0: Côte de Vianden, 2.7 km climb at an average of 5.7%, 4th Cat.
Km 148.5: Côte de Wormeldange, 0.8 km climb at an average of 9.5%, 3rd Cat.
Km 182.0: Côte de Hostert, 1.8 km climb at an average of 6.9%, 4th Cat.

Results for Stage 1:

1. Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre) 4hr 49min 18sec

2. Erik Zabel (Telekom) s.t.

3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.

4. Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.

5. Oscar Freire (Mapei) s.t.

6. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) s.t.

7. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) s.t.

8. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) s.t.

9. Jose Gutierrez (Kelme) s.t.

10. Francois Simon (Bonjour) s.t.

GC After Stage 1:

1. Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre) 4hr 58min 21sec

2. Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali) @ 3sec

3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 3sec

4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 6sec

5. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 7sec

6. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 8sec

7. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) @ 9sec

8. Erik Zabel (Telekom) @ 10sec

9. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) @ 11sec

10. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 12sec

11. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 16sec

16. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 19sec

18. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) s.t.

Green Jersey (Sprinter): Erik Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Jersey (Climber): Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Jersey (Young rider): Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre)
Team: CSC-Tiscali

What an absolutely fantastic race! Breakaways pounded off the front, one after another. A 3-man break of Diercksens (Lampre), Berges (AG2R) and Mengin (FDJ) got a maximum lead of 4min 10sec, but were chased down by a CSC-lead peloton looking to put Jalabert in Yellow. Armstrong and the Posties stayed very, very vigilant at the front. Armstrong, keeping an eye on his playmates on a climb, got in a short lived break with 8 other riders that included Kivilev, Boogerd and Botero after the trio were caught. That set off loud alarms in the pack and they were sucked up. The attacks kept coming over the undulating countryside. But, for the final tough climb up to the city of Luxembourg it was all together with the Telekoms setting the tempo for a birthday win for Zabel. As they were climbing, shooting out of the middle of the pack, to the right, giving it everything a human can give, Rubens Bertogliati shot off and away. There was no immediate response as the courageous Swiss rider crossed the line with just enough time to give a hands-off-the-bars salute. The pack was right on him, so they all got the same time. The 20 second win-bonus gives Bertogliati a fragile hold on the Yellow Jersey. For sure, tomorrow will be another hammer-dog session as the high-level of agressive racing that characterized this year's Giro continues in a fabulous start to the Tour.

Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole), who was recovering from an earlier crash, hit the deck more than once and finished 139th, 3min 20sec down. A bad start for one of France's top GC hopes.

Monday, July 8: Stage 2, Luxembourg - Saarbrücken, Germany, 181 km. I think this will be more of the same; rolling countryside with 2 category 4 rated climbs. The race heads south from Luxembourg. Then at km 17, they head east along the French border. Crossing into Germany just about at the Côte de Perl climb they continue heading east until St. Wendel at km 137. They then head south for Saarbrücken. With so many riders within the stage winner's bonus of getting in yellow, the aggression level should be high. Zabel's Telekoms will probably try to contain things. Sounds like a really big job.

The climbs:
Km 60.0: Côte de Perl, 4.8 km climb at an average of 4.8%, 4th Cat.
Km 132.5: Côte d'Alsweiler-Heid, 1.4 km climb at an average of 6.4% - 4th Cat.

Results for stage 2:

1. Oscar Freire (Mapei) 4hr 19min 51 sec

2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.

3. Erik Zabel (Telekom) s.t.

4. Baden Cooke (FDJ) s.t.

5. Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2R) s.t.

6. Andreij Hauptmann (Tacconi) s.t.

7. Pedro Horillo (Mapei)s.t.

8. Fred Rodriguez (Domo)s.t.

9. Gian Fagnini (Telekom)

10. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre) 9hr 18min 12sec

2. Erik Zabel (Telekom) @ 2sec

3. Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali) @ 3sec

4. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 3sec

5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 6sec

6. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 7sec

7. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 8sec

9. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) @ 9sec

9. Oscar Freire (Mapei) @ 11sec

10. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) @ 11sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erik Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Stephane Berges (Ag2R)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre), worn by Cofidis' David Millar
Team GC: CSC-Tiscali, Cofidis 2nd a 3sec

It was a hot day, 27C-30C (80's F) with huge crowds lining the streets when the race crossed into Germany. The aggresive moves started early. At about km 11, a break formed with Sylvain Chavanel (Bonjour), Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) and Stephane Berges(Ag2R) and stuck for most of the race. The chase was lead in an unhurried manner by the Yellow Jersey's team, Lampre. Hushovd cramped up, came off the break leaving the French duo alone off the front. It turned out the Credit Agricole rider had very, very bad cramps. Perhaps this was a holdover from his efforts to continually pace team leader Chrisophe Moreau back to the field yesterday. At one point, after being dropped by the chasing pack, Hushovd got a short massage to try to work out the cramps before soldiering on to try to beat the time limit.

With 30 km to go Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole) took off, caught and dropped Berges and Chavanel and stayed away until about 10 Km to go. At 25 km to go, the sprinter's teams started to take the race a bit more seriously. with the pink Telekoms going to the front, looking for a happy unbirthday presnt for Zabel.

But, just as Voigt was caught, another Credit Agricole rider, Hinault, took off.

At about 5 km to go, all the sprinter's teams went to the front and really jammed up the speed, sweeping up Hinault.

For the sprint, the Telekoms got their train well set up, but when the current world champion Oscar Freire is healthy and on-form, he the is best. He came by McEwen and Zabel for the win. Rubens Bertogliati of Lampre, who tried to mix it up in the sprint to defend his jersey, stays in yellow for another day.

Tuesday, July 9: Stage 3, Metz - Reims, 174.5 km. Back in France. The race heads about due east to the ancient city of Reims. French kings since Louis VII in 1137 have been crowned here. In fact, Joan of Arc stood by Charles VII when he was crowned (at her insistence) here. But, I digress. While there are two Category 4 climbs, the last 50 kilometers are about dead flat. Herr Zabel has to be getting irritated. Surely the sprinters will be trying to control this stage
The Climbs:
Km 3.0: Côte de Gravelotte, 2.8 km climb at an average of 4.1%, 4th Cat.
Km 93.5: Côte de la Biesme, 2.0 km climb at an average of 4.8%, 4th Cat.

Weather for Tuesday: prediction is for rain, possibly thunderstorms, 82F (28C) with a 15 kph wind fron the WSW (head wind or crosswind).

Results for Stage 3: Zabel in Yellow.

1. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) 4hr 13min 37sec

2. Erik Zabel (Telekom) s.t.

3. Baden Cooke (FDJ) s.t.

4. Andrej Hauptmann (Tacconi) s.t.

5. Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.

6. Paolo Bossoni (Tacconi) s.t.

7. Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2R) s.t.

8. Francois Simon (Bonjour) s.t.

9. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.

10. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

1. Erik Zabel (Telekom) 13hr 31min 35sec

2. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) @ 6sec

3. Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre) @ 14sec

4. Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) @ 17sec

5. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 17sec

6. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 20sec

7. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 22sec

8. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 22sec

9. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) @ 23sec

10. Oscar Friere (Mapei) @ 25sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erik Zabel (worn by Robbie McEwen)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Ruben Bertogliati (Lampre)
Team GC: CSC-Tiscali

Well, it wouldn't be the Tour de France if Jacky "Dudu" Durand didn't take off on a long early breakaway. And that's just what he did. Durand (FDJ) and Franck Renier (Bonjour) left the field at about kilometer 15 and stayed away until about 8 kilometers to go. Karsten Kroon of Rabobank tried to get up to them, but couldn't bridge a gap that grew to about 10 minutes before a field that wasn't terribly motivated for most of the race started to chase them down. I'm sure there were three words tatooed on the brains of the teams that have GC ambitions: Team Time Trial. Tomorrow is a 67.5 kilometer team time trial that will have a profound effect on the rider's times. No one wants to be toasted just before this crucial event. Throughout the stage Zabel did work hard gathering little time bonuses in intermediate sprints so that he could grab the Yellow Jersey.

At about 8 kilometers to go, with the breakaway duo in sight, the pack stopped working in the strong cross wind and bunched up. The Posties went to the front to get things going again.

None of the teams managed to get control of the lead-in to the sprint. It was insanely fast, but completely disordered with Zabel starting from quite aways back. He tried to come around a fast moving McEwen who moved to the left quite a bit in the final 100 meters, forcing Zabel to go the long way around. Zabel coundn't pass him, so the Aussie Champion, Robbie McEwen took the stage. But Zabel can console himself with the Yellow Jersey.

Wednesday, July 10: Stage 4, Team Time Trial; Epernay - Chateau - Thierry, 67.5 km. This stage matters and matters a lot. This is the first stage that will materially affect the GC standing of the race. A GC contender on a strong team like Armstrong on US Postal can have his interests powerfully advanced. A good rider on a poor team will suffer for it. A team time trial is an art. Some teams like ONCE do it beautifully. Others, will go through the motions or are completely disorganized; strong riders hammer their pulls and drop weaker riders, wheels touch, riders crash.

There is a 200 meter climb in the middle of the stage. This will be a good point to watch how well the riders work together to get their men as a unit over the hill.

This stage is the probable reason for the pack's lackadaisical attitude Tuesday. No one wanted to expend any more energy than possible in order to be fresh.

Speaking of rest before the TTT: Italo Zilioli, a domestique of Merckx's, got into a break on stage 2 of the 1970 Tour de France and found himself in the Yellow Jersey. Merckx's reaction was anger, in that Zilioli should not have worked so hard that day with a team time trial the next morning.

Weather: The original forcast was for rain, but the sun is out and the roads are dry.

Results for Stage 4:

1. ONCE 1hr 19min 49sec

2. US Postal @ 16sec

3. CSC-Tiscali @ 46sec

4. Fassa Bortolo @ 1min 30sec

5. Cofidis @ 1min 30sec

6. Ibanesto @ 1min 56sec

7. Domo @ 2min 12sec

8. Rabobank @ 2min 16sec

9. Kelme @ 2m9in 19sec

10. Lampre @ 2min 22sec

GC after Stage 4:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) 14hr 51 min 50sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4sec

3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 7sec

4. Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) @ 12sec

5. Abrahan Olano (ONCE) @ 22sec

6. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 25sec

7. Viatchesav Ekimov (US Postal) @ 26sec

8. Isidro Nozal (ONCE) @ 27sec

9. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 28sec

10. George Hincappi (US Postal) @ 28sec

15. Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) @ 37sec

16. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 53sec

39. Erik Zabel (Telekom) @ 2min 21sec

41. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 2min 23sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erik Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Chistophe Mengin (FDJ)
Young Rider's White Jersey: Isidro Nozal (ONCE)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

ONCE rode the Team Time Trial like the well-oiled machine that they are. They lost only one man, to a puncture. A few other notes about the race:

US Postal manged to close the gap on ONCE by about 20 seconds in the last 7 kilometers. They finished the race with their team complete.

CSC-Tiscali lost their super time-trial strongman Michael Sanstod to a puncture at about the 20 kilometer mark. They were going to wait for him, but then took off without him. CSC faded a bit in the end. The indecision cost them dearly.

The stages for the next week are fairly flat. The standings shouldn't change much until stage 9, July 15, which is a 52 kilometer individual time trial. Then Stage 16 is the first day in the high Pyrenees.

Thursday, July 11: Stage 5, Soissons - Rouen, 195 km. Soissons is just north-east of Paris. This stage is a flat eastward run that has no rated climbs. Just before arriving in Rouen, there is a steep descent that might see a Savoldelli-type break on the tight turns.

Results, Stage 5:

1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2R) 4hr 13min 33sec

2. Michael Sanstod (CSC Tiscali) s.t.

3. Ludo Dierckxsens (Lampre) s.t.

4. Stefano Casagranda (Alessio) @ 3sec

5. Christophe Edaleine (Jean Delatour) @ 8sec

6. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) @ 33sec

7. Baden Cooke (FDJ) s.t.

8. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) s.t.

9. Erik Zabel (Telekom) s.t.

10. Andrej Hauptmann (Tacconi) s.t.

GC after Stage 5

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE)

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4sec

3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 7sec

4. Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) @ 12sec

5. Abrahan Olano (ONCE) @ 22sec

6. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 25sec

7. Isidro Nozal (ONCE) @ 27sec

8. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 28sec

9. George Hincappie (US Postal) @ 28sec

10. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 30 sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erk Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Isidro Nozal (ONCE)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

Despite the winds, today's stage was fast. Today saw the first retirement of this year's Tour. Tom Steels of Mapei hasn't been feeling well and today abandoned the race. Marco Pinotti (Lampre) crashed heavily with about 20 kilometers to go and badly cut his chin. He has also retired from the Tour.

At about 90 kilomters to go, five riders got away: Kirsipuu (Ag2R), Sanstod (CSC-Tiscali), Dierckxsens (Lampre), Edaleine (Jean Delatour) and Casagrande (Alessio). None were GC threats, so they were allowed some freedom. The highest placed member of the break was Edaleine at 4min 47sec. The break got as much as about 4 minutes before ONCE decided to start chasing, but not too hard. The sprinter's teams finally came up, but it was too late. The boys were strong and determined and stayed away. Carol said that the break looked like a better team time trial than some of yesterday's teams. Zabel got a classic lead-out from Fagnini for the field sprint, but just didn't have the suds today. Robbie McEwen lead in the pack for 5th place

Friday, July 12: Stage 6, Forges les Eaux - Alencon, 199.5 km. The Tour went through Forges-les-Eaux on Thursday, at kilometer 150. The sheer aggression of this Tour makes a prediction on these flat stages an exercise in futility. The break attempts have been going almost from the gun. ONCE has shown that they will not work hard to keep the yellow jersey, so its up to the collective vigilance of the the pack to keep things together. There are two little sharp category 4 climbs, but they are a long way from the finish.

The two rated climbs are close together:
Km 61.0: Côte du Val d'Any, 2.2 km climb at an average of 3.9% - 4th Cat.
Km 71.5: Côte de Saint-Vigor, 2.6 km climb at an average of 4.0% - 4th Cat.

Weather: cloudy with spots of Rain, 17 - 18C (mid 60's F)

Results: The earlier provisional results are now revised

1. Erik Zabel (Telekom) 4hr 23min 7sec
2. Oscar Freire (Mapei) s.t.

3. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) s.t.
4. Jan Svorada (Lampre) s.t.
5. Sergei Ivanov (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
6. Baden Cooke (FDJ) s.t.
7. Thor Hushovd (CA) s.t.
8. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) s.t.
9. Arvis Piziks (CSC) s.t.
10. Andrej Hauptman (Tacconi) s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) 23hr 29min 3sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4sec

3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 7sec

4. Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) @ 12sec

5. Abraham Olano (ONCE) @ 22sec

6. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 25sec

7. Isidro Nozal (ONCE) @ 27sec

8. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 28sec

9. George Hincappie (US Postal) @ 28sec

10. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 30 sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erk Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Isidro Nozal (ONCE)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

Erik Zabel keeps his Green Jersey with a classic Hondo-Fagnini Telekom train leadout. McEwen was on his wheel trying to come around him. Zabel led it out and had just enough time to take both hands off the bars in a victory salute. Freire was just next to Zabel as well.

The race was another aggressive break-fest with riders trying to get away from about 10 kilometer mark . One after another, a combination would roll off the front and then get chased down. At 88 kilometers, an important move went: Jacky Durand, of course (FDJ), Stefan Wesemann (Telekom), Paul Van Hyfte (CSC-Tiscali), Constantino Zaballa (Kelme), Emmanuel Mangien (Bonjour) and Massimo Appolonio (Tacconi).

This group of six worked very well together, amassing a lead of as much as 1min 45 sec. All of them took their pulls, but Telekom's Wesemann was careful not to work too hard with a confident Zabel in the pack. The chase was led by a hard-working Credit Agricole and Lotto and Mapei. ONCE kept lurking just behind the working chasing teams, happy to let the sprinter's teams do the work of keeping things together. Telekom, for once, didn't do any chasing with Wesemann in the break.

At 24 kilometers to go, there was a bad crash in the peloton. Alexandr Shefer of Alessio was carried off on a stretcher.

With 12 kilometers to go, the long-lasting break was caught. The defiant Jacky Durand took off for a lone solo attempt, but the pack would not be denied.

With the race all together, it was a classic sprint finish, with a Zabel rested up from his efforts in the team time trial showing that on a good day, he is the man.

Saturday, July 13: Stage 7, Bagnoles de l'Orne - Avranches, 176 km. The race will head north and then west and back south in a big semi-circle under the Cotentin Peninsula that shelters the Channel Islands. Being so close to the English Channel, there should be some wind. Add the sawtooth profile (about 20 hills, two of them rated) of the stage and we should have some hard racing. There is a tough little climb into Avranches that should favor an opportunist.

The rated climbs:
Km 57.0: Côte du Mont-Pinçon, 1.1 km climb at an average of 6.1%, 4th Cat.
Km 154.0: L'Embranchement (LA CHAPELLE-UREE), 6.5 km climb at an average of 2.7 %, 4th Cat.

Results for Stage 7:

1. Brad McGee (Australia) FDJ 4hr 10 min 56 sec
2. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) Ag2R s.t.
3. Pedro Horillo (Spain) Mapei s.t.
4. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Lotto s.t.
5. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom s.t.
6. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole s.t.
7. Jan Svorada (Czech) Lampre s.t.
8. Baden Cooke (Australia) FDJ s.t.
9. Fred Rodriguez (US) Domo s.t.
10. Thor Hushovd (Norway) Credit Agricole s.t.

GC after Stage 7:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) 27hr 39min 59sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4sec

3. Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) @ 12sec

4. Abraham Olano (ONCE) @ 22sec

5. Isidro Nozal (ONCE) @ 27sec

6. Jose Azavedo (ONCE) @ 28sec

7. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 30sec

8. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 34sec

9. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 53 sec

10. Andrea Peron (CSC-Tiscalli) @ 53 sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erk Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Isidro Nozal (ONCE)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

This was one of those dangerous early stages in Northern France that the GC contenders just try to survive.

At about the 22nd kilometer, a break formed of three riders; Leon Van Bon (Domo), Franck Renier (Bonjour) and Anthony Morin (Credit Agricole). The best placed of them, Renier, was placed just over 3 minutes down on GC. They worked well together, with no one shirking his work.

The field, lead by a moderately interested ONCE chased, but not too hard. The lead got up to 5min 55sec at about 70 km to go. Telekom assisted in the chase until the lead got under 4 minutes.

At 60 km to go, Jonathan Vaughters (Credit Agricole) got the most agonizingly slow wheel change after a crash. After the wheel change, he had to stop and get the other wheel replaced. He did get back into the field after an on-the-fly repair by the race doc to his elbow.

At about 30 km to go, the chase to catch the hard-working trio got serious with Alessio, for reasons I do not yet know, joining the chase. Jean Delatour also joined, probably for Brochard to take a flyer on the climb up to the finish line.

With a couple of kilometers to go, the trio were caught.

But, with 6 kilometers to go, there was a bad crash that took out almost the entire Credit Agricole team that appeared to have been riding together. Didier Rous (Bonjour) was taken out of the Tour with a broken collarbone. World Champion Oscar Freire was tossed into a ditch and had to ride to the finish alone. Christophe Moreau of Credit Agricole looked to have been hurt. Whatever chances he had after his first round of crashes early in the Tour were dashed as he limped slowly to the finish line with other members of his team.

At 2 km to go, with a slowdown in the field, another crash. This time Armstrong, Jalabert, and Tafi were caught. They were up on their bikes in a flash and chased hard.

On the final climb into town, first Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo) took off, the Pedro Horillo (Mapei) tried. But Brad McGee took off out of the front and with a huge effort held off the pack for a fantastic win.

Armstrong and Jalabert came in 26 seconds after McGee.

I didn't see Jacky Durand in any breaks, probably resting from the last two day's exploits. Tomorrow is Bastille day, so I'm betting on the brave Durand to make the reluctant peloton work the day before the individual time trial. To quote Napoleon quoting Danton: "de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace (audacity, again audacity, always audacity)"

Sunday, July 14: Stage 8, St. Martin de Landelles - Plouay, 217.5 km. We've moved from Normandy to Brittany. There should be more winds with Plouay so close to the Bay of Biscay. While the profile of today's stage is a lot like the others of the last week, constant small hills, it is the high speed and constant aggression that keeps the racing hard. The final 14 kilometers will take the riders on a loop of the 2000 world championships road course. The top GC contenders will be trying to really minimize their efforts with the 52 kilometer individual time trial coming up Monday. It should make for some fine opportunistic riding, and that spells Jacky Durand to me.

The climbs:
Km 72.0: BECHEREL (Côte de), 1.8 km climb at an average of 4.0%, 4th Cat.
Km 187.0: Côte de Kervalan (MELRAND), 1.7 km climb at an average of 5.0%, 4th Cat.
Km 214.0: Côte de Ty-Marrec, 1.4 km climb at an average of 9.1%, 4th Cat.

Results for Stage 8:

1. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) 4hr 36min 52 sec

2. Servais Knaven (Domo) s.t.

3. Erik Dekker (Rabobank) s.t.

4. Franck Renier (Bonjour) s.t.

5. Sebastien Hinault (Credit Agricole) s.t.

6. Stephane Auge (Jean Delatour) s.t.

7. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lampre) s.t.

8. Robbie McEwen (Lotto) @ 1min 55sec

9. Erik Zabel (Telekom) s.t.

10. Baden Cooke (FDJ) s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) 32hr 18min 46sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4sec

3. Jorg Jaksche (ONCE) @ 12sec

4. Abraham Olano (ONCE) @ 22sec

5. Isidro Nozal (ONCE) @ 27sec

6. Jose Azavedo (ONCE) @ 28sec

7. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 30sec

8. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 34sec

9. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 53 sec

10. Andrea Peron (CSC-Tiscalli) @ 53 sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erk Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Isidro Nozal (ONCE)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

Two riders did not start Stage 8: Oscar Freire (Mapei) who was caught up in on the the late crashes in Stage 7 and injured his very fragile back, and Aart Vierhouten (Lotto). Both Mapei and Lotto are down to 7 riders each and there are now 182 riders in the Tour.

The weather is nice, patches of cumulus clouds amid blue sky, winds from the north at abut 20 kph (12 mph), temperatures in the low 20's C (70's F).

I thought today's stage would be ridden in a conservative manner, allowing opportunistic breaks to get away with greater than normal ease. I was never more wrong. The first two hours were ridden at an average speed of 49.3 kph. When you realize that the record fastest stage was 50.3 kph in a stage won in 1999 by Cipollini, it becomes clear how fast today's race is starting out. Break after break keeps trying to get away only to be swept up by the relentless speeding peloton.

At kilometer 108, a serious break rolled off the front. The riders: Sebastien Hinault (Credit Agricole), Servais Knaven (Domo-Farm Frites), Karsten Kroon & Erik Dekker (Rabobank), Raivis Belohvosciks (Lampre), Franck Renier (Bonjour) and Stephane Auge (Jean Delatour). By kilometer 150, this lead had grown to 6 minutes.

With the gap at 6 minutes, Ag2R decided to contribute to the chase, aiding ONCE. By kilometer 170, the gap was down to about 4 minutes. The group of 7 breakaways worked well together, with no one avoiding his share of the work.

With 20 kilometers to go Erik Dekker started attacking, and attacking, and attacking again. Sometimes he would get dropped by the lead group and claw his way back and then attack again. Then the others started trying to get away. Then, just at the end, with just 50 meters to go, Karsten Kroon, who has been trying to get into an effective break most of this Tour, took off. Dekker's constant attacks exhausted the other riders in the break, softening them up for Kroon's win. Dekker is obviously starting to find some form after his broken leg in Milan-San Remo.

Robbie McEwen led in the pack for the field sprint. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano stays in yellow for another day.

Jacky Durand did get away for a short while early in the stage but could not get in a break that could stick.

Tomorrow, a tough 52 kilometer individual time trial. The GC standings will change.

Monday, July 15: Stage 9, Lanester - Lorient 52 kilometer individual time trial. Lance Armstrong and his team boss Bruynell have said that this is not where the the tour will be won or lost. That decision will be made in the mountains. They have therefore timed Armstrong's training and peak to come later in the Tour. But with the Spanish riders riding so well, this should end up being very important. No one has mentioned Dario Frigo as a possible top finisher in this stage. The Italian time trial champion should move up many places on this stage, but the poor team time trial set his chances for a top showing in Paris way back. A look at the profile below will show that it's not a "put it in the 150-inch gear and go" tt. It's going to be a tough ride and I expect the GC contenders will rise to the top and reorganize the standings.

The first rider to ride the time trial will be the last rider in GC (Thor Hushovd) at 10:30 AM local time (1:30 AM Pacific). The first 22 riders will leave in 1 minute intervals. Then the riders will leave in 2 minute intervals. The final 30 riders will leave every 3 minutes. The final rider to ride will be the Yellow Jersey, Gonzalez de Galdeano. He will finish about 5:15 PM local time (8:15 AM Pacific). Since the riders are leaving in reverse GC order, Armstrong will leave at 3:49 (6:49 Pacific) followed by the 7 ONCE riders that presently dominate the GC listings by virtue of their superb team time trial.

Really unofficial results:

1. Santiago Botero (Kelme) 1 hr 2min 18sec

2. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 11sec

3. Sergei Honchar (Fassa Bortolo) @ 18sec

4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 19sec

5. Laszlo Bodrogi (Mapei) @ 25sec

6. Raimondas Runsas (Lampre) @ 25sec

7. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 50sec

8. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) @ 1min 34sec

9. Andrea Peron (CSC-Tiscali) @ 1min 34sec

10. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 1min 38sec

12. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 1min 56sec

19. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 2min 35sec

GC after Stage 9:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE-Eroski) 33hr 21min 23sec
2. Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) @ 26sec
3. Joseba Beloki (ONCE-Eroski) @ 1min 23sec
4. Sergei Honchar (Fassa Bortolo) 1min 35sec
5. Santiago Botero (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1min 55sec

6. Andrea Peron (CSC-Tiscali) @ 2min 8sec

7. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 2min 11sec

8. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 2min 22sec

9. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 2min 30sec

10. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 2min 45sec

22. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 4min 39sec

26. Dario Frigo (Tacconi) @ 5min 19sec

29. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 5min 21sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erk Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: David Millar (Cofidis)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

Santiago Botero did something no one has been able to do in years: beat Lance Armstrong in an individual time trial during the Tour de France. The Postal camp made it clear that this was not where the effort for training and physical peaking were to be. That is saved for the mountains that start Thursday.

Jalabert's 2002 Tour Jinx continues to haunt him. He got a flat tire and the mechanic worked on doing a very slow wheel change. Mid-way through the job as he couldn't get the rear wheel out of the frame, the mechanic ran back and got Jaja a new bike. It must have cost at least 50 seconds.

The mountain stages look very interesting now with such (seeming) parity among the good riders before the Pyrenees.

Tuesday is a rest day and a tranfer to the south of France.

The intermediate times for the stage are listed below:

At the 46 km time check:

1. BOTERO (COL, KEL) 46km in 55'19"
2. ARMSTRONG (USA, USP) at 05"
3. HONCHAR (UKR, FAS) at 08"
4. I. GONZALEZ GALDEANO (ESP, ONE) at 17"
5. RUMSAS (LTU, LAM) at 28"

At the 35 km time check, all riders through:

1. BOTERO (COL, KEL) 00:42:16
2. ARMSTRONG (USA, USP) at ST
3. HONCHAR (UKR, FAS) at 02"
4. I. GONZALEZ GALDEANO (ESP, ONE) at 07"
5. RUMSAS (LTU, LAM) at 15"

At the 1st time check-point, 19.5 km, with all riders having passed this point:

1. HONCHAR (UKR, FAS) 19.5km in 24':40"
2. BOTERO (COL, KEL) at 02"
3. GONZALEZ GALDEANO (ESP, ONE) at 05"
4. ARMSTRONG (USA, USP) at 06"
5. RUMSAS (LTU, LAM) at 12".

Tuesday, July 16: Rest day

Wednesday, July 17: Stage 10, Bazas - Pau, 147 km. We're in Gascony (wasn't D'Artagnan a Gascon?) for a trip to the base of the Pyrenees. This stage is comparatively short at 147 kilometers, but the later part of the course will be tough. This will be the last time for the non-climbers to have a shot at glory for a while.

The climbs, all Category Four:
Km 93.5: EUGENIE-LES-BAINS (Côte de), 1.0 km climb at an average of 5.8%.
Km 113.0: Côte de Boucoue (POURSUIGUES-BOUCOUE), 0.8 km climb at an average of 7.5%.
Km 126.0: Auga (Côte de), 2.1 km climb at an average of 5.8%.

Results for Stage 10:

1. Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) 3hr 15sec
2. Jerome Pineau (Bonjour) @ 27sec
3. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) @ 33sec
4. Ludo Dierckxsens (Lampre) s.t.
5. Pedro Horillo (Mapei) @ 1min
6. Andy Flickinger (AG2R) s.t.
7. Nicolas Vogondy (FDJeux.com) s.t.
8. Nico Mattan (Cofidis) s.t.
9. Constantino Zaballa (Kelme) s.t.
10. Enrico Cassani (Domo) @ 1min 2sec

11. Unai Etxebarria (Euskaltel) @ 3min 29sec

12. Baden Cooke (FDJ) @ 3min 57sec

GC after Stage 10:

1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE-Eroski) 36hr 25min 35sec
2. Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) @ 26sec
3. Joseba Beloki (ONCE-Eroski) @ 1min 23sec
4. Sergei Honchar (Fassa Bortolo) 1min 35sec
5. Santiago Botero (Kelme-Costa Blanca) @ 1min 55sec

6. Andrea Peron (CSC-Tiscali) @ 2min 8sec

7. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) @ 2min 15sec

8. David Millar (Cofidis) @ 2min 11sec

9. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 2min 22sec

10. Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) @ 2min 30sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Robbie McEwen (Lotto)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Christophe Mengin (FDJ)
White Young Rider's Jersey: David Millar (Cofidis)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

The first hour was done at a blistering pace (the first hour was 54.5 kph!) with several break attempts, all of which got swept up. At about 85 kilometers to go, 11 riders got away and stayed away. They are the top eleven finishers listed above on today's stage results. On the last climb with about 20 kilometers to go, the top 4 finishers got away: Halgand, Pineau, O'Grady and Dierckxsens. There were then two groups with Unai Etxebarria chasing the second group alone and then the pack. Both breakaway groups seemed to be working together. With about 8 kilometers to go, Patrice Halgand attacked the leading quartet from the back of the group while Stuart O'Grady was leading. The remaining trio just watched the Frenchman get away without repsonding, each hoping the other would react. That was the race. Halgand stayed away and Etxebarria was able to hold off the chasing field. Now, at last, we have a French stage winner. ONCE did a lot of work at the front the day before the first high mountains. Robbie McEwen takes the Green Jersey from Erik Zabel.

Thursday, July 18: Stage 11, Pau - La Mongie, 158 km. Chapter 2 of the 2002 Tour starts today with the first stage in the high mountains.

Here are the climbs:

Km35: Cote de Louvie-Juzon, Category 4
Km 66.5: Col d'Aubisque, 16.7 km climb at an average gradient of 7.1%, Hors Category.
Km 76.5: Col de Soulor, 2.3 km climb at a an average gradient of 5.2% not rated.
Km 158: La Mongie, 12.9 km climb at an average gradient of 6,8 %, Category 1.

The climb to La Mongie is actually the east side of the famous Tourmalet, stopping four kilometers from the summit.

There has been endless speculation about Armstrong's powers,which I believe to be undiminished and untested, and the growing strength of the Spanish. This will all be partly settled on this stage. I say only partly because there is another component of a great stage racer that remains to be tested: the ability to recuperate and take and deliver huge attacks day after day in the mountains. This year's Tour will test this like no other. Remember stage 17 of the Giro. Several riders looked great until the final climb of the final day in the mountains. Then several collapsed. That's why I am astonished that Saiz's ONCE team have expended so much energy defending the Yellow Jersey. The Posties and Kelme boys must be thanking a kind God that ONCE has been working so hard to keep things together. Neither Kelme with Botero and Sevilla, or Euskaltel filled with aweome clibing talent, have had to turn a pedal in anger yet. They are tanned, rested and ready. Armstrong's Postal squad has been able to deliver Armstrong in second place in GC to the base of the mountains without having to expend too much energy either. This will be a fantastic week of racing.

Provisional Results for Stage 11:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal 4 hr 21min 57sec)

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 7sec

3. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 13sec

4. Francisco Mancebo @ 1min 16sec

5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) s.t.

6. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 1min 23sec

7. Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) @ 1min 23

8. Andrei Kivilev @ 1min 34sec

9. Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscalli) @ 1min 49ec

10. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 1min52 sec

GC after Stage 11:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 40hr 47min 38sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 1min 12sec

3. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 1min 48sec

4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 3min 32sec

5. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 4min 13sec

6. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 4min 31 sec

7. Marcos Serrano @ 5min 17sec

8. Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) @ 5min 12sec

9. Francisco Mancebo @ 5min 33sec

10. Serhiy Honchar (Fassa Bortolo) @ 5min 35sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erik Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Patrice Halgan (Jean Delatour)
White Young Rider's Jersey: Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo)
Team GC Leader: ONCE

The weather for Stage 11: Clear and warm, 28C in Pau.

The first day in the mountains appears, barring misfortune, to be decisive. Armstrong won the stage and the Yellow Jersey without extreme effort, letting his team do the lion's share of the work. While Laurent Jalabert was off on an audacious exploit, looking for a solo victory, The US Postal team took control of the race almost from the start. When Heras came to the front on the final climb to La Mongie, almost all of the riders simply fell off the back without Armstrong's having to drop the hammer himself. Only ONCE's Joseba Beloki was able to stay with Heras and Armstrong as they rode the greatest riders in the world off their wheels. Here's how it went:

Over the Aubisque: Attacks started at kilometer 6, with the speed high and the aggression level the same. Jalabert got away with 8 other riders and then just rode them off his wheel. The last remaining rider, Euskaltel's David Etxebarria, could not take a pull and was eventually dropped by Jalabert. US Postal did the pacemaking on the climb. There were about 50 riders in the pack that went over the top. Floyd Landis was dropped by the peloton on the Aubisque.

Here's how they went over the top:

1. Jalabert
2. Etxebarria 35pts @ 1min 17sec
3. Halgand leading the pack @ 2min 10sec
4. Bradley McGee
5. Virenque @ 2min 16sec
6. Sevilla 2min 36sec
7. Pena
8. Armstrong
9. Moreau
10. Beloki

On the descent after the Aubisque: US Postal is still leading the pack. Brad McGee crashed and rejoined the main peloton. Michael Sanstod of CSC crashed out of the race. Jalabert stays 3min 30sec ahead of the pack. The yellow Jersey and the rest of the favorites are all there.

35 kilometers to go: Jalabert stays about 3 minutes ahead, alone. He looks tired, but he is keeping his lead. The pack is still led by US Postal. Beloki had a couple of mechanical problems, but rejoined the field. Rolf Aldag of Telekom has been doing a lot of work with the Posties at the front of the field.

25 kilometers to go: Jalabert is still over 3 minutes ahead. Zabel takes the intermediate sprint to take the Green Jersey back from Lotto's Robbie McEwen

At the base of the Tourmalet, the final climb to La Mongie, 13 kilometers to go: Jalabert is still over 3min 20sec ahead. A swarm of Posties are at the front of the field. Sastre, Botero, ONCE with the Yellow Jersey, Leipheimer are there as well.

10 kilometers to go: Jalabert still 3min 10 sec ahead. Riders are coming off the back of the pack like flies. Postal lead by Hincapie still leads.

Lefevre of Jean Delatour attacks. No one cares, no response. Postal's Rubiera takes the leads and increases the pace. Julich, Frigo, Boogerd, Menchov are off. Lefevre is caught.

5 kilometers to go: The pace is hot, Hamilton and Virenque are in trouble. Jalbert's lead is falling, 1 min 20 sec. The Yellow jersey is off.

Heras hammers, Leipheimer is off. It's Heras, Armstrong and Beloki alone.

Jalabert is under a minute off the front. Beloki is having trouble staying with Heras and Armstrong.

Under 4 to go: Jalabert looks back and sees Heras, Armstrong and Beloki. No stage win for Jalabert. He jumps in and sits on the back of the trio, then cracks. But what a ride!

2 kilometers to go: Armstrong is riding economically, letting Heras do the red-hot pacemaking. Beloki stays on Armstong's wheel. The Yellow Jersey is a minute back. Jalabert is holding on for 4th place so far. No, Basso has caught him. Armstrong looks unstressed. Other riders including Basso pass Jalabert.

100 meters to go: After a bit of jockeying, Armstrong stands up and takes off. Beloki tries but can't stay with him. Armstrong easily wins the stage and the Yellow Jersey.

Friday, July 19: Stage 12, Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille. This is one tough stage. Perhaps some of the riders dropped yesterday will have found their legs. By the way, that shows the depth of the US Postal team. The greatest riders in the world were not dropped by Armstrong. His team rode them off his wheel while Armstrong sat on. I think the 2002 US Postal team may well be remembered the way baseball fans think of the 1927 Yankees. That burnoff line on the Tourmalet, Hincapie, Robiera, Heras, Armstrong: is that "Murderer's Row", the equivalant of Ruth, Gehrig, Meusel and Lazzeri? For all of Armstrong's courteous humility to Heras' power in the post-race interviews, Armstrong was chatting easily on the climb while others where dying a thousand deaths. When it came time for the final sprint, he was gone. I think there's lots more where that came from.

But, be sure of one thing. The Spaniards are coming back for more. This race has just begun.

The climbs:
Km 56.0: Col de MENTE, 9.4 km climb at an average of 9.0%, 1st Cat.
Km 71.5: Col de Portet-d'Aspet, 4.3 km climb at an average of 9.9%, 2nd Cat.
Km 107.5: Col de la Core, 14.3 km climb at an average of 5.8%, 1st Cat.
Km 155.5: Col de Port, 12.6 km climb at an average of 4.9%, 2nd Cat.
Km 199.5: PLATEAU-DE-BEILLE, 15.9 km climb at an average of 7.8%, H.C.

Provisional Results:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 6hr 29sec

2. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 1min 4sec

3. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) s.t.

4. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 1min 11sec

5. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano s.t.

6. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 1min 23sec

7. Carlos Sastre (CSC-Tiscali) @ 1min 33sec

8. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 1min 37sec

9. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 2min 7sec

10. Andrei Kivilev @ 2min 39sec

GC after stage 12:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 46hr 47min 47sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 2min 28sec

3. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 3min 19sec

4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 5min 15sec

5. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 5min 44sec

6. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 7min 44sec

7. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 8min 1sec

8. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 8min 24sec

9. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 9min 5sec

10. Francisco Mancebo @ 9min 10sec

Green Sprinter's Jersey: Erik Zabel (Telekom)
Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali)

Weather: Clear, sunny and hot. High 20's C (80's F) in the valleys and low 20's at the top of the climbs.

Stage 12 started with 176 riders. There have been only 12 abandons. There are 5 rated climbs on today's long stage that will take about 6 hours. Laurent Jalabert has gone on another fabulous ride, showing his incredible strength by riding his breakaway companions off his wheel and then waiting for them. And this after his tremendous effort yesterday. Here's how they went over the first climb, the 1st Category Col de Mente:
1. Oriol
2. Jalabert @ 34sec
3. Mazzoleni @ 1min 35sec
4. Zberg
5. Etxebarria
6. Nozal
7. Martinez
8. Bothcharov
9. Dufaux@ 1min 50sec
10. Virenque
11. Bruseghin
12. Bolts
13. Sevilla
The postal-led peloton was 2min 10sec behind.

Then, over the 2nd Category d'Aspet:
1. Jalabert
2. Dufaux @5sec
3. Nozal

The three joined forces on the descent and are working together. Virenque is leading a 7-man chase group at 1min 20sec and the peloton is at 3min 30sec.

On the Col de la Core, Carlos Sastre and Christophe Moreau are fighting in the peloton. Moreau hit Sastre in the face.

So, here is how they went over the Col de la Core with 92 kilometers to go and two more climbs, the 2nd category Col de Port and the HC hill-top finish:

1. Laurent Jalabert (CSC) He has now earned the Polka-Dot Jersey.
2. Laurent Dufaux (Alessio)
3. Isidro Nozal (ONCE-Eroski) who is not working to help the break.
4. Richard Virenque (Domo) @ 2min 45sec
5. Eddy Mazzoleni (Tacconi)
6. Alexandre Botcharov (AG2R) @ 2min 48sec
The Postal-led peloton was 4min 10sec behind Jalabert at the summit

62 kilometers to go: Jalabert, Dufeaux and Nozal lead the peloton by 4min 51sec. Eddy Mazzoleni (Tacconi) has dropped the Virenque group and is in no man's land, 3min 50 seconds behind the Jalabert trio. The peloton has caught Virenque's group.

On the Col de Port, Jalabert's trio has a five minute lead. The peloton is being led by lots of Posties with a comfortable looking Armstrong. More riders are being shelled including both Etxebarrias, Voigt, Hondo and O'Grady. Mazzoleni has been caught by the peloton after stopping for a mechanical problem.

Over the top of the Col de Port, 44 kilometers to go: Jalabert leads Dufeaux and Nozal for 20 more climbing points with a lead of over 80 points in the competition for the Climber's Jersey. Postal continues to lead the pack on the climb.

Konecny led Merckx and the pack over the top and 4min 37sec behind Jalabert.

20 kilometers to go in the valley before the fnal climb: Jalabert, Dufeau and Nozal (who has not yet done any work) lead by 3min 43sec. The gap is falling. Konecny has been caught after gaining a gap of about 15sec on the descent. Postal doing the work of leading a pack of about 40 riders.

The pack is passing through Le Cabannes, the start of the climb. The gap to Jalabert keeps falling. It's now 3min. Beloki and Rumsas and the other contenders are clustering behind Armstrong. Hincapie is leading a string of Postal riders. Will the other riders let Postal's "Murderer's Row" wreck them again? Olano has been dropped.

Postal has Rubiera leading while ONCE has sent Serrano off the front.

Jalabert has dropped his companions with a gap of under 2 minutes. Rubiera's work has been very effective. Serrano has been caught and riders are still being dropped. Rumsas, Beloki, Kivilev and Hamilton are still in the Yellow Jersey group.

11 kilometers to go: Leipheimer, Hamilton, Sevilla have been dropped.

9 kilometers to go, Jalabert has been caught. Rubiera hammers at the front. There are 3 Postal and ONCE riders in the lead group: Armstrong, Rubiera, Heras, Beloki, Gonzalez de Galdeano, Serrano, Kivilev, Rumsas, Sastre and Goubert.

6 kilometers to go: Heras hits the front. Bam! It's yesterday again. Beloki is the only rider to stay with Heras and Armstrong.

Bam again! Armstrong stands up and dances away. Beloki can't answer and is 20 meters off with Heras on his wheel.

5 kilometers to go, Lance's gap is now 19 seconds. Beloki is giving it all he has with Heras sitting on his wheel. Farther back Rumsas, Botero, Galdeano and Serrano try to limit their loses.

Boom! Heras attacks Beloki and dances away up the hill to an Armstrong who appears to be moderating his efforts to have Heras join him. Again, Beloki cannot answer. Looks like a Postal 1-2 coming up.

Under 4 to go: Beloki is chasing hard and slowly closing in on Heras where the road flattens and Hera's climbing advantage is not as great.

Heras can't catch Armstrong and waits for Beloki.

3 kilometers to go: Beloki catches Heras. Armstrong is now 35sec ahead.

1 kilometer to go: Armstrong is now 55 seconds ahead of Beloki and Heras and is pedaling smoothly with his trademark high cadence style.

Armstrong wins alone with both fists in the air. Heras dings Beloki for second 1min 3 seconds behind.

Saturday, July 20: Stage 13, Lavelanet - Beziers, 171 km. Although there are a few climbs early in the stage, the last 100 kilometers are flat. This will allow us to enjoy the tough fight for the green jersey between Erik Zabel (217 points) and Robby McEwen (216 points). This fight could go down the the last sprint in Paris. I hope so.

The climbs:
Km 8.5: Col de Montségur (Château), 4.3 km climb at an average of 8.3%, 3rd Cat.
Km 31.0: Col de la Badourade, 6.7 km climb at an average of 2.4%, 4th Cat.
Km 48.5: Col de Saint-Benoit, 4.9 km climb at an average of 4.7%, 3rd Cat.

Results for Stage 13:

1. David Millar (Cofidis) 4hr 8min 18sec
2. David Etxebarria (Euskaltel) s.t.
3. Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) s.t.
4. Laurent Brochard (Jean Delatour) s.t.
5. David Latasa (iBanesto.com) @ 4sec

6. Javier Pascual (Ibanesto) @ 56sec

7. Eddy Mazzoleni (Tacconi) @ 56sec

8. Miguel Martinez (Mapei) @ 1min 6sec

9. Beat Zberg (Rabobank) @ 1min 6sec

10. Bobby Julich (Telekom) @ 1min 8sec

11. Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali) @ 1min 10sec

12. Baden Cooke took the field sprint. (FDJ) @ 9min 56sec

GC after Stage 13:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 51hr 6min 1sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 2min 28sec

3. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 3min 19sec

4. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 5min 15sec

5. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 5min 44sec

6. Marcos Serrano (ONCE) @ 7min 44sec

7. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 8min 1sec

8. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 8min 24sec

9. Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tisacali) @ 8min 57sec

10. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 9min 5sec

Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali)
Green Sprinter's Jersey:Robbie McEwen, but Zabel and McEwen are tied at 229 points each.
Team GC: ONCE
White Young Rider's Jersey: Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo)

Abandons:
Paolo Bossoni (TACCONI)
José-Javier Gomez (KELME)

Run under blisteringly hot conditions (30C-40C or mid 80's F to 90's F), this was a day for Jalabert to suck up more Climber's points and a Postal-led peloton to do no more work than was needed. On the first climb, the 3rd category Montsegur, 4 riders got away: Eddy Mazzoleni, Laurent Jalabert, Michael Boogerd and David Millar. Mazzoleni, who has been very aggressive the entire Tour initiated the break. Over the top Jalabert got the 1st place climber's points. Jalabert also took the other two categorized climbs. Chasing this break were 7 riders that eventually joined the 4: Julich, Zberg, Martinez, Latasa, D. Etxebarria, Brochard and Pascual. Now the break had 11 good riders. The lead kept growing with all the riders working in a neat, short-pull pace-line that just rolled beautifully down the road. Finally Lampre started to help, worried that Jalabert's lead could threaten Rumsas' 4th place in GC. At one point the gap was over 13 minutes.

With less than 20 kilometers to go, first Jalabert and then Millar attacked the break. 5 riders got loose: Millar, Boogerd, Etxebarria, Latasa and Brochard. They stayed away. Especially in the closing kilometers, Boogerd did everything he could to miss his pulls and sit in the back. Once in town Brochard made several attacks while Etxebarria did what he could to keep things together and the speed high, feeling sure of his sprint. In the final kilometer there was some serious jockying for position and finally Latasa led it out and blew up. Millar took the sprint. The remains of the break came in about a minute later. Baden Cooke won the field sprint 10 minutes after Millar crossed the line.

Sunday, July 21: Stage 14, Lodeve - Mount Ventoux, 221 km. There is only 1 rated climb on this stage, but what a climb, the dry, forbidding "Giant of Provence", the dead volcano that Lance Armstrong calls the toughest climb of this year's tour. The first 183 kilometers are a long flat run. They'll cross to the west side of the Rhone just north of Avignon (Chateauneuf-du-Pape). About 13 kilometers after they cross, the climbing will start with the tough stuff at about 21 kilometers to go. Mount Ventoux has an average gradient of 7.5%, but the steepest sections are in the middle of the climb.

I had expected more of the Spaniards after all their pre-race talk of a wide open race. The utter banality of their tactics has left me dumbfounded. First, ONCE wasted huge amounts of energy defending the comparatively unimportant interim possesion of the Yellow Jersey while US Postal happily sat on; surprised, but pleased.

Then, for two carbon-copy days in a row the Spaniards sat on while US Postal rode the race that suited Armstrong. Postal set a good pace and when they came to final final climb, their "Murderer's Row" burn-out pace-line dropped every one but Beloki, and then left Beloki to limit his losses at the top. If this is ONCE's plan, to continue riding like this, I can save them a lot of work. Just fly to Paris and watch Lance take the win. I haven't seen ONCE sending danger men off the front, forcing Postal to chase and work hard or any of a lot of other tactics to weaken the team. An old Merckx tactic was to keep the speed high on the flats, forcing the small climbers to thrash big gears, depleting their reserves and making it harder for the small specialists to have their way with the all-rounders on the climb. Bicycle racing is head and legs, that's why I like it so much. I want a real tussle with a worthy winner besting adversaries that gave it all. So does Lance. That's why he was so unhappy when Ulrich couldn't ride. So far, the only brains I've seen in the GC fight are dressed in Blue. Let's see if they adapt to the situation on Mt. Ventoux.

Results:

1. Richard Virenque (Domo-Farm Frites) 5hr 43min 26sec
2. Alexandre Botcharov (AG2R) @ 1min 58sec
3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) @ 2min 20sec
4. Marco Serpellini (Lampre) @ 2min 54sec
5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 3min 36sec
6. Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) @ 3min 38sec

7. Francisco Mancebo (Ibanesto) @ 3min 51sec

8. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4min 5sec

9. Dariusz Baranowski (Ibanesto) @ 4min 10sec

10. Ivan Gotti (Alessio) @ 4min 25sec

11. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 4min 25sec

GC after Stage 14:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal)
2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE-Eroski) @ 4min 21sec
3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 6min 39sec
4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE-Eroski) @ 7min 4sec

5. Francisco Mancebo (Ibanesto) @ 10min 49sec

6. Jose Avevedo (ONCE) @ 10 min 57sec

7. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 11min 35sec

8. Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) @ 12min 45sec

9. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 12min 54sec

10. Richard Virenque (Domo) @ 13min 12sec

Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali)
Green Sprinter's Jersey:Robbie McEwen. Zabel and McEwen remain tied at 229 points each.
Team GC: ONCE
White Young Rider's Jersey: Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo)

Warm weather has greeted the 164 starters the the Mount Ventoux stage. 32C (80's) is forecast for the riders at Chateauneuf-Du-Pape (km 160) and 18C for Mount Ventoux itself.

At about the 20 kilometer point, 11 riders broke away: Mikel Pradera (ONCE), Thor Hushovd (CA), Anthony Morin (CA), Richard Virenque (Domo), Marco Velo (Fassa Bortolo), Dariusz Baranowski (iBanesto.com), Marco Serpellini (Lampre), Alexandre Botcharov (AG2R), Cristian Moreni (Alessio), Stephane Auge (Jean Delatour) and Christophe Edaleine (Jean Delatour). With 100 kilometers to ride, they built up a lead of of about 11min 40sec. The Postal squad is doing most of the work with Rabobank helping on behalf of Leipheimer. After another 20 kilometers, CSC-Tiscali also came to the front to help. For much of the chase, the peloton was strung out. While the maximum lead grew to over 12 minutes, with the combined teams working, it came down to a little over 10 minutes with 50 kilometers to go.

With 30 kilometers to go, the lead of the 11 riders was down to 8min 40sec. Pradera (ONCE) and Serpellini (Lampre) didn't done any work in the break because they had highly placed GC riders (Beloki and Rumsas) on their teams.

With 20 kilometers to go, on the early part of the Ventoux climb the lead group had 7min 10sec. But, because of an attack by Moreni, the group was reduced to 6: Moreni, Virenque, Baranowski, Botcharov, Serpellini and Pradera.

Constant attacks whittled the lead group down to just 2 riders by the 11 kilometer mark: Virenque and Botcharov. About 6 minutes back, the Yellow Jersey peloton was down to an elite group: Armstrong, Heras, Rubiera, Basso, Beloki, Botero, Rumsas and Mancebo.

Up front, Virenque attacked Botcharov and flew up the hill alone. Meanwhile in the Yellow Jersey group, Beloki tried to attack Armstrong who quickly matched Beloki's effort. He did have the effect of getting rid of Heras and Rubiera. That left Armstrong with Beloki, Azevedo, Rumsas and Basso. Azevedo tried an attack to no effect, and then Beloki hit again.

Armstrong responded to Beloki's second attack by instantly getting on Beloki's wheel and then hit the attackers with one of his own and sped off alone. Virenque won the stage with his dropped breakaway companion Botcharov almost 2 minutes behind, followed by a quickly closing Armstrong.

As Virenque climbed the last few kilometers, the pains of every torture of Hell were etched on his face. After hours in a breakaway, doing his share of the work, his legs must have been screaming. For once, as he motored in pursuit of Virenque and the stage win, Armstrong's face showed the toll of the terrible effort. The crowds that lined the road to the top of the extinct vocano were huge and somewhat partisan. The French have entirely forgiven Virenque for his part in the 1998 Festina doping affair and wildly cheered him on. Armstrong, on the other hand, was on the recieving end of some boos and cries of "dop-ey" (French for doped). In a press conference after the stage Armstrong was disdainful of the hecklers, "I don't really care. Now will I care in 3 or 4 years when I'm sitting on the beach with my kids having a cool beer."

While Armstrong could not catch the determined Frenchman, he did extend his lead over Beloki to 4 min 21sec. Virenque had been away for 202 kilometers. Magnificent!

The climber's competition is starting to look interesting. Jalabert has 167 points, Armstrong has 114 and Virenque now is 3rd with 99. Will Virenque, who has no fear of a long break, spend the rest of the Alpine stages fighting Jalabert for the Polka-Dot jersey?

Monday, July 22: Rest Day.

Tuesday, July 23: Stage 15, Vaison la Romaine - Les Deux Alpes, 229 kilometers. This is both the longest stage of the Tour and the first Alpine stage. It has only one 1st category climb. The rest is a succession of tough 2nd and 3rd category climbs spread over what the Tour management is predicting will take 7 hours. Armstrong has announced that with his solid lead, he will exercise the privilege of racing defensively. Beloki, in 2nd, has conceded the Yellow Jersey to Armstrong and announced that he will work to defend 2nd place. Lampre's Rumsas, presently in 3rd, less than a couple of minutes down on Beloki, has said that he wants to finish 2nd. It sounds like Beloki's got some really hard racing ahead of him.

The climbs:
Km 68.5: Col de Prémol, 2.2 km climb at 5.5%, 3rd Cat.
Km 116.0: Col de Grimone, 11.4 km climb at 4.9%, 2nd Cat.
Km 123.5: Col de la Croix-Haute, 3.0 km climb at 4.0%, 3rd Cat.
Km 136.5: Col du Banchet, 2.6 km climb at 6.6%, 3rd Cat.
Km 160.0: Côte de Ponsonas, 2.3 km climb at 6.4%, 3rd Cat.
Km 190.0: Col d'Ornon, 9.8 km climb at 4.8%, 2nd Cat.
Km 226.5: LES DEUX-ALPES, 11.2 km climb at 6.4%, 1st Cat.

Provisional Results for stage 15:

1. Santiago Botero (Kelme) 5hr 55min 16sec

2. Mario Aerts (Lotto) @ 1min 51sec

3. Axel Merckx (Domo) @ 2min 30sec

4. Emmanuel Mangien (Bonjour) @ 4min 22sec

5. Sandy Casar (FDJ) @ 4min 28sec

6. Jose Garcia-Acosta (Ibanesto) @ 5min 15sec

7. Raimonda Rumsas (Lampre) @ 6min 41sec

8. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) s.t.

9. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) s.t.

10. Francisco Mancebo (Ibanesto) @ 6min 46sec

GC after Stage 15:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 62hr 53min 36sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 4min 21sc

3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre) @ 6min 39sec

4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) @ 8min 50sec

5. Francisco Mancebo (Ibanesto) @ 10min 54sec

6. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) @ 11min 11sec

7. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 11min 31sec

8. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 11min 41sec

9. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 13min

10. Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) @ 14min 2sec

Polka Dot Climber's Jersey: Laurent Jalabert (CSC Tiscali)
Green Sprinter's Jersey:Robbie McEwen. Zabel and McEwen remain tied at 229 points each.
Team GC: ONCE
White Young Rider's Jersey: Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo)

Stage 15's start is greeted by warm weather and a light wind from the north, which should end up being in the racer's faces.

The race started off very fast with aggressive moves going almost from the gun. On the descent of the first climb Christophe Moreau crashed and had to abandon the race.

After the descent, a group of 7 formed an effective break: Santiago Botero (Kelme), Axel Merckx (Domo) Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com), Emmanuele Magnien (Bonjour), Vincente Garcia-Acosta (iBanesto.com), Mario Aerts (Lotto) and Martin Hvastija (Alessio). None are GC threats to Armstrong with Botero having had a terrible day Sunday on the Ventoux. He is down 18 min 36sec, in 18th place.

The lead grew to 10min 50sec with 90 kilometers to go, but the Posties have been bringing it down. Axel Merckx led the break over the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th climbs.

With 38 kilometers to go, the 7 are still away with a lead of 9min 30sec.

Before the start of the final climb, ONCE's Azevedo manged to get loose from the peloton. So here is the situation: the seven leaders, then Azevedo at 9min 5sec and then the pack, led by Postal at 9min 30sec.

With 12 kilometers to go, the Pink-clad ONCE riders went to the front. Probably to defend de Galdeanos 4th place. With such a big lead, the breakaways are surely gone for the day.

10 kilometers to go. Riders are getting shelled off the back of the pack. The yellow jersey has about 30 companions.

8 km to go. Botero attacks and is gone by countering a Merckx attempt to get loose. It's Botero, then a big gap to Merckx, then another big gap to Lotto's Aerts. Merckx is chasing hard.

5 kilometers to go, Botero's lead over Merckx is 37 seconds. ONCE continues to lead the peloton with Postal just behind.

3 kilometers to go, Aerts flies past Merckx, Botero is a minute and a half up the road and the field which has dropped Virenque, Sevilla and Gotti is over 6 minutes back.

Botero is turning squares, but is truly gone as he rides within the barriers near the finish.

The grimace is gone. Botero salutes the crowd with both fists pumping in joy. A superb win for the Colombian Kelme rider. Aerts comes in almost 2 minutes later, then Merckx a few seconds later.

A little drama for the field sprint. Heras and Mancebo were a few yards off the front when Beloki took off. Armstrong wasn't expecting the move and had to shut down the gap with a very alert Rumsas on his wheel. The trio were together and then just before the line, Rumsas took off for the field win. Botero moves from 18th in GC to 7th.

Wednesday, July 24: Stage 16, Les Deux Alpes - La Plagne, 179.5 km. Climbs that when you hear their names, evoke the Tour like no other words: Col du Galibier, Col du Telegraphe, Col de la Madeleine. This is really the Tour and it will be hard. There are 70.9 kilometers of Hors Category rated climbing.

The rated climbs:
Km 34.0: Col du Galibier, 33.8 km climb at an average of 4.7%, H.C.
Km 112.0: Col de la Madeleine, 19.4 km climb at an average of 7.9%, H.C.
Km 179.5: LA PLAGNE, 17.7 km climb at an average of 6.9%, H.C.

Provisional Results for Stage 16:

1. Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) 5hr 48min 29sec

2. Carlos Sastre (CSC Tiscali) @ 1min 25sec

3. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) s.t.

4. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 2min 2sec
5. Raimondas Rumsas (Lampre-Daikin) @ s.t.
6. Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) @ 2min 10sec
7. Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo) @ 2min 14sec
8. Jose Azevedo (ONCE) s.t.
9. Santiago Botero (Kelme) @ 2min 23sec
10. Roberto Heras (US Postal) @ 2min 25sec

GC after stage 16:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 68hr 43min 22sec

2. Joseba Beloki (ONCE) @ 5min 6sc