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The break had the right ingredients for success...

COURSE: This stage is a straight shot along the coastal plain of the Mediterranean. The main difficulties will probably be the heat, the Mistral wind and perhaps the speed, should the sprinters get a scent of victory. The race could split up in the crosswinds. FAVORITES: Look for good results from tough men like Stuart O’Grady,Jakob Piil, Thor Hushovd and Leon Van Bon, all of whom can out-sprint abreakaway group or do well in a field sprint. HISTORY: The last of 14 stages to finish in Nîmes camein 1986, when the stage also started at Carcassonne. But that was on ahilly course 40km

... while earlier attempts did not.

Aitor Gonzalez's win in the 14th stage of the Tour de France may have given him cause to celebrate, but it has to count as one of the most expensive returns on investment for any sponsor in the sport of cycling. For sure, Fassa Bortolo's Gonzalez was smiling after he time-trialed away from a 10-man break to finish 27 seconds ahead of Frenchmen Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) and Christophe Mengin (Fdjeux.com). But considering the promise that came with his $750,000 salary, one Tour stage win and a time-trial success at the 2003 Giro d'Italia in his two years with Fassa is hardly great value for

Another day in yellow for the man.

STAGE RESULTS1. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Fassa Bortolo, 4:18:322. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak, 00:253. Christophe Mengin (F), FDJeux.com, 00:254. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Crédit Agricole, 00:295. Peter Wrolich (A), Gerolsteiner, 00:316. Marc Lotz (Nl), Rabobank, 00:317. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), Liberty-Seguras, 00:318. Santiago Botero (Col), T-Mobile, 00:379. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:4110. Egoi Martinez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:43 11. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 14:1212. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, 14:1213. Danilo Hondo (G), Gerolsteiner, 14:1214. Stuart

A serious chase might have been tough in the heat and wind.

Lance Armstrong said manic Basque cycle fans were his biggest worry as he surged to victory on stage 13 of the Tour de France high in the Pyrénées on Saturday. U.S. Postal’s five-time Tour winner and Italian Ivan Basso (CSC) threaded a precarious route through thousands of fans on the way to the summit at the end of the 205-km stage. French police estimated the crowds on the stage at between 150,000 and 200,000, with around 85,000 of them sporting the orange colours of Euskaltel-Euskadi, whose Basque rider Iban Mayo was having a dismal ride and nearly abandoned. "We just passed a

A friendly rivalry that looks as though it may last all the way to Paris

The Mail Bag is a Monday-Wednesday-Friday feature on VeloNews.com, but will appear daily during the Tour. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Numbers don't lie, do they?Dear Editors,I guess I'm in the minority of those who can't quite figure out howUSA Cycling totals its points. (see "Withsingle-point margin, Haywood gets Olympic nod ")I went to the UCI website and as of

Back pain drove Hamilton out of the Tour

Ivan Basso was on Lance Armstrong’s original list of potential threats for the 2004 Tour de France, but he was not near the top of that list. He is now. The former winner of the Tour’s Best Young Rider jersey has been the only man able to match Armstrong pedal stroke for pedal stroke over the past two days. Though the young Italian said he was forced to his limit to keep up on the final climb to Plateau de Beille, Armstrong didn’t have an overabundance of energy left when it came time to sprint either. Sitting just 1:17 behind Armstrong is a man many believe represents the future of the

Who loves ya, baby? Not this Basque

STAGE 13 July 17 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (134.844mi/217km)

The Tour picked the wrong time to visit Basque Country, with Mayo having a rough ride

STAGE 13 July 17 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (134.844mi/217km)

STAGE 13 July 17 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (134.844mi/217km)

Azevedo was the last Postie driving the train

STAGE 13 July 17 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (134.844mi/217km)

Leipheimer eventually lost contact on the climb to Plateau de Beille.

STAGE 13 July 17 Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (134.844mi/217km)

Ullrich fights his way up to Plateau de Beille

Armstrong outkicks Basso at the end

Not all fans were hostile Saturday

Armstrong gets his first stage this year

Azevedo was the last Postie driving the train

Voeckler was valiant in defense of his jersey

Leipheimer eventually lost contact on the climb to Plateau de Beille.

Once again, Postal put the big hammer down

Ullrich lost more ground today

And on the final climb, it was down to Armstrong and Basso

Not all fans were hostile Saturday

COURSE: This is a classic 217km Pyrenean stage with half-a-dozenbig climbs before the destructive summit finish on the Plateau de Beille.The 10km, 8.4-percent climb of the Col d’Agnes at 154km is the steepest,and is followed by a short downhill and climb before descending a narrowtwisty back road, which could be treacherous in the rain. A short valley section then precedes the 18.5km, 6.4-percent haul to the finish. FAVORITES: This has every sign of being the key stage of the Tour, a day when Armstrong will discover his true rivals. KILOMETERS CLIMBING66.3KILOMETERS

Voeckler in yellow once again

It was a stage that was heavily billed to be defininitive in the final outcome of this year's Tour de France. But after Lance Armstrong won the 205.5km 13th leg through the Pyrénées, everyone was left saying it was more like the decisive stage. In a stage that began in Lannemezan and had seven categorized climbs, Armstrong (U.S. Postal-Berry Floor) turned around his second-place finish to Ivan Basso (CSC) in the previous day's stage by outsprinting the impressive young Italian to the summit finish of Plateau de Beille at 5870 feet. In third place behind the pair was Austrian George

Mayo had a really bad day, nearly abandoning

STAGE RESULTS1. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 6:04:382. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 00:003. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 01:054. Andréas KlÖden (G), T-Mobile, 01:275. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 01:276. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 02:427. Azevedo José (P), U.S. Postal Service, 02:508. Christophe Moreau (F), Crédit Agricole, 02:519. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 02:5110. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saeco, 03:43 11. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Phonak, 04:2912. Stephane Goubert (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 04:2913. Thomas Voeckler (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 04:4214.

Chavanel and Voight got things rolling early

Had it not been so true, the outcome of the first mountain stage of the 2004 Tour de France could have been scripted in Hollywood. But the reality of it provided Tour followers with a welcome reminder of how results alone don't always count in a race – sometimes, it’s how those results are achieved, and what they really mean. Friday’s stage-12 win by Ivan Basso (CSC) over defending Tour champion Lance Armstrong (U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor) confirmed the Italian’s status as a true contender, a man who could take command of the Tour de France should the Texan either retire or lose his

Ullrich had a surprisingly poor day today

STAGE RESULTS1. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 5:03:582. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 00:003. Andréas Klöden (G), T-Mobile, 00:204. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:245. Carlos Sastre (Sp), CSC, 00:336. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Phonak, 00:507. Denis Menchov (Rus), Illes Balears-Banesto, 00:598. Michele Scarponi (I), Domina Vacanze, 01:029. Iban Mayo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 01:0310. Santos Gonzalez (Sp), Phonak, 01:03 11. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 01:0312. Gilberto Simoni (I), Saeco, 01:3213. Aitor Gonzalez (Sp), Fassa Bortolo, 01:3914. Christophe Moreau (F),

Lovely day for a bike race ... if you're watching via laptop back in the United States

Tour de France officials are getting carried away with their duties when it comes to barring suspect riders from the race, the president of the sport's governing body said Friday. UCI president Hein Verbruggen hit out at organizers who wanted to bar two Tour competitors, including one from Lance Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor team, because they are implicated in a previous doping affair. Italian authorities accuse U.S. Postal's Pavel Padrnos of the Czech Republic and Quick Step’s Stefano Zanini of Italy of possessing or using doping products during the 2001 Giro d’Italia. The

La Mongie proved to be another tough day at the office for the peloton – and for a few of the favorites, too

President George W. Bush predicted Friday that he would win the November presidential election and that fellow Texan Lance Armstrong would pedal to a historic sixth victory in the Tour de France. "He's going to win, and I'm going to win. There's no need to worry about either race anymore," Bush told reporters after watching the race aboard Air Force One en route to Tampa, Florida. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush, who fell out sharply with France in the run-up to the war in Iraq, has been avidly watching the storied bicycling race. "He has been trying to

Whom do you suppose these two are backing in this year's race?

Tour de France organizers have threatened to pull out of next year's revolutionary new Pro Tour in a doping row with the UCI. The 2005 Tour is set to form a key part of a new grand-prix style cycling calendar running from March to October and comprising 28 races. But a rift has developed after the UCI refused to exclude two more riders from this year's Tour. Tour chief Jean-Marie Leblanc wanted them thrown out as part of a zero-tolerance policy for anyone caught up in doping probes. Leblanc said he had received information from San Remo's prosecutor's office that Czech rider Pavel

Hamilton struggled today, too

Photographer Casey Gibson was one of our eyes in the sky as the Tour de France raced toward its first mountaintop finish. Here's a sampling of what he saw.

Julich picked his wheel and cruised into the finish

We’ve been talking for weeks about the relative strengths of the teams contesting the 2004 Tour de France, but when it comes right down to it, there’s a point when the team leader has to step up and deliver the goods. When that time arrived during Stage 12, some men rose to the occasion and others faded dramatically. Lance Armstrong has been looking forward to the stages to LaMongie and Plateau de Beille for a long time. He has been victorious before on these climbs, he knows them well, and he knows how to exploit their slopes to his advantage. Prior to the stage, the US Postal Service

The stage came down to two men.

The surroundings were familiar to Bobby Julich as he entered the Pyrénées Friday during the 12th stage of the 2004 Tour de France: the chaotic sea of orange shirts, the deafening tunnel of Basque fans cheering, and the high peaks above. The first major mountain test of the 2004 Tour de France was a one-two Pyrénées punch of Category 1 climbs — the Col d’Aspin and the mountaintop finish at La Mongie. The last time Julich was here in 2002, the scene looked about the same. But for the 32-year-old American, now riding for the CSC team in support of Italian star Ivan Basso, everything was

Voeckler holds on...

The Mail Bag is a Monday-Wednesday-Friday feature on VeloNews.com, but will appear daily during the Tour. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.Is the fix on?Velo,Regarding George’sprediction of the race(s) outcome I wonder if is going to have theSupreme Court fix the tour too. Bill WilliamsDavis, California Compare and contrastEditors,We are fortunate indeed to stand

O'Grady's favorite part of the Tour

Everyone is wondering when something important will happen.Sam Abtwriting in the July 15 edition of The New York Times Not to contradict Sam Abt, who has forgotten more about the Tour de France than I will ever know, but plenty of important stuff has happened during this year’s Tour. True, most of what’s happened has had little to do with who will roll down the Champs-Élysées wearing a stylish yellow jersey and a big white grin come July 25. But then you can’t have everything, not even in the Tour. For starters, it’s moderately important that the stage layout sucks. Front-loading the Tour

Sastre goes for it

Sometimes the riders dictate the tactics on the course; other times, the course decides the tactics. In today’s 197km stage from Castelsarrasin to La Mongie, the peloton headed into the Pyrénées, racing over the Col d’Aspin and finishing with the famous Col du Tourmalet. It was the first real test of fitness, a race of man against man, and man against gravity. The peloton rolled along until it approached the fury of a rainstorm and the looming mountains ahead. Little attacks here and there meant nothing in what everyone knew would be a decisive stage, a day on which the field would shatter,

Rasmussen and Martinez

STAGE 12 July 16 Castelsarrasin - La Mongie (123.659mi/199km)

STAGE 12 July 16 Castelsarrasin - La Mongie (123.659mi/199km)

STAGE 12 July 16 Castelsarrasin - La Mongie (123.659mi/199km)

STAGE 12 July 16 Castelsarrasin - La Mongie (123.659mi/199km)

COURSE: The rolling terrain of the opening 160km takes therace into the heart of the Pyrénées, where the peloton willtackle the two hardest climbs yet. The Col d’Aspin is 12.5km at a 6.3 percent,while the finish comes 5km from the summit of the Col du Tourmalet aftera 15km climb, most of it at 8 percent. FAVORITES: After two weeks on the road, some of the pre-racefavorites will have dropped out of the picture, but those still in goodshape should fight out the stage: Who will be the strongest between Armstrong,Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo, Joseba Beloki and Roberto Heras? HISTORY:

Basso pipped Armstrong at the line to win the Tour's first real mountain stage

Moncoutie takes one in his home region

LeMond and Armstrong at the 2003 Tour presentation. This is not really the warmest relationship in cycling.

COURSE: Not a long stage, but the course is constantly climbingand descending. The climbs to Montsalvy (with 64km to go) and Bagnac (16kmfrom the finish) should see plenty of action, both in the likely breakawayand the group containing the race leader. FAVORITES: With large time gaps created by the previous stage,there will be many riders willing to attack. It will difficult for theleader’s team to control all of them, so the finish could hold surprises.The likely protagonists are Paolo Bettini, Jens Voigt and Brad McGee. HISTORY: The town of Figeac is seeing a stage finish for thefirst

Tour de Tech: It's all about the routing

French fans suffering from Bastille Day hangovers at the Tour de France Thursday were given the ideal salve when local rider David Moncoutié won the 164km stage 11 from St. Flour to Figeac to give France back-to-back stage victories following Richard Virenque's first place at St. Flour on Wednesday. It was also his Cofidis team's second stage win at the Tour and provided cause for added celebration for thousands of his local fans. While born in Paris, Moncoutié is from Brenetoux in the Lot region into which the Tour passed and finished Thursday. The stage was testing for all, with the heat,

Tour de Tech: It's all about the routing

Lance Armstrong expressed his disappointment on Thursday after he once again came under criticism from triple Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. "Greg LeMond was my idol as I grew up in cycling because he was a great champion and did great things on the bike," said Armstrong, who is aiming for a record sixth title in the world's premier cycling race. "Many of his performances were so incredible, especially his remarkable return to form and win at the '89 Tour. I'm disappointed and dismayed that for the past four years Greg has continued to question my performances and character."

Tour de Tech: It's all about the routing

STAGE RESULTS1. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, 3:54:582. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo, 02:153. Egoi Martinez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 02:174. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, 05:585. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, 05:586. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 05:587. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step-Davitamon, 05:588. Danilo Hondo (G), Gerolsteiner, 05:589. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 05:5810. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis, 05:58 11. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 05:5812. Scott Sunderland (Aus), Alessio-Bianchi, 05:5813. Jan Ullrich (G), T-Mobile, 05:5814. Thomas

Tour de Tech: It's all about the routing

Lance Armstrong has accused French reporters of trying to rummage through his hotel room, hunting evidence of doping. The U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor leader, who is bidding for a record sixth straight Tour de France title, said a French television crew attempted to get access to his room after he left to race in the 102-mile stage from Saint-Flour to Figeac in central France. “Just this morning, after we left, a TV crew from France 3 was going to the hotel, the reception, to the owner, asking for our room, trying to get in our room,” Armstrong said. He called such behavior