Tour de France 2008 Live Dashboard

Route Map  |  Stage Details  |  Preview  |  News  |  Teams  |  TV Schedule  |  Live Internet  |  Tour FAQ  |  Hincapie Video Diary  |  Podcasts  |  2007
  2008 Tour de France Stage Details
1 Saturday, July 5th 195 km 
BrestPlumelec
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
2 Sunday, July 6th 165 km 
AuraySt. Brieuc  
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
3 Monday, July 7th 208 km 
St MaloNantes
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
4 Tuesday, July 8th 29 km 
CholetCholet
TT
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
5 Wednesday, July 9th 230 km 
CholetChâteauroux
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
6 Thursday, July 10th 195 km 
AigurandeSuper-Besse Sancy
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
7 Friday, July 11th 158 km 
BrioudeAurillac
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
8 Saturday, July 12th 174 km 
FigeacToulouse
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
9 Sunday, July 13th 222 km 
ToulouseBagnères-de-Bigorre
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
10 Monday, July 14th 154 km 
PauHautacam
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
R Tuesday, July 15th
Rest Day in Pau
11 Wednesday, July 16th 166 km 
LannemezanFoix
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
12 Thursday, July 17th 168 km 
LavelanetNarbonne
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
13 Friday, July 18th 182 km 
NarbonneNîmes
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
14 Saturday, July 19th 195 km 
NîmesDigne-les-Bains
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
15 Sunday, July 20th 216 km 
EmbrunPrato Nevoso, It
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
R Monday, July 21st
Rest Day in Cuneo, Italy
16 Tuesday, July 22nd 157 km 
Cuneo, ItalyJausiers
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
17 Wednesday, July 23rd 210 km 
EmbrunL'Alpe d'Huez
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
18 Thursday, July 24th 197 km 
Bourg d'OisansSaint-Étienne
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
19 Friday, July 25th 163 km 
RoanneMontluçon
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
20 Saturday, July 26th 53 km 
Saint-Amand-MontrondCérilly
TT
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
21 Sunday, July 27th 143 km 
   ÉtampesParis Champs-Élysees
profile | finish | map | timetable | results | photos | video
  Total Distance 3,554 km 

copyright (c) 2007, 2008 steephill.tv


2008 Tour de France Stages in Google Earth
(requires Google Earth)

Tour de France in Google Maps Street View:


Go to: Tour de France Street View

2008 Tour de France Teams
Team Rosters and Withdrawals

Prior to each stage, George Hincapie talks about the race and what happens behind the scenes:

News and updates for Tour de France 2008

September 6 update: Early 2009 Tour de France Details and Rumours

July 28 update:
Four cheats and a cleaner Tour: Increased suspense, a boom in television ratings and happy sponsors left Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme in a buoyant mood two days prior to the end of this year's race. — AFP/24
One nasty spill for the Tour de France: Versus ratings could be down close to 20 percent — medialifemagazine
  Carlos Sastre stresses his victory was a team efforteurosport
  CSC's future star: Andy Schleck intervieweurosport


Stage 21 result: Gert Steegmans saves the Tour for his QuickStep team by claiming the sprint finish on the last day
Étampes → Paris (Champs-Élysees), 143k (flat)






Stage 21 results;
1 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                       3.51.38
2 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia                            
3 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                            
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                          
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                           
6 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30               
7 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                         
8 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner                            
9 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone       
10 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld  
Full Resultscyclingnews

General classification after stage 21 
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               1.05
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                1.20
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    2.00
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30        3.12
6 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        4.28
7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               6.32
8 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                 7.02
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne              7.26
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale                          9.12
Sastre wraps up his first Tour victory as Steegmans wins the finalevelonews
  Stage 21 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  David Millar Post Racevelonews
  Cadel Evans Post Racevelonews
  Green Jersey winner, Oscar Freire, Post Racevelonews
  Stage winners recap: Part 1 and Part 2versus
  More Stage 21 clipsversus
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: their favourite moments of the 2008 Tour de France. — ITV
  Stage 21 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Race wrap-up and Stage 21 preview: Étampes → Paris (Champs-Élysees), 143k (flat)


CSC now stands for Carlos Sastre Candil, the first new-era winner of the Tour de France? (photo submitted by Colin Flockton)
July 27 update: The GC Podium has been settled, but we still have the ceremonial final stage ending on the Champs-Élysees that usually ends in a sprint finish... Despite the early race doping positives, this year's race has been exciting due to the unpredictable, close competition with seven riders donning the Yellow Jersey over the three week span of the race. (Eight is the record)... Something that never escapes this site is the surrounding race countryside and on that note I don't recall a more spectacular Tour de France route. The route from a race perspective was also well-designed, especially the stage over two big climbs out of Cuneo, Italy followed by the long, wild descent into tiny Jausiers. Race Director Christian Prudhomme deserves much credit for the design of the route and the very aggressive anti-doping stance the Tour now takes... This year's champion, Carlos Sastre, who has a personal website in both Spanish and English has been building up to this moment for quite awhile. As he says on this web site: "It's my turn tomorrow." He's a very deserving winner, but by no means a dominating rider. I'm sure he is the sort of winner that ASO has privately hoped for: a charming, media friendly rider not connected to any of the past doping scandals who made his winning move on the queen stage (L'Alpe d'Huez) with enough authority fitting of the Yellow Jersey, but not so much authority as to draw skepticism from jaded cycling fans... The biggest race in cycling is alive and well. Thanks for tuning in. — Steve

I’m happy, content, calm and above all gratefulcarlossastre
Tour de France recap in Photoseitb24


Stage 20 results: Schumacher's win is overshadowed by Sastre's great defense of the Yellow Jersey
Saint-Amand-Montrond → Cérilly, 53k (TT)


Yellow Jersey podium salute


Stage 20 results;

1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                      1.03.50 (49.817 km/h)
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                 0.22
3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                              1.01
4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30     1.05
5 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30              1.37
6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                 1.55
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                            2.06
8 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner                            2.19
9 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                             2.21
10 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia                         2.29
11 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia                             
12 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank             2.35
13 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30           2.37
14 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30               2.55
15 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                       2.59
Full Resultscyclingnews

General classification after stage 20 
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank             84.01.00
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               1.05
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                1.20
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    2.00
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30        3.12
6 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        4.28
7 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               6.32
8 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                 7.02
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne              7.26
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale                          9.12
Spanish Eyes Are Smiling!pezcyclingnews
Sastre withstands a challenge from Evans to hold the overall leadvelonews
Sastre: "El sueño de mi vida"es.eurosport.yahoo
Contador se alegra de la victoria de Sastrees.eurosport.yahoo
Schumacher's time-trial win caps strong Tour for Gerolsteinervelonews
Andrew Hood's Tour de France Notebook, stage 20velonews
  Stage 20 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Stage 20 Highlightsversus
  Recap and Christian Vande Velde Interviewversus and more Stage 20 clips
  Christian Vande Velde Post-Racevelonews
  The winner, Stefan Shumacher, post-race interviewversus
  Sastre, Evans and Schumacher interviews in their native languageses.eurosport
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Carlos Sastre and Bjarne Riis — ITV
  Stage 20 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 20 preview: Saint-Amand-Montrond → Cérilly, 53k (TT)

July 25 update: Although CSC is sitting one-two going into the decisive TT, many people including myself expect Cadel Evans to jump from fourth to the top step of the podium assuming his increasingly, nervous outward apprearance doesn't zap his superior strength against the clock. Based on last year's final TT average speeds for both Evans and Sastre, Evans will finish 2:17 ahead of Sastre tomorrow which would give him a 43 second victory. Riding with the Yellow Jersey often produces a great result and we could see one tomorrow by Sastre. In addition, this year's TT finale is on a rolling, more technical course that works to Sastre advantage. Either way, it should be a thrilling climax to three weeks of very close racing. "I think it's going to be a great battle for the GC. We haven't had a time trial where so many places overall are up for grabs. We're going to see a total shift in the top five and I don't think we've ever seen that before," predicts David Millar. — Steve

General classification heading into the TT
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank             
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30        4.41

Current Situation
Start Order and Schedule
Sastre or Evans? Evans or Sastre?cyclingnews
Carmichael Sez: After More Than 3000 Kms, Le Tour Will Be Decided By Secondspez
Millar Tips Evans For Tour De France Victorycyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 20 Previewversus
  Johan Bruyneel after stage 17: Predicts the final outcome will be 1. Evans 2. Sastre 3. Menchov — velonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: Stage 19 recap and Stage 20 predictions — ITV
  Stage 19 recap podcast and Stage 20 predictionsbikeradar


Le Direct: Live Video and Text for Tour de France 2008

Stage 21 start: Sunday 13:35 CET ();
live video coverage starts: 13:30 CET ();
approximate finish: 17:20 CET ()

Send a comment or a new live link if you see something I've missed. — Steve
media source tv or internet comments/restrictions
  live/rebroadcasts United States; live coverage and nightly rebroadcasts
  live/rebroadcasts Canada; live coverage and nightly rebroadcasts
  live video
  internet audio
Open the video and audio in separate windows. (alternate video and audio)
  live video w/ticker link removed at the request of ASO
  live internet video link removed at the request of ASO
  live internet video link removed at the request of ASO
  live internet video link removed at the request of ASO
  learn more/buy the slingbox Watch live tv over the internet using your home tv service. If you receive any of the broadcasts below at home then you can watch the Tour at work or anywhere else.
channelsurfing   live internet video Eurosport Germany
  live tv schedule France; official source for pre-race, live, post coverage
  tv schedule France; host town and backstage coverage
  tv schedule France; 30 minutes of nightly highlights and analysis
  live internet video For Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK; P2P access to the France 2/3
  live internet video French-speaking countries only; France 2, 3 and 4 online coverage; vidéos gratuites
  live tv schedule UK; 4 hours of live coverage; nightly 60 minute recaps
  live/highlights
  live internet video
UK; Tour de France Preview, Fri, 7pm; weekends stages live from 2.30pm to 4.30pm BST; nightly highlights; daily podcasts
  internet audio free; available worldwide
  internet audio UK only; BBC live commentary of the last 1.5 hours each day
  live tv schedule
  live internet video
Italy; refer to the RAI Tre guide
  live internet video Germany only
  live/highlights Australia; live with next day highlights; Aussie Dashboard
  live tv schedule Belgium; not sure if Sporza is streaming over the internet. Sporza TourTracker
  live tv schedule
  live internet video
Ireland only; both live tv and internet video
  live tv schedule Denmark; live and rebroadcasts; Danish Dashboard and TourTracker
  live internet video Denmark; possible source for worldwide live streaming
  live video/ticker Netherlands; Dutch video and ticker. Silverlight version
  tv schedule
  live video
Norway only
  tv schedule TV listings for all other parts of the world including Asia, Oceania, Africa and South America
official live ticker English; also available in fr | de | es
live text updates English
live text updates English
live text updates English ticker
check back at race time for more and updated links; email send a comment or a new live link


Stage 19 results: Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis beats Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux in another two-man sprint
Roanne → Montluçon, 163k (hilly)


high-res victory salute

Stage 19 results;
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis             3.37.09 (45.73 km/h)
2 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Columbia                       1.13
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
5 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
6 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis
7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
9 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin Chipotle - H30
Full Resultscyclingnews

 General classification after stage 19 
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank             
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30        4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne              5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               5.52
Chavanel Wins Stage 19cyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 19 HighlightsASO/velonews
Chavanel Tops In Montlucon!pezcyclingnews
  Bjarne Riis post-race (always a tough interview)velonews
  Christian Vande Velde pre-racevelonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 19 clipsversus
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Carlos Sastre — ITV
  Stage 19 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 19 preview: Roanne → Montluçon, 163k (hilly)

July 25 update: Today should be a day for the sprinters and a chance for Oscar Freire to clinch the Green Jersey (points competition) making him the first Spaniard to do so. As mentioned yesterday, I'm working on version 2 of the steephill.tv dashboard so if you have a feature request then speak now or forever hold your peace. It can be related to layout, content, speed/performance, more/less links, more/less video stills, etc. — Steve

  Stage 19 Previewversus
Tour preview: Stage 19 for Freire?bikeradar
Schlecks' Father's Car Searchedcyclingweekly.co.uk
  Why haven't the Belgian's done well this Tour?eurosport
Anger welling from within cycling to rid its ranks of drug cheatscanberratimes.au


Stage 18 results: Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Columbia beats Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step in the two-man sprint
Bourg d'Oisans → Saint-Étienne, 197k (hilly)



high-res victory salute
Stage 18 results;
1 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Columbia               4.30.21 (43.61 km/h)
2 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick Step
Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 18 
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank             
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30        4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne              5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               5.52
Burghardt wins St. Etiennevelonews
Burghardt Shows Team Columbia Can Win Without Cavcyclingweekly.co.uk
Cunego injuries force him to drop out of Tourvelonews
  Stage 18 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 18 clipsversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Marcus Burghardt post-race interviewvelonews
  Carlos Sastre pre and post-racevelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Johan Bruyneel — ITV
  Stage 18 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 18 preview Bourg d'Oisans → Saint-Étienne, 197k (hilly)

Three Great Rides From Bourg d'Oisans

#1: Alpe d'Huez

#2: Col de Sarenne

#3: Villard Notre Dame
July 23 update: "A breakaway will probably go early and the peloton are likely to let them go," says AG2R's Cyril Dessel. Breaks always have a better chance of succeeding at this stage in a Grand Tour because the peloton is tired and the GC pretenders have been weeded out. That cat 2 climb 35k from the finish could be interesting. By the way and before I lose your attention. I'm working on version 2 of the steephill.tv dashboard so if you have a feature request then speak now or forever hold your peace. It can be related to layout, content, speed/performance, more/less links, more/less video stills, etc. — Steve
Out of the Alps, but not done climbingbikeradar
Cadel Evans against the worldDaniel Friebe /bikeradar
  Stage 18 Previewversus
Related: 2009 Tour of California Host Cities Announcedsteephill.tv


Stage 17 results: Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank wins Alpe d'Huez and takes the Yellow Jersey; Evans still looking good for the overall
Embrun → L'Alpe d'Huez, 210k (mountainous)




high-res victory salute

Stage 17 results
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank            6.07.58 (34.32 km/h)
2 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               2.03
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank 
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne            2.13
5 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank
6 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto
8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30
10 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 17 
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank         1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner          1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto           1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank              2.39
6 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
Carlos Conquers Alpe D'Huez!pezcyclingnews
Sastre Wins On Alpe d'Huez, Takes Leadcyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 17 Previewversus
Sastre wins the 2008 Alpe d'Huez stagevelonews
Saunier Duval quits cyclingbikeradar
Scott to take over team sponsorship from Saunier Duvalvelonews
Evans Ready To Fight For Yellow In Tour de France Time Trialcyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 17 Highlightsvelonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Carlos Sastre Post-Race Interviewversus
  Cadel Evans Post-Race Intervieweurosport
  Christian Vande Velde Post-Race Interviewvelonews
  Johan Bruyneel post-race analysis: Predicts the final outcome will be 1. Evans 2. Sastre 3. Menchov — velonews
  Bjarne Riis discusses CSC strategy post-raceeurosport
  Post-race with the CSC teamvelonews
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 17 clips and interviewsversus
  Cadel Evans Pre-Raceeurosport
  Pre-Stage 17 and Post-Race Interviewsvelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: with today's guests Carlos Sastre, Andy Schleck and Johan Bruyneel — ITV
  Stage 17 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo
News Flash: 2009 Tour of California Host Cities Announcedsteephill.tv

Stage 17 preview: Embrun → L'Alpe d'Huez, 210k (mountainous)

Three Great Rides From Bourg d'Oisans

#1: Alpe d'Huez

#2: Col de Sarenne

#3: Villard Notre Dame
July 22 update: The queen stage of this year's Tour is the last chance for CSC to make something happen using Frank Schleck or Carlos Sastre or else Cadel Evans will likely time trial his way to victory. Wednesday's course is basically the La Marmotte route but in reverse with a little extra added on. Nothing but sunshine is forecasted. Once again, there is early live video coverage for this last mountain stage. It's been a long time coming, but I've reworked my popup video players so the new videos posted here should be compatible with all browsers. — Steve
The three hors catégorie climbs of stage 17:
Col du Galibier, 20.9 km at 5.6%
Col de Croix-de-Fer, 29.2 km at 5.2%
L'Alpe d'Huez, 13.3 km at 8.6%

Tour De France Leader Schleck Promises To Attack Main Rivalscyclingweekly.co.uk
The peloton looks ahead to L'Alpe d'Huezvelonews
  A good Stage 16 analysis and Stage 17 previewbikeradar
  Stage 17 Previewversus
  Lance Armstrong's 2001 win on Alpe d'Huez and Dutch corner on Alpe d'Huez

(montage photos courtesy of Colin Flockton)


Stage 16 results: Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale wins a fabulous stage; John-Lee Augustyn pulls a Van Est; Schleck defends Yellow but nothing more
Cuneo, Italy → Jausiers, 157k (mountainous)




no time for a high-res victory salute

July 22 update: What a great stage... too bad CSC wasted their firepower. Two massive climbs each accompanied by two, long harrowing descents; a four-man break followed by the Yellow Jersey group just two minutes back; a spectacular crash by Barloworld's John-Lee Augustyn after cresting first over Col de la Bonnette-Restefond (2800m, 26.7 km at 6.2%), the highest paved road in Europe today scaled first by the youngest rider in the Tour at just 21 years old. He would then lose five minutes waiting for the team car and a new bike after his bike slide hundreds of metres down to the valley. (His crash was reminiscent of the equally young Wim Van Est during the 1951 Tour.) Near the end of the descent among the four man break, it looked like Yaroslav Popovych would take the win, but it was Cyril Dessel who got his legs spinning better than anyone else after 24k of inactivity and slipped through the last few tight corners to claim the biggest win of his career. Incredible scenery and a terrific course. Most aggressive rider goes to Stefan Schumacher of Gerolsteiner who soloed most of the two climbs before running out of gas (air). Christian Vande Velde lost the back of the Yellow Jersey train on the last climb and later crashed on the descent. He finished in 26th, four minutes off the winning time and, more importantly, 2:30 back of the GC contenders. George Hincapie was in the main break until the last km up Col de la Bonnette-Restefond. He crested just 30 seconds back, but unfortunately the very technical descent prevented him from opening it up and he only took back six seconds over 24k downhill. Had he crested with the leaders, he most likely would have won. So close. The Bikeradar podcast () has a good analysis that is critical of CSC's tactics/missed opportunity. — Steve

Stage 16 results

1 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                             4.31.27 (34.70 km/h)

2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux                                                       

3 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                                                  

4 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence - Lotto                            0.03

5 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia                                0.24

6 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                                                      

7 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale                                                      

8 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                               1.03

9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                            1.28

10 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                                                          

11 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                                         

12 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                                                  

13 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                                        

14 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre                                                               

15 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                                           

16 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bouygues Telecom                                                     

17 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                 1.32

18 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia  

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 16 

1 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank

2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                     0.07

3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                      0.08

4 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank                    0.49

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                         1.13

6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30    3.15
Dessel drills it to win stage 16; Schleck defends yellowvelonews
Dessel Wins Stage 16cyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 16 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 16 clips and interviewsversus
  John-Lee Augustyn pulls a Wim Van Estversus
  George Hincapie post-racevelonews
  Jonathan Vaughters post-race discussing CVV's performancevelonews
  Christian Vande Velde Post-Race Interviewversus
  Pre-Stage 16 and Post-Race Interviewsvelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guests the Schlecks — ITV
  Stage 16 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo


  John-Lee Augustyn pulls a Wim Van Estversus

Stage 16 preview Cuneo, Italy → Jausiers, 157k (mountainous)


July 22 update: Rest day town Cuneo, Italy plays host for today's start as the riders head back into France via two HC climbs including the highest Tour summit ever and one of highest in Europe, Col de la Bonnette-Restefond (2800m, 26.7 km at 6.2%). The earlier HC climb, Col de la Lombarde (21.2 km at 7%) is even tougher. There is going to be mass carnage! The riders will descend 24k to the finish in Jausiers and don't be ashamed if you've never heard of it. With only 1000 residents, it's the smallest town to play host to a stage finish. Who says ASO is only interested in money. This is going to be a wild stage folks and a great opportunity for descending extraordinaire Samuel Sanchez.

Note the early live video coverage for today's stage. Also, note that ASO has asked sites like this to remove links to sites that are streaming video unofficially or outside their jurisdiction. Ok, so ASO is in it for the money too. — Steve

  Stage 16 Preview (link fixed) — versus Stage 16 Preview: Alpine Epiccyclingweekly.co.uk
Tour 2008 Analysis: Six Days - Six Riderscyclingweekly.co.uk


Monday is a rest day

Cadel Evans, seen here with his dog and wife, isn't concerned he's lost his lead to Frank Schleck. He is more worried about Denis Menchov. (AFP/ P. Hertzog).
Evans: ‘We’re in Good Position’velonews
Rest Day News Round-Upcyclingweekly.co.uk
Every second countscyclingnews
Maillot Jaune Power Poll!podiumcafe
Vande Velde ready for the ride of his lifevelonews


Stage 15 results: Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole wins from the four-man break; Frank Schleck now in Yellow
Embrun → Prato Nevoso Italy, 215k (mountainous)



high-res victory salute (complete with gleaming braces)
high-res yellow jersey podium salute


Stage 15 results

1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole                       4.50.44 (37.77 km/h)

2 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi           0.03

3 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                0.10

4 José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale            0.55

5 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                             4.03

6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                  

7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           4.12

8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                 4.23

9 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                     4.41

10 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30    4.43

11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas                              4.46

12 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi           4.50

13 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 15 

1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                 63.57.21

2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                             0.07

3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                            0.08

4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                 0.38

5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30     0.39

6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank              0.49

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                              2.48

8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                      3.36

9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne           4.11

10 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi           4.34
Simon Shines, Kohl Surprises & Schleck In Yellow!pezcyclingnews
Frank Schleck takes yellow from Cadel Evans as the GC race tightensvelonews
Oscar Pereiro: I thought I was going to dievelonews
How Italy greeted the Riccò scandalbikeradar
  Stage 15 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 15 clipsversus
  Last Km (no commentary) — eurosport
  Cadel Evans Post-Race: It's three against one... what can be expected?eurosport
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Christian Vande Velde Pre-Racevelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: with today's guest rank Schleck — ITV
  Stage 15 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 15 preview: Embrun → Prato Nevoso Italy, 215k (mountainous)

Col Agnel, viewed from the top, will be climbed at the start of stage 15. At 2744m, it is the third highest paved road in the Alps, after Stelvio Pass and Col de l'Iseran.
July 19 update: We are in the Alps now for the next set of mountain stages. If there is to be more announcements regarding positive tests at this year's Tour then hopefully they'll be made before the start of stage 15.

By his own admission, Cadel Evans' Silence-Lotto team doesn't seem good enough to protect his lead in the mountains. Yaroslav Popovych was signed from Discovery Channel last year with the expectation he'd be Cadel Evans' super-domestique much as he was for Alberto Contador at last year's Tour. But, Popovych looks like half the rider you used to be. Anyone know why?

Out of the gate tomorrow, riders will scale the HC Col Agnel which gets very steep at the top. Expect CSC-Saxo Bank to apply lots of pressue on Cadel Evans in their attempt to get the Yellow Jersey that they narrowly missed out on by one-second at the Hautacam. At the end of the 216k stage is the mountaintop finish at Prato Nevoso (11.4k @ 6.9%) in Italy. Note the early live video coverage for today's stage. — Steve

Willful ignorance is not an excuse: Oh, woe is me, have pity, my riders have done something horrible that I never ever could have possibly foreseen! I mean, who has ever heard of cyclists doping themselves?cyclingfansanonymous.blogspot
Versus Debate: Versus seeing lower ratings for '08 Tour?tdfblog
I'm afraid of CSC, says Cadel's bossbikeradar
Cadel Evans looks at possible allies for the Alpsbikeradar
There are also heroes and they need you to believeslipstreamsports/davidmillar


Stage 14 results: Oscar Freire wins the sprint finish in Digne-les-Bains for his 4th career Tour win
Nîmes → Digne-les-Bains, 195 (hilly)


high-res victory salute

Stage 14 results;

1 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

2 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis

3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

4 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin Chipotle - H30

5 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step

6 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre

7 Rubén Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi

8 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom

9 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step

10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 14 

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                       

2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank           0.01

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle   0.38

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                   0.46

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                       0.57

6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank           1.28

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                         1.56

8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale            2.32
Oscar Freire takes the 14th stagevelonews
Freire Fights For First!pezcyclingnews
Sponsor Barloworld to quit after dopingguardian.co.uk
Dueñas, Piepoli confessed; Barloworld to end sponsorship after Tourcyclingnews
Saturday doping news updatecyclingfansanonymous.blogspot
  Stage 14 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 14 clipsversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris-Boardman Podcast: with today's guest Ocsar Freire — ITV
  Stage 14 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 14 preview: Nîmes → Digne-les-Bains, 195 (hilly)

July 19 update: The action will continue to heat up today... literally as the riders crosss Province on there way to Digne-les-Bains where temperatures are expected to hit 32C at the finish. The riders will encounter two cat 4 climbs and a lot of gradaul climbing in today's stage. Mark Cavendish has been making his sprint finish victories look too easy, so thankfully, a break stands a great chance of succeeding. — Steve

  Stage 14 Previeweurosport


Stage 13 results: Mark Cavendish wins again, his fourth victory in the Tour
Narbonne → Nîmes, 182k (rolling)



high-res victory salute


Stage 13 results;

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia  4.25.42 (41.10 km/h)

2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                 

3 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel                                       

4 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                

5 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank                                   

6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole                                  

7 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              

8 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram                                        

9 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 13 

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                       

2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank           0.01

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle   0.38

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                   0.46

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                       0.57

6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank           1.28

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                         1.56

8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale            2.32
Un, deux, trois, quatre: Cav' crushesvelonews
Cav Does Four!pezcyclingnews
Saunier Duval Sack Ricco and Piepolicyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 13 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Mark Cavendish post-raceeurosport
  Mark Cavendish post-race press-conferencevelonews
  The Last Kmversus and other Stage 13 clipsversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Mark Cavendish — ITV
  Stage 13 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 13 preview: Narbonne → Nîmes, 182k (rolling)

July 18 update: Another sprinter stage today with a dead flat finish this time in Nîmes. I have a few thoughts about Riccardo Ricco's positive test for EPO, but for now I'll just say it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy (not!). Most of the best comments have been made in the news. Don't lose the faith folks; otherwise, you'll have to give up most other sports unless you don't mind being called a hypocrite. It's always darkest before the dawn. — Steve

  Stage 13 Previewversus


Stage 12 results: Mark Cavendish wins the sprint finish in Narbonne for his third stage win this year
Lavelanet → Narbonne, 168k (rolling)


high-res victory salute


Stage 12 results;

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Columbia

2 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux

3 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step

4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

5 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

6 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas

7 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

8 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis

9 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin Chipotle - H30

10 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 12 

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                       50.23.05

2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    0.01

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30    0.38

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                            0.46

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                0.57

6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    1.28

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                                  1.56

8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                     2.32    
Cavendish collects 3rd stage win; Evans keeps yellowvelonews
Black Day But Cavendish Shines!pezcyclingnews
  Stage 12 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus and more Stage 12 clipsversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Mark Cavendish post-raceeurosport
  Cadel Evans post-raceeurosport
  Trent Lowe post-race discussing the Ricco newseurosport
  George Hincapie at the start just after the Ricco newseurosport
  Rider Poll on the demise of the UCI ProTourvelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Bjarne Riis — ITV
  Stage 12 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Ricco tests positive for the third generation form of EPO

BREAKING NEWS July 17 update:
Riccò fails doping test – Saunier Duval out of Tourcyclingnews
Millar: 'Riccò was too good to be true'cyclingnews
Doping expert stunned by Ricco positivebikeradar
Riccò in police custody, "What a disaster" says sports directorenglish.gazzetta.it

Stage 12 preview: Lavelanet → Narbonne, 168k (rolling)

In summer '06, my best one day ride ever ended in Saint Paul-de-Fenouillet, site of today's first intermediate sprint. I have many reports that are 50% complete sitting on my hard drive and my best ride is inexplicably part of the backlog and not ready when it counts most. I hope to complete the two-day Aude report by the next rest day. In the meantime, here's a picture of moi at the spectacular Gorges de Galamus just a few kms north of St.Paul. — Steve
July 17 update: Has anyone else noticed how few rider withdrawals there have been from this year's race, but poor Barloworld has not been so lucky. In fact, things are going very badly for last year's underdog heroes. Yesterday, we found out that Barloworld rider Moisés Dueñas was the second rider to test positive for EPO at this year's race and then two of his teammates crashed out later in the day. In the first week, team captain, Juan Mauricio Soler, was forced to retire after breaking a bone in his hand sustained a few days earlier.

Unlike last year's fiasco, the two positive drug tests have not hindered the success of this year's Tour. It seems riders, media and the public are now confident the sport is moving rapidly in the right direction. Nobody seems to miss the fact that the UCI isn't overlooking the tests this year except a couple riders and maybe a few more before the event is over. ;) I'm also pleased to hear the official news reporting the demise of the UCI ProTour, but lets hope a stronger rider union develops to keep ASO's new dominance of the sport in check.

The crowd turnout for yesterday's stage was quite amazing. The Ariege is so thinly populated yet the crowds were huge. Today's start is in Lavelanet, just east of Foix and very close to the famous Chateau de Montsegur, site of the Cathars last stand which should get some helicopter time if you watch early enough... although the race heads away from the direction of Montesegur so maybe not. The shots from the sky yesterday were stunning. Today's stage looks like a sprinter's stage, but the temperature has been rising each day as we get closer to the Mediterranean and with the forcasted strong cross/tailwind, a break might succeed in Narbonne. Either way, it's going to be a fast stage. — Steve

  Stage 12 Previewversus
  Rider Poll on the demise of the UCI ProTourvelonews


Stage 11 results: Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC-Saxo Bank leads out the three man sprint and barely holds on
Lannemezan → Foix, 166k (hilly)



no time for a proper high-res victory salute
  Kurt-Asle Arvesen post-race interviewversus

Stage 11 results;

1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC-Saxo Bank

2 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale

3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre

4 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank

5 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole

6 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom

7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas

8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux

9 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner

10 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram

11 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole

12 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis                    2.27

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 11 

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                       46.42.16 

2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    0.01

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30    0.38

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                            0.46

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                0.57

6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    1.28

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                                  1.56

8 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott                    2.10

9 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott                    2.29

10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                    2.32    
Arvesen takes stage, Evans holds jerseyvelonews
Arvesen By A Tire!pezcyclingnews
Duenas Caught With Banned Drugs At Tour de Francecyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 11 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Kurt-Asle Arvesen post-race intervieweurosport
  Stage 11 clipsversus
  Pre-race with Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde () and Ryder Hesjedal () — velonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Kurt-Asle Arvesen — ITV
  Stage 11 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 11 preview: Lannemezan → Foix, 166k (hilly)


July 15 update: Y! Cycling Foix and Lavelanet ( ) and Col de Portel ( ): Tour de France recreational preview for stages 11 and 12

Other than the cat 1, Col de Portel (touring report ), at the 2/3 point, stage 11 is a relatively easy stage that will run parallel to the north side of the Pyrenees. The positioning of the big climb leaves open the possibly for a bunch sprint finish in downtown Foix. This stage could suit a sprinter like Eric Zabel who's also a decent climber. Foix is a neat, old historical town with excellent cycling roads. See our brand new Foix touring report of the surrounding area. — Steve
  Stage 11 Previewversus
Evans relaxed and ready at rest-day get-togethervelonews
Second rider tests positive at Tourvelonews


Tuesday (Today) is the first rest day... and well-deserved

Tour de France - "The Big Picture" (great photo recap of the first 10 days) — boston
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll PodcastITV
  First ten stage recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
Cadel Evans, the Boxing Kangaroovelonews
Andrew Hood's Tour de France Notebook, Rest Day No. 1velonews
Rest Day News Round-Upcyclingweekly.co.uk
BREAKING NEWS: July 15 update:
Teams To Quit ProTourcyclingweekly.co.uk
All teams decide to leave UCI ProTour seriescyclingnews


Stage 10 results: Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) and Juan José Cobo (Spa) give Saunier-Duval Scott one-two on Hautacam; Cadel Evans now in Yellow
Pau → Hautacam, 156k (mountainous)


high-res victory salute and a great Piepoli/Cobo action shot
  Cadel Evans post-race interviewversus and   Evans on Eurosport

Stage 10 results;

1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott             4.19.27 (36.08 km/h)

2 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval - Scott                

3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    0.28

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                            1.06

5 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                     2.05

6 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                  2.17

7 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                 

8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                               

9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                    

10 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30       

11 Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld                      2.27

Full Resultscyclingnews

 

General classification after stage 10 

1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                       42.29.09

2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    0.01

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30    0.38

4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner                            0.46

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                0.57

6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                    1.28

7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                                  1.56

8 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott                    2.10

9 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott                    2.29

10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale                    2.32    
Evans in yellow as Piepoli wins atop Hautacamvelonews
Piepoli Pounces On Hautacam!pezcyclingnews
Piepoli finalmente re Evans fa sul seriogazzetta.it
Vande Velde frustrated by Evans-Menchov lockdownvelonews
  Stage 10 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Stage 10 Highlightseurosport
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Christian Vande Velde post-race interviewversus
  Stage 10 clipsversus
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: with today's guests Frank Schleck and Cadel Evans — ITV
  Stage 10 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 10 preview: Pau → Hautacam, 156k (mountainous)

From the 2000 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong drops Marco Pantini on the Hautacam and finishes 2nd on the day
July 13 update: Stage 10 is a short stage with a lot of action packed into 156k ending with the first mountaintop finish of this year's race on the Hautacam [profile]. Prior to the finish, the riders will scale the first HC (beyond category) climb of the Tour, Col du Tourmalet, one of the most scenic and famous climbs in France and the highest paved road in the French Pyrenees at 2115m (6939'). Needless to say, Stage 10 represents one of the best opportunities for the GC contenders to put time into their rivals and expect to see someone new in the Yellow Jersey at the end of tomorrow. For more on Col du Tourmalet, see our photos, video and a report from 2005. Note the earlier live video start time, in fact, the whole stage will be televised. — Steve
  Stage 10 Previewversus
Hautacam is this Tour’s first major challengeJohn Wilcockson/velonews
How Chris Horner is spending July? (funny photos/story) — everydayathleteblog


Stage 9 results: Riccardo Ricco dances away from the peloton then solos the descent of Col d'Aspin for his second Tour win this year
Toulouse → Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 224k (mountaineous)



high-res victory salute

Stage 9 results;

1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott            5.39.28 (39.59 km/h)

2 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale             1.03

3 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                 1.17

4 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole

5 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram

6 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis

7 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas

9 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre

10 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence-Lotto                           

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 9

1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                      0.06

3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30    0.44

4 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                 0.56

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                         1.03

6 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne            1.12

7 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                      1.21

8 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                 

9 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi               1.27

10 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank                   1.34
Cadel Crashes But Ricco Smashes!pezcyclingnews
Ricco Wins In Pyreneescyclingweekly.co.uk
The Cobra strikes on the first real mountain stagetour-de-france.velonews
Riccò, un giorno da Piratagazzetta.it
  Stage 9 HighlightsASO/cyclingnews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Stage 9 clipsversus
  Post race chaosvelonews
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: with today's guests Phil and Paul — ITV
  Stage 9 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 9 preview: Toulouse → Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 224k (mountainous)


French Pyrenees Cycling Reports:

July 12 update: Sunday is the first mountain stage of this year's Tour with today's finish, Toulouse pulling double-duty as tomorrow's start as well. This is a long stage at 222k (second longest of this year's Tour) with two famous cat 1 climbs near the end before the descent finish into Bagnères-de-Bigorre. We haven't heard his name called yet, but this course seems well-suited to descending extraordinaire, Euskaltel-Euskadi's Samuel Sánchez. If you are not farmiliar with the region, the Pyrenees is absolutely epic in every respect. Check out some our touring reports complete with video if you haven't already done so (and if you have some time to kill). The big climbs: Col de Peyresourde at km 166.5k and Col d'Aspin at km 198k... more to come... — Steve



Stage 8 results: Mark Cavendish takes a second stage win followed by teammate Gerald Ciolek in a wet sprint finish in Toulouse
Figeac → Toulouse, 174k (hilly)

high-res victory salute

Stage 8 results; winning time:

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Columbia

2 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Columbia

3 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel

4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

5 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner

6 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

7 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step

8 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux

9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

10 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld                         

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 8

1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                        

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                             0.06

3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                          0.16

4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30      0.44

5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                  1.03

6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne            1.12

Columbia Double: Mark Cavendish takes a second stage win followed by teammate Gerald Ciolek while teammate Kim Kirchen retains the overall.velonews
Stage 8 reportitv
  Stage 8 HighlightsASO/velonews
  The Last Kmversus
  Mark Cavendish Post-Race Interviewversus
  Confident Cavendish hails his dominant Columbia Teameurosport
  Liquigas distances themselves after Beltran's positiveeurosport
  A bristly David Millar talks about Beltran's positive velonews
  Frank Schleck responds to Kirchen's Luxembourg commentsvelonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Chris Boardman Podcast: with today's guest Mark Cavendish — ITV
  Stage 7 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  The Latest Interviewsvelonews
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 8 preview: Figeac → Toulouse, 174k (hilly)

July 12 update: Yesterday's stage winner, Luis León Sánchez is one of the new, young and exciting stars that this sport needs to help us forget about the "old-guard" that continues to spoil the fun. If you haven't heard, Manuel Beltran of Liquigas and formerly of U.S. Postal and Mapei, has tested positive for EPO during this year's Tour. Beltran was a teammate of Lance Armstrong during three Tour runs and becomes the fourth former U.S. Postal rider to be caught for doping after leaving the team. Beltran is in the minority now and represents a mere nuisance to the sports wave of change.

The Tour has proceeded with great success up to this point with exciting stages on scenic, narrow roads such as we normallly see in the Giro d'Italia. The new director of the Tour is earning high marks in the media for replacing the traditional week one flat stages with rolling to hilly stages on difficult roads. Stage 8 will be another such stage as we head down to Toulouse before heading into the Pyrenees on Sunday. Toulouse is the fifth largest city in France, Europe's capital of the aerospace industry and Europe's fastest growing city. I spent two months in Toulouse in the summer of 2006 and found it has an interesting, hip downtown core, good cycling through rolling farmlands to the south and good leisure cycling along the Midi Canal which runs through the city. I never got around to posting my photos and video from Toulouse, but since it also acts as the host city for Sunday's start maybe I'll some post on Saturday. (Don't Yawn). — Steve

  Stage 8 Previeweurosport


Beltran's positive shatters the clean image of this year's Tour

BREAKING NEWS: July 11 update:
Tour Flash: Manuel Beltran accused of dopingbikeradar
Manuel Beltran Positive For EPO at the Tour de Francecyclingweekly.co.uk
  Liquigas distances themselves after Beltran's positiveeurosport
Beltrán taken for questioning, Liquigas to continuecyclingnews
  A bristly David Millar talks about Beltran's positive velonews


Stage 7 results: Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) solos the descent and run into Aurillac on a difficult, hilly, crosswinds day that riders rate the hardest of the Tour
Brioude → Aurillac, 158k (hilly)

high-res victory salute

Stage 7 results; winning time:

1 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

2 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner

3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas

4 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia

5 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                           

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 7

1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                  

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                    0.06

3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 0.16

Sanchez nabs stage 7velonews
Tour Flash: Manuel Beltran accused of dopingbikeradar
Manuel Beltran Positive For EPO at the Tour de Francecyclingweekly.co.uk
Vande Velde: ‘The strongest I’ve ever felt’velonews
  Stage 7 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Jersey presentations and interviews with Luis León Sánchez and Stefan Schmauchereurosport
  The Last Kmversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  Stage 6 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guests Cadel Evans, Kim Kirchen and David Millar — ITV
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 7 preview: Brioude → Aurillac, 158k (hilly)

July 11 update: It's been a gorgeous Tour so far and pretty darn exciting. Two uphill finishes, a successful break and a surprising TT all in the first 6 six days and only one pure sprint finish. Today will be another nervous, narrow, rolling route with five categorized climbs but nothing too severe. Just a 158k in length... more to come — Steve
  Stage 7 Previewversus
  Stage 7 Quick Previeweurosport


Stage 6 results: Riccardo Ricco wins on Super-Besse; Schumacher crashes in the last km and loses the Yellow Jersey to Kim Kirchen
Aigurande → Super-Besse, 195k (hilly)


high-res victory salute

  Schumacher explains what happened the next day: As Schumacher says in the interview he was getting ready to move left for the sprint so his weight was on his left side when Kirchen and the others ahead of him swerved to the right. — versus

Stage 6 results; winning time: 4.57.52 (39.38 km/h)

1 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                        

2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   0.01

3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                        

4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                             0.04

5 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                          

6 Moises Dueñas Nevado (Spa) Barloworld                                0.07

7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas                                           

8 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                          

9 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                             

10 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval - Scott                            

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 6

1 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                                  24.30.41

2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto                                    0.06

3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 0.16

4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30             0.44

5 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30                      0.47

6 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia                                  0.54

7 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                                         1.03

8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   1.12

9 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                                          

10 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
Report: Ricco Storms To Take Stage 6cyclingweekly.co.uk
Riccò wins atop Super-Bessevelonews
  Stage 6 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Stage 6 Highlights with Ricco and Schmaucher interviewseurosport
Millar: "I can't do this!"velonews
Questo Riccò è da sognogazzetta.it
Il morso del Cobra, volata imperialeit.eurosport.yahoo
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Kim Kirchen — ITV
  Stage 6 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  The Last Km and Post Race Interviewsversus
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Latest Interviewsvelonews
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 6 preview: Aigurande → Super-Besse, 195k (hilly)


July 10 update: Although not a mountain stage, Stage 6 will feature two cat 2 climbs at the end of the day with a mountaintop finish at the ski resort, Super-Besse. The climb to Super-Besse gains 519m in 11k for an average grade of 4.7% with the last 1.5 km being 10%. Kim Kirchen's excellent results on hilltop finishes this year including his win at La Fléche Wallonne make him one of favourites which must also include Stage 1 winner Alejandro Valverde and multiple Giro stage winner, Riccardo Ricco.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S. at the Cascade Classic in Bend, Oregon:

Levi is still bitter
()

Steve Cozza is thrilled for his Garmin teammates ()
Now seems like a good time to summarize the latest Googe Map options for previewing the climbs of this year's Tour. In early May, tipster Thomas Vergouwen sent in his kmz file for Tour de France in Google Earth ( requires Google Earth) then a week ago Peter Eich pointed out the Tour de France google maps on his bikemap.net site with his simple but very cool map/profile integration that I haven't seen from anybody else online. Move your cursor along the profile next to each map and watch your current position move along the course map. Like I said, simple but cool... and well programmed. More recently, I've received emails pointing out the Google Maps Street View of this year's Tour which I first saw on the TdfBlog, one of the longest running and best written blogs dedicated to mostly the Tour de France. The Street View mashup gives you a 360 panoramic view from anywhere along the route. Your vicarious Tour experience keeps getting better and better.

As reported by numerous people, the sputnik link required a password yesterday. To fill the gap, Pop Up Tv and the table of live video links have been updated with new video links. I may have two more options shortly. — Steve

Stage 6 Preview: Predicting yellow: Showdown on Super Besse?cyclingnews


Stage 5 results: Mark Cavendish wins the sprint finish in Châteauroux for this first Tour win




high-res victory salute

Stage 5 results

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Columbia

2 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole

5 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 5

1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                             

2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia                           .12

3 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 
Reportvelonews
Fast Cav Takes Châteaurouxpezcyclingnews
  Stage 5 HighlightsASO/Velonews
  Stage 5 Highlightseurosport
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus
  Mark Cavendish Post-Race Interviewversus
  George Hincapie Post-Race Interviewversus
  Mark Cavendish Pre-Race Interviewversus
  More Post Stage 5 Interviewsvelonews
  Stage 5 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  ITV/Matt Rendell-Ned Boulting-Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Mark Cavendish — ITV
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 5 preview: Cholet → Châteauroux, 230k (flat)

July 9 update: It's the longest stage of this year's Tour and maybe the flattest. You'd think this one is for Mark Cavendish, but few of the stages have panned out as expected. Update: As many of you have reported, the live sputnik feed is no longer readily accessible. — Steve
Stage 5 Preview "After getting it hopelessly wrong for the past couple of days, we're a little frightened to say" — cyclingweekly.co.uk
  Stage 5 Previewversus
  Stage 4 roundtable podcast and Stage 5 previewbikeradar


Stage 4 results: Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner is the surprise?? TT winner and takes the Yellow Jersey
Cholet Time Trial, 29k


Stage 4 results

1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner                 35.44 (49.534 km/h)

2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                           36.02

3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin Chipotle - H30             36.02

4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                      36.11

5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC-Saxo Bank                36.17

6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank                         36.18 

7 Jens Voigt (Ger) CSC-Saxo Bank                       36.19 

8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30    36.21

9 George Hincapie (USA) Columbia                       36.26

10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                      36.31

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 4

1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner

2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia                          0.12

3 David Millar (GBr) Garmin Chipotle - H30

4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto                     0.21

5 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC-Saxo Bank               0.23

6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30   0.37

7 George Hincapie (USA) Columbia                      0.41

8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Columbia                      0.47

9 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas                      0.58

10 José Iván Gutierrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne         1.01
Schumacher wins the stage 4 time trial and takes the yellowvelonews
  Stage 4 HighlightsASO/velonews
  Stage 4 Highlights (Italian) — eurosport
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo
  Stage 4 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  ITV/Matt Randell/Bob Roll Podcast: with today's guest Stefan Schumacher — ITV
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
   Jonathan Vaughters drops the F-bomb during a live in-car segment while rooting on David Millar

How the TT unfolded:


  Stefan Schumacher crossing with the best timeversus
Cadel Evans also beat Cancellara's time. Then minutes later Evans was beaten by Millar and Kirchen who finished in a virtual tie for second:

Stage 4 preview: Cholet Time Trial, 29k

  Stage 4 previewversus
  Stage 3 roundtable podcast and Stage 4 previewbikeradar
  Rider Poll: Thoughts on the Stage 4 ITTvelonews
ITT Start Order and Schedule
Current Situation
July 7 update: As Bob Roll mentioned on today's ITV podcast (), today's break likely succeeded because the team with the yellow jersey (Caisse d'Epargne) wasn't eager to defend it since their leader and pre-race favourite, Alejandro Valverde, is more interested in wearing it during the second-half of July. It was a slow stage and with 10k to go it was clear one of the four riders in the looong break was going to win his first Tour de France stage. For American Will Frischkorn, it was a bittersweet finish. As the last man selected to his wildcard Garmin-Chipotle squad, he's just happy to be in France this July, but he couldn't hide his disappointment in finishing a half a wheel behind the stage winner, Samuel Dumoulin of Cofidis. Frischkorn is a very well-spoken rider and you should check out his post-race interviews ().

Three days into the event, I'm getting a decent handle on all the links out there in cyberspace thanks to the help of those that have sent many of them in. It would take too long to summarize them all (actually I'm too lazy) so it's best just to scroll carefully and discover them for yourself. But, tonight I do want to isolate on the excellent podcasts available for this year's Tour. Just like last year, The British based ITV and Bikeradar are doing an excellent job with intriguing, forthright race analysis and they are entertaining as well. I have the ITV podcast now listed in each stage summary, but here's the ITV RSS Tour podcast feed for those on the go. Here is the Bikerader Tour Podcast feed and I have links to each episode in the preview section of each stage including this one. There is also another one to add for your commute by the independently (blogger) operated, The Fredcast. The show's host, David Bernstein, does a very professional job despite the lack big name guests that make the other two standout although he did get Phil Liggett one day. Here's the RSS feed for the Fredcast.

Tomorrow's stage 4 is a somewhat technical, likely windy, 29k individual time trial that starts and finishes in Cholet. The prodigious creator of the podiumcafe, Chris, has your in-depth stage 4 TT preview. — Steve

Stage 3 results: Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis wins from the long, four-man break; Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel now in Yellow. St Malo → Nantes, 208k (flat)



high-res victory salute

Stage 3 results

1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis

2 William Frischkorn (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30

3 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel

4 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld

5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Silence-Lotto

6 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 3 

1 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
Report: Samuel Dumoulin wins, Feillu in yellow, Frischkorn so closevelonews
Don't Badger me, Bro (Hinault acts as podium security) — velonews
Long Break Not Doomed for Dumoulinpezcyclingnews
  Stage 3 HighlightsASO/Velonews
  Stage 3 Highlightseurosport
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus
  More Stage 3 clipsversus
  Pre-Stage 3 and Post-Race Interviewsvelonews
  Stage 3 recap podcast and post-race roundtablebikeradar
  ITV/Matt Randell/Chris Boardman Podcast: Race analysis roundtable with guest Bob Roll — ITV
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

  William Frischkorn post-race interviewvelonews
  Another Frischkorn post-race intervieweurosport
  Jonathan Vaughters post-race interviewvelonews

Stage 3 preview: St Malo → Nantes, 208k (flat)

Cycling Brittany, September 2005steephill.tv
  Stage 3 previewversus
  Stage 2 review and Stage 3 previewbikeradar
July 6 update: After two of three stages in Brittany, it's clear that Britons enthusiastically support their responsibility as this year's Grand Depart. And if you haven't been to Brittany before you should have a better appreciation for why it's a top recreational cycling destination for those who enjoy modest climbs through an historic, coastal region. The stage 3 start town, St. Malo, is one of the most historic towns in the region where during the summer months it's population quadruples with visitors interested in seeing the old walled city. I briefly cycled in St. Malo in 2005 before moving onto Roscoff just west of the stage 2 St. Brieuc finish during a "business" trip with my wife. I filed a brief Brittany multimedia cycling report (/) from Roscoff before driving south for 5 epic cycling days in the French Pyrenees about 8 hours away by car.

Stage 3 has a gentle profile with a perfectly flat finish in Nantes that sets up nicely for Columbia's Mark Cavendish — Steve
Also see the new interview he did with Dan Friebe of Procycling Magazine: Talking Tour with Greg LeMondbikeradar


Stage 2 results: Thor Hushovd wins the strong man's sprint finish in St. Brieuc for his 6th career Tour win
Aura → St. Brieuc, 165k (rolling)


no time for a high-res victory salute and   Overhead helicopter video of the finisheurosport

Stage 2 results 3.45.12 (43.83 km/h)

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole

2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia

3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Columbia

4 Robert Hunter (RSA) Barloworld

5 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram

6 Iouri Trofimov (Rus) Bouygues Telecom

7 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

8 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel

9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale

10 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis

Full Resultscyclingnews



General classification after stage 2

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

2 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia              0.01

3 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
Reportvelonews
  Stage 2 HighlightsASO/Velonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus and The Last Km without commentaryeurosport
  Post-race interview with the winner Thor Hushovdversus
  Stage 2 clipsversus
  Phil Liggett's Audio Reportworldcycling.tv
  ITV/Matt Randell/Chris Boardman Podcast: Race analysis roundtable with guests Thor Hushovd and Greg LeMond — ITV
  Pre and Post Stage 2 Interviewsvelonews
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo

Stage 2 preview: Aura → St. Brieuc, 165k (rolling)

July 6 update: As we saw yesterday in front of huge crowds, a good power climb finish is very thrilling to watch. The finish wasn't steep, but the peloton split in the strong winds. It reminded me of the wet stage 2 finish (won by Igor Anton) from last month's Tour de Suisse where Kim Kirchen also made his move with 500m to go (), but wasn't able to hang on. Most people were predicting Oscar Freire to win yesterday, but he ended up as the only sprinter among the top 10 counter to most expert opinions. Today we should get a flat sprint finish however, the run into the finish is twisting and rolling. Mark Cavendish says it's a strong man's sprint today more suited to Thor Hushovd but as not tough as yesterday's. It could be a good chance for Philippe Gilbert. Thanks to those (Seth M, Roger P, Dave M, Jim H, Peter B, Rudy S, John C, David T, Chris B) who have sent in emails with feedback and help summarizing the options for world tv and live internet coverage. The list is getting extensive, but most have country restrictions. Send me an email if you have something more to add or to make a correction. Steve
  Stage 2 previeweurosport
  Stage 1 review and Stage 2 previewbikeradar
Juan Mauricio Soler suffers possible wrist fracturebikeradar
.

Stage 1 results: Thrilling power climb finish in Plumelec as Alejandro Valverde surges past the field


high-res victory salute

Stage 1 results

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

2 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Francaise des Jeux

3 Jerome Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom

4 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia

5 Riccardo Ricco (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott

6 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto

7 Fraenk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank

8 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas

9 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank

10 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Full Resultscyclingnews

Valverde leaps uphill to stage win and [his first ever] yellow jerseyvelonews
  Stage 1 HighlightsASO/Velonews
  The Last Kmsporza.be
  The Last Kmversus and The Last Km without commentaryeuropsort
  Stage 1 clipsversus
  Alejandro Valverde post-race intervieweurosport
  Pre-Stage 1 Interviewsvelonews
  ITV/Matt Randell/Chris Boardman Podcast: Race analysis roundtable — ITV
Photos: cyclingnews   |  BBC  |  Graham Watson   |  sport.yahoo
  Pre-Race News Podcastbikeradar

Bretagne (Brittany) Preview

July 4 update: Stage 1 Preview: Why We Think Freire Will Wincyclingweekly.co.uk
Official Brittany TdF Site (French)
Brittany Route Map
Parcours Up Close - Week 1pez
Pre and Post Race Interviewsvelonews
Cycling Brittany '05steephill.tv


July 4 update: The bib numbers have been assigned, so barring any accidents the team rosters are now official. And if you haven't seen them yet, here are two new kits that will make there race debut this Saturday: Team Columbia's new kit (formerly High Road) and Team Garmin-Chipotle's debuts it's new kit (formerly Slipstream) — Steve

July 4 update: Absences make the Tour ... more interesting?: Pro cycling fans may find themselves unclear who to root for at this year's Tour de France. The list of familiar faces absent from this year's race is as long as it is top-heavy... The cumulative effect means this year's race will undoubtedly see the emergence of new stars -- riders, fans hope, who can be supported for years to come. — velonews

2008 Preview Videos and Analysis

July 3 update: Versus has posted preview videos for this year's event (see below). Also, check earlier posts: The Yellow Jersey Preview from last week and The Route Analysis from last October.
July 2 update: Looking back at past Tours...
The Tour's best and worst moments () The dominate Indurain years () Victory and Disappointment at the Tour ()...coming
... and two more classic video montages from past years to get you inspired...

July 2 update: For those eagerly awaiting news on more live internet video options, you'll be pleased to know that Versus will be streaming live internet video for the first two stages. By stage 3, we should have a good handle on other sources in foreign languages. (Thanks for the tip John C.) Also, velonews has been in Girona, Spain this week, the European home for many North America riders, where they videoed a training ride and interviewed () numerous Garmin-Chipotle riders and Columbia's George Hincapie. There is also a two-part interview with Jonathan Vaughters. — Steve

July 2 update: The Tour is optimistic things have changed: Cheats on their way out - Tour chiefAFP

July 1 update: Full Provisional Team Rosters are now up. As Cyclingnews calculated, there will be 180 riders from 29 nations suiting up for the 95th edition with France being best represented with 40 riders. Spain and Italy are well represented with 30 and 20 riders, respectively.

July 1 update: I've posted more live coverage options below with more to follow and later on Wednesday I'll post the full rosters. In the mean time, if you have some time to kill, take a vicarious tour through the steephill.tv France cycling reports, photos and videos including Col du Tourmalet and Alpe d'Huez:
   French Pyrenees
 • Col du Tourmalet, Luz-Ardiden
 • Col du Soulor, Col d'Aubisque
 • Col de la Core, Ariege
 • Col de la Crouzette, Ariege
 • Col d'Agnes and Col d'Escots
   French Alps
 • Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier
 • Col de Sarenne (Alpe d'Huez)
 • Villard Notre Dame
 • The Vercors
 • Provence: Le Mont-Ventoux
 • Provence: Les Baronnies

Yellow Jersey Preview

June 26 update: Chris at podiumcafe takes an interesting look at ranking this year's GC contenders: Tour Favorites Ratings... Opening Salvo. Also see, Tour 2008 clear favourites: Evans, Valverde and Cunegocyclingnews

June 16 update: Analysis: What The Dauphine Told Us About The Tourcyclingweekly.co.uk

Tour Roster Selections

June 30 update: Dessel, Valjavec leading charge for Ag2r and Bouygues Tour squad eyes stagesvelonews
June 29 update: Gilbert, Casar headline FDJ's Tour squad and French road champ Vogondy makes Agritubel's Tour teamvelonews
June 26 update: Liquigas releases Tour roster: Points contender Daniele Bennati will miss Tour — velonews
June 25 update: High Road-Columbia releases Tour roster and — velonews and Hunter, Soler lead Barloworld at Tourvelonews
June 25 update: Garmin-Chipotle names Tour squadvelonews and Menchov headlines Rabobank team for Touruk.eurosport.yahoo
June 24 update: Riccardo Ricco is riding the Tour as a replacement for the ill Jose Angel Gomez Marchante. See Riccardo Ricco will aim for white jersey at the Tour de Francevelonews
June 24 update: Gerolsteiner and Euskaltel announce their Tour selections: Fothen heads Gerolsteiner team and Zubeldia heads Euskaltel squaduk.eurosport.yahoo
June 24 update: Mauricio Soler will travel to Europe this week as he bids to prove his fitness ahead of the Tour de France. Barloworld upbeat on Soleruk.eurosport.yahoo
June 23 update: CSC-Saxo Bank names Tour squad No Julich; Sastre, Schleck brothers leadvelonews

TV and Internet Coverage

June 18 update: Over the next week I'll be putting together a more comphrehensive list of the many options for viewing the 2008 Tour de France. But for now, here are ITV's plans (for the UK) to go along the versus details below. — Steve

With Cadel Evans among this year's favourites, Australia's SBS will continue it's trend to broadcast more coverage: SBS's 2008 Tour de France plans.

June 16 update: Lance Armstrong talks Tourbikeradar
and Team High Road to become Team Columbia (Sportswear) before the Tour — velonews

June 9 update: Versus (North America) TdF TV Schedule is now up. and June 9th news that Versus inks a new 5-year, $27M deal .

Screw the dopers...the politics...the critics:

All stage profiles and timetables are now posted

June 3 update: Just added the links to all the stage profiles and timetables. (see the stage details right) Maps are still forthcoming, but the timetables will give you explicit stage-by-stage details. Also, the timetables tell you when the riders will pass a given point along the route. — Steve

June 2 update: Sorry for the lack updates in May. All my focus was on the Giro d'Italia last month. If you weren't following it on a daily basis, here is our completed Giro d'Italia Live Dashboard... I've just changed the stage 15 start from Digne-les-Bains to Embrun as officially announced by the organizers in April. That gives Embrun two starts in 2008. Apparently there is a potentially dangerous slide zone requiring a precautionary route change... Also, just recently I was wondering about a Tour Google Earth file and within days Thomas Vergouwen sent one in: Tour de France 2008 in Google Earth (). Expect the links to all the remaining, maps, profiles and timetables to be activated very soon. — Steve

April 30 update: France toughen anti-doping law ahead of Tourtodayonline


Mountain stage profiles now posted

March 23rd update: Over the next few months, profiles, maps and timetables will be released by the Tour de France organizers. When they do, I'll activate the links to new content. First up are the stage profiles for the five mountain stages. See the stage summary table (right). — Steve

2008 Teams announced:

March 20th update:
The twenty teams to participate in the 2008 Tour de France:
AG2r-La Mondiale
Bouygues Telecom
Cofidis
Credit Agricole
Française des Jeux
Agritubel (Continental Pro)
Caisse d'Epargne
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Saunier Duval
Gerolsteiner
Milram
Quick Step
Silence-Lotto
Lampre
Liquigas
Team High Road
Slipstream (Continental Pro)
Team CSC
Rabobank
Barloworld (Continental Pro)
read more...

February 13th update: ASO announced the 20 teams that will take the start of the 66th Paris-Nice and, as rumoured, Astana has been barred from all ASO races this year, thus preventing last year's Paris-Nice and Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador, from defending his titles. The official race route for Paris-Nice still hasn't been announced, but I have the unofficial route posted along with the complete list of 20 teams for Paris-Nice 2008. — Steve

Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel: "We have done everything to change the dynamics of the team. New management, new riders, new philosophy. Only the name of the sponsor remained. ... We are spending 460,000 euros on internal anti-doping efforts for 2008. What more can we do?" Bruyneel said in a team communique. "What's strange is, ASO does not invite us because of the past of a team that had the same name. Many other teams, with a similar suspicious past, that did not change management or structure, can participate without problems. Where is the consistency? Is Tour the France not losing all credibility now?".

He has a good point, but maybe the difference is Astana's stronger link to the past. Astana was reborn out of Liberty Seguros-Würth-Astana after the extensive doping scandals with that team and before last year's Tour de France, Astana was already dubbed "the men in black" for evading out of competition random tests. Alexandre Vinokourov's positive test during last year's Tour de France was disastrous for the event, but not surprising in some people's eyes. As a forum commenter put it: The way I understand it, Astana is being punished for getting it's hand caught in the cookie jar the second time. After it's ban as Liberty Seguros in 2006 for involvement in Operation Puerto. They were allowed back into the tour in 2007 as Astana, a "new team". Now, the team has lots of good riders that will not be racing in many big races this year. Instead they'll be paying the price for the mistakes of old employees. ASO's decision is already fueling the anti-French sentiment among many upset cycling fans, but don't stoop that low if you are frustrated. Astana's new-signings surely were aware of the risk of joining a tainted team. Nobody wins from this decision. In the short run, it's more bad news for the financial stability of the sport. As John Wilcockson writes below, hopefully this situation can get arbitrated. Cycling needs a stronger riders' union. — Steve

Tour Director Christian Prudhomme explains his justification; Contador reactsEurosport
Inside Cycling: Playing with fire (John Wilcockson/Velonews): The 2007 Tour runner-up Cadel Evans has already said that he does not want to start the Tour without his main rivals. Also, both the pro teams' association and the pro riders' union indicated last week that they are prepared to boycott this year's Giro d'Italia should the organizers not accept Astana and other UCI ProTour teams to the Italian grand tour. It's likely they will now threaten to boycott the Tour. If that is the case, then there will be open warfare between the sport's major players -- that could only be resolved by arbitration.
When will come the end?cyclingfansanonymous.blogspot.com (Before embarking on a journey of revenge, first dig two graves. --Chinese proverb)

January 28th update: Despite the doping scandals, the Tour's still a hot property... but most of us already knew that of course. More than 200 cities have expressed interest in hosting a start or finish and 10 countries would like to host the grand depart including places as far away as Japan, Qatar and Guadaloupe. — Steve

January 25th update: Just when you start to forget about it, the Operación Puerto mess resurfaces as a reminder of yesterday's doping problems. There is nothing new to report other than a chain reaction of articles translating what was published in a Spanish newspaper this past week.

Although, Team Astana has been overhauled with Johan Bruyneel as the new general manager and last year's Tour champion, Alberto Contador now playing the starring role, Velonews reports sources say lingering questions over whether Contador is linked to the Operación Puerto investigation and Astana's scandalous legacy from 2007 might prompt Tour organizers to leave the team out of the season's most important race when invitations are announced in the coming weeks. The excellent Eurosport video recap of the 2007 Tour () summarized it best if you need a refresher. But don't despair, the sport is looking a little better and unless something conclusive comes up, it would be equally scandalous on the part of the Tour organizers, ASO, to exclude last year's winner and the 3rd place finisher, Levi Leipheimer, simply because of bad Astana memories. Feb 2 Update: however, that may be the case. — Steve


December 7th update: Tour de France 2009 will start in Monaco and the official start announcement is next Friday December 14th. — Steve

Tour de France 2008 Route Map (la carte du parcours)


Animated Map Fly Through ( 59 secs)

Medium to Full Mountain Stages

Stage 6; July 10: Aigurande → Super-Besse, 195 km
Col de la Croix-Morand, 8 km at 5.1%
Super-Besse, 11 km at 4.7%
Stage 7: July 12: Brioude → Aurillac, 158 km
Col d'Entremont, 6.5 km at 4.7%
Col du Pas de Peyrol (Puy Mary), 7.8 km at 6.2%
Stage 9: July 13: Toulouse → Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 226km
Col des Ares, 6 km at 4,9%
Col de Peyresourde, 13.2 km at 7.1%
Col d'Aspin, 12.1 km at 6.6%
Stage 10; July 14: Pau → Hautacam, 154km
Col du Tourmalet, 17.7 km at 7.5%
Hautacam, 14.2 km at 7.2%
Stage 15: July 20: Digne-les-Bains → Prato Nevoso, 216km
Col de Larche/Maddalena, 16.1 km at 4%
Col de Pratonevoso, 11.1 km at 7.1%
Stage 16: July 22: Cuneo → Jausiers, 157km
Col de la Lombarde, 21.2 km at 7%
Col de la Bonnette-Restefond, 26.7 km at 6.2%
Stage 17: July 23: Embrun → L'Alpe d'Huez, 210km
Col du Galibier, 20.9 km at 5.6%
Col de Croix-de-Fer, 29.2 km at 5.2%
L'Alpe d'Huez, 13.3 km at 8.6%
Stage 18: July 24: Bourg-d'Oisans → Saint-Etienne, 197 km
Col de Parmenie, 5.3 km at 7%
La Croix de Montvieux, 13.7 km at 5.5%

The 21 stages have the following profiles:
* 10 flat stages,
* 4 medium mountain stages with two coming in the first week (stages 6 and 7)
* 5 mountain stages,
* 2 individual time-trial stages,

Key points to the 2008 event
* No prologue for the first time in 40 years
* 4 mountain finishes... one less mountain stage but one more summit finish than last year
* 2 rest days,
* 82 kilometres of individual time-trials
* 19 category 1, category 2 and hors categorie climbs... two fewer than last year

Only 82k of time-trialing (bad for Cadel Evans) and less mountainous climbing than usual. One less mountain stage but one more mountaintop finish than last year (good for Alberto Contador). Easily the hardest stage will be the last mountain stage (stage 17: Embrun to Alpe d'Huez). Cols de la Croix de Fer and Galibier will really soften up the legs before L'Alpe d'Huez; it will be pretty much the Marmotte course, but longer... 210k. The course favors a repeat overall win by Alberto Contador. — Steve

A modest Grand TourCyclingnews
Time trials cut shortCyclingnews
Balanced route for 2008 Tour (No Time bonuses this year)Eurosport
  Route in 3D Video (not too exciting) — letour.fr
No guaranteed [team] places at 2008 TourGuardian Unlimited, UK
Contador eyes yellow jersey defence and literally points to Alpe d'Huez — citizen.co.za/AFP
Rider ReactionsCyclingnews
Polemics still simmering as challenging route unveiled; 'Definitely a climber's course,' says EvansVelonews
'Biological passports' at Tour de France 2008telegraph.co.uk
  Route Presentation PhotosCyclingnews
  Talk of 'Biological Passports' at the Tour Route PresentationEurosport

October 25th 3:00 AM PST update: Official 2008 Route is now up (also see stage summary table right)
October 25th 2:55 AM PST update: L'Etape du Tour 2008 is officially Pau → Hautacam (154 km) on Sunday, July 6th. (Thanks Richard W. for the scoop). At 154k and just two good climbs it's one of the easiest Etape profiles you'll ever see...

October 25th 1:37 AM PST update: Good morning TdF fans, we are waiting for the official announcement which I've been unable to "officially" scoop like I did last year. Sources such as Velonews and Cyclingnews are confirming that the 2008 route will have a mountain stage in the first week; it will go to Italy for the first time since Lance Armstrong won at Sestriere in 1999; it will move counter-clockwise hitting the Pyrenees before the Alps and there will be a summit finish on Alpe d'Huez. Fact and rumours are differentiated in the stage summary table using blue and gray links, respectively. Send me an email if you see something first. Stay tuned for the latest updates... — Steve

October 24th update: Judging by the logo on the invitation to the official route announcement, I guess the theme this year is "I still love the Tour de Frace despite everything." As a reminder, tomorrow, October 25th, at 11:00 AM Paris time the official 2008 route will be unveiled. As soon as it's announced, details and links to more information will appear here. So check back tomorrow to find out which of the rumoured towns are actually part of the official route. — Steve

October 17th update: I've gone ahead and put the tentative stages (marked in light gray) in the stage summary table to the right based on updated information from newspapers and Thomas Vergouwen's link that he emailed me last week. I'm certain his speculating isn't totally correct but it's a good start. According to the French cycling forums, the rest day on July 13th will be the day of L'Etape du Tour when recreational get to cycle a stage of the Tour de France. In 2008, apparently, the Etape will do Stage 9 from Pau to Hautacam the day before pros do it. Normally, the Etape is a week before the actual stage so good luck getting a hotel in Pau if the pros, their entourage and fans are staying their as well. If you have something you want to add or correct then please send me an email — Steve

October 11th update: Almost as exciting as the actual route announcement which is confirmed for two weeks from today, Thursday, October 25th, are the route rumors. Thomas Vergouwen has sent a link to some rumours/details he has gleened:

September 16th update: Expect the official route announcement on Thursday, October 25th. This isn't for certain, but the announcement has fallen on the last Thursday of October in the past years. In the meantime, check back occasionally on the latest rumors and if you have some good scoop then don't hestiate to forward it. Last year, we were the first ones to reveil the official route. Maybe it will happen again this year. — Steve

2008 Tour de France Starts In Brittany without a prologue

BREST, France, Jan 18, 2007 — The 2008 Tour de France cycling race, without a prologue in the program, will start in Brittany on Saturday, July 5 going from Brest on the Atlantic coast to Plumelec. The second stage is set to run from Auray to St. Brieuc on Sunday, July 6, while the third stage starts from St Malo.

Christian Prudhomme, Director of Tour de France:
It's a fundamental principle: a Tour that starts in Brittany finishes with the crowning of a cycling giant. Look at the evidence: Brest 1952: 1st Coppi; Rennes 1964: 1st Anquetil; Brest 1974: 1st Merckx; Plumelec 1985: 1st Hinault; Saint-Brieuc 1995: 1st Indurain!

Tour de France 2008 Route Map (Briton stages only)

2007 tour de france route map
map (carte) and profiles source: letour.fr

Five stars on a flawless prize list. Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Indurain: five cycling legends who, in turn on the Tour, garnered the force in Brittany to clinch an ultimate triumph in this prized race three weeks later. Is this not the stuff of tales and legends, a tribute to the doyen of cycling races from its greatest riders?

A start from Brittany is also the guarantee of a grand and magnificent celebration, a passion shared by an entire Region gathered together in the wake of its president, Jean-Yves Le Drian, responsible for the project. One region, four counties, five towns - together - make the recurrent dream of the Tour reality. From the Finistere to the Ile-et-Vilaine, from the Morbihan to the Cotes-d'Armor, in Brest, Plumelec, Auray, Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Malo, and in all of the towns travelled through, Brittany will present us with its most beautiful landscapes, its crowds clustered along the five hundred kilometres of road covered, its love of cycling.

For the first time in more than forty years, the 2008 Tour de France will begin with a straight stage. Usually only a small number of specialists in solitary effort can aspire to winning the first yellow jersey. Next year however, near to two hundred riders will be dreaming that this Holy Grail is within their reach. A remarkable first stage, from Brest and its great sailing ships to Plumelec, where bold challengers, sprinters and - perhaps - potential candidates for final victory will all have the opportunity to win fame. In the land of Bobet and Hinault the Tour de France is at home. Brittany wanted the Tour. The Tour wanted Brittany. Roll on 2008!

Jean-Francois Pescheux, competitions Director says, "There will be a new feature at the departure from Brest: we have decided to replace the usual prologue time trial reserved for a dozen specialists, with a stage of almost 170 kilometres after which 100 cyclists will be in the running for possession of the Yellow Jersey. The race will therefore be enthralling from the opening kilometres and the Monts d'Arree will be a formidable battleground in this very open first stage, because the arrival at Plumelec could hold some surprises in store. The remainder of the race, between Auray and Saint Brieuc is also certain to be action-packed, with its hilly course and the passage through Mur-de-Bretagne, just like the third stage which will depart from Saint-Malo and cross Ille-et-Vilaine... In short, it is certain to be a Grand Depart full of suspense."

The official announcement was made in Rennes. — Steve, Jan 25th, 2007

Running from Saturday July 5th to Sunday July 27th 2008, the 95th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages (no prologue) and will cover a total distance of TBA kilometres.

The 21 stages have the following profiles:
* 10 flat stages,
* 4 medium mountain stages,
* 5 mountain stages,
* 2 individual time-trial stages,

Key points to the 2008 event
* No prologue for the first time in 40 years
* 4 mountain finishes,
* 2 rest days,
* 82 kilometres of individual time-trials
* 19 category 1, category 2 and hors categorie climbs

Ronde van Frankrijk