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Bruyneel on Hincapie and life without Lance

Magnus Opus: With one eye on Paris...

Lance Armstrong didn’t take the stage win in the final summit finish of his celebrated Tour de France career, as many had predicted, but on Sunday in the Pyrénées of southern France he did get the next-best thing — a stage win for his close friend and Discovery Channel teammate George Hincapie. Hincapie, the only man to ride with Armstrong in all seven of his post-cancer Tours, took the win atop the Pla d’Adet ski resort out of a 14-man breakaway group that shattered on the Col de Peyresourde, the fourth of six categorized climbs, while Armstrong crossed the line five minutes later with

With dark clouds, cool temperatures, and the threat of rain looming, the men’s sprint qualifiers kicked off Saturday’s racing at the Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge in Portland, Oregon. Josiah Ng (Bike Central), the Malaysian Olympian and recent graduate of a Japanese keirin school, posted the fastest 200-meter time (11.44), just 0.1 second off Jeff LaBauve’s 2001 track record. Close behind was the ageless Stephen Alfred (Family Cycling Center), the AVC defending champion in the match sprint, with 11.46. Gideon Massie, the 2004 U.S. Olympian, was just behind in 11.57, and with nine more

Stage Results1. George Hincapie (USA), Discovery Channel, 6:06:382. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Phonak, 00:063. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole, 00:384. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, 00:575. Laurent Brochard (F), Bouygues Telecom, 02:196. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 05:047. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 05:048. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile, 06:289. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 06:2810. Mickael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 06:32 11. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 06:3212. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 07:3313. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 07:5414. Christophe

Keeping ten-speed chains intactAll of the teams contesting the Tour de France this year are, of course,are using 10-speed chains on their 10-speed Shimano or Campagnolo groups. While you rarely see a broken chain in the professional peloton, youcertainly do see it among everyday enthusiasts nowadays with 10-speed chainsfar more frequently than you used to with 9-speed chains, and especiallymore so than in the old days when riders used 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-speed chains.Back then breakage on a road bike was practically unheard of. You knowthat if there is any time you would not want to break a

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, I was right up there, ready to fight out the sprint – admittedly, I wasn’t in the top three, but you get the point. I didn’t seem to have the legs to finish the job the boys did for me with the leadout, but I was still feeling pretty good. Today, on the stage from Agde to Ax-3-Domaines, I can only say it was… well, a bit rough. It was a really, really rough day on the bike today. I threw up four times in the first 100 kilometers. I couldn’t eat a thing all day and it was two or two-and-a-half hours before I could even drink a little bit. I don’t

In Pla d’Adet, France … Hincapie, team leader?Could George Hincapie lead Discovery Channel next year after Lance Armstrong retires at the end of the 2005 Tour de France? That might have seemed a crazy notion three weeks ago, but it’s gaining credibility as Hincapie continues to progress into a solid, all-round rider. Even Armstrong said it’s not such a far-fetched idea. “We always have these dreamers who say they’re going to win the Tour, so why couldn’t George Hincapie be in that position?” Armstrong said. “He’s a complete rider.” Armstrong said he’s already discussed the possibility

You never know what you're going to see on any given day in the Tour. Could be an oblivious fan getting a camera moto's tire tracks up his spinal column; could be a hairy-backed cross-dresser. Our man Casey Gibson didn't snap a shot of the former, but he did get the latter, along with some racing action, the late Fabio Casartelli's family at a memorial in his honor, and much, much more. Check it all out below.

George Hincapie has been a loyal, selfless and dedicated teammate during Lance Armstrong's six Tour de France titles. On Sunday, he picked the Tour's toughest stretch to make a statement of his own. Hincapie broke away early and held on to win the 15th stage through the Pyrenees, beating Phonak's Oscar Pereiro in a sprint to the line for his first stage win at cycling's premier event. “This ride is so hard. In training I almost didn't arrive at the top because I was so tired,” the 32-year-old Hincapie said. “It took us seven hours in training. I just can't

Before the NORBA National short-track contest at Idaho’s Schweitzer Mountain Resort on Sunday, Susan Haywood and Trek-VW team manager Jon Posner discussed race tactics based on conservative riding and proper pacing. “We talked about making the front group and then attacking with maybe three laps to go,” said Posner. So naturally, at the gun, Haywood tosses the playbook and leads the 33-woman field around the relatively flat, half-mile course, snagging the race’s only prime - $50 offered up by announcer Larry Longo – and quickly gapping the field. Haywood’s solo effort gave her a

Hincapie wins his first Tour stage

Armstrong and Basso put the screws to Ullrich

. . . this guy is clearly a professional

Don't try this at home, kids . . .

Alan Buttlar installs a new chain

Your I.D. sir?

The Good Lieutenant: Hincapie gets his stage win... and it's a doozie

.. the day's escape quickly built a nice lead.

Then there were six.

The day had a deceptively mellow start...

Armstrong and Ullrich were the only ones to stay with Basso.

Ullrich tried to stay aggressive.

The team rose to the occasion on Sunday.

The Casartelli monument

His family, just before the memorial ceremony

'Yo, 'scuse me, but I'm just gonna drop it down a couplea cogs and win the stage here'

Chris Horner is still having fun at the end of four Cat. 1 climbs and an HC grinder

Levi, on the other hand, looks a touch spent

The peloton in the Pyrenees

The fans find a cool spot along the climb

The Tour definitely needs bigger trash cans

Ullrich definitely knows how to suffer, even if it doesn't get him any closer to Armstrong

Never try to pick up a date at a race in the Pyrenees - especially if 'she' has a back that's hairier than yours

Course: This stage could be a killer. After riding for morethan four hours on mostly hilly back roads under a (probably) burning sun,the riders face two of the toughest climbs in the Pyrénées:the 15km, 8-percent Port de Pailhères (that’s finally been givenan hors-catégorie rating) and the 9km, 7.3-percent climb to theAx-3-Domaines summit finish. History: The Pailhères-Ax-3-Domaines combo has been usedonly once before, in 2003, when it saw a dehydrated Armstrong almost cedehis yellow jersey to Ullrich. CSC’s Carlos Sastre took that stage. Favorites: After a two-day “break,” the main

Under a glaring sun and searing summer heat the 92nd Tour de France entered the Pyrénées of southern France Saturday, and though the general classification didn’t quite blow apart, a handful of the race’s central characters certainly melted from the pressure. After the hors-catégorie ascent of the Port de Pailhères, the 220.5km stage ended atop the Cat. 1 climb to the ski resort at Ax-3 Domaines with six-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) holding an even firmer grip on the race leader’s jersey. He’s now 1:41 ahead of Dane Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank),while CSC’s Italian

Stage Results1. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 5:43:43 at 38.491kmp2. Lance Armstrong (USA), Discovery Channel, 00:563. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 00:584. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 01:165. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 01:316. Floyd Landis (USA), Phonak, 01:317. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears, 01:478. Mickael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 01:479. Andreas Kloden (G), T-Mobile, 02:0610. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 02:20 11. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 03:0612. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 03:3513. Jorg Jaksche (G), Liberty Seguros, 04:0314. Cadel

Tool bag?Dear Lennard,The other day during stage 9 I noticed a small black box under the saddle on Jens Voigt's Cervelo. Obviously he wasn't carrying a tool kit like us mortals, so what was it? A radio?Brett Dear Brett,I am posting this since I continue to get this question every day, even though I answered it already. For the answer, check out this link. You really ought to check out the daily SRM telemetry, especially in the Pyrenees and the final time trial. There are a lot of riders hooked up with them. The display isonly live during the stage and there is no file to see

Here’s what the main players had to say at Ax-3 Domaines, France, following Saturday’s fireworks in the Pyrenees. Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel), yellow jersey (second at 52 seconds back, first overall) On comparing to his troubles two years ago: “Yeah, for sure, I kept trying to remember my training day here six weeks ago versus the 2003 Tour, because I felt better then. It’s a similar situation, again with Ivan and Jan, same as 2003. Similar also with the heat, it was incredibly hot.” On the difficulty of Sunday’s stage: “We’re going to have a hard time to recover from today’s

Moments after Sunday’s stage finish at the ski station of Ax-3-Domaines, Gerolsteiner’s Georg Totschnig lay collapsed on the ground, completely exhausted after a breakaway effort of more than 200 kilometers. The only thing the 34-year-old Austrian could do was weep for joy. He had just made a dream come true. “This is unbelievable,“ Totschnig said as he fought to catch his breath. "A few days ago, I didn’t think I would even make it to Paris.” It was not until Gerolsteiner soigneur Klaus Thünemann helped Totschnig to his feet that the man from the Zillertal valley in Tyrol began to grasp

Lance in pink?The image may never make OLN's coverage of the Tour de France, but there are a thousand print journalists who will vouch for it. Lance Armstrong gave his main rival a free plug in his press conference today, swapping his Discovery Channel baseball hat for a T-Mobile cap worn by one journalist. With tongue firmly in cheek (we think), Armstrong asked why the reporter was wearing it and instead of a Discovery Channel hat. Before everyone knew it, the pair had swapped hats and Big Tex was sporting the pink and white of T-Mobile. But not for long, and he did ask for his own hat

Course: On paper, this is the toughest stage of the Tour: six climbs (one Cat. 2, four Cat. 1s and the finish up the hors-cat Pla d’Adet). That’s just over 16,000 feet of climbing in 205.5km, and all ridden on less-than-perfect roads in summer heat or seasonal thundershowers. History: Pla d’Adet has seen the finish of eight Tour stages in the past 30 years, the most decisive being the Tour-winning solo attacks by Lucien Van Impe in 1976 and Armstrong in 2001. Favorites: This will be the final mountaintop finish in Armstrong’s storied career. The American would love to come up with another

Whew - it was another hot one in the hills on Saturday, and T-Mobile tried its best to make a Texas-style barbecue out of Discovery's Lance Armstrong. Alas, it was bratwurst, not brisket, that wound up sizzling on the grill, and our man Casey Gibson was there to savor the aroma.

Hello,Well, I think you saw that as a team we pushed it all the way to the limit, today. To his credit, Lance fended off every single one of the attacks in the manner of a true patron of the peloton. For that, all I can say is congratulations to him and that he has my respect. This morning, the mood at the breakfast table was not quite as relaxed as was the case in the Alps. Hardly anyone said a word… and if they did, the answers were short. It wasn’t a bad sign. More accurately, it was just an indication that everyone was just very, very focused on the task at hand. The one thing we didn’t

After out-climbing his main rivals on Saturday to finish second on the first of two mighty stages in the Pyrénées, Lance Armstrong said it was “incredibly, incredibly hot.” Then he predicted that Sunday’s stage 15 will be “the hardest stage of the Tour.” He then talked to journalists at the Ax-3 Domaines ski resort Saturday night about his preparations for the upcoming stage. “It’s just a question of getting out of here as fast as possible, starting to hydrate, starting to eat, starting to rest and recover,” he said. “We had a very early start to the day once again, an hour-and-a-half in the

Under sunny skies, 80-degree temperatures, and a rising breeze, the seventh annual Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge kicked off Friday in Portland, Oregon. One of the richest track races in North America, the three-day meet is held on one of the continent’s quirkiest velodromes, a 268-meter concrete oval with 42-degree banks situated on the grounds of the Alpenrose Dairy. Friday was for the time trialists with riders competing in the 500 meter time trial, the kilometer time trial, and the pursuit, as well as a points-race qualifier. One of the track’s oldest records, the women’s 3000-meter

One of the most frequent tactical questions I get is “What do you do when one team dominates a race?” Well, for one thing, you have to try harder and take a few risks. On stage 14 from Agde to Ax-3-Domaines, the T-Mobile team finally decided to do something about the dominating control of the Discovery Team. Typically, Discovery has followed the same pattern it did back in the Postal days, namely go to the front and set a pace on the climbs that was suitable for them and slowly burn off the riders in the field. When you control the front of pack, you control the pace. You get to decide

The trouble with mountain-bike racing is that it often takes place in the mountains, where the weather can be, shall we say, less than hospitable. Just ask the 800 or so racers at the NORBA NCS race at Idaho’s Schweitzer Mountain resort, who awakened Saturday to face mucky courses and a start-finish area that was in a complete shambles, thanks to a late-night hailstorm driven by 60-mph winds. Still, the show must go on, and after a Le Mans-style running start, Super-D racers were plummeting from the Schweitzer ski village to the town of Sandpoint, nine miles below. Jennifer Whalen (WTB)

Stage 14 - Agde to Ax-3-Domaines -- 220.5km

Stage 14 - Agde to Ax-3-Domaines -- 220.5km

Totschnig wins his first Tour stage

Whuttup with Bobby and those rings?

Cañada takes a similar approach

Garzelli forces himself to work on his stroke when training.

Ullrich, Basso and Armstrong test each other

Is the battle boiling down to Armstrong versus Basso?

Evans on the ascent Saturday

Stage 15 - Lézat-sur-Lèze to St-Lary Soulan (Pla d’Adet) >205.5km

Stage 15 - Lézat-sur-Lèze to St-Lary Soulan (Pla d’Adet) >205.5km

Um ... think we're in trouble?

Hincapie guts it out toward the finish

Armstrong and Basso take the final corner together

Leipheimer on the climb

Totschnig en route to his first Tour stage win

Vinokourov paid the price today

It's time to either fight or run away

Totschnig is glad he didn't go home

Basso's feeling better than he did in the Alps

Basso felt better in the Pyrenees than in the Alps - but not Ullrich

It's showtime

Armstrong, Basso and Landis marking one another

Rasmussen had a 'semi-bad day'

T-Mobile's attack early on the Port de Pailhères got rid of the entire Discovery team... well, except for that one guy.

A look ahead to Stage 15: Is Armstrong ready for a stage win?

A tough day in the saddle

Armstrong shows his strength, and once again his rivals must look forward to another day

Moreau got his doors blown off

The break

Garzelli and Beneteau

Evans and Kasheschkin