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In the peloton since 1997 Sponsor: National lotteryBudget: $3.2 millionManager/directeur sportif: Marc MadiotAssistants: Yvon Madiot, Martial Gayant, Franck Pineau RidersCASAR Sandy   (F),  February 2, 1979CASPER Jimmy   (F),  May 28, 1978COOKE Baden   (Aus),  October 12, 1978DURAND Jacky   (F),  February 10, 1967GUESDON Frédéric  (F),  October 14, 1971McGEE Brad    (Aus),  February 24, 1976MENGIN Christophe  (F),  September 3, 1968ROBIN Jean-Cyril   (F),  August 27, 1969VOGONDY Nicolas (F) IntroductionMarc Madiot presents an up-and-coming team, and the seven victoriescaptured at the

Domo-Farm Frites

In the peloton since 2000 Sponsor: Cement companyBudget: $5.8 millionManager: Giancarlo FerrettiDirecteur sportifs: Alberto Volpi, Stefano Zanatta, Mario ChiesaAssistant: Oscar Pirazzini RidersBALDATO Fabio   (I),  June 13, 1968BASSO Ivan    (I),  November 26, 1977BELLI Wladimir   (I),  July 25, 1970GONTCHAR Sergei   (Ukr),  July 3, 1970IVANOV Sergueï   (Rus),  March 5, 1975LODA Nicola    (I),  July 27, 1971POZZI Oscar    (I),  December 27, 1971VELO Marco    (I),  March 9, 1974ZANOTTI Marco   (I),  January 21, 1974 Strong temperamentsIn 2001, during Fassa Bortolo’s second year in the

Lampre-Daikin

HIGH EXPECTATIONS - Leipheimer says he doesn’t feel the pressure, but he’ll be Rabobank’s go-to guy in July.

In the peloton since 1986 Sponsors: Domo: rugs, carpets and vinyl; Farm Frites:French friesBudget: $6.3 millionManager: Patrick LefévèreDirecteurs sportifs: Marc Sergeant, Hendrik Redant, WilfriedPeeters, Toon Cruyt Riders (as of June 30)BRUYLANDTS Dave (B), July 12, 1976CASSANI Enrico (I), February 15, 1972KNAVEN Servais (Nl), March 6, 1971KONECNY Tomas (Cz), October 11, 1973MERCKX Axel (B), August 8, 1972RODRIGUEZ Fred (USA), September 3, 1973VAN BON Léon (Nl), January 28, 1972VIRENQUE Richard (F), November 19, 1969WADECKI Piotr (Pl), February 11, 1973 All behind VirenqueThe

Svorada took the final stage in Paris last year

PAYBACK - By working hard for the team in the spring, Leipheimer expects the favor to be returned in July.

In the peloton since 1999 Sponsors: Lampre: manufacturer of sheet metal;Daikin: air conditioningBudget: $4.2 millionManager: Giuseppe SaronniDirecteur sportif: Pietro AlgeriAssistants: Maurizio Piovani, Brent Copeland RidersBELOHVOSCIKS Raivis (Lat) January 21, 1976BERTOGLIATI Rubens (Swi) May 9, 1979CORTINOVIS Alessandro (I) October 11, 1977DIERCKXSENS Ludo (B) October 14, 1964PAGLIARINI Luciano (Bra) April 18, 1978RUMSAS Raimondas (Lit) January 14, 1972SERPELLINI Marco (I) August 14, 1972SVORADA Jan Cz August 28, 1968PINOTTI Marco (I) Experience countsThis Italian team is solid, if not

A solid team with careful ambitions.

The 2002 Tour de France

In the peloton since 1998 Sponsors:Tacconi: sports clothing; Emmegi:heat exchangersBudget: $2.8 millionManager: Davide BoifavaDirecteurs sportif: Fabrizio Bontempi, Vittorio AlgeriAssistant: Pietro Turchetti RidersBORTOLAMI Gianluca I August 28, 1968BOSSONI Paolo I July 2, 1976DONATI Massimo I January 18, 1967FRIGO Dario I September 18, 1973HAUPTMAN Andrej Slo May 5, 1975LUTTENBERGER Peter A December 13, 1972MAZZOLENI Eddy I July 29, 1973FERRARI Diego (I)APOLLONIO Massimo (I) Frigo bears watchingThis Italian team, which has had trouble holding on to its best riders,cannot hope to stand out

Kelme will try to make things hard on Armstrong

One of the strongest teams in the peloton, Mapei has never won the Tour.

iBanesto.com

Lotto-Adecco

Stroparo

The weekend before the Tour de France is the traditional time on theracing schedule for the Europeans to hold their respective national championshipraces. It’s the last major racing before the Tour, which kicks off thiscoming Saturday in Luxembourg. The races are typically held this weekendso the winners can show off their new colors at cycling’s biggest race,at least for those from teams that will be racing at the Grande Boucle.Here are the winners in the men’s road races from Europe's top cycling powers: FRANCENicolas Vogondy won out of a five-up sprint to earn his first majorvictory

Dunlap takes over as World Cup leader

In the peloton since 1995 Sponsor: American postal serviceBudget: $5.6 millionManager: Mark GorskiDirecteur sportif: Johan BruyneelAssistants: Dirk Demol, Frankie Andreu RidersARMSTRONG Lance (USA)   September 18, 1971EKIMOVOV Viatcheslav (Rus)HERAS Roberto  (Sp)   February 21, 1974HINCAPIE George  (USA)   June 29, 1973JOACHIM Benoît  (Lux)   January 14, 1976LANDIS Floyd  (USA)   October 14, 1975PADRNOS Pavel  (Cz)   December 17, 1970PEÑA Victor Hugo  (Col)   July 10, 1974RUBIERA José Luis  (Sp)    January 21, 1973 Primed and readyU.S. Postal was built slowly but surely with input from the

Meirhaeghe

In the peloton since 1991 Sponsor: State-owned telecommunications companyBudget: $4.3 millionManager: Walter GodefrootDirecteur sportif: Rudy PevenageAssistants: Frans Van Looy, Mario Kummer RidersALDAG Rolf   (G)  August 25, 1968FAGNINI Gian Matteo (I)  October 11, 1970GUERINI Giuseppe  (I)  February 14, 1970HONDO Danilo  (G)  January 4, 1974JULICH Bobby  (USA)  November 18, 1969LIVINGSTON Kevin  (USA)  May 24, 1973BOLTS Udo (G)WESEMANN Steffen  (G)  March 11, 1971ZABEL Erik   (G)  July 7, 1970A seventh green jersey?Walter Godefroot hopes each year for a new victory from Jan Ullrich.But

Hughes and Davidge broke clear

In the peloton since 1996 Sponsor: Dutch banking groupBudget: $3.7 millionManager: Jan RaasDirecteur sportif: Théo de RooyAssistants: Adri Van Houwelingen, Joop Zoetemelk RidersBOOGERD Michael  (Nl),  May 28, 1972DE GROOT Bram   (Nl),  December 18, 1974DEKKER Erik   (Nl),  August 21, 1970ENGELS Addy   (Nl),  June 16, 1977KROON Karsten   (Nl),  January 29, 1976LEIPHEIMER Levi   (USA),   October 24, 1973NIERMANN Grischa  (G),  November 3, 1975WAUTERS Marc   (B),  February 23, 1969ZBERG Beat    (Swi),  May 10, 1971Levi in the mixWhile this Dutch squad is building toward the future with a

Bessette took the overall

In the peloton since 1993Sponsors: Mapei: chemical building products; Quick Step: laminatedflooringBudget: $6.9 millionManager: Alvaro CrespiDirecteurs sportifs: Roberto Damiani, Fabrizio Fabbri, SergeParsani, Eric Vanderaerden, Jésus Suarez-Cueva, Matxin FernandezRidersBODROGI Laszlo  (Hun),  December 11, 1976DE WAELE Fabien FREIRE Oscar  (Sp),  February 15, 1976HORRILLO Pedro  (Sp),  September 27, 1974HUNTER Robert  (SA),  April 22, 1977MARTINEZ Miguel  (F),  January 17, 1976STEELS Tom  (B),  September 2, 1971TAFI Andrea   (I),  May 7, 1966TRAMPUSCH Gerhard (A),  August 11, 1978A better

Prime Alliance protected Horner all day

In the peloton since 1990 Sponsor: Spanish banking corporationBudget: $4.9 millionManager: José Miguel EchavarriDirecteurs sportifs: Eusebio Unzue, José Luis Jaimerena,Alfonso Galilea RidersBARANOWSKI Dariusz  (Pol), June 22, 1972BRUSEGHIN Marzio (I)GARCIA ACOSTA J. Vincente  (Sp), August 4, 1972GUTIERREZ José Ivan (Sp), November 27, 1978LATASA David (Sp)MANCEBO Francisco  (Sp), March 9, 1976MENCHOV Denis  (Rus), January 25, 1978OSA Unaï  (Sp), June 12, 1975PASCUAL RODRIGUEZ Javier (Sp), November 14, 1971Hungry climbersIt has been difficult for Spain to discover a champion to fill theshoes

Dominguez took the win for Saturn

In the peloton since 1984 Sponsors: Lotto: Belgian national lottery; Adecco:temp agencyBudget: $3.3 millionManager: Christophe SercuDirecteurs sportifs: Jos Braeckeveldt, Claude Criquiélion,Walter Planckaert, Hugo De Dier RidersAERTS Mario   (B), December 31, 1974BAGUET Serge   (B), August 18, 1969BRANDT Christophe  (B), May 6, 1977DE CLERCQ Hans   (B), March 3, 1969MCEWEN Robbie   (Aus), June 24, 1972MIKHAïLOV Guennadi  (Rus), February 8, 1974VAN DE WOUVER Kurt  (B), September 24, 1971VERBRUGGHE Rik   (B), July 23, 1974VIERHOUTEN Aart   (Nl), March 19, 1970 Seeking stage winsAfter an

Vogondy

U.S. Postal Service

U.S. Postal Service

Vinokourov will shoot for the general classification in Ullrich’s absence.

Will Wauters wear yellow again in 2002?

Luxembourg - Saarbrücken

St. Martin-de-Landelles - Plouay

Vaison-la-Romaine - Les Deux-Alpes

Horner

Luxembourg - Saarbrücken

St. Martin-de-Landelles - Plouay

Vaison-la-Romaine - Les Deux-Alpes

Navigators patrolled most of the race

Metz - Reims

St. Martin-de-Landelles - Plouay

Les Deux-Alpes - La Plagne

Épernay - Château-Thierry (TTT)

Metz - Reims

St. Martin-de-Landelles - Plouay

Les Deux-Alpes - La Plagne

Épernay - Château-Thierry (TTT)

Soissons - Rouen

Lanester - Lorient (TT)

Aime - Cluses

Soissons - Rouen

Lanester - Lorient (TT)

Aime - Cluses

Forges-les-Eaux - Alençon

Bazas - Pau

Cluses - Bourg-en-Bresse

Forges-les-Eaux - Alençon

Bazas - Pau

Cluses - Bourg-en-Bresse

Pau - La Mongie

Régnié-Durette - Mâcon (TT)

Pau - La Mongie

Régnié-Durette - Mâcon (TT)

He’s stronger, smarter, leaner and more confident than at any pointin his career. Now in his fourth season of full-time European racing, FredRodriguez, 28, knows what it takes to win a stage at the Tour de France.His Domo-Farm Frites squad is expecting its best Tour results from GC ridersRichard Virenque and Axel Merckx. But given the right breaks, the two-timeU.S. pro champion also has a great chance of success — particularly sincehis second-place finishes this spring at Milan-San Remo and Ghent-Wevelgem. "I think the team will now have more confidence that I’m capable, ifI get a good

Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille

Melun - Paris Champs-Elysées

Where does it come from, this legendary fear of Mont Ventoux? It’s a mountainthat has been climbed only 12 times in the Tour — two time trials, fourfinishes at the summit and six times mid-stage — yet it is more dreadedthan, say, the Tourmalet, which has featured in the Tour 67 times.While L’Alpe d’Huez, a cycling crucible, provides a spectacle, the Ventouxdelivers tragedy. It brought the great Eddy Merckx to his knees for thefirst time in his exceptional career in 1970 when he was forced to takeoxygen after winning a stage at the summit. In 1955, it forced Rick VanGenechten and others to

Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille

Melun - Paris Champs-Elysées

When you watch him slicing his way through the field on another solo attackto a mountaintop finish, it’s easy to forget that there’s much more toLance Armstrong’s stunning Tour victories than a lone rider battling arugged climb. Granted, if he didn’t have his genes or genius, he wouldn’thave the potential to pull off those remarkable feats. But behind the manis a whole team of consultants, colleagues and friends who help Armstrongexcel in every sphere of matters Tour de France. In some ways, he has put together a high-profile company that has asingle mission: to win the Tour de France. That

Weisel (left) is an old friend and supporter.