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Kessler wins

and has reason to celebrate after Monday's heartbreaker

and his T-Mobile teammate, Rogers, leads the field in.

Fourth-placed Boonen gets the jersey

Valverde knew the truth the moment he stood up

Rodriguez and Dekker

Arrieta tried to hold off the field but fell victim to the Cauberg

Kessler's win was that much sweeter after Monday

Boonen wears yellow into Belgium tomorrow

He's got the jersey. Now he wants a stage.

Stage 4: Does this one suit Boonen?

Course: The Tour’s second longest stage (228.5km) opens with two significant Cat. 3 climbs in the forested hills of the Vosges and closes with two shorter Cat. 4 climbs on the France-Luxembourg border just before the finish. In between is 150km of rolling terrain through the agricultural Lorraine region. There’s bound to be an early breakaway on such a long stage, but the straight wide roads favor the sprinters’ teams in pulling things back together before the final 20km. The two Cat. 4 climbs with 16km and 13.5km to go, followed by two smaller, unrated ones in the last 5km, could spawn a

After suffering a stroke of bad luck in a finishing sprint for the second straight day at the Tour de France, it might seem like the gods are against Thor Hushovd. If that’s the case, they’ll have to try harder to hold back the big Norwegian, who snatched the yellow jersey back from American George Hincapie with a third-place finish behind Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) in the 228.5km stage 2 from Obernai, France, to Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg. In a long jaunt north from the Alsace region of eastern France to the industrial mining and steel

1. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto2. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 00:003. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 00:004. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, 00:005. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, 00:006. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:007. Stuart O’Grady(Aus), CSC, 00:008. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 00:009. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, 00:00 10. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:0011. Cristian Moreni (I), Cofidis, 00:0012. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:0013. Michael Albasini (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:0014. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:0015.

When it comes to having things just so, few riders in the ProTour peloton can match Levi Leipheimer. Gerolsteiner’s No. 1 Tour hope often makes his own mechanical adjustments, wanting to make sure his bike is exactly the way he wants it. For the second year in a row the American is aboard the Specialized Tarmac SL, a lightweight full carbon steed from the Morgan Hill, California-based company. The bike has a claimed weight of 895 grams for the frame and 300 grams for the fork. Here’s a closer look at Leipheimer’s bike on the morning of stage 2 of the 2006 Tour de France.

Normally the peloton would have looked forward to a day like this. The sun was shining brightly over the three country corner between Germany, France and Luxembourg and 228km through a lovely landscape of vineyards, sun flower fields and lush forests lay ahead of the riders. Instead, the atmosphere was tense at the start in the Alsatian town of Obernai on Monday morning. Especially the German teams Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile seemed nervous. Just when most thought doping was off the agenda and they could focus on cycling, the riders and team directors were confronted with unpleasant

It didn’t last very long, but George Hincapie enjoyed every second of his run in the yellow jersey. The 33-year-old ceded the maillot jaune back to Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) after not contesting Monday’s sprint into Esch-sur-Alzette with 21st place and dipped to fourth overall at 16 seconds back. “I didn’t sleep in it, but I was very happy,” Hincapie told VeloNews before Monday’s start. “The night was so different than the night before, when I was thinking about how everything I could have done different (after losing the prologue by less than one second). To be so close to the yellow

Australian rider Michael Rogers confirmed Monday that his T-Mobile team bosses ordered him to sever all contact with controversial Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari. Rogers also openly confirmed that he has been trained by Ferrari since the second half of last year. “I have been working with him for this year and a little it of last year; obviously just (with) training programs and what not,” Rogers told VeloNews on Tuesday. “I rated him because I think he is the best coach in the world. Just look at some of the athletes he has worked with.” News of Rogers’ association with Ferrari

Former cycling trainer Freddy Sergant was sentenced to four years in jail Monday in a trial centered on a doping ring that supplied a cocktail of amphetamines, cocaine and heroin to riders in France and Belgium. Sergant received the harshest of 23 sentences, with none of the defendants escaping punishment. The sentencing comes amid a scandal that threw the Tour de France into chaos on the eve of the race. Several top cyclists were withdrawn Friday because of a doping investigation in Spain. Sergant, a Belgian believed to be the key figure, also was fined more than $230,000. His wife,

WeatherSunny, into low 90s, light to moderate winds Stage winnerRobbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), 5h36:14, 40.775kph – The plucky Aussie sprinter won his ninth Tour stage in his ninth career Tour start, improving on his second place from Sunday. The 34-year-old proved he still has the best finish-line kick, relegating world champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) to second. Those two are sure to knock heads again. Sunday’s winner, Jimmy Casper (Cofidis), got dropped and finished 172nd at 9:14 back. Race leaderThor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), 9h54:19 – The Norwegian brushed off a cut to

From start-line caravan to finish-line chaos, Casey Gibson covers it all. Here's what he saw between the lines today.

I was struck when reading this question about what a strange world some of us cyclists live in, where bodily encounters with solid objects and even riding over fallen riders are commonplace. It got me thinking in the wee hours not only about bicycle geometry, which was the original gist of the question, but also about bruising, inflammation, Tyler Hamilton’s lower back and heart attacks! Now, either these are more closely connected than we may think, or maybe I should do more sleeping and less pondering in the wee hours, as connections between divergent thoughts that seem so profound long

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.The testing sucks, but racing rulesEditor:How is it that nine of the riders in 2006 the Tour de France were on the Operación Puerto list, but all 198 riders tested perfectly clean? What is wrong with the testing? Even Jörg Jaksche, who was "having stomach troubles," tested clean. One

When Levi Leipheimer first looked at the course for the 2006 Tour de France he fingered Stage 3 from Esch-sur-Alzette to Valkenburg as the one he would study the most in the first week. Starting in Luxembourg, crossing Belgium and ending in the Netherlands, the 216.5km stage saves its teeth for the end: six categorized climbs and two sprints in the final two hours of racing. And these are not just any old climbs. The first is the Côte de la Haute-Levée, one of the key climbs of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the last, 2km from the finish, is the infamous Cauberg that concludes another spring

Cycling politics and controversy aside, I’m stoked about the Tour deFrance. I sure hope OLN provides coverage to the American ForcesNetwork (AFN) so I can enjoy a few stages on television. We got everyvolley of the French Open and PLENTY of World Cup coverage; hopefully they’lldo the same for the TdF.The best part of all is the fact that the completion of “The Tour” willmark yet another milestone in the completion of “my tour.” When thepeloton crosses the finish line in Paris, I’ll be that much closer to achievingmy ultimate goal… going home.Our softball team is now gimp with pulled

Stage 2: Obernai to Esch-sur-Alzette - 228.5km

Stage 2: Obernai to Esch-sur-Alzette - 228.5km

McEwen wins a mad dash to the line... Hushovd pops a pedal, but wins the jersey back

A team mechanic makes final adjustments to Leipheimer’s Specialized Tarmac SL.

The timing chip makes sure Leipheimer and the rest of the Tour peloton are precisely tracked.

Leipheimer’s Specialized Tarmac SL

Carbon bottle cages help keep things as light as possible.

The ever-popular Shimano Dura-Ace crankset.

The full drive train

Highlights from Monday's route marked out in low tech fashion

Just to avoid confusion

Seat post and saddle

Will No. 41 be No. 1 in Paris?

Hushovd: Back in yellow

Perhaps with bigger goals in mind, Hincapie and Discovery didn't opt to defend the jersey aggresively on Monday

Hernandez and De la Fuente attacked in the first kilometer

Casper spent one day in green, before fading and conceding the jersey to McEwen.

McEwen wins; Hushovd reacts

After 11 Tours, most agree that Hincapie's shot at yellow was well-deserved

Culture clash: Publicity caravan in Obernai

Chris Davies, 69, who rode from Portsmouth, England,to Strasbourg for the Tour

'Hey, Thor, need a hand?' 'Already had one, thanks.' (Actually, Hushovd says he was cut by a camera.)

The depart in beautiful Obernai

Riders heading for the start

Levi at the start

The leaders and the small army of vehicles that protects them on the road

The peloton snakes through the French countryside

Il Falco on a descent

McEwen scores his ninth career Tour stage win

Figuring out all the angles

Course: After a parade-style ride from the start outside Strasbourg’s 1000-year-old cathedral, the racing begins on the western edge of the city. The riders then make a counterclockwise loop around the quaint Alsatian towns and vineyards, cross the Rhine River into Germany and then head back across the river for the finish on part of the previous day’s prologue course. The day’s only categorized climb, a Cat. 4, is in the foothills of the Vosges mountains. History: The last time a road stage finished in Strasbourg, in 2001, the 211km stage 6 from Commercy was won by Estonian sprinter Jaan

In the absence of his friend and longtime Tour de France team leader Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie proved on Sunday that he has no problems taking things into his own hands. In the first road stage of the 2006 Tour, the Discovery Channel rider made a crafty move at an intermediate sprint spot to grab a small time bonus and launch himself into the race lead to become just the fourth American to wear the yellow jersey in Tour history. Stage 1, a mostly flat 184.5km loop that started and finished in the city of Strasbourg, was billed as a sprinters’ affair and that’s how it turned out as the

An American sportswriter new to the Tour de France famously said a few years ago: “Why do they have all these flat stages? Why not go straight to the mountains? They’re more fun, right?” On the face of it, he was right. But if there were only mountain stages, half the field would soon be eliminated and the race would become pretty boring. What he didn’t get (at first) is that the so-called flat stages, combined with the climbing stages and the time trials produce a three-week race that crowns the best all-around rider (and team). In many Tours, the lightly built climbers — like the

Teams regroup following expulsionsThey’ve gone from being the favorites to scratching their heads about what this Tour de France means. Powerhouses such as T-Mobile and Team CSC are starting to come to grips with the unprecedented expulsions of pre-Tour favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso. The pair’s departure in Friday’s purge - when nine riders from four teams were kicked out of the Tour for alleged links to a blood doping in Spain - left both teams reeling in their absence. Now, as the Tour rolled into its first road stage, the Tour’s presumptive dominators have taken stock and are

The latest piece of helmet hardware from Giro was unveiled at a downtown hotel in Strasbourg on Sunday. The new lid, dubbed Ionos, is the next generation in a line that started back in 1987 with the egg-shaped Pro Light. But the Ionos bears little resemblance to its ancestor. Instead the company claims that this stealthy offering is lighter and stronger than anything it’s offered before. The Ionos is said to weigh 260 grams (medium size) and will be available starting in spring 2007. In the meantime riders from Discovery Channel, Rabobank and Phonak are getting the first crack at it.

Results – Stage 11. Jimmy Casper (F), Cofidis2. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 00:003. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, 00:004. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, 00:005. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:006. Isaac Galvez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 00:007. Stuart O´Grady (Aus), CSC, 00:008. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 00:009. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 00:0010. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, 00:00 11. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:0012. Inaki Isasi (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:0013. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 00:0014. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier

Norwegian Thor Hushovd, wearing the yellow jersey, was injured during the first stage of the Tour de France held over 184.5km here Sunday. Hushovd was lying on the ground conscious after the dramatic end to the stage but with blood pouring out of what appeared to be a cut on his right arm. Saturday's prologue winner was taken to hospital after he appeared to have been hit by a promotional item held by spectator as he prepared to sprint for victory. Video shows the Norwegian brushing up against a giant cardboard hand distributed by sprint jersey sponsor PMU. The items have caused

It is a shame that Francisco Mancebo has had to leave the Tour de France. But Christophe Moreau - one of the most popular riders in France - is a great team leader. A professional rider since 1995, at 35 years of age and with 10 Tours in his legs already, Moreau has a vast amount of experience. He has been the best French rider in the Tour four times – in 2003, 2004 and 2005; but has come into his 11th Tour in great form, with his third at the Tour of Catalonia and second at the Dauphiné Libéré. One of the best things too is that Christophe is quite easy to look after. He always has good

Jimmy Casper has abruptly stopped the rather unfair but now annual bet in the Tour de France press room: that being how long would it take for a Frenchman to win a stage. His win in Sunday’s first stage silenced those who relish French misery in the Tour whenever foreign riders win stages – not to mention the 21-year drought for an overall win. Now the French can boast one out of one stage wins – not including the prologue – and face the rest of the Tour knowing that the possibility of a winless Tour won’t be raised for at least another year. Casper, 28 and a professional since the age of

WeatherSunny, with slight breeze. Stage winnerJimmy Casper (Cofidis), 184.5km, 4h10:00 (44.280 kph) – Twice the lanterne rouge and three times DNF, the 28-year-old Frenchman shot to his biggest win of his career into Strasbourg. Casper started a long sprint to shoot past a dying Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) to relegate Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) to second and deliver the eternal Erik Zabel (Milram) another third. Race leaderGeorge Hincapie (Discovery Channel), 4h18:15 – Took third in the day’s final time bonuses to move into the virtual lead. It all came down to the final bonuses

From the spectator-free start to the blood-spattered finish, Casey Gibson just kept snap-snap-snapping away. Here's a sampler of what he saw.

The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Good for George!Editor:I met George Hincapie in 1998 at Interbike in Las Vegas, while I was working for Vetta. On that day, Greg LeMond was a couple of booths away signing autographs with a massive crowd, but George was sitting alone in (I believe) the Sinclair booth. I told him then

We’ll never forget that the pre-race favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso left Strasbourg in public disgrace and private disgust the day before the 93rd Tour de France began. But their departure, and that of the other 11 athletes barred from the race, will begin to be a distant memory when the remaining 176 riders leave their Strasbourg hotels Monday morning and head to the stage 2 start in Obernai. In other words, the Tour is finally getting on the open road, to begin its three-week counterclockwise loop around France. But first stop on the trip is Luxembourg’s second-largest city,

Stage 1: Strasbourg - Stasbourg - 184.5km

Stage 1: Strasbourg - Stasbourg - 184.5km

Casper prevails in an insane sprint(Hushovd's arm is already bleeding in this photo)

The front of the Ionos

A rear view

Side view

Giro will offer KOM and Discovery versions of its Atmos starting later this month

Posthuma's best-young-rider helmet

A cutaway view

Sister company Bell's in on the act, too: Here's Hushovd's helmet

The cut turned out not to be as serious as it looked.