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Boonen is more relaxed - and a little more humble - going into this year's Tour.

Perhaps no team enters the Tour de France with as much potential in the race’s four jersey competitions as the Netherlands’ Rabobank squad. With defending two-time King of the Mountains Michael Rasmussen, Russian GC contender Denis Menchov, Spanish sprint star Óscar Freire Gómez and the emerging 22-year-old Thomas Dekker, the team brings riders capable of winning each of the race’s esteemed competitions. Winning more than one jersey is unlikely for Rabobank, however. Menchov, who finished sixth last year, doesn’t top anyone’s list of GC favorites, and at the team’s pre-race medical check

Rasmussen is ready to climb

It was such a nice day, some even forgot it was a bike race...

In his 13th year as a professional, Ag2r-Prevoyance rider Christophe Moreau said Thursday he thinks he can do something he’s never done at the Tour de France — finish on the podium. Though he’s no stranger to the Tour’s top 10 (he was fourth in 2000, and has twice finished eighth), Moreau has never reached the final podium in Paris. But after dominating the Dauphiné Libéré in June, and more recently winning the French national championship, the 36-year-old Moreau has reason to think this year might be different. In the 12 times he has arrived to the start of the Tour, it’s the most serene

Dekker is here for the experience.

...well, at least until the climbing started.

Alessandro Petacchi, charged with doping by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), will learn his fate on July 24. The 33-year-old sprinter will be handed his punishment by the disciplinary commission of the Italian Cycling Federation (FCI). CONI's anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri, who charged Petacchi with doping on Wednesday, has requested the FCI ban him from cycling for a year. Petacchi, who had been provisionally suspended by his Milram team last week, has been replaced by Ukrainian Andriy Grivko for the Tour de France, which gets underway in London on Saturday. Petacchi tested

Rasmussen took the climber's jersey at the '06 Tour after his win at La Toussuire

Many options

If Alexandre Vinokourov expected an easy ride during Thursday’s press conference, he was in for something of a shock. The Tour’s red-hot favorite bristled under repeated questions from testy journalists who queried him about his relationship with Dr. Michele Ferrari, the infamous prepatori who helped Lance Armstrong win seven straight Tour de France victories. “I started to work with (Ferrari) in 2005. He’s my physical trainer. I have worked hard. I have done nothing banned,” a defensive Vinokourov said. “I only work with him in training programs. I work with the team doctors with questions

Moreau rode brilliantly to take the Ventoux stage at this year's Dauphiné.

Trevor Linden

A determined and confident Levi Leipheimer confronts the start of the 2007 Tour de France with new motivation after rejoining the American team Discovery Channel following a five-year run with foreign teams. Leipheimer, 33, lines up Saturday in London as the top American hope for the final podium when the Tour ends July 29 in Paris. “I think I am coming into this Tour a little fresher and a little off my best form. Last year, I was too good too early,” Leipheimer told the assembled media Thursday evening. “This year, I’ve tried to push that back because the end of the Tour this year is so

Secret agent man. Zellmann is playing this release for everything he can.

A beautiful day in British Columbia and leader's still maintain grip on overall

A year ago, Quick Step-Innergetic’s Tom Boonen came to the Tour de France with both the rainbow jersey and heavy expectations on his shoulders. The two-time winner of the Tour of Flanders and reigning world champion came to the Tour with four stage wins to his name and was expected to add to his tally while contesting for the green points jersey. Instead, Boonen did neither, leaving the Tour after stage 15, having worn the yellow jersey for four days. Asked about his main objective for this year’s Tour at a pre-race press conference on Thursday, Boonen played it coy, initially saying, “My

The new Red shifter displaying eight degrees of lever adjustment. In this example, the shift lever is adjusted inwards and the brake lever is left out.

Markus Fothem’s new bike, the Specialized Tarmac SL2.

That small pin below the hood is responsible for the shift lever reach.

The large headtube hides the different sized headset bearings.

This small screw adjusts the brake lever reach.

Shimano’s prototype carbon crank.

This prototype lever displays the refined DoubleTap mechanism.

A close look at Shimano’s prototype crank reveals and aluminum spider.

The back of the new Red cassette prototype.

Before, Specialized’s 2006-7 Transition.

The front of the Red cassette prototype.

After, Specialized’s 2008 Transition.

Vinokourov had a tough press conference on Thursday

A pile o’ time-trial wheels.

Leipheimer says he's ready

Before, plenty of work.

Both men say that Astana poses a big challenge

Petacchi, shown winning his second of five stages in this year's Giro

Vanlandingham has her eye on the Olympics... and a few other challenges

Drying out from Stage 3

Schalk limbers up aboard the ferry

La Ruta's Manuel Prado

Heading for the docks

Off the boat and onto the bikes

The race start at Earl's Cove

Gumby is going for a ride

Schalk leads going into the final feed

Hestler drives the chase through the forest

Longtime race director Jean-Marie Leblanc has finally retired, leaving Christian Prudhomme in charge of the Tour de France. The 2007 edition starts in London on Saturday, and with no clear favorite, it is shaping up to be one of the most open races in years. Lance Armstrong, who won seven straight Tours beginning in 1999, has retired. Last year's winner, Floyd Landis, is still under the cloud of doping accusations. Other big names, such as Ivan Basso, have fallen afoul of the crackdown on drugs in the sport. But Prudhomme insists that other stars will emerge to take their

Another scenic: This time, it's mainland British Columbia

Alessandro Petacchi lost his spot on Milram’s Tour de France team on Wednesday after being charged with doping by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), according to Agence France Presse. CONI's anti-doping prosecutor, Ettore Torri, asked the Italian cycling federation (FCI) to ban the 33-year-old sprinter for one year following a "non-negative" doping test after the third of his five stage wins at the Giro d'Italia. The urine sample Petacchi gave at Pinerolo on May 23 showed an unusually high level of salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma. “We signed the ProTour

Home sweet home: race founder Dean Payne and his beloved Seventies-era motorhome

Tour de France hopeful Andreas Klöden said Wednesday that he was weary of trying to clear his name as other members of his Astana team are suspected of doping. "I have nothing to confess," Klöden told German daily Die Welt. "You have to believe me when I say that I have never done anything illegal." On Wednesday, Klöden signed the UCI’s anti-doping pledge, but admitted that he wasn’t happpy about it. "I didn't have a choice in order to compete in the Tour de France ... but I felt violated by this procedure. I no longer enjoy competing in the Tour de France. It's like a suspended

And now, how the other half lives: Hestler and his VW van

Alessandro Petacchi lost his spot on Milram’s Tour de France team on Wednesday after being charged with doping by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), according to Agence France Presse. CONI's anti-doping prosecutor, Ettore Torri, asked the Italian cycling federation (FCI) to ban the 33-year-old sprinter for one year following a "non-negative" doping test after the third of his five stage wins at the Giro d'Italia. The urine sample Petacchi gave at Pinerolo on May 23 showed an unusually high level of salbutamol, a substance primarily used to treat asthma. “We signed the ProTour

The parade start is really part of the local 4th of July parade.

Prudhomme continues the tradition of former journalists running the world's biggest bike race.

Henry celebrates his national title.

Petacchi, shown winning his second of five stages in this year's Giro

Mr. and Mrs Henry

Tour de France 2007: Boogerd’s last, Dekker debuts; Barloworld feeling aggressive

Tour de France 2007: Boogerd’s last, Dekker debuts; Barloworld feeling aggressive

Lachance and Gestev president Patrice Drouin

At the start

A day with many logging roads on the menu

The long climb

It was one of those days for some.

Taking in the view

Schalk and Eatough still tops in B.C.

Michelle Newton, one half of top women's team.

Rabobank will see a passing of the baton as Michael Boogerd, the major Dutch rider of his generation, starts his final Tour de France while emerging star Thomas Dekker makes his Tour debut. Boogerd will be starting his 12th consecutive Tour that will also be his last. The 36-year-old will retire at the end of the 2007 season. A winner of two Tour stages and twice in the top 10, Boogerd dreams of one more glory ride before hanging up the cleats this year. “In other years, I started strongly and felt weaker while nearing the end of the race. Right now, I am not feeling that well because of a

Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) and Astana’s Eddy Mazzoleni, who were due to be interviewed by anti-doping investgators this week, had their hearings postponed on Tuesday. The two cyclists are to be quizzed by Ettore Torri, the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), over their alleged relationship with a doctor suspected of supplying them with doping products. Doctor Carlo Santuccione is under investigation for allegedly trafficking banned substances to several top Italian sportsmen, including former world champion pole vaulter Giuseppe

Boogered starts his final Tour de France on Saturday

Tour de France 2007: Boogerd’s last, Dekker debuts; Barloworld feeling aggressive

Tour de France 2007: Boogerd’s last, Dekker debuts; Barloworld feeling aggressive

Boogered starts his final Tour de France on Saturday

Tour de France 2007: French teams dreaming big

Tour de France 2007: French teams dreaming big

Tour de France 2007: French teams dreaming big

Tour de France 2007: French teams dreaming big

Pereiro will probably have the lowest number at the Tour, but it won't be No. 1.

Another day at the office kicks off

What was your commute like this morning?