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Basque food at the start

Hincapie looked relaxed and smooth all day.

Tour Tech: A walk through the pits

Riding into the mist of the Pyrenees

Popovych

Course: This is a much easier introduction to the mountains than in recent years. Instead of a mountaintop finish, the last of three climbs on this 190.5km stage across the Basque part of the Pyrénées is 42.5km from the finish in Pau. That means that riders dropped on the Col de Marie-Blanque will have a chance to chase back to the peloton. Breakaways will inevitably go clear on the rolling roads that precede the day’s major obstacle, the Col de Soudet, that climbs for almost 15km at over 7 percent, with some much steeper pitches on the upper reaches of the bumpy, narrow road that leads to

Tour Tech: A walk through the pits

Gontchar looking a bit fatigued on the Soudet

T-Mobile leads the charge on the Marie Blanc

The first major climbs of the 93rd Tour de France served up some significant changes atop the leader board Wednesday; but the main contenders were content to keep a wary eye on each other — even when an early breakaway gained more than 10 minutes and fought for all the spoils of the three-climb, 190.5km 10th stage 10. From the original break of 15 riders, just two were left upon reaching the finishing straight in Pau after the demanding journey through the Basque part of the Pyrénées. Spanish rider Juan Miguel Mercado (Agritubel) and Frenchman Cyril Dessel (AG2R) fought out a hard sprint in

Tour Tech: A walk through the pits

Horner in the fog on the climb.

Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) almost bridges up to the leaders

Australian Robbie McEwen has been lauded for his “explosive” top-end speed by Mario Cipollini, arguably the greatest sprinter of modern Tour de France history. Such praise from the retired Italian superstar was all the more meaningful considering that McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) actually lost the sprint at the end of Tuesday’s 169.5km ninth stage from Bordeaux to Dax. But McEwen’s lightening come-from-behind surge in the last 50 meters of Tuesday's stage to come from fifth wheel and then dart 10 meters across to his left and still challenge for the win was “astonishing,” said

Knees earned most aggressive on the stage

If you ask six different experts who is going to win the 2006 Tour de France, you get six different answers. No one knows. Not even the athletes or their team officials know which rider is going to emerge in the mountains to take command. T-Mobile would appear to have the advantage with four riders in the first six, including yellow jersey Sergei Gontchar, but even the German squad has no real idea. Asked if his team will operate in the mountains like Lance Armstrong’s did for seven years, T-Mobile team manager Olaf Ludwig told VeloNews, “No, we don’t do the same as Discovery Channel or

Their lead topped out at 7:00

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The peloton's work resulted in another well-timed catch

A real break. Yesterday's rest day, followed by a nice flat day like today, is bonus. It means that the rest day could be treated like a true rest day, one in which we only ride for 90 minutes or so, eat, get a little sleep and have no cars, planes or trains involved in our day. We took advantage of it, had a nice stroll through the vineyards yesterday and even stopped for a coffee. It was most likely to be the last day of this Tour in which we can actually “rest.” Tomorrow we head into the Pyrénées, and our next rest day on Monday is going to be followed by a brutally difficult

TV hounds Boonen, Why aren't you on the podium again today?

Stage 9: Bordeaux to Dax - 169.5km

Bordeaux start. Nice place to spend the morning.

Stage 9: Bordeaux to Dax - 169.5km

TV films the break

Freire wins a mad dash to the line

Hincapie at sign-in

Ten Years After: Who'da thunk it?

Could I get a close up or 20?

Landis and Phonak at the start.

Course: After a long transfer and rest day in Bordeaux, the race continues with the last stage likely to have a mass finish until the Tour is two days out from Paris. The sprinters won’t waste the opportunity, especially on a completely flat stage like this one. It barrels southwest through the pine forest of the Landes almost to the Atlantic coast before turning south. Any breakaways are likely to be swept up after the route turns southeast for the final 35km — where winds off the ocean could split the peloton into echelons (perhaps CSC will make one of its trademark surges) and possibly

T'Mobile leads the chase

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) won the battle of the sprinters in Tuesday’s turbo-charged prelude to the Pyrénées, stabbing his wheel ahead of Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) to win stage 9 in a heart-stopping charge to the line. It was the Spanish sprinter’s second stage win of this year’s Tour de France, while Erik Zabel (Milram) snuck past a frustrated Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic) to grab third place on the 169.5km stage from Bordeaux to Dax. “I’ve good and bad memories from finishes like that,” said Freire, referring to other photo finishes in his career. “I had good luck at Milan-San

The charge to the line

1. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank2. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 00:003. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, 00:004. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 00:005. Cristian Moreni (I), Cofidis, 00:006. Isaac Galvez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-I.B., 00:007. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval, 00:008. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 00:009. David Kopp (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:0010. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 00:00 11. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 00:0012. Jimmy Casper (F), Cofidis, 00:0013. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, 00:0014. Martin Perdiguero M.angel (Sp), Phonak,

Gontchar heads into the mountains wearing yellow

The press of the press at the podium

Scrounging through our warehouse the other day, one of our staff ran across an old copy of a Made in USA special supplement to VeloNews. In late 1996, then VeloNews technical editor, Charles Pelkey, and photographer Robert Oliver made a quick visit to Southern California to tour the facilities of several local manufacturers, including one that operated under the label of TWP - Two Wheeled Performance - Products. A small company, the firm's owners decided that one of the best ways to promote their product line would be to sponsor a bike team. Well, that team was largely built around a

Three escapees

A look ahead: What’s going to happen in the Pyrenees?

You take good news whenever it comes, especially on the Tour de France when the timing of it can help a lot. I can vouch for that, having finally gotten on top of the bronchial illness I had coming into the Tour, just as the race is about to hit the first mountain stage in the Pyrénées. I had been suffering and felt it going into the time trial, but now I feel ready to do what I came here to do and help Christophe Moreau as much as I can for the next big days. The team is looking forward to what’s ahead, and the stage win by Sylvain Calzati on stage eight at Lorient has given us the boost

As the leading three were about to be caught, Knees wanted to try for a solo

A look ahead: What’s going to happen in the Pyrenees?

Weather Sunny in morning, partly cloudy in afternoon, temperatures in high 70s, very humid Stage winner Oscar Freire (Rabobank), 3h35:24, 47.214kph – The three-time world champion won his second stage of this year’s Tour in a wild, wide-open sprint into Dax. Freire won in a bike stab against Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), with Erik Zabel (Milram) taking third in the fastest road stage of the race so far. Race leader Sergei Gontchar, 1,660.1km in 38h14:17, 43.415kph – The Ukraine with an oft-misspelled name had another easy day in the saddle, finishing 32nd safely tucked in the main

Stage Stats: Stage 9 by the numbers

While you relaxed in the cube farm, occasionally sneaking a glance at our Live Update, Casey Gibson was galloping through France alongside le Tour, chronicling the day's action. Here's what he sent back across the pond.

Not much threat to Pineau's jersey today

While the big news coming out of the Phonak camp on Monday’s Tour de France rest day centered on Floyd Landis’s health and future in the sport, there was also a race to discuss. In an afternoon press conference held on the outskirts of Bordeaux, the American praised his team and said the goal remains the same: wear the yellow jersey on the final podium in Paris. "We are in the position we hoped for from the start," said Landis, who sits second overall after eight stages, a minute behind T-Mobile’s Sergei Honchar. "But now it gets complicated. The Tour is dynamic and we cannot predict what

Markus Fothen moves on the grand stage as if he has been doing this for years. Sitting in the garden of the Hotel La Reserve in a quite residential area of Bordeaux, he is surrounded by reporters, shoving their cameras and microphones into his face. Yet the 24-year-old Tour rookie, who is surprisingly holding fifth place overall after the first week, remains calm and composed. He takes his time to carefully consider his answers. Then he looks the questioner in the eyes with a friendly and open expression while he speaks clearly and pointedly. On the bike, the young Gerolsteiner man performs

It's okay Daddy you'll get 'em next time

Evans is the only natural GC rider in this Tour, says McEwen

Landis says racing is therapy for his hip

Dr. Brent Kay describes Landis's hip problem

Landis is playing down his status as a favorite

T-Mobile meets the press

CSC is keeping its collective chin up

Our latest reader-submitted Photo Gallery is now up for your viewing pleasure. Of course, a new gallery also means the naming of the winner of ourmost recent contest. Take the time to wander through that gallery and see if you agree or disagree with our choice of winner. We fell victim to our mushy sides and couldn’t resist a vote for “It's okay Daddy you'll get 'em next time,” by Tiffanie Hills. Go ahead, call us softies; call us saps… because we are (and dads, to boot)! Nice work, Tiffanie! Drop us a note at Rosters@InsideInc.com to work out the details and we’ll send you a

Robbie McEwen has never been shy about giving his opinions on whatever’s on his mind. In Bordeaux Monday afternoon, the leader of the green-jersey competition boldly stated that he thinks his Davitamon-Lotto team can win not only the green jersey, but also the yellow. "Cadel Evans is going to win the Tour de France 2006," said the deadly serious Aussie sprinter. "It’s not a joke." Asked to justify his bold prediction, McEwen added, "He’s the only natural GC rider here. The other [contenders] are all time trialists who’ve turned themselves into GC riders." McEwen was referring to riders like

Floyd Landis’s reputation as the toughest guy in the peloton took a quantum leap Monday when he announced that a degenerative bone condition is causing so much pain he will undergo hip replacement surgery "sooner than later." Landis said he will be able finish the 2006 Tour de France, where he sits second overall, but added that the pain has become so excruciating that surgery could come as soon as this summer. "It’s already ruined," said Landis, describing his hip. "Whenever the pain gets too bad, I will have it replaced, probably sooner than later." Doctors said the condition – described

When Tour de France points leader Robbie McEwen of Davitamon-Lotto was asked Monday what he thought about rival sprinter Tom Boonen saying after Sunday’s stage 8 in Lorient that he was giving up on the green jersey, the little Aussie stated, "He’s lying." McEwen knows that Quick Step’s Boonen has been frustrated by not winning a stage in the Tour’s opening week and that he’ll come back — maybe starting on Tuesday, during the 169.5km stage 9 from Bordeaux to Dax. The stage is the flattest of the 2006 Tour, its highest point being 223 feet above sea level. It will be tough for breakaways to

The 93rd Tour de France saw its first stage taken by a long breakaway on Sunday when the unheralded Frenchman Sylvain Calzati (Ag2r) attacked solo from a six-man move 32km from the finish of the 181km stage 8 across the hilly Brittany region. Dave Zabriskie (CSC) figured in the breakaway that escaped from just 47km after the start in St. Méen-le-Grand, with Calzati going clear when the peloton showed signs of closing down the six-man break. A week after Jimmy Casper won stage 1 in Strasbourg, Calzati earned France’s second stage win of this year’s Tour, while Ukraine’s Sergei Gontchar

Stage Stats: Stage 8 by the numbers

Bruyneel meets the press, including our own Jason Sumner, up against the bus

Give Levi Leipheimer credit. Despite suffering a major-league implosion during Saturday’s 52km time trial, the American GC hopeful wasn’t making any excuses Sunday morning at the Tour de France. Leipheimer alluded to both physical and mechanical problems that hampered him on the lead-up and during the TT, but insisted that’s not where the focus belonged. “It’s just an issue I’ve had the last couple days,” he said, unwilling to elaborate further on his health issue. “But I’m not going to make excuses. I don’t like to see headlines that say this guy was bad because of that. The point is I was

Stage Stats: Stage 8 by the numbers

Calzati leads over the first climb

1. Sylvain Calzati (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, 818km in 4:13:18 (42.874kph)2. Kjell Carlström (FIN), Liquigas-Bianchi, 02:053. Patrice Halgand (F), Credit Agricole, 02:054. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, 02:155. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, 02:156. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, 02:157. Bernhard Eisel (A), Francaise des Jeux, 02:158. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 02:159. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, 02:1510. David Kopp (G), Gerolsteiner, 02:15 11. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 02:1512. Marco Velo (I), Milram, 02:1513. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval, 02:1514.

Stage Stats: Stage 8 by the numbers

French fans show their colors along the route

WeatherCloudy in morning, some intermittent showers, but mostly sunny in afternoon, highs in upper 70s Stage winnerSylvain Calzati (Ag2r), 4h13:18, 42.874kph – The 27-year-old Calzati shot away from a six-man group with about 35km to go to solo home to win in the Tour’s first successful breakaway. It was only his second career victory to go along with a stage-win in the 2004 Tour de l’Avenir. He was the last rider named to the nine-man Tour squad. Race leaderSergei Gontchar, 1490.6km in 34h38:53, 43.021kph – Gontchar had an easy day in the saddle, finishing 100th in the main bunch to

The Green Hornet on the move

A chicken hat completes this ensemble

..sh*t from Shinola is no longer in question. Apparently, I can't tell the difference. If you read my entry from yesterday, you will correctly conclude that my predictions were total crap. I admit it. Fifty-two kilometers of bad predictions and I forgot that Sergei Gontchar was even in the race! Then today the race continued to be bizarre. We raced full gas for the first 50k and then finally an acceptable break that everyone seemed to be happy with went away. Dave Z. (a.k.a. “The Green Hornet”) made the break and we were all proud of him, fighting his way to the front and joining

O'Grady at Sunday's start

A somber Hincapie meets Mr. Microphone

Australian Stuart O’Grady was very close to abandoning the Tour de France last Tuesday, after fracturing his L4 vertebra in a crash on stage 3 to Valkenburg. He finished the stage more than 11 minutes down and miraculously came back the next day to carry on. Before stage 8 on Sunday, O’Grady explained how he is recovering while also dealing with the pain in this interview with Rupert Guinness. VeloNews: It’s been six days since you fractured your vertebra, how is it holding up now? Stuart O’Grady: I am actually feeling better day-by-day. I am doing a heap of chiropractor work and things