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Monday, July 25, 2005
Lance Armstrong's last victory lap on the Champs
Elysees
and everyone is just happy to reach Paris after a tough three weeks
The 2005 Tour de France is over and with it Lance Armstrong's career as
a professional cyclist. What an incredible run, seven consecutive
victories in the Tour. In a sport where a split-second of inattention
or equipment malfunction can mean the end of your season (or worse), to
go out and win this tough event seven consecutive years is just unbelievable.
The combination of physical and mental strength required to accomplish
that as well as determination to meet related obligations (Armstrong's foundation,
sponsors, the media) surely is something the world of sport has rarely seen,
if ever. A lot of wealthy professional athletes in other sports would
do well to learn some lessons here.
Lance Armstrong's success is also, of course, very much a team's success.
The USPS/Discovery team represents one of the greatest sports dynasties
in history. Professional cycling is largely a sport of sacrifice, teammates
sacrificing themselves for a team leader who, if successful, gets nearly
all the glory. George Hincapie has been with Armstrong for every one
of his seven Tour victories. What an athlete he is too, demonstrated
more than ever this season.
We must not forget Armstrong's rivals. For if Armstrong is one of
the top athletes around, and obviously he is, so too are the likes of Ivan
Basso, Jan Ullrich and Alexandre Vinokourov, stage winner over the Galibier
as well as on the Champs Elysees. They climb the same mountains, attack
the same tough time trials as Armstrong and really haven't been that far
off his performance level.
What other event, aside from the Olympics, has all the teams parade around
in front of the crowd on the final day? Some teams and individual riders
met their objectives for the Tour, some failed miserably, some modified their
objectives during the three weeks. Nearly all were smiling on the
Champs Elysees yesterday. And some of those who had dropped out of
the race due to injury, including the only two riders other than Armstrong
to wear the yellow jersey this July, David Zabriskie and Jens Voigt, were
back to share the moment with their teammates.
The crowd, 10 people deep in some spots, had to have been the largest
at the Tour in recent years, perhaps the largest ever. No doubt many
turned out because they knew it was the last opportunity to see Lance Armstrong
ride his bike. As one Frenchman, not particularly a cycling fan, said
on the TGV train to Paris Saturday night following the final time trial, "I'll
be on the Champs Elysees tomorrow. What Armstrong has accomplished
is incredible. Respect, man. Respect."
This couple is there every year showing their support.
With Sheryl Crow music playing through speakers all along the avenue (for
the second consecutive year), a particularly vocal group of American fans
near the Arc de Triomphe showed their appreciation for all the teams, as
did fans generally. They even chanted the names of Armstrong's rivals
as they rode by in the post-race parade of teams, bringing wide grins from
the riders themselves.
Michael Rasmussen's battle to hold off Ullrich,
as well as to stay on his bike in the final time trial,
has endeared him to fans.
"RAS-MUSS-EN! RAS-MUSS-EN! RAS-MUSS-EN!"
"FLOYD! FLOYD! FLOYD! FLOYD!"
"ULL-RICH! ULL-RICH! ULL-RICH! ULL-RICH!"
"LE-VI! LE-VI! LE-VI! LE-VI!"
"BASS-O! BASS-O! BASS-O! BASS-O!"
When Lance Armstrong rode by, victorious one final time, they simply roared,
screamed, took their photos, screamed some more. It didn't let up while
Armstrong and team posed for photographers in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
It grew even louder as he continued his path down the avenue.
And then he was gone.
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(We'll update our photo galleries and wallpaper sections, finally, later
this week.)
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Below is a guide to live
internet/web coverage of the 2005
Tour de France.
Lance Armstrong rides through a corridor of cheering
fans on his way to winning his final time trial as a professional cyclist
photo © 2005 Pete Geyer
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Notes:
Impressive performance and stage win yesterday by Lance Armstrong in
his final time trial as a professional cyclist. He held off a charging
Jan Ullrich, beating the strong T-Mobile rider by just 23 seconds.
It was interesting that Armstrong's rivals opted for rear disc wheels
while Armstrong did not. Those wheels caused problems for his rivals
on the tricky, technical descents. Right down to choosing the proper
equipment for a given course, Armstrong was always ahead of his rivals and
retires from his sport at the very top.
Michael Rasmussen had a nightmare of a day. With two crashes
(one a spectacular summersault into a ditch), flat tire, and three bike
changes, the poor time trialist who on top of that had been fading in
form late in the Tour dropped from third place overall to seventh. Still
a good Tour overall for Rasmussen as he got a stage win and the polka-dot
jersey.
It somehow seems appropriate that Armstrong's biggest rival over the
years, 1997 Tour winner Ullrich, would just make the podium in third place
while a possible future Tour winner, Ivan Basso, would take second place.
photo © 2004, 2005 Pete Geyer
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Tour de France
2005, France
July 2-24, ProTour
Stage 21: July 24
Corbeil-Essonnes to Paris Champs-Élysées, 144km
Live video coverage:
France 2/3 live streaming
(available in France only)
(other streaming options may
soon appear in this space)
Live audio coverage:
Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(17:30 CET (11:30am U.S. EST))
(not live today)
(times subject to change)
(requires Windows Media Player
or equivalent)
Check schedule
Live tickers:
Official site ticker
Eurosport
(English)
ESPN Tour de France Tracker
Velonews
Cyclingnews
Daily Peloton
Official site
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Saturday, July 23,
2005
Below is a guide to
live internet/web coverage of
the 2005 Tour de France.
Today's quick glance at some
of the main players:
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Lance Armstrong
Just one day from retiring as a pro cyclist, the six-time Tour
champion, still in yellow, leads Ivan Basso by 2:46. Looking for
first individual stage win of this Tour. Has said he will go all
out in today's time trial.
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Ivan Basso
Italian Ivan Basso is in second place 2:46 behind Lance Armstrong.
Has improved time trialing this year after being bumped to third
place last year by T-Mobile's Andreas Kloden. Should be able to hold
off T-Mobile's Jan Ullrich who is more than 3 minutes back, right?
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Michael Rasmussen
Michael Rasmussen of Denmark is currently in third, 3:46 behind
Armstrong. Not a good time trialist but says he's never really
had to go all out in a time trial before. The course involves some
climbing which is better for him than flat, exposed courses but Rasmussen
has been gradually fading in this Tour and Ullrich has gotten stronger.
At just 2:12 ahead of Ullrich, Rasmussen should lose his third place
on the podium. Has won the polka-dot jersey competition so will
still climb on the podium in Paris.
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Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is currently 2:12 behind Michael Rasmussen and hopes
to win today's time trial and grab third place on the final podium in
the process.
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Francisco Mancebo
Spaniard Francisco Mancebo is currently in 5th place, 7:08 behind
Armstrong. His worry though is another American, Levi Leipheimer,
a much better time trialist who wants to move into the top 5.
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Levi Leipheimer
American Levi Leipheimer has two top-10 finishes in the Tour de
France and this year hoped to break the top 5. Just 1:04 behind
Mancebo, he should be able to get it done in today's time trial.
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Aussie Cadel Evans, in his first Tour, is in 7th place but two better
time trialists, Vinokourov and Landis, want his spot. He is 9:49
behind Armstrong.
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Alexandre Vinokourov
Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov is in 8th place 10:11 behind Armstrong.
Has announced he will leave T-Mobile after this season. Discovery
Channel is interested in "Vino" but not as a Tour de France contender;
Vino wants another shot at the Tour though and may go to Credit Agricole
or AG2R.
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Floyd Landis
American Floyd Landis, riding his first Tour as a team leader,
is in 9th place, 10:42 behind Armstrong. He hopes to move up a bit
in today's time trial.
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Oscar Pereiro
Oscar Pereiro has had a super Tour, always on the attack with a stage
win and a couple of near misses. He has moved into the top 10. Can
he hold it?
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Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych is in 13th place in his first Tour, 15:53 behind
team leader Lance Armstrong. Wears the white jersey as Best Young
Rider (under 25). Popovych is considered the top candidate to lead
Discovery Channel in the 2006 Tour.
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Notes:
Brilliant breakaway stage win yesterday for T-Mobile's Giuseppe Guerini
of Italy.
Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich are both looking for their first
individual stage win of this Tour today and Ullrich is looking to join
Armstrong and Ivan Basso on the podium.
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Tour de France
2005, France
July 2-24, ProTour
Stage 20: July 23
Saint-Etienne to Saint-Etienne, 55.5km
Live video coverage:
France 2/3 live streaming
(available in France only)
(other streaming options may
soon appear in this space)
Live audio coverage:
Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(15:00 CET (9:00am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)
(requires Windows Media Player
or equivalent)
Check schedule
Live tickers:
Official site ticker
Eurosport
(English)
ESPN Tour de France Tracker
Velonews
Cyclingnews
Daily Peloton
Official site
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Friday, July 22, 2005
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Thursday, July 21,
2005
Below is a guide
to live internet/web coverage of
the 2005 Tour de France.
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Notes:
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel)
Masterful stage win for Italian Paolo Savoldelli
yesterday, bringing to three the number of Discovery Channel stage wins
thus far in this Tour after the Team Time Trial and George Hincapie's
win on Sunday. Signing Savoldelli this season was a brilliant move
by Discovery Channel as he has delivered a Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy)
title and now a Tour de France stage win, in addition to riding in support
of Lance Armstrong this month. Savoldelli has also been very helpful
with teaching the ropes to American Tom Danielson, at Paris-Nice and early
in the Giro.
Today's stage: expect fireworks, given the combination of
category 3 and category 2 climbs at the finish (including a section
near the end at 10% grade but only 3.1km long) and the fact that a number
of riders are looking to improve their chances of holding their places
or moving up in the standings after Saturday's difficult individual time
trial.
photos © 2004, 2005 Pete Geyer
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Tour de
France 2005,
France
July 2-24, ProTour
Stage 18: July 21
Albi to Mende, 189km
Live video coverage:
France 2/3 live streaming
(available in France only)
(other streaming options may
soon appear in this space)
Live audio coverage:
Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)
(requires Windows Media Player
or equivalent)
Check schedule
Live tickers:
Official site ticker
Eurosport
(English)
ESPN Tour de France Tracker
Velonews
Cyclingnews
Daily Peloton
Official site
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Wednesday, July 20,
2005
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Notes:
Oscar Pereiro (Phonak)
Oscar Pereiro, unhappy on Sunday after pulling
George Hincapie up the final climb only to see Hincapie outsprint him
for the win, was himself pulled to the finish yesterday by Cadel Evans
(Davitamon-Lotto) in a small group before coming around at the end and
taking his own win. Now he is happy, winning soothes everything.
Great to see for someone who, like Hincapie, has been very active
in the Tour.
For the second consecutive stage, Pereiro was awarded the prize
for combativity, a cash bonus. This prize is given to the rider
judged to have done the most to animate the stage. The judges: Bernard
Hinault, Laurent Jalabert, Bernard Thevenet and Christian Prudhomme,
among others. Prudhomme is gradually replacing Jean-Marie Leblanc
as race director of the Tour. He has already taken responsibility
for the next Tour's route and will fully replace Leblanc in 2007.
Christian Prudhomme (right) learning the
ropes from Jean-Marie Leblanc
photos © 2004, 2005 Pete Geyer
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Tour de
France 2005,
France
July 2-24, ProTour
Stage 17: July 20
Pau to Revel, 239.5km
Live video coverage:
France 2/3 live streaming
(available in France only)
(other streaming options may
soon appear in this space)
Live audio coverage:
Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)
(requires Windows Media Player
or equivalent)
Check schedule
Live tickers:
Official site ticker
Eurosport
(English)
ESPN Tour de France Tracker
Velonews
Cyclingnews
Daily Peloton
Official site
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Tuesday, July 19, 2005
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Guide to live race coverage on the internet/web
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Notes:
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
Great stage win Sunday for American George Hincapie.
It was the first-ever stage win in the Tour for Lance Armstrong's longtime
friend and hard-working support rider.
photos © 2004, 2005 Pete Geyer
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Tour
de France 2005,
France
July 2-24, ProTour
Stage 16: July 19
Mourenx to Pau, 180.5km
Live video coverage:
France 2/3 live streaming
(available in France only)
(other streaming options may
soon appear in this space)
Live audio coverage:
Eurosport
(English)
(24-hour audio feed)
(13:00 CET (7:00am U.S. EST))
(times subject to change)
(requires Windows Media Player
or equivalent)
Check schedule
Live tickers:
Official site ticker
Eurosport
(English)
ESPN Tour de France Tracker
Velonews
Cyclingnews
Daily Peloton
Official site
|
Monday, July 18, 2005
Tour de France rest day today
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
photo © 2005 Pete Geyer
Great stage win for George "Mountain Goat" Hincapie yesterday.
Support riders like Hincapie rarely get a chance for personal
glory in the Tour. That the one man who has ridden in support of
Lance Armstrong for the past seven years would win the toughest mountain
stage of Armstrong's last Tour is fitting. Great athlete.
And what a season Hincapie is having, winning Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne,
finishing second (to young Belgian phenom and former teammate Tom Boonen)
over the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, winning the prologue and final
stage (photo above) of June's Dauphine Libere, then winning the toughest
stage of the Tour after working for Armstrong for two weeks. Hincapie
will be right back at it tomorrow defending the yellow jersey.
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