By James Raia
E-Mail: address@hidden
Web site: ByJamesRaia.com
To read this issue on the 'web Click here
To read issue #65 (Marco Pantani: A Remembrance) Click here
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
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NEWSLETTERS/E-BOOKS
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ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
Running, cycling, triathlon and notes and quotes from around the globe. Timely, pertinent, free. Visit:
Endurance Sport News
THE TOUR WITHIN THE TOUR DE FRANCE
Twenty-five essays from the author's first seven years of covering the grand spectacle. The cyclists, people and unique places. Visit:
The Tour Within The Tour de France
TOUR DE FRANCE TIMES
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Tour de France Times
AMAZON.COM CYCLING BOOKS
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AMAZON.COM'S TOP 100 BESTSELLERS
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E-FEATURE SHOWCASE
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TOUR DE FRANCE: WAS '03 THE BEST YEAR EVER?
The Tour celebrated its 100th anniversary last July with what many believe was the best of the race's 90 editions. Lance Armstrong overcame several well-documented obstacles on and off the bike to claim his fifth straight title. In all, 53 different cyclists have now won the race. Some years, of course, have been more memorable than others.
To read the complete article, visit: Was '03 The Best Year Ever?
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LINKS TO WEB SITE CYCLING ARTICLES
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THE TOUR HAS NEW (CZECH) WHEELS
Skoda Auto, the Czech manufacturer, is entering the Tour de France for the first time this summer. But it will use four wheels, not two wheels like the cyclists. Skoda is more accustomed to mountain runs and hill climbs when competing in the World Rally Championships. But July 3-25, Skoda will be participating in the 20-stage, 3,395km Tour de France - as the official race vehicle.
To read the complete article, visit: New Wheels For Le Tour
SUMMER VACATION AT LE TOUR DE FRANCE
Le Vieux Moulin, the only home-based cycling center in France, is offering racing enthusiasts an opportunity to combine a summer cycling vacation while attending the 2004 Tour de France, July 3-25.
To read the complete article, visit: Vacation At Le Tour de France
MARCO PANTANI: A REMEMBRANCE
On the day he won the 1998 Tour de France, Marco Pantani arrived unannounced in the hotel press room in Paris several hours after his triumphant win. Dressed in an expensive suit, he strode through several rows of reporters and sat down for interviews with what seemed like a never-ending stream of Italian reporters.
To read the complete article, visit: Marco Pantani: A Remembrance
TOUR DE FRANCE: THE GOOD, BAD & WORKING PRESS
Chuck Woodbury is a journalist, author and publisher in Edmonds, Wash. He attend the Tour de France with me in 2002 and was amazed at the immense undertaking of the three-week race. The roads, the press rooms, the cyclists, the food, etc. It was unlike anything he'd experienced -- even as a world traveler.
To read the complete article, visit: The Working Press
TOUR FLASHBACK (1999): LANCE IN YELLOW, JULICH ABANDONS
METZ, France (July 11) -- In an ancient fortified city where women dissect small gooseberries with feather quills and the Father of Europe was born, the ascension of a new Tour de France champion likely began Sunday. But for U.S. hopefuls, the good and bad news couldnt have been more extreme.
To read the complete article, visit: '99 Tour Flashback
To read more cycling articles, visit: Cycling Articles
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LINKS TO WEB SITE FAVORITES
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CAR REVIEW: 2004 KIA AMANTI
The reaction was immediate. One friend noticed the car in our driveway and said unsolicited, "It looks like a Mercedes." A few days later, I drove to a friend's home and his words were nearly identical: "Nice Mercedes. Oh, wait. That's not a Mercedes. What is it?"
To read the article, visit: 2004 Kia Amanti
To read more car reviews, visit: Car Reviews
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NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES
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Levi Leipheimer has had his share of bad luck, including his early departure after crashing in Stage 1 of last year's Tour de France. But Leipheimer, a 2004 Tour de France overall contender for Rabobank, has returned to form as evidenced by his Stage 4 mountain win in the Setemana Catalana in the Spanish Pyrenees late last month. It was the 30-year-old rider's first win since his stage victory in June 2002 at the Route du Sud in France . . . Another U.S. cyclist back in good shape is George Hincapie. The veteran U.S.P.S. rider claimed his first win in nearly three years and the ninth victory by the Posties this season with his overall title in the Three Days of De Panne on April 1. Hincapie, who did not claim a stage in the traditional Belgian event, is the only teammate who has ridden in all of Lance Armstrong's five Tour de France titles . . . Speaking of Armstrong, he has hinted at his desire to compete in the Tour of Italy once before retiring. In a recent interview with Gazetta dello Sport, the Italy sports daily, Armstrong said: "It would be a crime not to start in the Giro at least once before retiring." . . . And a final Armstrong note: In addition to competing later this month in the Tour de Georgia, the former two-time winner of the Tour DuPont in Wilmington, Del., will add to his rare U.S. race appearances in September. He's committed to ride Sept. 3-5 in the Rocky Mountain Classic in Vail, Colo. . . . As a showman and winner of 12 stages of the Tour de France, it was nice to hear that Mario Cipollini's team had been selected to participate in this year's race. But not all is well with the 37-year-old sprinter. Cipo withdrew from Sunday's Tour de Flanders and Wednesday's Gent Wevelgem, a race he's claimed three times. No reason was given for Cipollini's absence by his Domina Vacanze squad . . . Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) finished 18th in the lead group of 50 in the GP Miguel Indurain on April 3. Levi Leipheimer finished 45th in the same leading bunch . . . Late-breaking news: George Hincapie was 10th as the leading American and 1:16 behind winner Steffan Wesemann (T-Mobile) of Germany in Sunday's Tour of Flanders.
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LINK EXCHANGE SPOTLIGHT
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Tour de France Times supports and exchanges links with numerous web sites. This issue's featured site: DirtRagMag.com
Editor Michael Browne and staff publish a hip and edgy print and electronic publication in Pittsburgh, Pa. It's all about mountain biking (and some roadie stuff) and it gives contributors freedom to write in essay style.
For other affiliates, Amazon.com to R.E.I. Click here
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2004 TOUR DE FRANCE SCHEDULE
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Prologue - July 3: Prologue Liege ITT, 6 km
Stage 1 - July 4: Liège-Charleroi, 195 km
Stage 2 - July 5: Charleroi-Namur, 195 km
Stage 3 - July 6: Waterloo - Wasquehal, 195 km
Stage 4 - July 7: Cambrai - Arras TTT, 65 km
Stage 5 - July 8: Amiens - Chartres, 195 km
Stage 6 - July 9: Bonneval - Angers, 190 km
Stage 7 - July 10: Chateaubriant - Saint Brieuc, 208 km
Stage 8 - July 11: Lamballe - Quimper, 172 km
July 12: Rest Day: Transfer to Limoges
Stage 9 - July 13: St. Leonard de Noblat - Guéret, 160 km
Stage 10 - July 14: Limoges - St. Flour, 237 km
Stage 11 - July 15: St. Flour - Figeac, 164 km
Stage 12 - July 16: Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 199 km
Stage 13 - July 17: Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille, 217 km
Stage 14 - July 18: Carcassonne - Nimes, 200 km
July 19 - Rest Day: Transfer to Nimes
Stage 15 - July 20: Valreas - Villard-de-Lans, 179 km
Stage 16 - July 21: Bourg d'Oisans - Alpe d'Huez ITT, 15 km
Stage 17 - July 22: Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand, 212 km
Stage 18 - July 23: Annemasse - Lons le Saulnier, 166 km
Stage 19 - July 24: Besancon - Besancon ITT, 60 km
Stage 20 - July 25: Montreau - Paris-Champs-Elysees, 165 km
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PUBLISHER'S NOTICES
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Tour de France Times (TFT), an electronic newsletter about cycling's pinnacle event and the cyclists who compete in it, is written, edited and published by James Raia, a journalist in Sacramento, California. Tour de France Times is published monthly, except daily during the three-week race in July.
Story links, race information, suggestions and letters to the editor are encouraged via e-mail.
Send correspondence to: address@hidden Please include your name and city and state of residence. Names held upon request.
Use of this newsletter in electronic formats is encouraged with the publisher's permission. Cheers, James Raia
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