By James Raia
E-Mail: address@hidden
Web site: WWW.BYJAMESRAIA.COM
To read this edition (Tour de France, Stage 11) CLICK HERE(MoncoutieTakes Stage; Voeckler Steady In Jersey)
To read additional Tour de France editions, click on the following:
STAGE 10 (Virenque/Voeckler Celebrate Bastille Day)
STAGE 9 (Voeckler Steady in Jersey)
STAGE 8 (Hushovd Claims Stage; Voeckler Retains Yellow)
STAGE 7 (Pozzato In Sprint, Voeckler In Yellow)
STAGE 6 (Boonen Leads Group, Voeckler In Jersey)
STAGE 5 (O'Grady For Stage; Voeckler In Jersey)
STAGE 4 (Postal Takes TTT; Armstrong In Yellow)
STAGE 3 (McEwen Gives Aussies Fourth Yellow)
STAGE 2 (McEwen Wins; Hushovd Claims Yellow)
STAGE 1 (Kirispuu Claims Sprint; Cancellara Retains Jersey)
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PUBLISHER'S GREETING
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The newspaper LeMonde is an aggressive, conservative daily that likes to pursue the drug component of cycling relentlessly. In an editorial prior to the Tour de France, it called for the race to cancel its 91st edition because of the sport's varied doping issues.
In a story that quickly spread, it printed a story Friday quoting former three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond as saying "Armstrong will do anything to keep his secret."
LeMond and Armstrong are not the best of friends, but why LeMond would give the quote and what it means circulated the press room quickly . . . Stay tuned.
Oh, at the bike race, the day was warm (reportedly reaching 30C (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and now the Pyrenees are upon us. Tomorrow will bring the first of the race's two consecutive mountaintop finishes and the only stages in the Pyrenees. If the weather remains warm, the remaining field of 167 could "shatter."
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TOUR NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES
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Lance Armstrong is furious. He claims reporting crew from the French national television 2/3 tried to enter the five-time titlist's room after U.S, Postal Service team departed. Armstrong reacted strongly and said such actions are the attempts of certain reporters to find anything they can.
"If they found a vitamin B capsule, they would make it into a story and put it on TV as a big deal," said Armstrong in an Associated Press article . . .
Thomas Voeckler, the current national French titlist, has now defended the Yellow Jersey for seven days via the support of his Brioches La Boulangere squad. He finished the stage in 14th place, five places behind but in the same time as Armstrong . . .
Levi Leipheimer will only ride in the road race as a replacement for Lance Armstrong in the Summer Olympics next month in Greece. Tyler Hamilton and Bobby Julich have been selected to partipate in the individual time trial, according to a release from USA Cycling, the sport's U.S. governing body . . .
Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) of Germany and Magnus Backstedt (Alessio Bianchi) of Sweden have left the race. Kessler didn't begin stage 11, while Backstedt, the heaviest rider in the Tour abandoned during the stage, Backstedt began the race weighing 95 kilos (209 pounds) . . .
Seven cows briefly led the 11th stage, until they were moved off the road while the peloton rode around them.
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POSTCARD FROM LE TOUR
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The French highway system has its faults, but the country does know how the make a convenience store convenient.
On major auto and state routes throughout France, the major gas stations also include "La Boutique."
In addition to purchasing fuel, a weary traveller can find nearly anything in the stations' markets. A dozen kinds of coffee, hot tea and a tasty combination of potato and tomato soup are available for one Euro in vending machines.
Huge cases of sandwiches (on baguettes and bread) and offered in tightly sealed containers, include ingredients ham to salami, tuna to egg. Sometimes, the sandwiches are offered in odd combinations, like egg and tuna or ham and butter.
In larger gas stations with boutiques, one can take a shower in a private stall or take a break at small, stand-only tables and watch television.
In one of the boutiques I visited a day or two ago, there were freshly cut flowers in vases positioned thoroughout the men's room.
Candy, cookies, fresh fruit, soda, beer, bottled water, potota chips and various other comfort foods are all readily available, too.
The convenience stores in France do have one thing in common with American convenience stores. Good prices are not part of the definition of convenience.
A can of Coke Cola can ranges from 1.25 to 1.50 Euros (approximately $1.50 to $1.80) and a thinly appointed sandwich on a baquette can vary between 2.80 and 4.50 Euros (approximately $3.35 to $5.50)
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AMERICANS IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE
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Individual Stage Results
Stage 11, Saint Flour - Figeac, 164 kilometers
9. Lance Armstrong, Austin, Texas, (USPS) @ 5:58
15. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif., (Rabobank), same time.
24. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C., (USPS) s.t.
30. Bobby Julich, Reno, Nev., (CSC), s.t.
38. Tyler Hamilton, Marblehead, Mass., (Phonak), s.t.
104. Floyd Landis, San Diego, Calif. (USPS) @ 6:19
107, Christian Vande Velde, Lemont, Ill., (Liberty Seguros), s.t.
General Classification
6. Armstrong @ 9:35
11. Hamilton @ 10:18
15. Hincapie @ 10:26
18. Julich @ 10:42
19. Leipheimer @ 10:50
21. Landis @ 11:14
109. Vande Velde @ 34:29
For complete results, visit the web sites:
cyclingnews.com
letour.fr
procycling.com
velonews.com
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2004 TOUR DE FRANCE FEATURES
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VIRENQUE/VOECKLER CELEBRATE BASTILLE DAY
FLOYD LANDIS FEATURE
WHY LANCE WON'T WIN THE TOUR DE FRANCE
LANCE DECIDES TOUR NO LONGER A PRIORITY
A CONVERSATION WITH LEVI LEIPHEIMER
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TFT'S QUICK PEDAL STROKES
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AMAZON.COM
Everything offered by the internet's largest online retailer.
ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
Endurance news from around the globe. Timely, pertinent, free.
JAMES RAIA'S ONLINE STORE
Amazon to Rudy Project, Land's End to R.E.I.
ROCK & ROLL BOB ROLL
Cycling's rebel announcer on Le Tour de France.
STRETCHING IS FOR CYCLISTS, TOO
Brad Walker is a long-time stretching expert.
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
The best cycling movie ever made?
THE TOUR WITHIN THE TOUR
Twenty-four essays about the cyclists, people & places of the Tour.
THE TOUR DE FRANCE AT A GLANCE
The Tour de France in facts and figures.
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TFT'S BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Tour de France Times acknowledges and encourages the support of its business partners:
BIKECAFE.NET
The worldwide cycling resource.
CALIFORNIAWINEANDFOOD.COM
California wine and food and global ambiance.
DIRTRAGMAG.COM
The mountain bike forum.
LUFTHANSA.COM
There's no better way to fly.
SPOKERADIO.COM
Get out there and ride.
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2004 TOUR DE FRANCE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
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Prologue - July 3: Prologue Liege ITT, 6 km
Stage winner: Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo), Italy, 6 minutes, 30 seconds. General classification: Cancellara
Stage 1 - July 4: Liège-Charleroi, 195 km
Stage winner: Jaan Kirispuu (AG2R), Estonia, 4 hours, 40 minutes and 29 seconds. General classification: Cancellara.
Stage 2 - July 5: Charleroi-Namur, 197 km
Stage winner: Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Australia, 4 hours, 18 minutes, 39 seconds. General classification: Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), Norway.
Stage 3 - July 6: Waterloo - Wasquehal, 210 km
Stage winner: Jean-Patrick Nazon (AG2R Prevoyance), France, 4:36:45. General classification: Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Australia.
Stage 4 - July 7: Cambrai - Arras TTT, 64.5 km
Stage winner: U.S. Postal Service, 1:12:03. General classification: Lance Armstrong (USPS), Austin,Texas.
Stage 5 - July 8: Amiens - Chartres, 200.5 km
Stage winner: Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis), Australia, 5:05:58. General classification: Thomas Voeckler (Broiches La Boulangere), France.
Stage 6 - July 9: Bonneval - Angers, 196 km
Stage winner: Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Davitamon), Belgium, 4:41:41. General classification: Voeckler
Stage 7 - July 10: Chateaubriant - Saint Brieuc, 204.5 km
Stage winner: Filippo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo), Italy, 4:31:34. General classification: Voeckler
Stage 8 - July 11: Lamballe - Quimper, 168 km
Stage winner: Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), Norway, 3:54:22. General classification: Voeckler
July 12: Rest Day: Transfer to Limoges
Stage 9 - July 13: St. Leonard de Noblat - Guéret, 160.5 km
Stage winner: Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Australia, 3:32:55. General classification: Voeckler.
Stage 10 - July 14: Limoges - St. Flour, 237 km
Stage winner: Richard Virenque (Quick-Step-Davitamon), France, 6:00:24. General classification: Voeckler
Stage 11 - July 15: St. Flour - Figeac, 164 km
Stage winner: David Moncoutie (Cofidis), France, 3:54:58. General classification: Voeckler
Stage 12 - July 16: Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 197.5 km
Stage 13 - July 17: Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille, 205.5 km
Stage 14 - July 18: Carcassonne - Nimes, 200 km
July 19 - Rest Day: Transfer to Nimes
Stage 15 - July 20: Valreas - Villard-de-Lans, 180.5 km
Stage 16 - July 21: Bourg d'Oisans - L'Alpe d'Huez, ITT, 15.5 km
Stage 17 - July 22: Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand, 204.5 km
Stage 18 - July 23: Annemasse - Lons le Saulnier, 166.5 km
Stage 19 - July 24: Besancon - Besancon ITT, 55 km
Stage 20 - July 25: Montreau - Paris-Champs-Elysees, 163 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 Tour de France.
Story links, race information, suggestions and letters to the editor are encouraged via e-mail. Please include your name and city and state of residence. Names held upon request.
Use of this newsletter is encouraged with the publisher's permission.
Send correspondence to: address@hidden
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