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Long-time Tour fans watch the race unfold on TV

Zabel's group of sprinters make the final switchback

Sastre struggles upward

Zabriskie's face says it all: 'Does this never end?'

Stage Stats: Stage 15 by the numbers

Stage Stats: Stage 15 by the numbers

Steven De Jongh hits the deck

Martinez and Hincapie join a big break before the Izoard

Garzelli goes on the attack

Rujano tries to make a mark on this Tour

On the Lautaret

Landis rode a smart race

Zabriskie did a big job delivering Schleck to the Alpe

Cunego and Schleck emerged from the break to lead up the Alpe

Pereiro faught valiantly to keep the jersey, but now trails by 10 seconds

Leipheimer is still making up time he lost with that awful TT

De la Fuente did what he had to to preserve his hold on the Polka Dot jersey

Landis was more concerned about his immediate rivals

After reachinghis 1000-mile goal in June, Major Jason Bryan gets to turn hisattention to other - more important - matters, like heading home. -EditorThis week I will return my bike to the same shipping container I removedit from ten months ago - a symbolic, bitter-sweet (more sweet than bitter)end to a dreadful, wonderful year.Below are a few reflections of my cycling experience and life in generalfor the deployed Soldier — a few observations you won’t get anywhere else.Third country nationals do most of the “undesirable” work around thecamp. They are always quick with a greeting and a smile,

Lance Armstrong can be assured of a red-hot welcome in the Alps when he joins up with his Discovery Channel team Monday. But this time, the 34-year-old Texan's exploits on the bike will not be the reason. The now retired seven-time winner hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons a few days ago when he labeled the French soccer team "assholes." And given some headlines and editorials in the French press ahead of his expected arrival, the American could find himself on a bumpy ride when he joins up with the team which he partly owns, Discovery Channel. The newspaper France Soir took

Barry Wicks capped a winning weekend for the Kona-Les Gets squad, taking the men’s pro short track on Sunday at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Sonoma, California. It was the first mountain-bike national championship win for the 24-year old Oregonian, who now resides in Santa Cruz, California.

Talk about close finishes. On the last day of the Cascade Cycling Classic, a circuit race held on a demanding 17-mile loop, Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) won a tiebreaker based on stage finishes against Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis) to win the final overall classification. Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Kristen LaSasso (Lipton) maintained her 23-second lead over teammate Kristen Armstrong to take the overall victory. MenIn the men’s circuit race Neil Shirley (Jittery Joe’s) took the stage victory, out-dueling breakaway partners Glen Chadwick (Navigators), Aaron Olson (Saunier

Whoever succeeds in succeeding Lance Armstrong as Tour de France champion will face a test of his individual climbing skills when the race heads high into the Alps on Tuesday. With three days of tough climbing (see below) to nearly 3000 meters in altitude, the four or five main contenders will have their work cut out on some of the legendary climbs which have etched pain on the faces of thousands of riders. The Col d'Izoard, the Alpe d'Huez, the Galibier and Joux Plane are among the race's most popular climbs with the fans, and the most feared by the peloton. But for the

I have had to pinch myself in the last few days. This the first time I’ve been on a successful Tour de France team. And after two weeks we have had a stage winner in Sylvain Calzati (stage 8 at Lorient), then a yellow-jersey wearer in Cyril Dessel. Everyone is on a high. Sure, when Francisco Mancebo left the Tour on the night before it started, it was a somber night; but then we had get up the next day and just move on. Since then we have all been focused on the job. And we will have to keep that focus, because have two riders who could finish in the top 10 at Paris when the race finishes on

The only time Floyd Landis has broken a sweat so far in this Tour de France is when he’s facing a dirty horde of journalists and television camera lights packed into a hotel lobby on rest day press conferences. The Phonak team captain remains calm as he enters the final week of the 2006 Tour de France in the driver’s seat, facing Tuesday’s grueling stage to Alpe d’Huez with trademark aplomb. "I don’t predict I will win the Tour, but I believe I can," Landis said during Monday’s rest day. "If we win the Tour, we’ll have to be the smartest racer, not the strongest racer." Second overall at

As T-Mobile held a team press conference on the Tour de France’s second rest day ahead of three tough days in the Alps, Jan Ullrich released his own statement, saying he should be considered innocent of doping allegations until proven otherwise. T-Mobile suspended the 32-year-old German and teammate Oscar Sevilla after they were linked to a doctor in Spain said to have organized a blood-doping and performance-enhancing network. The inquiry, dubbed Operacíon Puerto, uncovered large amounts of doping substances, packs of frozen blood and a list with some 200 names of athletes. "In any state

There have been some memorable finishes at L’Alpe d’Huez. But perhaps none of the 23 road stages that have finished atop the 21-turn mountain road has had as big an impact as that promised on Tuesday. With at least six riders still holding a serious chance of winning the 2006 Tour de France with six days of racing remaining, the hundreds of thousands of fans lining the 13.8km climb to the finish of stage 15 should witness a spectacular battle. Before the two Pyrenean stages last week, then race leader Floyd Landis (Phonak-iShares) was given the biggest chance of winning this Tour. For many,

Tour de France prize distribution up to and including Stage 14: Davitamon: 49,060 eurosRabobank: 38,970T-Mobile: 35,740Lampre: 32,720AG2R: 32,590Gerolsteiner: 31,520Discovery Channel: 27,300Saunier Duval: 26,560Bouygues Telecom: 26,500Cofidis: 26,280Crédit Agricole: 25,090CSC: 23,580Quick Step: 20,180Caisse d'Epargne: 19,610Liquigas: 18,950Francaise des Jeux: 18,910Milram: 18,860Euskaltel: 13,250Agritubel: 12,550Phonak: 10,180Source: ASO

Well, what can I say? I almost pulled something off yesterday that I didn't think was possible. Never say die and even the simplest concept can go a long way. I attacked on instinct yesterday with 1.5k to go and almost caught the two escapees. Another 300 meters and I would’ve caught them, but I am content with giving it a shot at the finish after one of the hardest – hottest – stages we’ve seen this Tour. Today we rested, have some interviews and rode 50 miles through the valley. For this rest day we did a little more than the last one since tomorrow will be a hard stage and you would

The guys riding the Tour de France for T-Mobile just can’t seem to be able to rid themselves of the omnipresence of Jan Ullrich, no matter how hard they try. On Monday afternoon, Andreas Klöden was just telling the press that he is beginning to adjust to his new role as a team leader. Fielding questions from the press, Klöden seemed at ease and even confident. Then, a fax from Ullrich’s manager Wolfgang Strohband landed on the table of the team hotel’s reception. Team spokesman Christian Frommert brought the note out to the terrace overlooking the little village of Sigoya and the majestic

Australians Robbie McEwen and Cadel Evans of the Davitamon-Lotto squad were a study in contrasts in Gap on Monday while discussing their outlook for the final six stages of the race. And perhaps rightfully so — the outspoken McEwen has a relatively tight grasp on the green points jersey, while the soft-spoken Evans, sitting fifth on GC, 2:46 behind leader Floyd Landis (Phonak), is far from certain to finish on the podium in Paris. At a rest-day press conference with McEwen, Evans and Davitamon team manager Marc Sergeant, the team’s patron said he’s not surprised at how well the Aussies have

A cheery greeting for Monsieur Armstrong

Fausto Coppi, on his way to becoming the Tour's first winner atop L'Alpe d'Huez

The 21 switchbacks of L'Alpe d'Huez

Try not to think about it.

Floyd Landis and team manager John Lelangue training on the rest day

McEwen and Evans, enjoying the last rest day before the Alps

Course: With a rest day coming up in Gap, followed by the Alps, this gives the lesser known riders one of their last chances of glory. The intricate 180.5km stage through hilly terrain north of Mont Ventoux offers two Cat. 3 climbs in the first half and two Cat. 2s in the second half. The narrow back roads and constant ups-and-downs will make it a hard stage for everyone and encourage breakaways. The last of the climbs, the Sentinelle, is less than 10km from the finish and offers a great chance for a solo rider to stay clear of a small breakaway group. History: Gap has seen the finish of 18

Unless you’re a diehard Bouygues Telecom fan, stage 14 of the 2006 Tour de France won’t be remembered as a day marked by large time gains or big victories. The 180.5km stage from Montélimar, in northern Provence, to Gap, in the foothill of the southern Alps, will go down as a day of crashes, abandons and drama. A spectacular sequence of riders overcooking a right turn at the end of a winding descent with 40km remaining took down half of the day’s six-man breakaway, opening the door for Frenchman Pierrick Fédrigo (Bouygues Telecom) and Salvatore Commesso (Lampre-Fondital) to ride on and

1. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom 180.5km in 4:14:23 (42.573kph)2. Salvatore Commesso (I), Lampre, 00:003. Christian Vande Velde (USA), CSC, 00:034. Christophe Moreau (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 00:075. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:076. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:077. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, 00:078. Cristian Moreni (I), Cofidis, 00:079. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 00:0710. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 00:07 11. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole, 00:0712. Christophe Rinero (F), Saunier Duval, 00:0713. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre,

Eddy Merckx, the world’s greatest ever cyclist, visited the Tour that he won five time for stage 14. His mission? To watch his son Axel race for Phonak, spend time with Merckx Jr. and his grandchildren on the rest day and to find out for himself who will join the family of our champions. Before stage 14 started at Montelimar on Sunday, Merckx spoke to Rupert Guinness to discuss how he saw the race unfolding VeloNews.co: How has the Tour changed since you raced? Eddy Merckx: Oh … there is a huge difference now, yes. It is a lot more publicized, There are more media. It has become so much

Some of our VN crew were out of the course today, a little too far ahead of the peloton, but they did get a chance to take in some of the sights along the way.

Last year, Rabobank’s Michael Rasmussen electrified the Tour de France with a big stage win and rode with the king of the mountains jersey into Paris. So far this year, the former world mountain bike champion has been quietly finding his way. The skinny Dane worked for team captain Denis Menchov in the Pyrénées and has patiently been scooping up points for the polka-dot jersey. He promises to step back into the limelight in the Alps, but first come Menchov’s hopes in the GC. VeloNews caught up with Rasmussen ahead of Monday’s rest day. Here are excerpts of the interview: VeloNews.com:

While you've been enjoying the weekend, firing up the BBQ and maybe downing a brew or three, Casey Gibson was galloping through France alongside le Tour, chronicling the day's action. Here's what he sent back across the pond.

After a double day of competition domestique riders Jeff Louder (Health Net-Maxxis) and Kristen LaSasso (Lipton) continue to lead the Cascade Cycling Classic. Saturday’s racing included a flat, 6.6-mile time trial in the morning and a technical, downtown criterium in the evening. Men’s time trialLouder rode bravely in the morning time trial to retain the leaders jersey by a scant nine seconds over his teammate Nathan O’Neill. O’Neill now sits in second place overall, with Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) moving down to third. Louder, who seemed a bit stunned by his performance, said being in

Eric Carter (Mongoose) nailed the start and withstood a hard-charging Brian Lopes to defend his national mountain-cross championship at the 2006 USA Cycling National Mountain Bike Championships. The 36-year-old Carter, who hails from Temecula, California, was more than one second slower than Lopes in qualifying, but perfectly timed the dropping of the start gate to grab an advantage on the reigning world champion in the finals. Surprisingly, Lopes chose the outside lane in the finals, giving Carter the inside. "Luckily I was able to shut him down because we all know that when Brian gets out

WeatherSunny early in stage, building clouds, afternoon showers, highs 34C Stage winnerPierrick Fedrigo (Bouygues Telecom), 4h14:23, 42.574 kph – The Frenchman scored his team’s first Tour stage win at the expense of Salvatore Commesso (Lampre), who came up just short of winning Italy’s first stage of this Tour. Fedrigo’s win is the third by a Frenchman in this Tour. Fedrigo was part a six-man break that slipped away at about 60km. Three crashed out at 141km in the most fearsome spill of the Tour so far. Race leaderOscar Pereiro (Caisse d’Epargne), 2,679.1km, 64h05:04 – Pereiro had a

Stage 14: Montélimar to Gap - 180.5km

Stage 14: Montélimar to Gap - 180.5km

Fedrigo takes the win

Verbrugghe has a broken leg

Another day in yellow.

Eddy Merckx and Rupert Guinness in Montelimar

The Tour's 'copter squadron

Sculpture in Montelimar

A spectator in Montelimar

You'll excuse us if we take a pass on this corn

Didi Senft is now a Tour de France regular

These guys may become fixtures as well

Well-tended trees

The VeloCrew takes a lunch break

Scenic Provence

Mari Holden, flying her team colors.

Keep the roads cool

Laurent Jalabert looking thoughtful at the start.

Lavender...

... lavender....

... everywhere.

Another beautiful sight at the Tour. Marketa Navratilova of Cor Vos Photo

Casey Gibson spots his retirement home.

Orchards are big business in Provence.

Surface temps were quite high...

... resulting in expected damage to the tarmac.

Commesso leads the break...

... Popovych leads the chase...

and the Tour heads into Gap.

Hincapie joined up with an early break, which never got far down the road.

Verbrugghe got in the right break... though now he probably wishes he hadn't

Pereiro relished his first day in yellow...