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Everyone knows that a potential Tour de France winner has to make climbing strength his No. 1 priority. An inability to ride fast uphill is a serious handicap. And there's plenty of climbing ahead in this Tour -- starting with Tuesday in the Ardennes of southern Belgium. This is the hilly region where the infamous Liège-Bastogne-Liège World Cup classic takes place every April. It's a race that showcases strong climbers. Five-time Tour de France winners Eddy Merckx of Belgium, and Jacques Anqutil and Bernard Hinault of France, all won the Liège classic. Among the event's most famous climbs

Steve Peat’s dream season has been put on the shelf for awhile. According to Peat’s GT team manager Dean Golich, the British downhill star will miss 3-4 weeks after suffering a third-degree shoulder separation in a training-run crash at the World Cup stop in Grouse Mountain outside Vancouver, British Columbia last Thursday. That means Peat will definitely miss the next World Cup race, stop No. 4 July 14-15 in Durango, Colorado, and is questionable for race No. 5 at Arai, Japan, July 28-29. Prior to the injury, Peat had been having the best season of career. He’d won five straight races --

After two days of chasing time-bonus sprints to try to get his hands on the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France, Australia's Stuart O'Grady did it the old-fashioned way on Tuesday -- by finishing in the lead group of stage 3. Meanwhile the race leader at the start of the day, Rabobank's Marc Wauters, fell far behind on the difficult climbs in the Ardennes region of Belgium. At the finish line in Seraing, Telekom's Erik Zabel took his second stage win of the week, thanks to the smooth teamwork of his Telekom team, while O'Grady finished in the pack, but took the race lead by 17

Stage Winner: Erik Zabel (G) Deutsche Telekom in 4:34:32----------------------------------Overall Lead: Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit AgricoleSprinter: Erik Zabel (G) Deutsche TelekomClimber: Benoit Salmon (F)AG2RUnder 25: Florent Brard (F) Festina Click below for full results

Rather than have a VN editor in the States tell you what you're about to see, today you'll get the details straight from Casey B. Gibson's email: "Photos include the family of Marc Wauters as the race passed through his home town, the day he wears the Yellow Jersey. Very cool, and he rode right into their arms. Must have been every TV camera and photog in Belgium there as well, and there were so many in the street it almost stopped the peloton. "The shot of Lance and Freddie is as they swerve to avoid the mayhem. "The finish was very hard, and must have blown quite a few. George looked

If I think about it, the racing thus far has been about as I would have expected, but I forget how hard the first week of the Tour is. You remember all of the mountain stages, but this first week comes as a shock every time. And it’s not over yet. The Giro was hard the first week, too, and, like here, there were lots of crashes. But there were always times on each stage where the riders would all relax, and you knew nobody was going to attack. It just had a natural rhythm to it, and you would get 30-50K that was easy. In the Tour, though, there is never an easy pace where guys are just

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Peat during happier times.

O'Grady: 31st in the stage, but a great jersey to pull on

Zabel does it again

Today's route through the Ardennes region of Belgium brought back memories of the Spring classics

Nicolas Jalabert and Frédéric Guesdon made the field suffer with their breakaway

The Wauters family: Waiting for the favorite son to stop by

The Armstrong (r) and Rodriguez (l) navigate the Wauters traffic jam

Antwerp fans

Road rations

Julich

Hincapie's having fun at the start

But the end isn't so pleasant

Warm sunshine, a favorable breeze and a completely flat stage Monday are all the ingredients needed for a stage of record speed. And for Tour stages longer than 200km that means the 48.764 kph average of 1998’s stage of 205.5km from Tarascon to Le Cap d’Agde won by Tom Steels. The absolute Tour stage record speed is the 50.355 kph set by Mario Cipollini on the 194.5km stage from Laval to Blois in 1999. Cipollini is, unfortunately, not at this year’s Tour, but Steels is. Ordinarily, Mapei-Quick Step’s big Belgian would be the favorite to win Monday in his own country, but on Sunday he showed

5:10.m. (local time)Wauters is the man in yellow. A Belgian takes the day when the Tour finishes in Antwerp. Stay tuned for complete results of today's stage, a post-race wrap up story from VeloNews Senior Writer Bryan Jew and analysis and a preview of tomorrow's race from VeloNews's John Wilcockson. 4:53p.m. (local time)Wauters! He takes the stage (and that $22,000 diamond) as the leaders have indeed managed to stay away from the frantically chasing field. And the Belgian from the Rabobank squad is now also the new overall leader of the Tour de France. 4:49p.m. (local time)

Stage Winner: Marc Wauters (B) 4:35:47----------------------------------Overall Lead: Marc Wauters (B) Sprinter: Jan Kirispuu (Est)Climber: Jacky Durand (F)Under 25: Robert Hunter (RSA) Click below for full results

The Tour de France yellow jersey is one of those prizes that is known and coveted in the sports world for its history and prestige. Like the NHL captain who hoists the Stanley Cup, or the golfer who slides into the green jacket at the Masters, the rider who dons the maillot jaune at the end of the Tour de France has worldwide recognition. Everybody knows that the Postal Service’s Lance Armstrong has pulled that jersey on in Paris each of the past two years, and is one of the favorites to do so again. But in the early stages of the Tour, it’s a whole different breed of rider who chases after

The TV cameras may focus on the front of the race, but we all know that action isn't always up there. French and Belgian scenes today by Casey B. Gibson.

Foreign riders won both the men's and women's races of the second leg of the four-race BMC Software Grand Prix in Arlington, Massachusetts, Sunday. In the end, it was Mercury-Viatel’s Australian Baden Cooke taking the 62-mile men’s race and Canadian Lyne Bessette of Saturn winning the 42-mile women’s race. The women's race kicked off the day, although many of the riders thoughts were anywhere but on the race as they struggled to face the memories of this event last year when Saturn rider Nicole Reinhart was killed in a crash. "Our goal is just to celebrate Nicole's life and get through the

You hear people complaining about having one of those "days". Well, I think I might be having one of those "seasons". There's nothing more frustrating than working hard, sacrificing and staying dedicated only to find yourself at trapped under a pile of cyclists. And while there's no time within the moment to ask yourself how the hell you got there, the question does linger for a while afterward. Especially while you're standing around waiting for a wheel. The nagging gets especially annoying while you're on the rivet trying to catch the caravan. You can forget about catching the peloton

He's golden. Wauters earned the yellow jersey when the Tour came to Belgium

Jalabert

Vaughters

This way...no this way

The sponsor village

Freddy R and George H chattin' at the back of the group.

6:00p.m. (local time) Telekom's Erik Zabel is celebrating his stage win and Festina's Christophe Moreau retains the overall leader's yellow jersey. Today's top five:1. Erik Zabel (Deutsche Telekom)2. Romans Vainsteins (Domo-Farm Frites)3. Jimmy Casper (Française Des Jeux)4. Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole)5. Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2R) Check back for complete results, a stage wrap-up from VeloNews Senior Writer Bryan Jew, commentary and preview from VeloNews editorial director John Wilcockson and compelling images from this first stage by VeloNews photographers Graham Watson and Casey

Making history was the last thing on Rob Hunter's mind as he became the first South African to ride in the Tour de France in Dunkirk Saturday. The 24-year-old Lampre rider, who relocated to Europe three years ago in a bid to join the pro ranks, was pre-occupied with the demands of the opening 8.2km prologue than etching his name in the record books. Hunter could only manage a "disappointing" 68th from 189 riders on the first day of the 3454km race, 32sec behind French prologue winner Christophe Moreau. But despite that setback, his comments prior to becoming the first South African to ride

Today's 194.5km stage from St. Omer to Boulogne-sur-Mer has started under cloudy skies and sporatic light rains. All 189 riders contesting the 2001 Tour de France have left St. Omer. Festina's Christophe Moreau is the man in yellow after winning yesterday's prologue time trial in Dunkirk. Be sure to check VeloNew's Tour de France page for up-to-the-minute news as today's stage develops.

U.S. Postal cycling team officials vigorously defended the team’s star rider Lance Armstrong over links to drug-tainted Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari before the start of the Tour de France’s first stage proper in St. Omer on Sunday. Armstrong was quoted by Italian press on Saturday as saying he had sought the help of Ferrari - who has been charged with dope offences - with a view to an attempt on Chris Boardman's world hour record. The revelation was picked up by French media on Sunday, leaving U.S. Postal team officials to field questions as Armstrong gears up for his bid for a

U.S. Postal cycling team officials vigorously defended the team’s star rider Lance Armstrong over links to drug-tainted Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari before the start of the Tour de France’s first stage proper in St. Omer on Sunday. Armstrong was quoted by Italian press on Saturday as saying he had sought the help of Ferrari - who has been charged with dope offences - with a view to an attempt on Chris Boardman's world hour record. The revelation was picked up by French media on Sunday, leaving U.S. Postal team officials to field questions as Armstrong gears up for his bid for a

The story of Stage 1 of this year’s Tour de France seems typical enough for an opening road stage: a slow early pace; a long, eventually unsuccessful breakaway; a mass field sprint; and a stage win by one of the star sprinters of the Tour, Telekom’s Erik Zabel. Routine enough, but the 194.5km stage from Saint-Omer to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the very north of France was anything but an ordinary, flat, sprinters stage. The stage began in the town of Saint-Omer, about 50km inland from the North Sea. Under gray skies and a light drizzle, 188 starters rolled out of town. Lotto-Adecco’s Fabian De

Complete Results from stage 1 of the Tour de France

The story of Stage 1 of this year’s Tour de France seems typical enough for an opening road stage: a slow early pace; a long, eventually unsuccessful breakaway; a mass field sprint; and a stage win by one of the star sprinters of the Tour, Telekom’s Erik Zabel. Routine enough, but the 194.5km stage from Saint-Omer to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the very north of France was anything but an ordinary, flat, sprinters stage. The stage began in the town of Saint-Omer, about 50km inland from the North Sea. Under gray skies and a light drizzle, 188 starters rolled out of town. Lotto-Adecco’s Fabian De

The man in Yellow gets attention, but so do those in bandages. Scenes from Stage 1, start to finish.

Flat tires are the worst enemy of any cross-country racer, but the happenings on Sunday at World Cup No. 4 at Grouse Mountain in British Columbia took things to a new level of anguish. For seven of eight laps Roland Green couldn’t have looked any better. The native of nearby Victoria pulled away from his nearest challengers almost immediately after the start, and then built a gap that hung in the 1:20 neighborhood for most of the race. All along the course the buzz was unmistakable. The local boy, who already this year became the first Canadian male to win a World Cup race, was going to make

Defending Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has issued a written statement acknowledging that he has been working with Michele Ferrari, but denying suggestions that he has sought illegal help from the Italian physician. Armstrong’s statement came in response to articles that appeared Saturday and Sunday in several European papers, including a lengthy piece in the Sunday Times of London questioning the Tour champion’s commitment to racing in a drug-free environment. Several newspapers in Italy reported on Saturday that Armstrong has recently visited and worked with Ferrari. The

Defending Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has issued a written statement acknowledging that he has been working with Michele Ferrari, but denying suggestions that he has sought illegal help from the Italian physician. Armstrong’s statement came in response to articles that appeared Saturday and Sunday in several European papers, including a lengthy piece in the Sunday Times of London questioning the Tour champion’s commitment to racing in a drug-free environment. Several newspapers in Italy reported on Saturday that Armstrong has recently visited and worked with Ferrari. The

U.S. Postal Service general manager Mark Gorski, the 1984 Olympic sprint champion, said he was almost speechless when he read Sunday morning the accusations made by one of the team's early physicians, Prentice Steffen, in the London newspaper article authored by staff sportswriter David Walsh. Steffen told Walsh that "two of my riders approached me saying they wanted to 'talk about the medical program.'" Walsh then wrote, "Steffen is sure he was being asked to help two riders to dope." In commenting on those statements, Gorski said Sunday evening at the Postal team's hotel

U.S. Postal Service general manager Mark Gorski, the 1984 Olympic sprint champion, said he was almost speechless when he read Sunday morning the accusations made by one of the team's early physicians, Prentice Steffen, in the London newspaper article authored by staff sportswriter David Walsh. Steffen told Walsh that "two of my riders approached me saying they wanted to 'talk about the medical program.'" Walsh then wrote, "Steffen is sure he was being asked to help two riders to dope." In commenting on those statements, Gorski said Sunday evening at the Postal team's hotel 25 miles east of

Durand and Oriol stayed away for more than 100km

Durand and Oriol stayed away for more than 100km

Race officials forced the peloton to stop for a couple of minutes

Moreau

Millar, sporting the prologue abrasions

Freddy R's bike, with its post-Philly paint

Festina ready to roll

Weather brought to you by the North Sea

Blatter tackles the tough finishing climb up Grouse Mountain.

The agony of defeat shows on Green’s face.

Sauser was steady all day and took advantage of opportunity.

Green looked exceptionally strong all day.

Redden moved up to second when her teammate flatted.

Heavy rain blew in from the English Channel overnight, and the 189 starters in Saturday’s prologue will likely have a damp opening to this 88th Tour de France. A wet course for the 8.2km prologue will certainly put caution at the top of everyone’s mind, particularly race favorite Lance Armstrong, who will be happy to concede a few seconds of overall time in exchange for a safe ride. The Dunkirk course has one short stretch of cobblestones, on a chicane outside the medieval-style city hall, just 1.6km into the race. There’s another chicane as the course turns onto the seafront for the final

Heavy rain blew in from the English Channel overnight, and the 189 starters in Saturday’s prologue will likely have a damp opening to this 88th Tour de France. A wet course for the 8.2km prologue will certainly put caution at the top of everyone’s mind, particularly race favorite Lance Armstrong, who will be happy to concede a few seconds of overall time in exchange for a safe ride. The Dunkirk course has one short stretch of cobblestones, on a chicane outside the medieval-style city hall, just 1.6km into the race. There’s another chicane as the course turns onto the seafront for the final

As of 1:20p.m. (Eastern time - U.S.) The French are celebrating in Dunkirk. They have a new race leader. Festina's Christophe Moreau has turned in a 9:20:59 (52.71kph), giving him the win in this Tour de France prologue U.S. Postal's Lance Armstrong finished in third with a 9:24.64 and Telekom's Jan Ullrich took fourth with 9:27.76. As of 1:08p.m. (Eastern time - U.S.) Defending Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is on the course. Looking relaxed and confident, the U.S. Postal Service star, smiled, checked his radio earpiece and charged off the line, one minute after Telekom's Jan

The prologue of any three-week tour is unlike any of the other stages. On Saturday, the Tour de France’s 21 teams were cloistered together in the parking lot of the municipal swimming pool in Dunkirk, with riders spending most of their day hanging around the team buses, warming up, shuttling back and forth from team hotels, and smiling for the media. Crowds gather around each team’s area, which is marked off by police tape. And judging by the masses gathered around the U.S. Postal and Telekom camps, there are two overwhelming favorites for this year’s Tour: American Lance Armstrong and German

Getting underway at the Tour de France is always a nerve-wracking ordeal. Having to arrive early for health exams and the team presentation means we all spend the final days leading up the start cooped up in our hotel rooms. And although this probably forces us to rest like we should, it also leaves us with lots of time to consider the job ahead. And with this being my fifth start, I know all too well the pressure and the pain that lies ahead. But every challenge worth facing starts off a bit daunting I guess - so I'm hoping the contemplation is a good sign. The team presentation was a

The prologue of any three-week tour is unlike any of the other stages. On Saturday, the Tour de France’s 21 teams were cloistered together in the parking lot of the municipal swimming pool in Dunkirk, with riders spending most of their day hanging around the team buses, warming up, shuttling back and forth from team hotels, and smiling for the media. Crowds gather around each team’s area, which is marked off by police tape. And judging by the masses gathered around the U.S. Postal and Telekom camps, there are two overwhelming favorites for this year’s Tour: American Lance Armstrong and German

Despite heavy rains overnight, riders had basically dry roads for the 8.2km prologue on July 7 in Dunkirk. No matter the weather, the fans turned out in force.

If Mario Cipollini were riding this Tour de France -- as he and his Saeco team should have been -- he would be rubbing his hands with glee right now. He would have done well in Saturday’s prologue, as it was just the type of time trial he likes: enough turns to make use of his turn of speed, and long straightaways where a big rider like him could churn a big gear with great effect. Indeed, going into Sunday’s second stage, the Lion King would have been within a few seconds of race leader Christophe Moreau, and ready to take over the yellow jersey with a 20-second stage-win bonus. Cipollini

Complete prologue results

The first day of racing at the World Cup stop in Grouse Mountain proved two things: short downhills are exciting and dual is not. In the downhill it was a pair of French riders, Fabien Barel (GT) and Anne-Caroline Chausson (Volvo-Cannondale), walking away with the winner’s points. For Chausson that meant an even tighter grip on the World Cup overall lead. For Barel that meant overtaking teammate Steve Peat, who missed Saturday’s race after suffering a separated shoulder in a training crash on Thursday. Barel’s win was a slim as can be. The gregarious Frenchman nipped Aussie Chris Kovarik

Lance Armstrong and Roberto Heras arrived on scene in a special Postal team car, rear windows tinted black, and the two stars were quickly ushered out, past the crowds, and into the Postal team bus parked at the prologue start in Dunkirk. A classic, rock-star arrival. Meanwhile, just a few meters away, Fassa Bortolo’s former world No. 1 rider, Francesco Casagrande, would later warm up for the race practically unnoticed, just one young fan poised against the Italian outfit’s taped-off team area. That was all just part of the curious scene in front of the Piscine Municipale Paul Asseman, the

US Postal Service1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Roberto Heras (Sp) 3. Viatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) 4. Tyler Hamilton (USA) 5. George Hincapie (USA) 6. Steffen Kjaergaard (Nor) 7. Victor Hugo Peña (Col) 8. Jose Luis Rubiera (Sp) 9. Christian Vandevelde (USA) Telekom11. Jan Ullrich (G) 12. Udo Bölts (G) 13. Giuseppe Guerini (I) 14. Jens Heppner (G) 15. Andreas Klöden (G) 16. Kevin Livingston (USA) 17. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 18. Steffen Wesemann (G) 19. Erik Zabel (G) ONCE 21. Joseba Beloki (Sp) 22. Santos González (Sp) 23. Alvaro González de Galdeano (Sp) 24. Igor González de Galdeano (Sp) 25.

Tour de France: ready to roll

Tour de France: ready to roll

Armstrong was relaxed and confident.

The offending post.

Armstrong was relaxed and confident.

Postal's Vande Velde

Rain? Lingering drug allegations? It doesn't matter to these folks!