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Richard Virenque gave French cycling fans all they could have dreamed for to mark their national holiday, Bastille Day, by winning the 237km stage 10 from Limoges to Saint Flour. The win moved him up to fourth place overall and gave him the lead in the King of the Mountains competition -- his primary goal at this year's Tour de France. Furthermore, on this Bastille Day, French could also celebrate another day with a Frenchman in the yellow jersey, as young Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangere) finished among the overall favorites, more than five minutes behind the day’s lone victor,

Voeckler's team protects the yellow jersey for another day

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS1. Richard Virenque (F), Quick Step-Davitamon, 6:00:242. KlÖden Andréas (G), T-Mobile, 05:193. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, 05:194. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Balears-Banesto, 05:195. Thomas Voeckler (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 05:196. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal Service, 05:197. Georg Totschnig (A), Gerolsteiner, 05:198. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo, 05:199. Michele Scarponi (I), Domina Vacanze, 05:1910. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 05:19 11. Iban Mayo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 05:1912. Mickael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 05:1913. Ivan Basso (I), CSC,

Virenque guts it out on the Tour's longest stage

Frenchman Richard Virenque said Wednesday he is not about to give up what has been a profoundly controversial career as long as his legs, and his team, are fully behind him. The 34-year-old, who was the principal culprit in the Festina doping affair, which rocked cycling and the Tour de France in 1998, took a step towards claiming a record seventh polka-dot jersey by winning the tough 10th stage of the Tour de France held over 237km between Limoges and Saint Flour. It was Virenque's seventh stage victory overall on the race - all have been won in the mountains - and comes on the 10th

Voeckler

Italian rider Stefano Casagranda is set to sue the organizers of the Tour de France, accusing them of depriving him of his right to work when they threw him out of the race earlier this week. The 31-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport that he would be meeting with his lawyer over the next few days to build his case against the organizers, who ejected him and Slovenian cyclist Martin Hvastija on Monday because they are implicated in a doping case in Italy. "The organizers deprived me of my right to work," the Saeco cyclist, who was a lowly 155th when he was expelled, told the newspaper. Tour

American Tyler Hamilton has suffered a major emotional blow on the Tour de France after discovering that his dog Tugboat was suffering from cancer and would have to be put down. "My best friend, my dog, I've had him for nine years - he has cancer really bad, and we have to put him down to rest," Hamilton told reporters after Wednesday's 10th stage of the Tour de France. "For me he was like a child. I've had many great years with him," added the Phonak team leader, who has been followed on the Tour by his wife and dog in recent years. "Just my dog and my wife and I, it's kind of a

Virenque and Voeckler tops at Tour on Bastille Day

Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen battled the pain of tendinitis in his left knee and the many climbs on the longest stage of the 2004 Tour de France on Wednesday to maintain his lead in the points classification. The Lotto-Domo rider, injured in a crash on Friday but strong enough to win Tuesday's stage, said the 237km slog to St Flour had tested his stamina and willpower. McEwen trailed in 164th, over 25 minutes behind 10th stage winner Richard Virenque (Quick Step). "This was the hardest day of the Tour for me and I'm glad it's over," he said after almost six-and-a-half hours of racing

Leipheimer added to U.S. Olympic squad

It has been said that wearing the yellow jersey can give a rider an extra gear, and Thomas Voeckler is definitely taking advantage of it. Instead of being satisfied with merely finishing with the lead group and preserving his overall lead, the young French champion sprinted to fifth place in Stage 10, because that’s how the leader of the Tour de France should race. Right beside Voeckler in the rush to the line was Lance Armstrong, and his decision to stay at the front in the final 850 meters gained him another seven seconds over Tyler Hamilton, Roberto Heras, Levi Leipheimer, and Bobby

My responsibilities have changed. We’re in the mountains, so my job has changed from trying to win a stage to slipping down into “suffer mode,” grind it through and make sure I don’t miss the time cut. These are the days that my director gives me something of a free hand. The other guys have responsibilities themselves, of course. The big job is to do as much as possible to protect and help Pietro Caucchioli and Andrea Noe'. It was a much tougher day than I had feared. The first days into the mountains are always a struggle for me. It takes time for my legs to get used to the stiff

With Lance Armstrong declining his spot on the U.S. Olympic road team, USA Cycling on Wednesday officially nominated Levi Leipheimer as Armstrong’s replacement on the five-man team, joining George Hincapie, Bobby Julich, Tyler Hamilton and Jason McCartney. Leipheimer’s nomination was primarily based on USA Cycling’s automatic selection criteria, which gives a nomination to any rider that places top-five in a UCI hors-categorie stage race, the highest UCI stage-race ranking outside of a grand tour. Leipheimer placed fifth at the Tour of the Basque Country in April, but was initially passed

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.Bon voyage, TugboatEditor:I heard the very sad news this morning that Tyler Hamilton's dog Tugboat would be put to sleep. I think everyone who has lost a beloved pet knows exactly how bad Tyler must be feeling right now. This is no

USA Cycling has delayed making a formal announcement naming the 2004 U.S. Olympic mountain-bike team pending the official release of the latest UCI rankings, the national governing body said on Tuesday. Asked when the announcement might be expected, USAC communications manager Andy Lee replied: “I have no estimate. It is dependent upon the publication of UCI rankings, which were supposed to be out on Monday. We were told by the UCI they would be done by the end of the day yesterday, and they weren't, so all I can tell you is an announcement will be made following the publication of new UCI

STAGE 10 Limoges - Saint-Flour (147.272mi/237km)

STAGE 10 Limoges - Saint-Flour (147.272mi/237km)

STAGE 10 Limoges - Saint-Flour (147.272mi/237km)

It was a happy Bastille Day for the housewives' favorite

COURSE: This is not only the Tour’s longest stage but also the first with major climbs. The route through the Massif Central has amixture of wide, straight highways and narrow, twisting back roads, withthe hardest part at the end. The spectacular Pas de Peyrol climb has 15-percent pitches, and is followedby two more steep uphills before a fast, technical finale into St. Flour. FAVORITES: This is Bastille Day, so expect French names likeSylvain Chavanel among the breakaways, along with men like Michael Boogerdand Santiago Botero. Armstrong’s Postal troops might have a hard time tryingto keep

Merckx and Virenque work a two-man break

STAGE 9 July 13 Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Guéret (99.424mi/160km)

STAGE 9 July 13 Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Guéret (99.424mi/160km)

STAGE 9 July 13 Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat - Guéret (99.424mi/160km)

McEwen is concerned about the climbing to come with a bum knee

Tour de Tech: Specialized's Full-on Carbon

COURSE: It’s only 50km from St. Léonard to Guéretas the crow flies, but this stage loops south and east before heading towardthe finish on rolling roads that should favor a breakaway. FAVORITES: After a day of rest, expect the more aggressive ridersto come out fighting. But the sprinters know that this is their last chanceto snag a win before the climbing stages, so don’t be surprised if the sprinters' teams try to keep any escapes in check. McEwen? O'Grady? Hondo? HISTORY: The Tour has never come to Guéret before, butthe region has some cycling history. St. Léonard is the hometownof

Tour de Tech: Specialized's Full-on Carbon

Australian Robbie McEwen became the first double stage winner of this year's Tour de France with his victory in the ninth stage - the last chance for the sprinters to win before the race enters the mountains on Wednesday. In one of the tightest finishes so far, McEwen (Lotto-Domo) beat Norway's Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and Australian Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) in 3:32:55 to take the 160.5km stage from Saint Leonard de Noblet to Gueret. “I'm happy I've won two bunch sprints,” McEwen said. “I probably had a chance at another couple, but you can't win every day. “After today I feel like I

Cipo's bike featured a bit of extra carbon

Australian former world sprint champion Sean Eadie launched an appeal on Tuesday, one day after Olympic and cycling officials accused him of trafficking in banned performance-enhancing drugs. Eadie, 35, has been nominated to race at the Athens Games next month but now risks being dropped from the team if he cannot defend himself against the charge. His manager, Kerry Ruffels, said appeal papers had been lodged with Australia's Court of Arbitration for Sport in Sydney. Cycling Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) on Monday issued Eadie an infraction notice after customs

McEwen wins a mad dash to the line

1. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 3:32:552. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, 00:003. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis, 00:004. Pineau Jérôme (F), Brioches La Boulangere, 00:005. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, 00:006. Janeck Tombak (Est), Cofidis, 00:007. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:008. Danilo Hondo (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:009. Sergio Marinangeli (I), Domina Vacanze, 00:0010. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:00 11. Nazon Jean-Patrick (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:0012. Baden Cooke (Aus), FDJeux.com, 00:0013. Scott Sunderland (Aus), Alessio-Bianchi, 00:0014. Allan Davis (Aus),

Simeoni and Landaluze worked it to the bitter end

Long before France won the soccer World Cup in 1998, French sports fans loved nothing more than a magnificent loser. On Tuesday, the Tour de France honored just such a man – Raymond Poulidor, one of France's most popular sportsmen, who became known as the eternal runner-up – when the ninth stage started from the 68-year-old's home village of St Leonard de Noblat. Forty years ago, Poulidor beat Jacques Anquetil in an epic stage battle to the top of the Puy de Dome that split the population watching on France's only television channel and the many fans who had gathered on the extinct

Voeckler's team masses at the front

Tests on the B sample of Belgian rider Christophe Brandt, who has been withdrawn from the Tour de France on doping charges, have confirmed the presence of methadone, his Lotto-Domo team said on Tuesday. Brandt was pulled out of the race by the team on Saturday after failing a test in Namur at the end of the second stage. He failed a separate test on Friday, also for methadone. "We have looked everywhere in the team for methadone. We have made tests and checks on power bars and nutritional products we use. But we did not find anything," team director Claude Criquielion told journalists.

Lance and the Posties just followed the wheels today

Author and former U.S. Pro Championship winner Thomas Prehn will make a special presentation at the Wall Street Borders Bookstore at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 31st. Visit the Wall Street Borders to learn more about winning strategies for racing and have Prehn sign your copy of Racing Tactics. Admission is FREE. Wall Street Borders Bookstore100 BroadwayNew York, NY 10005Phone: 212.964.19885:00 PM About the book:Competitive cycling is about utilizing good technique and having a strong tactical sense, or “race smarts.” While it’s true that the most physically prepared cyclists usually finish,

Voeckler hopes to stay in yellow

As the mountains of the Tour de France appear on the horizon, Italy's Ivan Basso is emerging as one of the dark horses of this year's race behind favorites Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich. Basso, who is 28th overall, just 1:17 behind the sixth-placed Armstrong after Tuesday's ninth stage, finished seventh last year, won the best young rider competition in 2002 and has the consistency needed to do well in the grueling three-week race. He has often been criticized for riding conservatively, but after moving to CSC this year he has promised he will go on the attack in search of a stage win

Before the start: Little did I know what the day had in store for me.

After a week and a half of relatively flat and smooth roads, the 2004 Tour de France is about to change significantly. By the end of tomorrow’s ninth stage, the general classification should have a whole new look, and though we may not know much more than we know right now about the relative strengths of the pre-race favorites, they will know. At 237 kilometers, Stage 10 is the longest of the 2004 Tour. While the climbs may not be the most difficult ones the riders will tackle this year, they will have to go over nine categorized climbs tomorrow, including the first one ranked as a category

This one stuck: We were happy to see them go... for a while.

Man, this was a tough day. Like I’ve said here for a few days, I am feeling a whole lot better on the bike, and I sure needed to be, because this was tough! I have to say I’ve never suffered as much on the bike as I did today for the first 40km of this stage. I just cannot remember ever doing a stage this fast on terrain like that. It was unbelievable today … absolutely unbelievable. Everyone in the peloton was just sprinting flat-out for the first 40km. Every attack drew some kind of response from the field, and people just kept attacking and attacking … and the terrain made it absolutely

The missing rainbow

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.What’s in a name?Editor:I wish all of the television commentators would learn to correctly pronounce Jose Azevedo's name. Portuguese does not have a silent “j.” It is pronounced as in French – not "Ho-say," but more like "Zhose"

American Tyler Hamilton has shaken off his freakish first week on the Tour de France to insist he can give former boss Lance Armstrong a run for his money in the battle for the yellow jersey. Hamilton, who rides for Phonak, is in a great position on the race's general classification - just behind Armstrong - after a week of mainly flat but troublesome stages, once of which sent him flying over the handlebars of his bike onto his back and head. Phonak’s time trial was also blighted by punctures, falls, and injuries that trimmed the squad to the bare minimum of five men, but it still claimed

Weight has always played an important role in cycling. Whether it’s bike parts or body weight, cyclists seem to be on a never-ending quest to lighten the total load they have to carry uphill. Yet, before cutting calories you should be aware that the relationship between body weight and performance is not as simple as it seems. Using power meters, it quickly becomes clear that reducing a rider’s weight, while retaining or improving his ability to produce power, leads to better performance in the mountains. However, being lighter isn’t always better. At a certain point, riders begin to lose

Hvastija at this year's Tour presentation

Australia's former world sprint champion Sean Eadie, nominated to race in Athens, faces a two-year ban after being accused Monday of drug trafficking in the latest doping scandal to rock the country's Olympic preparations. Cycling Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has issued Eadie with an infraction notice after customs officers reported intercepting a package addressed to him of banned and as yet undetectable drugs sent through the mail five years ago from the United States. Australian law at the time did not permit customs to inform cycling officials of its find, but it

Lance Armstrong enjoyed a relatively quiet rest day Monday, going on a morning ride and otherwise relaxing around the team hotel on the outskirts of Limoges. Tuesday opens three potentially explosive days in the Massif Central and Armstrong said he’s read for the fireworks to begin. Belgian television caught up with Armstrong as he returned from his training ride. VeloNews listened in: Question: You seem very relaxed after the difficult first week? Lance Armstrong: “More relaxed because it’s over, not because I’m more relaxed in general, just glad it’s over, I’m glad we didn’t have any

Two more riders were kicked out of the Tour de France Monday after race organizers received confirmation from Italy that the two men are under formal investigation for alleged drug infractions. Race director Jean-Marie Leblanc announced that Italian Stefano Casagranda (Seaco) and Slovenian Martin Hvastija (Alessio-Bianchi) had both been told not to start Tuesday's 160km ninth stage Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to Guéret. Italian police are investigating charges that Casagranda bought EPO four years ago at Marostica, near Venice. Whereas authorities say they have a tape of Hvastija in his room

German cycling great Jan Ullrich threw down the gauntlet to five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong on Monday, declaring that while the American might hold a 55-second advantage over him after the first week, it was nothing because the real Tour was about to start. The 30-year-old 1997 Tour de France winner took advantage of the rest day to lay down his challenge to end the American's bid for a sixth successive victory in the world's greatest cycling race. "The real Tour de France effectively begins now with its real stages," said the East German-born T-Mobile rider, referring to

STAGE 8 July 11 Lamballe - Quimper (106.881mi/172km)

STAGE 8 July 11 Lamballe - Quimper (106.881mi/172km)

Why no rainbow?

Hilfiker

It starts with an SRM

Thor hammers 'em again

COURSE: Shorter and hillier than the previous day’s stage, but still on the winding roads of Brittany, this one is made for breakaways. Expect to see huge crowds in all the granite-built towns and villages. FAVORITES: With the riders taking a plane after the stage to the rest-day town of Limoges, expect them to race very fast. That could result in a tight sprint finish in the streets of Quimper. With a short finishing straight and bends before that, this one looks ideal for McEwen, Cooke or Nazon. HISTORY: There has been only one stage finish in Quimper. That was in 1991, when Aussie Phil

Armstrong and his colleagues are ready for a rest

Crédit Agricole’s Thor Hushovd found himself celebrating for the second time in a week after winning Sunday's eighth stage of the Tour de France. After claiming the yellow jersey for a day on stage 2, the Norwegian road champion won Sunday’s 168km stage from Lamballe to Quimper with a strong, uphill sprint. Under a torrent of cold Breton rain, Hushovd defeated Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) and Germany's Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) in that order. Taking fourth place, but reclaiming the sprinters' green jersey from Australian Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis), was his compatriot Robbie McEwen

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS1. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Crédit Agricole, 3:54:222. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo, 00:003. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, 00:004. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus), Lotto-Domo, 00:005. KlÖden Andréas (G), T-Mobile, 00:006. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Davitamon, 00:007. Laurent Brochard (F), Ag2R Prevoyance, 00:008. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis, 00:009. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp), Phonak, 00:0010. Danilo Hondo (G), Gerolsteiner, 00:00 11. David Etxebarria (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 00:0012. Allan Davis (Aus), Liberty-Seguras, 00:0013. Michele Scarponi (I), Domina Vacanze, 00:0014. Sergio

C.A. did much of the chase work. This time, it paid

Tyler Hamilton, suffering from back pains after a crash on Friday, says he is relieved to be taking a day's rest before the Tour de France battle starts in earnest this week. The American, who finished fourth last year behind five-time champion Lance Armstrong, despite breaking his collarbone, said on Sunday he was not afraid of suffering. The many crashes during the wet and windy conditions of the first week had made him nervous, however. "Considered all the problems we had in the last couple of days, I'm happy we finished today," the Phonak team leader said at the end of the 168km

The usual escape with - as usual - Jakob Piil in the mix.

The first part of the Tour de France was “close to perfect” for five-time champion Lance Armstrong. The American, seeking an unprecedented sixth title, finished second in the prologue and won Wednesday's team time trial with his U.S. Postal Service-Berry Floor team. And with the exception of the sixth stage, when he suffered cuts and bruises after coming off his bike, Armstrong managed to steer clear of the crashes that marked the first week. "I can't complain," Armstrong said on Sunday before traveling by plane to Limoges in central France. “We're in a good position. We don't have a

Ullrich: Watching and waiting

Green Bay Packer fans smile broadly whenever the snow starts falling during home football games. Their team thrives in those conditions because it’s the environment in which they live and train, but they suffer in the heat during away games in Phoenix, Arizona. Likewise, individual cyclists thrive in different conditions, and the weather can significantly influence their chances of winning. Thus far in the 2004 Tour de France, the weather has been unseasonably cold and rainy. Perhaps not coincidentally, we’ve seen riders from the colder regions of Europe winning stages. Norwegian Thor

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.Could Voeckler pull off an upset?Editor:I haven't heard of any real digging into the background of Thomas Voeckler, just that he is a decent all-around rider with some climbing ability. Could this be a Tour reminiscent of the Claudio

So what is it with these early breakaways that build up many minutes only to get reeled in before the finish? Why do the riders take off like that? Why does the pack let them go? In Sunday’s 168km stage from Lamballe to Quimpier, three riders – Matteo Tosatto (Fassa Bortolo), Ronny Scholtz (Gerolsteiner) and Jakob Piil (CSC) – got away and built a lead of nearly six minutes with 80km to go. It would not be their day, however; the peloton chipped away at that gap and eventually caught them with 10km remaining. In a stage race like the Tour, the riders in the peloton usually want a small

Italian Filippo Simeoni, who is a key witness in the trial of Italian sports doctor Michele Ferrari, has confirmed his intention to take Lance Armstrong to court for defamation here at the Tour de France. Simeoni hopes to take the five-time Tour de France winner to court over comments made in Le Monde in July of 2003, when the American called the current Domina Vacanze rider a "liar" in the French newspaper article. The Le Monde article quoted Armstrong as saying that Simeoni had "lied" when he told investigators it was Ferrari who showed him (Simeoni) how to use the banned blood booster

STAGE 8 July 11 Lamballe - Quimper (106.881mi/172km)