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It's live: VeloNews's exclusive pre-race coverage of our sport's biggest event. There's also a link to this area from every page on the site; look for the red box at the top, left-hand side of the page. Here's what you'll find: Exclusive live minute-by-minute coverage of each stage by VeloNews editors on location in France. Revealing profiles on the top contenders in the race, including a close look at two-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong. Daily diary entries from Americans Tyler Hamilton (Armstrong's right- hand man on the U.S. Postal Service team), Kevin Livingston (Ullrich's right-hand

Telekom (Germany)

Fassa Bortolo (Italy)

ONCE - Eroski (Spain)

Rabobank (Netherlands)

Vande Velde's back after missing last year.

Ekimov

Hincapie

VeloNews launches 2001 Tour site

Saturday’s stage 3 of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, saw Saturn hold onto both the men’s and women’s overall leads, while 7UP-Colorado Cyclist’s John Lieswyn and RONA’s Genevieve Jeanson scored the stage wins. In the women’s race, Jeanson attacked early on in the six-lap, 69-mile race, followed by race leader Lyne Bessette (Saturn) and Jane Cosmetics’ Susan Palmer-Komar. On the hot, humid day, the three built up a lead of nearly four minutes, but when Jeanson and Bessette began playing cat-and-mouse, Palmer-Komar took advantage, launching a solo breakaway of her

Telekom’s Jan Ullrich was one of the many national champions crowned on Sunday, as he won the German national championship in Bad Duerrheim, Germany, breaking clear to beat teammate Erik Zabel by 10 seconds. Among the other new national champions were Ludovic Capelle (Belgium), Daniele Nardello (Italy), Didier Rous (Bonjour) and Mercury-Viatel’s Jans Koerts.

France's Laurent Gané took the match sprint title as the World Track Cup continued Saturday in Pordenone, Italy. Other winners included Belarus's Natalia Markovnitchenko in the women's match sprint and Russia's Olga Slioussareva in the women's pursuit. American Tanya Lindenmuth took fourth place in the match sprint, losing to Oxana Grichina in the bronze-medal match.

Slovenia, France, West Virginia, Utah. Steve Peat doesn’t care, he just keeps winning. The moptop Brit continued his win streak at round 3 of the NORBA series in the high alpine air of Deer Valley, Utah, Sunday. To keep the tear alive, Peat had to get past his main rival Nicolas Vouilloz, as well as two-time defending champion at Deer Valley, Chris Kovarik (Intense) of Australia. In the women’s race, Missy Giove (Global) had a wild ride on the loose, dusty 1.5-mile course to beat the Schwinn duo of Elke Brutsaert and Leigh Donovan. For Peat and Vouilloz, there was little pressure, as both

Lance Armstrong (USA)Viatcheslav Ekimov (RUS)Tyler Hamilton (USA)Roberto Heras (ESP)George Hincapie (USA)Steffen Kjaergaard (NOR)Victor Hugo Pena (COL)Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP)Christian Vande Velde (USA) Reserves: Cedric Vasseur (F), Matthew White (Aus) Country: United StatesIn the peloton since: 1995Sponsor: American postal serviceBudget: $6.5 millionManager: Mark GorskiDirecteur sportif: Johan BruyneelAssistants: Dirk Demol and Dan Osipow

Raivis Beohvosciks (Lat)Rubens Bertogliati (Swi)Ludo Dierckxsens (B)Robert Hunter (SA)Marco Pinotti (I)Marco Serpellini (I)Zbigniew Spruch (Pl)Jan Svorada (Cz)Johan Verstrepen (B) Reserves: Matteo Frutti (I) and Gabriele Missaglia (I) Country: ItalyIn the peloton since: 1999Sponsors: Lampre: sheet metal manufacturer; Daikin: air conditioningBudget: $2.7 millionManager: Giuseppe SaronniDirecteur sportif: Pietro AlgeriAssistants: Maurizio Piovani and Brent Copeland

Mario Aerts (B)Serge Baguet (B)Jeroen Blijlevens (Nl)Fabien De Waele (B)Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus)Kurt Van de Wouwer (B)Paul Van Hyfte (B)Rik Verbrugghe (B)Stive Vermaut (B) Reserves: Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Robbie McEwen (Aus), Steve De Wolf (B) Country: BelgiumIn the peloton since: 1984Sponsors: Lotto: National lottery; Adecco: temp agencyBudget: $3.2 millionManager: Christophe SercuDirecteurs sportifs: Jos Braeckvelt, Claude Criquélion and Walter Planckaert

David Etxebarria (Sp)Unai Etxebarria (Ven)Roberto Laiseka (Sp)Alberto Lopez de Munain (Sp)Haimar Zubeldia (Sp)Iñigo Chaurreau (Sp)Angel Castresana (Sp)Txema Del Olmo (Sp)Iker Flores (Sp) In the peloton since: 1994Sponsors: Euskaltel: telecommunications company; Euskadi: government of the Basque CountryBudget: $2.6 millionManager: Miguel MadariagaDirecteur sportif: Julian GorospeAssistant: Ruben Gorospe

Laurent Jalabert (F)Michael Blaudzun (Dk)Francisco Cerezo (Sp)Marcelino Garcia (Sp)Nicolas Jalabert (F)Jakob Piil (Dk)Nicki Sörensen (Dk)Rolf Sörensen (Dk)Plus: Nicolai Bo Larsen (Dk) or Martin Rittsel (S) Country: DenmarkIn the peloton since: 1998Sponsor: Computer systems companyBudget: $5.5 millionManager: Bjarne RiisDirecteur sportif: Alex PedersenAssistant: Johnny Weltz

Enrico Cassani (I)Servais Knaven (Nl)Axel Merckx (B)Marco Milesi (I)Johan Museeuw (B)Fred Rodriguez (USA)Romans Vainsteins (Lat)Max Van Heeswijk (Nl)Piotr Wadecki (Pl) Reserves: Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Robbie McEwen (Aus), Steve De Wolf (B) Country: BelgiumIn the peloton since: 1986Sponsors: Domo: carpet and vinyl flooring; Farm Frites: producer of French friesBudget: $6 millionManager: Patrick LefévèreDirecteurs sportifs: Hendrik Redant, Marc Sergeant and Fons De Wolf

Michele Bartoli (I)Paolo Bettini (I)Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun)David Cañada (Sp)Stefano Garzelli (I)Daniele Nardello (I)Tom Steels (B)Bart Leysen (B)Stefano Zanini (I) Country: ItalyIn the peloton since: 1993Sponsors: Mapei: Chemical building products; Quick Step: Parquet flooringBudget: $7 millionManager: Alavaro CrespiDirecteurs sportifs: Roberto Damiani, Fabrizio Fabbri, Serge Parsani, Eric Vanderaerden, Jesus Suarez Cueva and Matxin Fernandez Rodriguez

Oscar Sevilla (Sp)Santiago Botero (Col)Felix Cardenas (Col)Laurent Desbiens (F)Aitor Gonzales (Sp)José Gutierrez (Sp)Javier Pascual Llorente (Sp)Antonio Tauler (Sp)José Vidal (Sp) Country: SpainIn the peloton since: 1980Sponsors: Kelme: sports clothes and shoes; Costa Blanca: Valenciaregion of SpainBudget: $3.5 millionManager: Vicente BeldaDirecteurs sportifs: José Ignacio Labarta and José Luis Laguia

Daniel Atienza (Sp)Iñigo Cuesta (Sp)Andrei Kivilev (Kaz)Massimiliano Lelli (I)Guido Trentin (I)Nico Mattan (B)David Millar (GB)David Moncoutié (F)Christophe Rinero (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 1997Sponsor: Telephone credit bankerBudget: $4.8 millionManager: Alain BondueDirecteur sportif: Bernard QuilfenAssistants: Alain Deleoeil and Francis Van LonderseleConsultant: Tony Rominger

Stéphane Heulot (F)Xavier Jan (F)Guillaume Auger (F)Ludovic Auger (F)Thierry Gouvenou (F)Christophe Capelle (F)Sébastien Talabardon (F)Loïc Lamouller (F)Alexeï Sivakov (Rus). Country FranceIn the peloton since: 1994Budget: $2.6 millionSponsors: BigMat: chain of building materials stores; Auber 93: City and general council of Seine Saint-Denis.Manager and directeur sportif: Stéphane JavaletAssistants: Thierry Bourguignon, Jean-Jacques Henry

Didier Rous (F)Walter Bénéteau (F)Sylvain Chavanel (F)Jean-Cyril Robin (F)François Simon (F)Franck Renier (F)Damien Nazon (F)Franck Bouyer (F)Olivier Perraudeau (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 2000Sponsor: Chain of free newspapersBudget: $3.4 millionManager: Philippe RaimbaudDirecteur sportif: Jean-René BernaudeauAssistants: Thierry Bricaud, Christian Guiberteau and Christophe Faudot

Laurent Brochard (F)Patrice Halgand (F)Olivier Trastour (F)Laurent Roux (F)Gilles Bouvard (F)Eddy Seigneur (F)Christophe Oriol (F)Jérôme Bernard (F)Stéphane Goubert (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 2000Sponsor: chain of jewelry storesBudget: $2 millionManager: Serge BarleDirecteur sportif: Michel GrosAssistant: Jean-Luc Jonrond

Ludovic Capelle (B)Sébastien Demarbaix (B)Jaan Kirsipuu (Est)Alexander Botcharov (Rus)Christophe Agnolutto (F)Benoît Salmon (F)Ludovic Turpin (F)Stéphane Bergès (F)Gilles Maignan (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 1996Sponsors: AG2R: Provident insurance company; Décathlon: chain of bicycle and athletic clothing storesBudget: $3 millionManager: Vincent LavenuDirecteurs sportifs: Laurent Biondi and Gilles Mas

Sven Montgomery (Swi)Daniel Schnider (Swi)Bradley McGee (Aus)Jimmy Casper (F)Frédéric Guesdon (F)Christophe Mengin (F)Jacky Durand (F)Nicolas Vogondy (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 1997Sponsor: National lotteryBudget: $3.5 millionManager and directeur sportif: Marc MadiotAssistants: Yvon Madiot, Martial Gayant and Franck Pineau

Bobby Julich (USA)Jonathan Vaughters (USA)Stuart O'Grady (Aus)Thor Hushovd (N) Jens Voigt (G)Anthony Morin (F)Sébastien Hinault (F)Frédéric Bessy (F)Christopher Jenner (NZ) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 1998Sponsor: French bankBudget: $4 millionManager and directeur sportif: Roger LegeayDirecteur sportif: Serge BeucherieAssistant: Michel LaurentTrainer: Denis Roux

Santiago Blanco (Sp)Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Sp)Eladio JimZénez (Sp)Francisco Mancebo (Sp)Jon Odriozola (Sp)Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Sp)Leonardo Piepoli (I)Denis Menchov (Rus)Tomasz Brozyna (Pl) Country: SpainIn the peloton since: 1990Sponsor: Spanish banking corporationBudget: $4.5 millionGeneral manager: José Miguel EchavarriDirecteurs sportifs: Eusebio Unzue and José Luis Jaimerena

'That's what I'm talkin' about.' Giove said she likes the harsh downhill courses of the West.

Rock star Steve Peat meets the press.

U.S. Postal Service (U.S.)

Lampre-Daikin (Italy)

Lotto-Adecco (Belgium)

Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spain)

CSC-Tiscali (Denmark)

Domo -Farm Frites (Belgium)

Mapei-Quick Step (Italy)

Kelme-Costa Blanca (Spain)

Cofidis (France)

BigMat-Auber 93 (France)

Bonjour (France)

Jean Delatour (France)

AG2R (France)

La Française des Jeux

Crédit Agricole (France)

iBanesto.com (Spain)

Friday’s stage 2 of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, saw no change in the overall standings, as Mercury’s Baden Cooke won the men’s 77.5-mile circuit race and Genevieve Jeanson of RONA won the women’s 40.3-mile race. Jeanson beat out Bessette in a big group finish, with Verizon’s Laura Van Gilder third, but the RONA rider could only pick up a few seconds on the day thanks to time bonuses. Jeanson now trails Bessette by 47 seconds In the men’s race, team Saturn was able to hold the race together for race leader Eric Wohlberg, and the race ended with Mercury’s Cooke

Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein continues to show his versatility this season, with his latest showing coming at the World Track Cup in Pordenone, Italy, where he scored the silver medal in the kilometer. Nothstein clocked a time of 1:05.890, to finish second behind German Soren Lausberg. In other action on Friday, German Thomas Liese won the gold in the individual pursuit.

The only thing swirling faster than the dust at Deer Valley Saturday afternoon were the short-track racers careening around the base area of the Park City ski resort. The crash-filled men’s race resembled a roller derby, and the women’s race produced a first win for a consistent podium finisher. In the end, Subaru-Gary Fisher’s confident 21-year-old Ryder Hesjedal capped off a stellar weekend with the win, and Jimena Florit (RLX Polo Sport) finally scored what she’s been chasing since short track was invented. In an explosive men’s race, Hesjedal, who also won Friday’s cross-country, dodged

The Saturday night dual slalom is always a show at the Chevy Trucks National Championship Series, and this Saturday’s showdown at Deer Valley lived up to its billing. The red-hot Leigh Donovan (Schwinn) remained undefeated in 2001 with her third straight win, and the men’s race — which featured such compelling battles as Brian Lopes versus Nicolas Vouilloz — was won by another legend, Eric Carter (Mongoose-Hyundai). And if all that weren’t enough, Shaun Palmer was there. To watch. For an example of what the hillside crowd was treated to at the end of a hot day at Deer Valley, consider the

The Saturday night dual slalom is always a show at the Chevy Trucks National Championship Series, and this Saturday’s showdown at Deer Valley lived up to its billing. The red-hot Leigh Donovan (Schwinn) remained undefeated in 2001 with her third straight win, and the men’s race — which featured such compelling battles as Brian Lopes versus Nicolas Vouilloz — was won by another legend, Eric Carter (Mongoose-Hyundai). And if all that weren’t enough, Shaun Palmer was there. To watch. For an example of what the hillside crowd was treated to at the end of a hot day at Deer Valley, consider the

Christophe Moreau (F)Florent Brard (F)Pascal Chanteur (F)Pascal Lino (F)Angel Casero (Sp)Felix Garcia-Casas (Sp)Luis Perez (Sp)Arnaud Pretot (F)Sven Teutenberg (G) Reserve: Carlos Da Cruz (F) Country: FranceIn the peloton since: 1989Sponsor: Manufacturer of watches and chronometersBudget: $3.5 millionEquipment: Specialized bicycles, Campagnolo componentsManager and team director: Juan FernandezDirecteurs sportifs: Yvon Sanquer and Gérard RuéAssistant: Roberto Torres

Florit lived up to her No. 1 plate with her first short-track win.

Florit's win put her in the driver's seat for a repeat series title.

'I'm fast as hell, man.' Carter explains his skills.

'I'm fast as hell, man.' Carter explains his skills.

Festina (France)

When the sun set on the towering ski jumps and half-finished condominiums in Park City, Utah, Thursday evening, the ever-present Olympic anticipation had been replaced, temporarily, by a more immediate buzz. The Chevy Trucks National Championship Series is in town, and the hot topic in the pits is the upcoming battle between Steve Peat and Nicolas Vouilloz, the world’s No. 1- and No. 2-ranked downhillers. GT’s Peat recently took something from Vouilloz, something the Frenchman feels is his: the UCI No. 1. Vouilloz, who owned the top ranking for nearly two years straight, is out to get it

The traditional four-day start-of-summer/Fourth of July stage race in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, got underway on Thursday, with team Saturn taking the top spots in both the men’s and women’s stage 1 time trial. Eric Wohlberg took the men’s race while Lyne Bessette won the women’s opener at the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic. Bessette’s win marked the start of a four-day showdown with Canadian teenage sensation Genevieve Jeanson (RONA). Jeanson, who has been virtually unbeatable in her carefully selected season schedule, began the time trial one minute ahead of Bessette, the recent winner of the HP

British cross-country champion Caroline Alexander has recovered quite nicely from the tough HP Women's Challenge road race in Idaho that she finished last Sunday. Alexander won the Chevy Trucks NORBA cross-country race at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, Friday. To earn her first NORBA win, the Specialized rider had to stop the winning machine that is Mary Grigson. The Australian Gary Fisher-Subaru rider had won five in a row, a streak dating back to last season, and was attempting to tie the record of six set by Juli Furtado in 1993. "I'm really, really surprised," said Alexander

With 1998 winner Marco Pantani uninvited, this 88th Tour de France has the look of a two-horse race, at best. Other than '97 winner and three-time runner-up Jan Ullrich, the rest of defending champion Lance Armstrong's potential rivals look to be too inexperienced, too old - or they're on Armstrong's team! Upsets do happen. But not this year. So here is our assessment of each contender's strengths and weaknesses: 1. Lance Armstrong (USA), 29, U.S. Postal Service plus: The two-time defending champion says: Catch me if you can! His team is stronger than last year, particularly in the

A couple of years ago Ryder Hesjedal was a surprising young talent, a quiet kid from Canada with the physique of a high school basketball player, not a professional mountain biker. When interviewed, he didn’t say much. Now Hesjedal’s 21, and he’s won some big races. When he speaks, as he did after winning his first NORBA cross-country race at Deer Valley, Utah, Friday afternoon, you can’t believe the bravado. Even more surprising, however, is the aggression with which Hesjedal rides. Sometimes that has hurt the 21-year-old Subaru-Gary Fisher rider, but sometimes it can be crushing to the

Alexander wins Deer Valley cross-country

ARMSTRONG

JULICH

MILLAR

BOOGERD

Hesjedal used the big ring where others couldn't.

Hesjedal attacked early and never looked back.

Alexander said she only went 80 percent in her winning effort.

First rider starts at 4 p.m.; then riders go at one-minute intervals.

Start time: 12:40 p.m.; rolling start at approx. 12:55 p.m. on N. 43.

12:10 p.m.; rolling start at approx.12:15 p.m., Avenue de Saint-Exupéry

12:05 p.m.; rolling start at approx. 12:30 p.m.on N.116

Leave start at 11:50 a.m.; rolling start at approx. 11:55 a.m. on the Chaussée de Dinan

First team starts: 2:10 p.m., then every 5 minutes.

Leave start at 12:10 p.m.; rolling start at approx. 12:14 p.m. on D.964.

Leave start at 12:50 p.m.; rolling start at approx. 1:05 p.m. on the Route de Schirmeck.

Leave start at 11:40 a.m.; rolling start at approx. 11:47 a.m. on D.13