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The hours leading up to Thursday’s national espoir time trial championship were not the most settling for Michael Creed. First, the 20-year-old Prime Alliance rider was awaken at 3 a.m. but what he called "a guy going crazy" at the liquor store nearby his room at the Comfort Inn in Gainesville, Florida. Later that morning, Creed stood by while team manager Kirk Willett had to smash a window on the team’s van after the keys got locked inside. "It wasn’t the best way to start the day," Creed admitted. But none of that seemed to matter a few hours later when Creed out-dueled teammate Danny

Vassili Davidenko (Navigators) and Saturn's Anke Erlank took the third stage of Pennsylvania's Tour de 'Toona on Thursday, a circuit race contested on a 20.1-mile loop near Holidaysburg. With her win, Erlank has moved into the overall lead in the six-day stage race. Meanwhile Saturn's Harm Jansen holds a narrow three-second lead over his teammate Eric Wohlberg in the overall standings. The women's race was peppered with attacks from the start. But Genevieve Jeanson and her Rona team was intent on keeping a tight reign on the field and most of the efforts were quickly reeled back in. One

Creed was the last racer away in the Espoir time trial.

Creed flying to the finish.

Mercury team director John Wordin confirmed Wednesday that the U.S.-based team may be on the brink of a merger with the French division II La Française des Jeux squad for the 2002 season. "LFJ has made an offer," Wordin told VeloNews, "but it's still way too early to comment on how all of this may or may not work out." Wordin traveled to France in the closing week of the Tour de France in an effort to secure a co-sponsor for next year. Wordin said the discussions did produce a formal offer from the team, one of several French Division II squads participating in the Tour. Earlier

Here's the complete 2001 Tour de France site, written by VeloNews editors -- plus the race diaries by Tyler Hamilton, Fred Rodriguez, and Kevin Livingston. Check it out right here.

PROPOSITION A Submitted by: Mick Hellman, John Kelly, Frankie Andreu, Thomas Doughty, Charles Collins, Kevin Metcalfe, Jerry Malone, Mari Holden, Nancy McCauley, Leonard Nitz, David Mortin, Bonnie Rider-Martin Proposition A (Hellman et al.): In a remarkably short time, the USA Cycling Development Foundation has had a profound impact on USA Cycling and the future of our sport. Foundation funded programs include new junior and U23 development programs, new travel/training grant programs, new directions in coaching development, the new European Resident Training Center, and a soon to be

PROPOSITION BSubmitted by members Les Earnest, Colin Allen, Charles Howe, Brian Lafferty, Bret Wade, Mike Whitman.Proposition B (Earnest et al.):USA Cycling is at a crossroads. It was formed in 1995 with a grossly undemocratic structure in that two-thirdsof the board of directors are elected by special interests that constitute less than 1% of the licensees.Unless a more democratic and decentralized structure is adopted, the recent breaking away of regional racingassociations will likely continue.In 1999, after extensive public discussions of reorganization alternatives via the Internet,

Mercury-Française des Jeux offer 'on the table'

Alessio’s Alessandro Bertolini won the the 56th Getxo Circuit race Tuesday, which has been renamed the Ricardo Otxoa Memorial race in honor of the Basque cyclist who was killed in an accident last year. Bertolini won a sprint finish to pip fellow breakaway rider Spaniard Francisco Caballo of the Kelme team in 3:58:59 following the 175km race, over 12 laps of a 14.6km circuit. ONCE’s Joseba Beloki, who finished third in the Tour de France on Sunday, crossed the line in fourth some nine seconds behind the leading duo.Copyright AFP2001

As the workmen traveling with the Tour de France for the past three weeks were happily breaking down the press room for the final time, we pulled a few good shots off the 64meg chip on Lennard Zinn’s digital camera. As Lennard flies home after a year in Europe, we thought we’d share a few of those shots from the last days of the 2001 Tour de France.

What would a modern Tour be without Il Diablo, a.k.a. Didi Senft?

Chris Carmichael and a chopless-cleaned-up-for-TV Bobke.

Former Olympic sprinter, Lance's chiropractor, Jeff Spencer who accompanied the Posties for the past three years. Maybe Spence’ is the one who’s three-for-three.

Checking the UCI while they check Lance's bike.

Andy Hood and Rupert Guinness showing us why the Tour is considering its first-ever dress code for reporters next year.

Three Tours, three flags and three hungry derailleurs. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

5:25 p.m. It's official. The band is playing the Star Spangled Banner. Lance Armstrong has been awarded the Tour's final yellow jersey by the mayor of Paris and the 2001 Tour de France is over! Thanks for tuning in folks. We've enjoyed doing the updates and hope you've found them to be at least a little helpful as you scanned the net while you were supposed to be working. See ya next year! 5:17 p.m. Here are the preliminary results of the 20th and final stage of the 2001 Tour de France. 1. Jan Svoarda (Lampre-Daikin); 2. Erik Zabel (Deutsche Telekom); 3. Stuart O'Grady (Crédit

On the final day of the Tour de France this year, many of the images were the same as the past two years. The U.S. Postal Service team led the peloton onto the Champs-Elysées in Paris under sunny skies, the lead guard for a yellow-jersey-clad Lance Armstrong. Armstrong donned the final yellow jersey of the race, and was joined on the podium by the same runner-up and third place riders, Jan Ullrich and Joseba Beloki. It was a near-perfect day in Paris, but at least one rider was hoping to change things a bit from last year. Stuart O'Grady entered the day with a two-point lead in the points

Volvo-Cannondale’s Anne-Caroline Chausson demonstrated her continuing mastery of downhill racing in Japan Sunday, when the champion made it five-for-five for the season and three-for-three at the Arai ski resort. France also came out on top in the men’s competition, as Nicolas Vouilloz (Vouilloz Racing Team), finally uncorked one in the 2001 World Cup season, and uncork one he did, winning by a huge margin of nearly seven seconds. Arai Mountain & Snow Park celebrated the return of World Cup downhill mountain-biking for the third time since 1998, bringing out crowds by the tens of thousands

Stage Winner: Jan Svorada (Slovakia), Lampre-Daikin---------------------------------- Overall Lead: Lance Armstrong (USA) U.S. Postal Service Sprinter: Erik Zabel (G), Deutsche Telekom Climber: Laurent Jalabert (F) CSC-Tiscali Under 25: Oscar Sevilla (Sp) Kelme-Costa Blanca Click below for full results and overall.

On Sunday, under sunny skies on a hot, humid day in Paris, Lance Armstrong rolled along the finishing circuit on the Champs-Elysées 10 times along with the other 144 survivors of this year's Tour de France. The American clinched his third consecutive victory in the world's biggest bike race after 23 grueling days. It began with difficult cross-winds and dangerous roads during Week 1, followed by a week going up and over the massive mountains of the Alps and Pyrénées, and finally concluding with six days of heat and humidity over undulating roads as the race cut up through the mid-section of

Everyone wants to know what Lance Armstrong is doing to make him so much faster than Jan Ullrich and the rest. In this day and age, you cannot be that much better than the cream of cycling’s crop and not attract suspicions of doping, and Lance has certainly faced innumerable questions about that. The assumption that these questions are based on is that most of the riders are doping, so he must really have found something strong to take. Not being privy to the private lives of any of the riders, I have no basis to comment one way or another. Being married to a cancer survivor, however, I

Stage 20 July 29, 2001 Corbeil Essones - Paris (Champs Elysées) 150 km As of Paris: 3,462 kilometers ridden. 20 stages completed. 10 flat stages weathered. 3 medium mountain stages ascended. 4 high mountain stages behind us. 2 individual time trials endured. 1 team time trial survived. 5 mountain top finishes achieved. 2 rest days appreciated. 3-peat checked off. The fat lady is singing. And I've never been so happy to hear her voice. Thanks for reading

A photo diary by Casey B. Gibson from the final stage of the 2001 Tour de France.

Pennsylvania rider Sarah Uhl won the women's match sprint against defending champion Christin Muche (Germany) on Saturday to earn the first gold medal for the U.S. at a world junior championship since 1991. Uhl won the event in two straight rides on July 28, at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome, in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. The 17-year-old took the first ride after holding her lead position going in to the third turn of the final lap. With the second ride, Muche pulled close in the second turn of the last lap, but didn't have the speed to pass. Jessica Grieco -- now an Outdoor Life Network

Before Ironman USA, NORBA pro Steve Larsen said that he would play to his strength, the bike, and he made good on his word. In just his third triathlon, the Davis, California, native powered to the front after overcoming an 11-minute deficit out of the swim in Mirror Lake to hold off fast-closing runner-up Olympian Ryan Bolton, also making his Ironman debut, and defending Lake Placid champ Cam Widoff. Among the women, Canadian Heather Fuhr came from behind on the run to catch a hammering Joanna Zeiger just past the halfway point of the marathon. Larsen languished far behind the leaders

Vouilloz is back on track with his first World Cup win of the season.

Chausson remained perfect in the World Cup downhill series.

Svorada enjoyed a final sprint in what is traditionally one of the Tour's most prestigious stages

On to the Champs Elysees

Americans in Paris -- Lots of 'em.

The Arc d'Triumph at the end of the Champs Elysses.

The stars and stripes and the Texas flag were all over the Champs Elysses.

The flag man, Dan Osipow, waits to hand out flags to the Postal riders for the post race team parade.

George Hincapie and Lance Armstrong ride past the Postal fans at the finish line.

Jalabert and the CSC Tiscali team ride in the parade.

Photographers fight for position to shoot the final podium. It gets quite ugly at the end.

Telecom fans show their support for Jan and Erik.

Students from the Summer in Paris program cheer for Lance.

Tom Weisel, the man behind the Postal program, and his family and friends wait for the yellow jersey.

Steve Larsen takes the win and the course record.

As the Tour de France edges closer to Paris, the sprinters get more nervous with every kilometer that passes under their wheels. Five-time sprint points winner Erik Zabel is one of those men, as for the first time in his reign he is not wearing the green jersey entering the final weekend. He trails 11 points behind Stuart O’Grady, whose consistency over the first 18 stages has given him the lead despite his not winning any stages. Zabel won two stages in the first week, and the German may have to win one of the last two stages if he is to get the better of his Australian rival. If Zabel is

Quite a few of you have asked that we not reveal the winner in the headline or first paragraph, so if you don't want be surprised as you work your way through our now-not-so-live updates click HERE to work up from the bottom and follow the race from the start. Here is a provisional top-ten list for the day. 1. ZABEL Erik GER TEL In 3:12:27; 2. O'GRADY Stuart AUS C.A; 3. VAINSTEINS Romans LAT DFF; 4. TEUTENBERG Sven GER FES; 5. SVORADA Jan SLO LAM; 6. PETACCHI Alessandro ITA FAS; 7. NAZON Damien FRA BJR; 8. SIVAKOV Alexei RUS BIG; 9. CAPELLE Christophe FRA BIG; 10. CASPER

Stage Winner: Erik Zabel (G), Deutsche Telekom, 149km in 3:12:27---------------------------------- Overall Lead: Lance Armstrong (USA) U.S. Postal Service Sprinter: Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole Climber: Laurent Jalabert (F) CSC-Tiscali Under 25: Oscar Sevilla (Sp) Kelme-Costa Blanca Click below for full results and overall.

Face it. The race for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France has been pretty much over for a week. No matter how many times someone has said, “Anything can happen,” the fact remained that Lance Armstrong put a stranglehold on the race lead in the mountain stages which concluded last week. And Friday, he put the final exclamation mark on his win by putting in another dominant performance in the final individual time trial. But while the race between Armstrong and Jan Ullrich has been put to rest, there’s still another compelling battle that will come down to the final day in Paris. In

VeloNews photographer Casey Gibson's daily photo diary from the Tour de France.

I'm going to cut to the chase since the word is out. This will be my last season with the US Postal Service Cycling Team. In January 2002, I will be joining the CSC Tiscali Team, based in Denmark. I'm able to look back on the last seven years and reflect upon an incredible experience with a tremendous team composed of some of the world's greatest athletes and support staff. I turned professional with this organization in 1995 and traveled along with it all the way Paris where we've hoped Lance Armstrong would write history at the Tour de France. It's been an unbelievable journey. One I will

Lance Armstrong got the coolest Giro helmet, designed specifically for him with stars-and-stripes on it with his name down the center. His mechanic, Julien Devries, is one of the few who makes sure on the starting ramp that there isn't the slightest flaw or piece of glass on the tires. HerasWhen aero' guru John Cobb arrived at the Tour the day before the final time trial, Postal's Johan Bruyneel immediately requested assistance for Roberto Heras. Some of the changes Cobb suggested were not possible in the time available, but one was. Last winter, Cobb had seen that Lance's aero' helmet

Schwinn’s Leigh Donovan kept her win streak alive with a Saturday night dual win in Japan. Donovan’s third World Cup dual win allowed her to keep her leader’s jersey and stretch her lead in the overall standings. Australian world champion Wade Bootes (Trek-Volkswagen) won his first World Cup final of the season in front of massive crowds at the Arai ski area. Thousands of spectators came out for a race that didn't end until nearly 10:00 p.m. This week's World Cup dual had course controversy once again, as the men’s race in particular made a heavy favorite of the first rider out of the gate.

Today's sponsor village was in the shadow of the very large, and beautiful Cathedral of Orleans.

Fans line the start in front of the Hotel de Ville in Orleans.

Birthday boy Jean-Marie LeBlanc, the numero uno of the Tour de France, directs traffic at the finish. Leblanc turned 57 on Saturday.

The Michelin cycle, rolls along each day in the publicity caravan.

Cycling fans come in all sizes and all ages in France.

The end is nigh! Paris beckons.

PMU, a chain of betting parlors, sponsors the green jersey. They'll be fighting for that one until the end.

The sprint jersey duel between Zabel and O'Grady (that's his arm behind Zabel) will come down to Sunday's final sprint in Paris.

The Badger chats with The Lance.

Telekom's Livingston ahead of the Postal parade.

It's a B-L-T: Bobby Julich, Lance, and Telekom's Ullrich.

Armstrong's mechanic, Julien Devries, is one of the few who makes sure on the starting ramp that there isn't the slightest flaw or piece of glass on the tires.

Heras, with Armstrong's spare helmet.

Stuart O'Grady, the green sprint jersey holder, may not have been in the top 50 in the time trial, but his helmet and shorts sure match that green jersey nicely.

Former yellow jersey François Simon dropped a place on GC in the time trial. The cap dragging in the wind was probably the least of his worries, though!

Rudy Project spends over 90 percent of its efforts on sunglasses, but it appears worthwhile to make aero' helmets, since there is a lot more logo room than on the frames of sunglasses.

The hinged Catlike aero' helmet, when on the focused head of Santiago Botero with the visor down, can look intimidatingly fast.

Didier Rous (Bonjour) on his welded aluminium Time TT frame with a Spinergy Rev-X front wheel and a Time carbon fork. His aero' helmet has no chin strap; it's held on with an adjustable band, like a welding helmet.

Michaël Boogerd almost fell out of the top 10, losing almost six and half minutes in the TT. But he looked cool in his cap.

Jan Ullrich uses a Limar aero' helmet. It seems to be as aerodynamic as any out there, but offers little protection. It's made of plastic that is probably no thicker than a common two-liter pop bottle.

Francisco Mancebo depended on Bell to guide the air smoothly over his head and down his back.

Bootes wowed the crowd with a win in Japan.

Donovan's stretched her World Cup lead on her smokin' farewell tour.

5:13[local time] Armstrong has finished in 1:14:16. He has won the stage by 1:23 over Igor González de Galdeano and beat Ullrich by 1:38. Wow. Click here to see preliminary finishing results and starting times for Stage 18 TT.2:15[local time] 5:10[local time] Ullrich has finished in second place -- a likely third -- at 1:15:55. 5:06[local time] Joseba Beloki has finished with a strong 1:16:48, good enough for fifth, but more importantly, he has locked in third place overall. At the third time check, Armstrong has crossed with a 1:07:27 - 1:14 better than Gonzales and 1:36 up on

Starting times for Stage 18 time trial Click "View Results" to see starting times and preliminary TT results

With a five-minute lead, overall victory virtually assured, and three stage wins in his pocket, there wasn’t much left for Lance Armstrong to race for on Stage 18’s 61km individual time trial from Montluçon to Saint-Armand-Montrond. Except that, there’s always something for Armstrong to race for at the Tour. On Friday, it was about validating his worthiness to lead the Tour de France. As if that were ever in doubt. But in doing so, Armstrong took his game to another level, one that he said he’s never reached before. On a hot, humid day, over undulating forest roads, Armstrong knew from the

Stage Winner Lance Armstrong (USA) U.S. Postal Service, 60.5km in 1:14:16---------------------------------- Overall Lead: Lance Armstrong (USA) U.S. Postal Service Sprinter: Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole Climber: Laurent Jalabert (F) CSC-Tiscali Under 25: Oscar Sevilla (Sp) Kelme-Costa Blanca Click below for full results and overall.

After a clockwise lap of France, the race -- the riders, the officials, the journalists -- is moving closer and closer to Paris.