Tour de France 2011

Schumacher takes 2nd TT as Sastre holds yellow

Team CSC has been the best-ranked team in the world for years, but has never taken the sport's biggest victory. Today, Carlos Sastre nailed down his first Grand Tour victory, and his team's first TdF win, with a 12th place in the longest time trial of the 2008 Tour.

Gerolsteiner's Stefan Schumacher, who won the Stage 4 TT and has been active in attacks throughout the Tour, was the stage winner today, clocking a 1:03:50, again beating out world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara and Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen.

Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto, widely expected to put serious time into Sastre, was unable to gap the Spaniard. At each time check, Sastre trailed Evans by less than 30 seconds, and Evans would finish in an unspectacular 7th on the stage, in 1:05:56. Combined with Bernhard Kohl's 1:06:11, Evans will move up to 2nd, with Kohl falling to 3rd. Kirchen climbs to 8th overall, while Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde moved into the Top 5 overall.

Fränk Schleck had a rough day, finishing in 1:09:28 and getting caught by Sastre on the road, and falling to 6th overall.

Stage 20:
1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, Germany, 1:03:50
2. Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank, Switzerland, @ :21
3. Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:01
4. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ 1:05
5. David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, Great Britain, @ 1:37
6. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ 1:55
7. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, @ 2:05
8. Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner, Germany, @ 2:19
9. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria, @ 2:21
10. George Hincapie, Columbia, USA, @ 2:28

General Classification, after Stage 20:
1. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, 84:01:00
2. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, @ 1:05
3. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria, @ 1:20
4. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ 2:00
5. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, @ 3:12
6. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, @ 4:28
7. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, @ 6:32
8. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 7:02
9. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, @ 7:26
10. Tadej Valjavec, AG2R-La Mondiale, Slovakia, @ 9:12

Cadel Does Attack!

YouTube videos of Cadel attacking . . . reporters. There's Don't Touch Me, I Cut Off Your Head, and the head butt:

We heard about a finger to a reporter, a thrown helmet, but haven't seen it. Aussies defend him: maybe his shoulder, the pressure, or he's just an ass.

Update

A reporter interviews Cadel's thrown helmet and Bike Radar reports on Cadel losing it.

Also:

NYTimes.com | Mind Games Precede Tour’s Pivotal Time Trial

Stage 20 ITT underway

So the whole Tour comes down to today's TT. Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans needs 1:34 to overtake yellow jersey Carlos Sastre for the race lead. Sastre will have the advantage of starting last and the mythic power of the maillot jaune on his side.

The battle's not only for the top spot today. Bernhard Kohl, Denis Menchov, Fränk Schleck, and Christian Vande Velde all hold hopes of making the podium, and will burn their last matches to try to get there today.

It's a pity they can't borrow matches from Wim Vansevenant and Bernhard Eisel, locked in a struggle to be the lanterne rouge of this year's Tour. Vansevenant was last-placed overall in the 2006 and 2007 Tours, and can become the first man ever to finish last in three Tours. Vansevenant took advantage of starting second on the TT and rolled in 2:00 behind Eisel to retake the cellar.

Vs. Broadcaster Picks:
• Hummer: Cadel Evans
• Sherwen: Fabian Cancellara
• Liggett: Christian Vande Velde
• Roll: Kim Kirchen

They also discussed the overall podium: Roll wouldn't commit on placings, but tipped Menchov, Sastre, and Evans as the podium. Sherwen picks Sastre to win, Evans second, then Vande Velde; Liggett and Hummer both say Evans, then Sastre, then Menchov.

Danny Pate of Garmin-Chipotle was an early leader, finishing in 1:06:45, but his teammate David Millar and world TT champion Fabian Cancellara are on the road now, beating Pate's time at each Time Check.

At the finish, it's David Millar in 1:05:27, and Cancellara coming just behind, looks like he's got time to take the lead; he comes in with a 1:04:11.88! There are a lot of strong riders left to ride, but that's an impressive time that could easily take the day.

Out on course, Stefan Schumacher, who won Stage 4's 29-km time trial, equals Cancellara at TC1, loses 12 seconds at TC2, but finishes in 1:03:50.48. That's going to be tough to beat.

Vande Velde hits TC1 with the 4th best time, a 21:58. Menchov is next, it's a 21:52. Evans is coming , and puts up a 22:08. He's got a little more than a minute on Menchov on GC, but he's already lost 16 seconds of that. Now Bernhard Kohl comes through in a 22:06. Things are looking tight!

Time Check 2
• Fabian Cancellara 42:38
• Stefan Schumacher 42:50
• Kim Kirchen 43:35
• Christian Vande Velde 43:35.13
• Denis Menchov 43:46.50
• Cadel Evans 44:08
• Bernhard Kohl 44:11.77
• Carlos Sastre 44:31.23

Finishing times, riders of note:
• Schumacher 1:03:50
• Cancellara 1:04:12
• Kim Kirchen 1:04:51
• Christian Vande Velde, 1:04:55
• Millar 1:05:27
• Menchov 1:05:45
• Cadel Evans 1:05:55.54
• Bernhard Kohl 1:06:11.01
• Hincapie 1:06:19
• Carlos Sastre 1:06:24.79
• Pate 1:06:45
• Andy Schleck 1:07:52
• Voeckler (last placed today) 1:15:09

Andy Schleck was caught by Bernhard Kohl, who started 3 minutes behind him, but held off Roman Kreuziger to hold on to his white jersey.

Cadel Evans never was able to put serious time into Carlos Sastre, finishing in 1:05:56. Sastre, for his part, reeled in teammate Fränk Schleck on the road, limiting his losses to Evans to only about 30 seconds, and Carlos Sastre and CSC will take the 2008 Tour de France.

As always, you can follow these updates and more at my Twitter feed.

Cunego drops out after Stage 18 crash

VeloNews | Cunego injuries force him to drop out of Tour

AFP is reporting that Lampre team leader Damiano Cunego has pulled of the Tour, after injuries suffered on a crash during today's 18th stage. Cunego fell face-first, and injured his chin and chest.

He struggled alongside 3 teammates to finish within today's time cutoff (20:12 behind winner Marcus Burghardt), falling from 14th overall before today's stage to 20th at stage's end.

It was the 3rd crash of the 2008 Tour for Cunego, who won the Giro d'Italia in 2004, then took the white jersey in the 2006 Tour de France. His biggest win of 2008 was the Amstel Gold Race, and he reportedly was targeting the Beijing Olympic road race in August.

"I want to really thank my teammates — they waited for me and helped me back, although at one point I wasn't sure of finishing within the time limit,” he said.

"One of our team managers suggested I should just pull out. I didn't want to as that would have risked my teammates missing the time limit as well."

Sastre takes stage, yellow jersey on l'Alpe d'Huez

CSC-Saxo Bank struck the Luxembourg flag, posted Spanish colors, and opened up on the field on the Tour's queen stage today.

Yellow jersey Fränk Schleck played the loyal lieutenant as Carlos Sastre put 2 full minutes into the whole field, with a dominating climb of l'Alpe d'Huez, the Tour's most famous climb. Meanwhile, Fränk and Andy Schleck shadowed Cadel Evans, covering every attack through switchback after switchback.

Sastre launched immediately as the field left Bourg d'Oisans at the base of the climb. He was briefly joined by Rabobank's Denis Menchov, but a second attack dropped Menchov not only from Sastre's wheel, but from the yellow jesrsey group, as well. Menchov would claw his way back into that group well up the climb.

While first Valverde, then Efimkin, then Vande Velde would try to escape the gravitational field around the Schlecks, every attack was pulled back while Sastre continued to climb into the yellow jersey, steadily building a lead of more than a kilometer on the road that was worth 2:15 to Evans, Menchov, and Kohl on the line.

Even though Sastre looks to be in command right now, with the stage win and the leader's jersey, it seems unlikely he can hang within 1:35 of Cadel Evans on Saturday's long 53k/33-mile time trial. In the final TT last year, Evans made 2:33 on Sastre, even more than Sastre's winning margin today.

Stage 17 Top 10:
1. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, in 6:07:58
2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain @ 2:03
3. Andy Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, same time
4. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, @ 2:13
5. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, same time
6. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R, Russia, @ 2:15
7. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, same time
8. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, s.t.
9. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, s.t.
10. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria, s.t.


General Classification after Stage 17:
1. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, in 74:39:03
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, @ 1:24
3. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria, @ 1:33
4. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, @ 1:34
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ 2:39
6. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ 4:41
7. Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, @ 5:35
8. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, @ 5:52
9. Tadej Valjavec, AG2R-La Mondiale, Slovakia, @ 8:10
10. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 8:24

Also:
VeloNews | Who won: Sastre or Evans?

Stage 17 on the road

The window of opportunity for the climbers pretty much slams shut after today, so Alejandro Valverde, Carlos Sastre, and even race leader Fränk Schleck all need to put time into Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov, the better TT men in the overall contest.

Jersey leaders:
Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Andy Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank
Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner

Versus broadcaster picks:
Sherwen: Fränk Schleck
Liggett: Denis Menchov
Roll: Carlos Sastre
Hummer: Bernhard Kohl

As yesterday, there's a breakway that could factorn on the late climbs: Kohl's Gerolsteiner teammate Stefan Schumacher, FdJ's Remy di Gregorio, Milram's Peter Velits, and Euskaltel's Ruben Perez.

1st Climb, 3rd Category:
1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 4 pts
2. Remy di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 3 pts
3. Ruben Perez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2 pts
4. Peter Velits, Milram, 1 pt

1st Sprint:
1. Remy di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 6 pts
2. Peter Velits, Milram, 4 pts
3. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 2 pts

Once again, it's CSC running the peloton, but with Stuart O'Grady and Nicki Sorensen, for now.

Atop the Galibier, the gap to the peloton was 4:50.

Hors Categorie Col du Galibier:
1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 20 pts
2. Remy di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 18 pts
3. Peter Velits, Milram, 16 pts
4. Ruben Perez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 14 pts
5. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, 12 pts
6. Thomas Voeckler, Bouygues Telecom, 10 pts
7. John Lee Augustyn, Barloworld, 8 pts
8. Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 7 pts
9. Kantstantsin Siutsou, Team Columbia, 6 pts
10. Carlos Barredo, QuickStep, 5 pts

Voeckler, as he always seems to, continued his unlikely attack into the valley, and is riding ahead of the peloton. For now. Joined by Nibali and two others, Voeckler was quickly recaptured.

Up the Croix de Fer, CSC continued to set the pace, and reeled in the escape, one man at a time, until only Under-23 world champion Peter Velits rode alone over the top, with 54.5k to the finish and 1:15 in hand.

Hors Categorie Croix de Fer
1. Peter Velits, Milram, 20 pts
2. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, 18 pts
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, 16 pts
4. Andy Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, 14 pts
5. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, 12 pts
6. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, 10 pts
7. Chris Froome, Barloworld, 8 pts
8. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, 7 pts
9. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, 6 pts
10. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, 5 pts

The group is reforming somewhat on the descent. Fabian Cancellara and Damiano Cunego are among those rejoining the Schleck group.

Jerome Pineau bridged to Velits on the descent, and the pair rode together into Bourg d'Oisans, but never more than 1:30 ahead. The two would lead across the days's last sprint.

Sprint 2:
1. Jerome Pineau, 6 pts
2. Peter Velits, 4 pts
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, 2 pts

Immediately at the base of l'Alpe d'Huez, Sastre was off like a shot. Denis Menchov matched him briefly, but couldn't stay with Sastre. Evans rode with both Schlecks, Christian Vande Velde, Bernhard Kohl, Alejandro Valverde, and Menchov was dropped from the yellow jersey group.

It's the shoes!

Expecting many Vs. viewers spotted those bright, yellow shoes on Cyril Dessel today. Those are the new superlight Mavics. Bike Hugger checked those out last month at a Mavic media event. Below is video from the event.

Photos and more posts.

Stage 16 on the road

It's just a little bitty 98 mile ride today, but spiced with two massive hors categorie climbs, the Col de la Lombarde at 2351 meters/7713 feet, and the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond at 2802 meters/9192 feet. After that highest pass in Europe, the riders will race down a technical descent to Jausiers, down at 1210 meters/3970 feet.
Jersey leaders:
Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas
Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner

Vs. broadcaster picks:
Hummer: Alejandro Valverde
Sherwen: Denis Menchov
Liggett: Carlos Sastre
Roll: Christian Vande Velde

Roll justifies his pick based on Vande Velde's descending ability and the Rockies-like altitude of the Cime de le Bonette-Restefond, the tallest mountain ever on the Tour de France. Note also that Liggett suggests that the stage today may be the hardest single stage since World War II.
Lots of early attacks today. Eventually, five riders got a lead: Samuel Dumoulin, Thomas Voeckler, Christophe Le Mevel, Stefan Schumacher, and Sebastien Rosseler. The were quickly countered by 24 top lieutenants from a variety of teams, including Jens Voigt and Kurt-Asle Arvesen of CSC-Saxo Bank, Yaroslav Popovych of Silence-Lotto, George Hincapie and Kanstatsin Siutsou of Team Columbia, and Danny Pate and Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Chipotle.

The five leaders survived through the 2nd (and last) sprint of the day.

Sprint 2:
1. Samuel Dumoulin, 6 pts
2. Stefan Schumacher, 4 pts
3. Christophe Le Mevel, 2 pts

As the riders move onto the Col de la Lombarde, Dumoulin is immediately dropped from the 5 leaders, who were 4:25 ahead of the field, but only :40 ahead of the 24 chasers.

Schumacher proceeds to shed Le Mevel, then Voeckler, and rides alone at the head of the stage. Meanwhile, Damiano Cunego is first off the front of the field, joined by teammate Sylvester Szmyd, Tadej Valjavec, Sandy Casar, and Maxime Monfort. Riders stretch all over the mountain now, with CSC leading the yellow jersey group, 5:30 behind.

With 58 km to ride, Schumacher leads the 24 lieutenants at 2:00; Cunego's group at 4:25; another quintet, including David Moncoutie at 4:55, and the main field at 5:30.

Freire and Marcus Burghardt were dropped from the lieutenants' group. Cunego's group, now 9 riders, are about 1:00 behind the 22-man lieutenants' group. Sebastien Chavanel decides the race for the lanterne rouge is too tough, and abandons the Tour, leaving Wim Vansevenant in the familiar position of last-placed rider in the Tour.

Over the top of the Col de la Lombarde, Schumacher has nearly 9 minutes on the yellow jersey.

Hors Categorie Col de la Lombarde
1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 20 pts
2. Christophe Le Mevel, Credit Agricole, 18 pts @ 2:10
3. Thomas Voeckler, Bouygues Telecom, 16 pts @ 3:15
4. Yaroslav Popovych, Silence-Lotto, 14 pts @ 4:35
5. Kantstantsin Suitsiou, Columbia, 12 pts
6. Jens Voigt, CSC-Saxo Bank, 10 pts
7. Cyril Dessel, AG2R, 8 pts
8. John Lee Augustyn, Barloworld, 7 pts
9. Sebastien Rosseler, QucikStep, 6 pts
10. José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, 5 pts

Cunego's group passed only :30 behind Popovych. The yellow jersey and the surviving peloton summitted 9:25 behind Schumacher.

On the descent, Cunego's group joins up with Voigt's, and there are 31 riders chasing together:

• Silence-Lotto: Popovych
• CSC-Saxo Bank: Arvesen, Voigt
• Euskaltel-Euskadi: Txurruka
• Caisse d'Epargne: Arroyo, Gutierrez, Portal
• Columbia: Hincapie, Siutsou
• Barloworld: Augustyn, Cheula
• Liquigas: Fischer
• Lampre: Cunego, Szmyd, Tiralongo
• Credit Agricole: Pauriol
• AG2R: Dessel, Valjavec
• Agritubel: Lequatre
• Rabobank: Flecha
• Bouygues Telcom: Voeckler, Tschopp
• Française des Jeux: Casar
• Cofidis: Sylvain Chavanel, Dumoulin, Moncoutie, Monfort
• Garmin-Chipotle: Pate, Hesjedal
• Milram: Knees

Pate is dropped from this group, as is Dumoulin. Back in the pack, CSC is still running things, with 5 riders leading, 10:35 behind Schumacher.

On the day's biggest climb, the lieutenants group slowly dragged in Stefan Schumacher, whittling their large group down to 9, while CSC once again ground the yellow jersey peloton down to a nub, until only 8 riders rode beside Fränk Schleck. Brother Andy was a baby-faced killer, riding monster pulls that discouraged attacks. CSC didn't hestitate to bring Arvesen, then Voigt, back from the break to assist on the front.

On the steepest part of the climb, Barloworld's John Lee Augustyn attacked from the leading group of Valjavec, Hincapie, Casar, Dessel, Siutsou, Portal, Popovych and others, and was first over the top of the Tour's highest climb, with the yellow jersey group chasing barely more than 2 minutes behind.

Early on the descent, Augustyn went off the side of the mountain, had to crawl back up to the road, and left his bike far below. Augustyn waits by the road for a new bike.

Popovych, Dessel, Arroyo, and Casar now lead the stage.

Hors Categorie Cime de la Bonette-Restefond
1. John-Lee Augustyn, Barloworld, 40 pts
2. Cyril Dessel, AG2R, 36 pts @ :12
3. David Arroyo, Caisse d'Epargne, 32 pts
4. Yaroslav Popovych, Silence-Lotto, 28 pts
5. Sandy Casar, Française des Jeux, 24 pts
6. George Hincapie, Team Columbia, 20 pts
7. Tadej Valjavec, AG2R, 16 pts
8. Kanstantsin Siutsou, Columbia, 14 pts
9. Nicolas Portal, Caisse d'Epargne, 12 pts
10. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 10 pts

Samuel Sanchez is scorching the descent, with Dessel, Arroyo, Popovych, and Casar in the stage lead.

For near-real-time updates, follow my Twitter feed.

Ride on Christian Soldier

Check the Times Online profile of Christian Vande Velde and how he went from a domestique to a Tour contender.

There’s a lot more cheating and a lot more losing and he struggles constantly with injury. And two weeks ago, when he starts his sixth Tour de France, Christian Vande Velde is still a minor leaguer, performing unnoticed in the shadow of the gods. He has no ambition of winning. He has no idea how good he is. But what if he just found out?

Photo Credit: Reuters.

Cross-posted from Bike Hugger.

Schleck in yellow as Gerrans takes Stage 15

It was a day for the breakaway, as the overall contenders had bigger fish to fry, with the Tour climbing into the Alps.

Credit Agricole's Simon Gerrans, who fell off the breakaway but battled back to Egoi Martinez and Danny Pate, found a second wind on the mountaintop and easily dropped Martinez and Pate for his first career stage victory.

Back in the field, CSC again stamped a jackhammer tempo at the front to shatter the field, leaving Cadel Evans without teammates on the day's last climb, up to Prato Nevoso, and putting three CSC men -- both Schlecks and Carlos Sastre -- in the final group of 10 that included Evans.

Andy Schleck did the lion's share of the pacesetting on the 11-kilometer final climb, and Sastre, Menchov, Kohl, Alejandro Valverde and Fränk Schleck forced a gap to Evans, who tried to keep his head and ride to the summit with Christian Vande Velde,

Oscar Pereiro left the race after a tumble over a guardrail from the top to the bottom of a hairpin turn. Pereiro, who was awarded the 2006 Tour when Floyd Landis was disqualified, injured his shoulder and couldn't continue.

Stage 15 on the road

Welcome to the Alps! The Tour moves into France's highest mountains, and finishes up in Italy, atop Prato Nevoso for the first time.

The elements are in place for another exciting stage, as Valverde and Cunego sit far enough back that they may be given some slack on the final slope, while Fränk Schleck can move into yellow if he can pull more than a single second back on Cadel Evans.

It's a rainy day at the start, and the stage starts uphill almost immediately, up to 9,000 feet on the hors categorie Col Agnel, whose summit comes 58 kilometers from the start. We've got two intermediate sprints, and wind up with a 3rd category climb as a warmup to the 1st Category climb to Prato Nevoso.

In the U.S., Versus offers wire-to-wire live coverage, and Johan Bruyneel will be joining the commentary team.

Versus Stage 15 predictions:
Roll: Damiano Cunego
Hummer: Alejandro Valverde
Sherwen: Fränk Schleck
Liggett: Andy Schleck

Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish has called it a Tour, resting up for his Beijing Olympic races.

The day's first successful breakaway is Danny Pate, José-Luia Arrieta, and Egoi Martinez. They collected the day's first sprint points, then were joined by Simon Gerrans of Credit Agricole.

Sprint 1:
1. Egoi Martinez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 6 pts
2. José Luis Arrieta, AG2R, 4 pts
3. Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle, 2 pts

The four leading riders are about 3:30 ahead of the field with almost 25 kilometers ridden.

On the first climb, the gap continued to go out, to almost 14 minutes, before Lampre put some men on the front, and began to put a dent in the lead.

Two more riders abandoned on the climb -- Mark Renshaw of Credit Agricole, and QuickStep leader Stijn Devolder, whose performance is among the bigger (non-pharmaceutical) disappointments of this Tour.

1st Climb, the HC Col de Agnel:
1. Egoi Martinez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 20 pts
2. José Luis Arrieta, AG2R, 18 pts
3. Simon Gerrans, Credit Agricole, 16 pts
4. Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle, 14 pts
5. Thomas Voeckler, Bouygues Telecom, 12 pts, @ 11:50
6. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, 10 pts
7. Remy di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 8 pts
8. Yaroslav Popovych, Silence-Lotto, 7 pts
9. John Lee Augustyn, Barloworld, 6 pts
10. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, 5 pts

On the descent into Italy, the gap continues to fall, now a little more than 11 minutes, then went out a bit as riders began taking nature breaks in advance of the feed zone. Voeckler continued to ride ahead of the field, on a quixotic solo attack that seemed unlikely to close down the 10+ minute gap.

On a hairpin with around 90 kilometers to ride, Oscar Pereiro went over a guardrail at the top of a hairpin, landing on the road below, and fractured his femur and collarbone. He was taken away in an ambulance. Pereiro was awarded the 2006 Tour win when Floyd Landis was disqualified for doping.

The gap went out to more than 16 minutes as the peloton's pace fell after the accident.

At the day's second sprint, the gap was more than 17 minutes.
Sprint 2:
1. Simon Gerrans, Credit Agricole, 6 pts
2. Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle, 4 pts
3. Jose Luis Arrieta, AG2R-La Mondiale, 2 pts

The breakaway appears likely to succeed. Pate hasn't established the climbing bona fides of the other three, and has been gapping slightly on the climbs so far.

Colle del Morte, 3rd Category climb:
1. José Luis Arrieta, AG2R, 4pts
2. Egoi Martinez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 3 pts
3. Simon Gerrans, Credit Agricole, 2 pts
4. Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle, 1 pt

CSC-Saxo Bank has moved to the front, and on the Colle del Morte, set a pace high enough to split the field. Will they be able to launch Schleck to yellow? Or will Carlos Sastre deliver their final punch?

You can follow my updates in near real-time on Twitter.

Oscar wild on Stage 14

Rabobank's Oscar Freire extended his lead in the green jersey race in the sweetest way possible, with a stage win at Digne les Bains.

A late climb marooned 4-stage winner Mark Cavendish in a 2nd group, so his Team Columbia worked instead for Kim Kirchen, but to no avail. Erik Zabel was well-placed, following Marcus Burghardt into the final 300 meters, but when Freire got his cranks turning, he easily outdistanced Zabel and Leonardo Duque for his 4th career stage victory.

Freire extended his green jersey lead, as Thor Hushovd could manage only 10th on the day.

Stage 14 Top 10:
1. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, Spain, in 4:13:08
2. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, Colombia, same time
3. Erik Zabel, Milram, Germany, s.t.
4. Julian Dean, Garmin-Chipotle, New Zealand, s.t.
5. Steven de Jongh, QuickStep, Netherlands, s.t.
6. Alessandro Ballan, Lampre, Italy, s.t.
7. Ruben Perez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, s.t.
8. Jerome Pineau, Bouygues Telecom, France, s.t.
9. Matteo Tossato, QuickStep, Italy, s.t.
10. Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, Norway, s.t.

Overall standings are, once again, unchanged. That will probably change tomorrow.

General Classification, after Stage 13:
1. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, in 59:01:55
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, @ :01
3. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :38
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Germany, @ :46
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ :57
6. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Span, @ 1:28
7. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:56
8. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 2:32
9. Mikel Astarloza, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, @ 3:51
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, Italy, @ 4:18

Stage 14 on the road

Today's kind of a mirror image of Thursday's Stage 12, working up from around sea level to a couple of Category 4 climbs. The finish is a few kilometers below the 2.4-kilometer climb of the Col de l'Orme, which might provide a launch ramp for a late attack.

Jersey leaders:
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas
Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner

Versus broadcaster picks:
• Liggett: Oscar Freire
• Sherwen: Filippo Pozzato
• Roll: Pierrick Fedrigo
• Hummer: Erik Zabel

Five kms into the stage, a large break formed, featuring Stijn Devolder, Stuart O'Grady, and Will Frischkorn, as well as 18 others. Sandy Casar is best-placed of this break, 13:00 behind Evans in 24th. Cofidis, Barloworld, and Silence-Lotto missed the break, and Cofidis and Silence-Lotto led the chase. The gap reached only a little more than a minute with around 20 kilometers ridden.

Sprint 1:
1. Stijn Devolder, QuickStep, 6 pts
2. Will Frischkorn, Garmin-Chipotle, 4 pts
3. Bernhard Eisel, Team Columbia, 2 pts

With 38 kms ridden, the gap was 35 seconds, and soon, 4 riders would escape the 21-rider break: José Ivan Gutierrez, Bram Tankink, Sandy Casar, and William Bonnet. Much of the original break melted back into the peloton, but 7 riders briefly dangled in between.

The four riders represented less of a threat, and were given more free rein, and their lead grew to 6:40. Silence-Lotto, Liquigas, Columbia, and Milram are working near the front for their sprinters. Agritubel's Nicolas Jalabert abandoned at the feed zone, leaving 157 riders in the race.

Nearing the first climb, the gap had shrunk to around 3 minutes.

Climb 1, the 4th Category Côte de Mane:
1. José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, 3 pts
2. Bram Tankink, Rabobank, 2 pts
3. Sandy Casar, Française des Jeux, 1 pt

Sprint 2:
1. José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, 6 pts
2. William Bonnet, Credit Agricole, 4 pts
3. Bram Tankink, Rabobank, 2 pts

The field was 2:30 behind at the sprint. The gap continues to shrink, now only 1:10. With 28 kilometers to ride, and the gap falling below 1:00, Gutierrez launched from the lead group.

Bonnet was immediately dropped, while Casar and Tankink worked together to try to pull Gutierrez back, but unsuccessfully. Bonnet, Casar, and Tankink were reeled in, and Gutierrez rode alone toward the day's last climb, with the gap still shrinking, 34 seconds with 10 miles/15 kilometers to ride.

On the slopes of the Col de l'Orme, Gutierrez was caught by an attacking Thomas Voeckler, quickly reabsorbed, and Carlos Barredo got a lead, but when Bernhard Kohl tried to escape, Cadel Evans matched him and the pace escalated, shedding sprinters by the handful. Near the summit, Oscar Pereiro briefly got a gap, but over the top, the leaders were together.

Col de l'Orme, a 4th Category:
1. Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas, 3 pts
2. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, 2 pts
3. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, 1 pt

On the descent, much of the field reorganized, and Sylvain Chavanel went off the front. He was captured with a few kilometers to ride, and teams started to set up for their surviving sprinters.

Columbia's Cavendish didn't make the break, but the team worked hard in the last kms to place Gerald Ciolek. In the final km, Zabel had a strong leadout from Marcus Burghardt, and looked like he could take the stage, but Duque went hard on the left, and Oscar Freire, right in the middle of the road, came through and took the stage by more than a bike length.

Barloworld dropping team after Tour

cyclingnews.com | Barloworld to end sponsorship after the Tour de France

Barloworld announced they will no longer sponsor their cycling team after the Tour de France ends.

The decision stems from the EPO positive of Moises Dueñas at the Stage 4 time trial.

“To say that we are disappointed would be an understatement. Cycling has been overshadowed for some time with doping issues which have negatively affected the reputation of the sport. Whilst we have continued to operate within this environment we have always made our position clear on drug use and have acted accordingly,” concluded [corporate marketing head Chris] Fisher.

The British company will honor its contractual obligations, but the team's future is murky. Among the riders under contract with the team are Juan Mauricio Soler and Robbie Hunter.

Also:

Team Barloworld | Barloworld reviews further sponsorship

Manx cat pounces again: Cavendish takes 4th stage win

Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish continues to dominate the sprints of this year's Tour, today riding away from the field to take his 4th stage win of the 2008 Tour.

It was clearly a day for the sprinters, but former French champion Florent Brard and Milram's Belgian track star Niki Terpstra spent most of the day in a breakaway that took top points at all the day's intermediate climbs and sprints.

Milram, Liquigas and Columbia powered the peloton in the final kilometers, but the orderly leadout trains tangled up in the last 1000 meters, leaving a classic field sprint.

Silence-Lotto's Robbie McEwen, who has been largely invisible so far this year, marked the Manxman's wheel in the final 200 meters, but just couldn't ramp up the horsepower to get by Cavendish. It's the 6th career stage win for Cavendish, just 22.

Top 10, Stage 13:
1. Mark Cavendish, Columbia, Great Britain, in 4:25:42
2. Robbie McEwen, Silence-Lotto, Australia, same time
3. Romain Feillu, Agritubel, France, s.t.
4. Heinrich Haussler, Gerolsteiner, Germany, s.t.
5. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, Spain, s.t.
6. Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, Norway, s.t.
7. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, Colombia, s.t.
8. Erik Zabel, Milram, Germany, s.t.
9. Julian Dean, Garmin-Chipotle, New Zealand, s.t.
10. Sebastian Chavanel, Française des Jeux, France, s.t.

Freire will extend his gap on Thor Hushovd in the green jersey race, while Cavendish moves into a tie with Hushovd at 2nd.

Niki Terpstra takes the aggressive rider red number for today's stage.

The overall is unchanged, as well.

General Classification, after Stage 13:
1. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, in 56:48:47
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, @ :01
3. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :38
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Germany, @ :46
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ :57
6. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Span, @ 1:28
7. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:56
8. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 2:32
9. Mikel Astarloza, Euskaltel-Euskadi, Spain, @ 3:51
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, Italy, @ 4:18

Stage 13 on the road

It's a flat stage from Narbonne to Nimes a few miles in from the Mediterranean. Three small 4th-Category climbs, then 2 intermediate sprints, and a sprint-friendly finish.

Jersey leaders:
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas
Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner

Vs. broadcaster picks:
• Sherwen: Mark Cavendish
• Liggett: Oscar Freire
• Roll: Robert Forster
• Hummer: Thor Hushovd

Milram's Niki Terpstra and former French champion Florent Brard of Cofidis are the day's first break. Terpstra sits 1:40:19 behind Cadel Evans in 125th overall, Brard is another 9 minutes behind that.

The pair had a 9:55 lead with just 21 kilometers ridden, but they've been reeled in a bit since then.

1st Climb, 4th Category:
1. Florent Brard, Cofidis, 3 pts
2. Niki Terpstra, Milram, 2 pts
3. Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner, 1 pt, @ 6:45

Lang grabs the last available point to add to his advantage in the King of the Mountains competition, which he regained with the exit of Riccardo Ricco and David de la Fuente yesterday.

At the 2nd climb, Brard again led Terpstra over the top, and Bernhard Kohl took the single point left for the field, crossing 4:10 behind Brard.

2nd Climb, 4th Category:
1. Florent Brard, Cofidis, 3 pts
2. Niki Terpstra, Milram, 2 pts
3. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, 1 pt

3rd Climb, 4th Category:
1. Florent Brard, Cofidis, 3 pts
2. Niki Terpstra, Milram, 2 pts
3. Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner, 1 pt

Lang will hold the mountains jersey for at least another day. The gap has fallen below 3 minutes. It appears Terpstra and Brard will stay away through our first intermediate sprint line, just ahead, with the field 1:45 back. As the field approaches the line, Juan Antonio Flecha jumps from the field, and protects teammate Freire by taking the final points at the line.

1st Sprint, Villevieille:
1. Niki Terpstra, Milram, 6 pts
2. Florent Brard, Cofidis, 4 pts
3. Juan Antonio Flecha, Rabobank, 2 pts @ 1:40

Before the 2nd sprint, Flecha again attacked, joined by Brard's teammate Stephan Auge. Terpstra has dropped Brard and opened a healthy gap by the time he reaches the line.

2nd Sprint:
1. Niki Terpstra, Milram, 6 pts
2. Florent Brard, Cofidis, 4 pts, @ :15
3. Stephan Auge, Cofidis, 2 pts, @ :30

The pack was 1:10 behind, but the gap went up to 1:40 with 30km to ride. Flecha returned to the field, and Auge and Brard were caught, but Terpstra continues to lead the race by around a minute.

Dopers Front Page News

F'ing dopers. That's all I have to say.

Readers?

Cross-posted from Bike Hugger.

Stage 12 on the road

It's a transitional stage down toward Narbonne. There's a single 4th-Category climb, the Col du Camperie, then 2 sprint lines. Jersey leaders:
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas
Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner (not being worn)

The polka-dot jersey (formerly Riccardo Ricco's) is not being worn today; the runner-up was Ricco's teammate David de la Fuente. I'm not sure about the white jersey, which Ricco also held -- I'll keep an eye out for it.

Versus broadcaster picks:
• Hummer: Mark Cavendish
• Sherwen: Thor Hushovd
• Liggett: Oscar Freire
• Roll: Robbie McEwen

Baden Cooke is the latest Barloworld rider to abandon. He crashed about 10 miles into the stage, rode on briefly, but then left the race. There are 156 riders on the course, with the exit of Saunier Duval and Cooke.

Samuel Dumoulin of Cofidis and Arnaud Gerard attacked at around 36 kilometers ridden, and have mostly been given their head, out to more than 4:00. A stiff tailwind has the average speed for the day up over 50 kms/hr.

1st Climb, the 4th Category Col du Camperie
1. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, 3 pts
2. Arnaud Gerard, Française des Jeux, 2 pts
3. Sebastian Lang, Gerolsteiner, 1 pt

The gap has been coming down since the climb.

Sprint 1:
1. Arnaud Gerard, Française des Jeux, 6 pts
2. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, 4 pts
3. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, 2 pts @ 1:40

Freire came out of the field and sprinted for the 2 points available at the sprint line. The leaders have 1:13 with 54 miles to ride.

Mother of Mercy, is this the end of Ricco?

BBC SPORT | Ricco the latest to fail EPO test

Current King of the Mountains and white jersey leader Riccardo Ricco of Saunier Duval is the latest to test positive for erythropoeitin (EPO) at the Tour. His Saunier Duval team, which had three stage wins so far, withdrew before today's Stage 12.

Ricco tested positive at the 4th stage, last week's time trial. Ricco won Stage 6 and Stage 9, and was sitting in 9th overall, with the Alps yet to come. He also was 2nd in this year's Giro d'Italia.

I've seen a couple of sites suggest EPO is a retro performance enhancer, but apparently Ricco was positive for CERA (Continuous Erythropoeitin Receptor Activator), a 3rd generation version of the drug that's been called “Super EPO”.

"This is a decision of the team and is not dictated by (Tour organisers) ASO," Saunier Duval sports director Matxin Fernandez said.

"We suspend the activities of the team until we understand what has happened," Fernandez added.

Hope the headline reference isn't too obscure.

Also:

cyclingnews.com | Riccò positive - Saunier Duval taken out of Tour

Eurosport | Ricco EPO positive stuns Le Tour

Arvesen takes Stage 11

CSC-Saxo Bank's Kurt-Asle Arvesen took Stage 11 by outsprinting 2 of his breakaway companions to the line in Foix.

Amaël Moinard of Cofidis attacked up the slope of the day's biggest climb, and stayed away for about 50 kilometers, but he was no match for a classics-heavy breakaway that included Filippo Pozzato, Fabian Wegmann, Martin Elmiger, and Alessandro Ballan.

As he was reeled in, Elmiger attacked, followed by Arvesen. Alessandro Ballan bridged up, and Arvesen tried to attack, but Elmiger reeled him in, and the Norwegian sat up. Koos Moerenhout of Rabobank bridged, and the foursome rode into the final kilometer.

From a right-hander about 300 meters out, Arvesen wound it up from the first position, a tough place to be, sprinting near the left barrier. As he pulled to the middle of the road, Ballan came up on his right while Elmiger shot the gap on his left, and Elmiger was closing fast, but Arvesen held him off in a photo finish.

It's Arvesen's first-ever Tour stage win.

Stage 11 Results
1. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, Norway, in 3:58:13
2. Martin Elmiger, AG2R, Switzerland, same time
3. Alesssandro Ballan, Lampre, Italy, s.t.
4. Koos Moerenhout, Rabobank, Netherlands, @ :02
5. Alexandre Botcharov, Credit Agricole, Russia, @ :11
6. Pierrick Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, France, @ :14
7. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, Italy, same time
8. Benoit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, France, s.t.
9. Fabian Wegmann, Gerolsteiner, Germany, s.t.
10. Marco Velo, Milram, Italy, s.t.
11. Dmitriy Fofonov, Credit Agricole, Kazakhstan, s.t.
12. Amael Moinard, Cofidis, France, at :29

Hushovd also waves the Norwegian flag, taking the field sprint back at 14:51, ahead of Erik Zabel, and 3 ahead of Oscar Freire. Hushovd makes up 4 points on Oscar Freire in the green jersey hunt.

Overall standings are completely unchanged.

General Classification after Stage 11
1. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg @ :01
3. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :38
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria @ :46
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ :57
6. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, @ 1:28
7. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:56
8. Juan José Cobo, Saunier Duval, Spain, @ 2:10
9. Riccado Ricco, Saunier Duval, Italy, @ 2:29
10. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 2:32

The Tour in high resolution

The Big Picture - Boston.com | 2008 Tour de France

When I worked for CNN.com, we had an AP photo feed, which had a web interface into its OS/2 heart.

I used to love to browse the feed during cycling season, because it offered full-resolution versions of the photos you (rarely) see in your local newspaper. The Big Picture is a new weblog that gives web viewers a look at these images in medium resolution, but still much larger than you typically get on the web or in your daily fishwrap.

The Tour is their featured topic for Monday, with images ranging from Didi Senft to Riccardo Ricco to the rainy Stage 8 final sprint. Definitely worth a look.

Stage 11 on the road

Today's another mountain stage, but nothing like yesterday's. The biggest climb of the day is the 1400-meter Col de Portel, whose summit comes almost 60 kilometers before the stage finish. There's a 3rd Category climb early, and another on the run-in to Foix, as well as two sprints before the feed zone.

Jersey leaders:
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval (worn by Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas)
Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval

Versus broadcaster picks:

• Roll: Oscar Freire
• Hummer: Filippo Pozzato
• Sherwen: Erik Zabel
• Liggett: Damiano Cunego

At the day's first sprint, the field was still together.

Sprint 1:
1. Duque, Cofidis, 6 pts
2. Hushovd, Credit Agricole, 4 pts
3. Freire, Rabobank, 2 pts

An early break of 12 has collected all the points since:

• Arvesen, CSC
• Pozzato, Liquigas
• Ballan, Lampre
• Botcharov and Fofonov, C.A
• Elmiger, AG2R
• Wegmann, Gerolsteiner
• Moerenhout, Rabobank
• Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom
• Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux
• Moinard, Cofidis
• Velo, Milram

1st Climb, a 3rd Category:
1. Botcharov, CA, 4 pts
2. Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, 3 pts
3. Ballan, Lampre, 2 pts
4. Moinard, Cofidis, 1 pt

Gert Steegmans, who initially was in the breakaway, fell out on that climb, and rejoined the peloton, which was 5:30 behind.

Paolo Longo Borghini abandoned with a broken collarbone suffered today, leaving 167 riders in the race.

Sprint 2:
1. Pozzato, Liquigas, 6 pts
2. Velo, Milram, 4 pts
3. Moerenhout, Rabobank, 2 pts

The gap continues to climb, to 12:00 at the feedzone, and to 14:25 as the Col de Portel approaches.

On the Col de Portel, Amaël Moinard out of the breakaway, and soon after, Oscar Pereiro attacked from the field. Pereiro's attack triggered a response from CSC, who moved to the front and raised the pace.

Moinard would be first to the top with 1:46 in hand.

Col de Portel, 1st Category:
1. Amaël Moinard, Cofidis, 15 pts
2. Dimitriy Fofonov, Credit Agricole, 13 pts, @ 1:55
3. Pierrick Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, 11 pts
4. Allessandro Ballan, Lampre, 9 pts
5. Fabian Wegmann, Gerolsteiner, 8 pts
6. Benôit Vaugrenard, Française des Jeux, 7 pts
7. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, 6 pts
8. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, 5 pts

The peloton is 16:30 back of Moinard, and almost 2:00 down on Pereiro, despite CSC's efforts.

The break slowly began to reel in Moinard, and Pereiro has never gotten out over 2:00 ahead of the field.

Atop the day's last climb, Moinard had about a minute's advantage.

Col del Brouich, 3rd Category:
1. Amaël Moinard, Cofidis, 4 pts
2. Alessandro Ballan, Lampre, 3 pts
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC-Saxo Bank, 2 pts
4. Marco Velo, Milram, 1 pt

With 15k to ride, the chase has closed within 22 seconds of Moinard, and the field is within about 45 seconds of Pereiro.

As Moinard is caught, Elmiger launches an attack. He's matched by Arvesen. Now Ballan is trying to bridge up, and we've got 3 leaders.

Arvesen launches a testing attack, but Elmiger reels him in. Now Moerenhout is bridging up. They're in the final kilometer.

The come around a right-hander with 300 meters to go, and Arvesen is in the lead, and has to lead out the sprint. He's coming up the left side of the road, and Ballan's to his right. Now Elmiger comes fast up on his left, and as they hit the line, Arvesen signals that he's taken the win.

I'm waiting for confirmation on this one, Elmiger was closing fast, coming up the gap on Arvesen's left. There it is, Arvesen has taken the stage over Elmiger and Ballan.

Vs. seeing lower ratings for '08 Tour

OregonLive.com | Tour de France ratings down so far on Versus

Viewership of the live Versus broadcast each morning is down by around one-third so far this year, from 343,000 to 230,000.

Over the multiple daily broadcasts and rebroadcasts, the average Vs. viewership is down from 171,000 to 143,000, about 16 percent.

The article doesn't speculate on reasons for the fall-off, but presumably the absence of many top U.S. riders must hurt, as well as the continuing doping circus. On the other hand, should Christian Vande Velde continue to ride among the leaders, U.S. ratings may pick up.

Duenas out of Tour for EPO

SBS | Second Spanish rider tests positive in Tour

Barloworld's Moises Dueñas failed to start today's Stage 11, after French doping officials said he tested positive for EPO at the Stage 4 time trial.

Dueñas finished just behind the group with Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov, and Carlos Sastre on yesterday's climb of Hautacam. He was riding in 19th place overall, 6:43 behind new yellow jersey Cadel Evans.

Both Dueñas and Miguel Beltran of Liquigas, who officials say tested positive in Stage 1, await the results of their 'B' samples

Update: Ken Conley links to a Cycling Weekly story reporting that police found “a considerable amount of banned medicines” in Dueñas’ hotel room.

(Via Spinopsys.)

Cadel's Challenge

Cadel's Yellow Jersey is definitely an achievement and worthy of praise, but I'm not seeing him as a champion or the patron. Love or hate Lance he was the boss and as Paul Sherwen would say, "he smacked his hand on the table" to let everyone know it.

I don't expect much table smacking from Cadel and maybe it's the end of the patron era? If he's more like Indurain, he's got to hang on through the mountains and demolish his competitors in the time trial. That seems unlikely.

What do you think? Does Cadel have it? Can or will he attack? And does the Tour need a patron?

Photo credit: JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

Cross-posted on Bike Hugger.

Saunier Duval 1-2 for Piepoli and Cobo

Team CSC shook up the standings today, setting a blistering pace on the Col du Tourmalet, and putting the Luxembourg national champion Fränk Schleck just 1 second out of the overall race lead.

But it was Saunier Duval who came out with another stage win, as their Leonardo Piepoli and Juan José Cobo tag-teamed Shleck on the day's final climb, the Hautacam.

We finally had a glimpse of contenders and pretenders, as well, with some big surprises. Alejandro Valverde and Damiano Cunego crumbled on the Tourmalet, losing almost 6 minutes by stage's end. Kim Kirchen lost the yellow jersey, falling to 7th overall, and Stefan Schumacher tumbled to 18th overall.

On the other hand, Christian Vande Velde rode axle-to-axle with the best riders of the Tour, and gave as well as he got. Denis Menchov shadowed Cadel Evans all day, and Carlos Sastre rode comfortably among the overall leaders, as well.

Piepoli completes the set, now with a victory in all three Grand Tours.

Stage 10 Results
1. Leonardo Piepoli, Saunier Duval, Italy, in 4:19:27
2. Juan Jose Cobo, Saunier Duval, Spain, same time
3. Frank Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg, @ :28
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria, @ 1:06
5. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, @ 2:05
6. Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval, Italy, @ 2:17
7. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, same time
8. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, s.t.
9. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, s.t.
10. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, s.t.

Evans just barely held off Schleck in the overall, with Vande Velde and Ricco's sprint to the line probably saving his first-ever yellow jersey. Kohl's attack took him up into the top 5 overall.

General Classification, overall after Stage 10
1. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia
2. Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, Luxembourg @ :01
3. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :38
4. Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner, Austria @ :46
5. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ :57
6. Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Spain, @ 1:28
7. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ 1:56
8. Juan José Cobo, Saunier Duval, Spain, @ 2:10
9. Riccado Ricco, Saunier Duval, Italy, @ 2:29
10. Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R-La Mondiale, Russia, @ 2:32

Ricco takes the KoM lead with the double points on the final climb today, and takes over the white jersey lead on a day that was tough for Andy Schleck.

Stage 10: The climb to Hautacam

At the base of Hautacam, 24 riders are chasing Remy de Gregorio:

• Evans, Silence-Lotto
• Sastre, Cancellara, A. Schleck, F. Schleck, Voigt, CSC-Saxo Bank
• Kirchen, Columbia
• Duenas Nevado, Barloworld
• Nibali, Liquigas
• Fothen and Kohl, Gerolsteiner
• Menchov and Freire, Rabobank
• Ricco, Cobo and Piepoli, Saunier Duval
• Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle
• Astarloza, Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Dupont, Efimkin and Goubert, AG2R
• Roy, Française des Jeux
• Duque, Cofidis

Cancellara and Voigt are quickly dropped, Di Gregorio is swept up, and Piepoli attacks. Schleck matches, then Sastre tries a testing attack. Kirchen is dropped from the leaders group. Sastre caught and Fränk Schleck attacks, followed by Piepoli and Efimkin. Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov, and Christian Vandevelde, ride alongside Carlos Sastre, Cobo, and Kohl.

Kohl launches, matched by Cobo, and there goes Christian Vande Velde, riding away from Sastre, Evans, Menchov.

Valverde, already well behind the leaders, has a mechanical.

Vande Velde can't make it up to Schleck's group, and comes back to the Evans/Menchov group. Kohl and Cobo successfully bridge up to Piepoli, Schleck, and Efimkin.

Kirchen begins to make up time on the Evans group, and Evans attacks! It's not enough to drop his group, but it does increase the gap to Kirchen. Evans rides with Vande Velde, Menchov, Nibali, Sastre, and Ricco.

Up front, Schleck's group begins to splinter. Cobo launches off the front, and Piepoli and Schleck are the only riders who can bridge up.

Nibali yo-yoes off the back of the Evans group. Valverde and Cunego ride together, about 4:30 back of Piepoli, and abut 3:00 behind Sastre, Evans, Menchov, and Vande Velde. Kirchen is 1:00 down on Evans.

Schleck, who started the day 1:50 behind Evans in GC, has build enough of a gap that he's riding (barely) in the virtual yellow jersey, with less than 4km to ride.

In the final 3km, Cobo and Piepoli lift the pace, and Schleck can't match the teammates. They ride together to the finish, with Schleck alone, and the remnants of the Schleck group (Kohl, Efimkin) spread out back toward Evans.

At the line, it's Leonardo Piepoli taking the stage, with Cobo on his wheel, and Schleck about 26 seconds back. It's going to be close for Evans...

As the Evans group comes into the final km, Christian Vande Velde goes to the front and raises the pace, then Riccardo Ricco comes by. Evans bumps the tempo to hold contact, and the group holds together to the line, coming in at about 2:15, giving Evans the yellow jersey by 1 narrow second.

Stage 10 on the road

Almost from the gun, attacks went off, and with only 10 kilometers ridden, a group of 24 riders formed, including the climber's jersey of David de la Fuente and Oscar Freire, wearing the green jersey (on loan from Kim Kirchen).

Yaroslav Popovych is the highest-ranking rider of the group in 27th at 4:34. Only three teams have missed the break: Milram, Garmin-Chipotle, and Lampre. Milram is doing the chase work in the main field.

In the break:
* Silence-Lotto: Popovych
* Saunier Duval: Bertogliati and de la Fuente
* FdJeux: Sebastian Chavanel, di Gregorio, Roy
* Gerolsteiner: Fothen, Lang, Wegmann
* CSC-Saxo Bank: Cancellara
* Caisse d'Epargne: Gutierrez
* Barloworld: Augustyn, Cheula
* Cofidis: Duque
* Bouygues Telecom: Fedrigo
* Rabobank: Freire
* Agritubel: Feillu, Vogondy
* AG2R: Dupont
* QuickStep: Tosatto
* Credit Agricole: Le Mevel
* Liquigas: Pozzato
* Columbia: Burghardt
* Euskaltel-Euskadi: Isasi

1st Climb, 3rd Category Cote de Benejacq:
1. David de la Fuente, Saunier Duval, 4 pts
2. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, 3 pts
3. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, 2 pts
4. Pierrick Fedrigo, Bouygues Telecom, 1 pt

Garmin-Chipotle has come to the front to try to bring the break back, but the gap is 1:20 with 113k/70 miles to ride.

Sprint 1:
1. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, 6 pts 2. Romain Feillu, Agritubel, 4 pts 3. Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, 2 pts

Freire retakes the lead in the green jersey competition, for now.

With about 56 miles left on the day, the break was mostly captured, whittling the break from 24 to 7 riders, including Cancellara, Dupont, Freire, Fothen, Roy, Di Gregorio, and Duque. They lead over the top of the 3rd Category Loucroup climb.

2nd Climb, 3rd Category Loucroup:
1. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, 4 pts 2. Remy di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 3 pts 3. Markus Fothen, Gerolsteiner, 2 pts 4. Jeremy Roy, Française des Jeux, 1 pt

Hushovd attempted to bridge, but was quickly back in the field, and the pack seemed content to let the break take some time.

Sprint 2: 1. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, 6 pts 2. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, 4 pts 3. Jeremy Roy, Française des Jeux, 2 pts

Gap to the 7 leaders is now out to 7:00, with Agritubel's Freddy Bichot chasing about 2 minutes behind the breakaway. We're approaching the feed zone. Next up, the Tourmalet.

Early on the Tourmalet, Saunier Duval launched Jufre with Riccardo Ricco, who were quickly recaptured, but the Sauniers launched Jufre again, and the field quickly strung out into small groups as the sprinters fell away.

Up in Freire's group, Remy di Gregorio rode away from the breakaway, and is the stage leader. His gap has climbed to about 50 seconds on his former breakmates.

CSC moved to the front and continued to push the pace, melting the field down to 40, then 25, now down to 14. Damiano Cunego was first to fall off the pace, followed quickly by Alejandro Valverde, with CSC's Jens Voigt towing Sastre and the Schlecks at the head of an elite group. Also in the 14-man group were Kim Kirchen, Christian Vande Velde, Denis Menchov, Cadel Evans, and Saunier Duval's Leonardo Piepoli and Riccardo Ricco.

Di Gregorio took the points atop the Tourmalet. The field is over the top, and Valverde and Cunego will chase hard to try to rejoin what I'll call Group Voigt in recognition of the big German's massive effort.

Atop the Tourmalet:
1. Remy Di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, 20 pts
2. Jeremy Roy, Française des Jeux, 18 pts, @ 2:10
3. Hubert Dupont, AG2R, 16 pts
4. Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, 14 pts
5. Markus Fothen, Gerolsteiner, 12 pts, @ 3:10
6. Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank, 10 pts, @ 3:45
7. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, 8 pts, @ 4:30
8. Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval, 7 pts, @ 6:00
9. Jens Voigt, CSC-Saxo Bank, 6 pts
10. Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, 5 pts

You can follow these updates and more by following my Twitter feed.

Stage 10 Preview: Forcing their hand

Today is the hardest day so far of the 2008 Tour. Two hors categorie climbs (“beyond categorization”) -- the 2115-meter Col du Tourmalet and the 1520-meter Hautacam -- make up the second half of the stage. It's just 96 miles/156 kms, but today will bring some answers.

Cadel Evans is suddenly one of the big questions. He injured his collarbone and split his helmet into three pieces in an accident yesterday; will he be able to counter the inevitable moves from the contending climbing specialists?

Another big question: Are Kirchen, Vande Velde, Devolder and Schumacher for real? They've been able to hang so far, but today come much longer climbs that may escort them to lower GC placings.

Finally, we'll answer some questions of form: Is Valverde the strongest climber among the favorites? How is Denis Menchov, who has been quietly sitting among the leaders every stage? What about the CSC triumverate? Are they really riding for Sastre, or has the time come for the Schlecks to lead the team?

Jersey leaders:
Kim Kirchen, Columbia
Kim Kirchen, Columbia (worn by Oscar Freire, Rabobank)
Andy Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank
David de la Fuente, Saunier Duval

Versus broadcaster picks: Hummer continues to lead. Today, Liggett takes Alejandro Valverde, Roll takes Riccardo Ricco, Hummer takes Fränk Schleck, and Sherwen takes Carlos Sastre.

Ricco shows his strength

Riccardo Ricco of Saunier Duval took a dominant stage win as the Tour finally reached the high mountains on Stage 9.

On the steepest part of the Col d'Aspin, Ricco launched from the field through a chase group, then right past Sebastian Lang, who had been in a lead group all day long.

Ricco managed to hold off the entire field on a 28-kilometer descent to the finish, for his 2nd win of the Tour. Ricco is seen by Italian fans as a successor to Marco Pantani, the great Italian climber.

Ricco's teammate David de la Fuente holds onto the King of the Mountains jersey, but it looks like that's Ricco's jersey to lose between now and Paris at this point. Next year, he's got to be a Tour favorite.

Stage 9 Results:
1) Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval 5:39:28
2) Vladimir Efimkin, AG2R @ 1:04
3) Cyril Dessel, AG2R @1:17
4) Dmitri Fofonov, Credit Agricole, same time
5) Christian Knees, Milram, s.t.
6) Maxime Monfort, Cofidis, s.t.
7) Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
8) Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas, s.t.
9) Damiano Cunego, Lampre, s.t.
10) Yaroslav Popovych, Silence-Lotto, s.t.

In the GC, Stefan Schumacher lost time to the overall leaders, as did David Millar and Thomas Lövkvist. That moves Garmin-Chipotle's Christian Vande Velde up into 3rd overall, 44 seconds behind Columbia's Kim Kirchen.

General Classification after Stage 9:
1) Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, 38:07:19
2) Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, @ :06
3) Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, @ :44
4) Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, @ :56
5) Denis Menchov, Rabobank, @ 1:03
6) Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, @ 1:12 7) Stijn Devolder, Quick Step, @ 1:21 8) Oscar Pereiro, Caisse d'Epargne, @ 1:21 9) Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 1:27 10) Carlos Sastre, CSC-Saxo Bank, @ 1:34

Kim Kirchen keeps the yellow jersey and retakes the lead in the green jersey competition. Lövkvist loses the white jersey to Andy Schleck.

Stage 9 on the road

You can follow these updates (and more) in near-real-time at Twitter.

Three riders went out with about 20 kilometers ridden, and have led since: Nicolas Jalabert of AG2R, Sebastian Lang of Gerolsteiner, and Aleksandr Kuschynski of Liquigas. They've collected the day's early premiums.

Sprint 1
1) Kuschynski +6 pts
2) Jalabert +4 pts
3) Lang +2 pts

Climb 1, 4th Category
1) Lang +3 pts
2) Kuschynski +2 pts
3) Nicolas Jalabert +1 pt

Climb 2, 4th Category
1) Lang +3 pts
2) Jalabert +2 pts
3) Kuschynski +1 pt

The gap went out to 14:20, but Euskaltel-Euskadi moved to the front of the peloton and have been slowly closing it down.

Climb 3, 4th Category Cote de Mane
1) Lang +3 pts
2) Jalabert, +2 pts
3) Kuschynski +1 pts

Sprint 2
1) Jalabert +6 pts
2) Kuschynski +4 pts
3) Lang +2 pts

Climb 4, 4th Category
1) Lang +3 pts
2) Kuschynski, +2 pts
3) Jalabert +1 pt

Cadel Evans was mixed up in a fall with Gorko Verdugo with around 111 km to ride. His jersey and shorts were torn, and his left elbow bleeding, but his team quickly gathered to shepherd him back to the field.

Climbing up to the Col des Ares, a 3rd Category climb, the gap is about 11 minutes to the 3 leaders.

Col des Ares, 3rd Category
1) Lang +4 pts
2) Kuschynski +3 pts
3) Jalabert +2 pts
4) Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, +1 pt

Dumoulin attacked from the field to deny David de la Fuente the opportunity to extend his lead in the polka-dot jersey competition over Dumoulin's teammate Sylvain Chavanel.

On the Col de la Peyresourde, the field was whittled down to around 40 riders, inclduing all the big contenders, while Lang, Kushcynski and Jalabert separated. Felix Cardenas of Barloworld tried an attack, but was quicly reeled back in. On the upper few kilometers, Maxime Monfort of Cofidis attacked, matched by current KoM David de la Fuente, who took 4th over the top of the Peyresourde to hold the jersey, pending results on the Col d'Aspin.

Col de Peyresourde, 1st Category
1) Lang +15 pts
2) Kuschynski +13 pts @ :40
3) Jalabert +11 pts @ 3:40
4) de la Fuente +9 pts @4:50
5) Monfort +8 pts same time
6) Luis Sanchez +7 pts @5:25
7) Mikel Astarloza +6 pts same time
8) Matteo Carrerra +5 pts s.t.

On the Col d'Aspin, a number of testing attacks went off, but nothing stuck until Saunier Duval's Riccardo Ricco turboed off the field, streaking past the chase groups, then Lang like he was in reverse.

Ricco is first to the top of the Col d'Aspin, collecting double points. Lang survives to take 2nd at the top, but the field is close behind.

Col d'Aspin, 1st Category 1) Riccardo Ricco +30
2) Sebastian Lang +26 @:35
3) Bernhard Kohl, Gerolsteiner +22 @1:15
4) David de la Fuente +18 5) Vincenzo Nibali +16
6) Oscar Pereiro +14
7) Denis Menchov +12
8) Luis Sanchez +10

David de la Fuente saves his polka-dot jersey lead for at least one more night.

Ricco bombs the downhill. The peloton hasn't made a dent in his lead. A couple of attempted breaks from the chase failed, until AG2R's Vladimir Efimkin attacked through one, and slowly built a gap.

Ricco takes his 2nd stage, ahead of Efimkin.

Stage 9 preview

Today's the first taste of the Tour's big climbs, as the race reaches the Pyrenees, with two 1st Category climbs in the day's final 60 kilometers. The finish is a downhil run into Bagnères de Bigorre.

The big climbs will definitely thin out the field, but that finishing descent will give chasers a good chance to bring time on the leader(s) over the Col d'Aspin, the 2nd big climb.

Current jersey leaders:

Kim Kirchen, Columbia
Oscar Freire, Rabobank
Thomas Lövkvist, Columbia
David de la Fuente, Saunier Duval

On Versus, Craig Hummer continues to lead the commentator pick contest. Today, Sherwen takes Fränk Schleck, Liggett takes Samuel Sanchez, Roll takes Kim Kirchen, and Hummer takes Valverde.

Travel day

It's a travel day for me, so neither Twitter updates nor blog posts on Stage 8 until this evening.

Tour 08 Snark -- Week One

• What is Saab going for with that “turbo” commercial? Annoying to get attention like those HeadOn ads? “apply directly to the forehead. apply directly to the forehead. apply directly to the forehead. apply directly to the forehead.”

• Phil’s been despising the use of race radios for like 100 years now.

• Bobke and Hummer don’t got the spark like Trautwig and Bobke did.

• It’s one thing to make a statement with your coverage and another entirely to run a “backwards” ad that shows a champion who’s not been found to dope and is still racing. Zabel should not be in that ad.

• Why no women reporters covering the tour, the towns, the human interest? Is Le Tour a boys club?

• I’d like to see “Tapout” get on bikes and ride up a climb in their clothes line.

Other notes:

• New iTV podcast
• The cameras and Tour coverage gets better every year
• I’d like to see unabridged ask Bobke thread and I’d ask:

Bobke: How do you reconcile the fact that Lance turned his back on the sport after not finding a sponsor for his team and 9 months later, we’ve got two American squads with big sponsors?

Note: Cross-posted from Bike Hugger.

Cavendish makes good on Stage 5

Legendary Tour de France commentator Joe Namath once said, “It's not bragging if you can do it.”

That's the motto for today's stage, the first (but doubtful the last) won by Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish.

Everybody and his brother thought today was a stage for Mark Cavendish. Team manager Bob Stapleton was even talking about whether his Team Columbia would be able to get help chasing down the breaks today.

It's insanely difficult for a sprinter to pick his stage -- it's so easy for someone to grab his wheel, and slingshot by for the win at the line. But Cavendish delivered the win in a finish complicated by the catch, at 50 meters (!) of French champion Nicolas Vogondy, who spent all day in the break.

Stage 5 results
1) Mark Cavendish, Columbia, Great Britain
2) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, Spain, same time
3) Erik Zabel, Milram, Germany, s.t.
4) Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, Norway, s.t.
5) Baden Cooke, Barloworld, Australia, s.t.
6) Robbie Hunter, Barloworld, S. Africa, s.t.
7) Leonardo “El” Duque, Cofidis, Colombia, s.t
8) Robbie McEwen, Silence-Lotto, Australia, s.t.
9) Francesco Chicchi, Liquigas, Italy, s.t.
10) Julian Dean, Garmin-Chipotle, New Zealand, s.t.

There was essentially no change in the yellow, white, or polka-dot jersey competition, but Thor Hushovd takes over the green with his 4th on the stage.

General Classification after Stage 5
1) Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, Germany, in 19:32:33
2) Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ :12
3) David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, Great Britain, @ :12
4) Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, @ :21
5) Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank, Switzerland, @ :33
6) Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :37
7) Georgie Hincapie, Team Columbia, USA, @ :41
8) Thomas Lövkvist, Team Columbia, Sweden, @ :47
9) Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, Italy, @ :58
10) José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, @ 1:01

Out of the race today was Maurcio Soler of Barloworld. Gerolsteiner's Heinrich Haussler took a serious spill with less than 4 kms to ride, but finished the stage 6:30 behind Cavendish.

Hinault gets his GT on

Bobke Strut | Get Your Grand Tour On

This one requires a little bit of setup. One of my favorite web comics is My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable, and its brother series, Get Your War On, which work within the confines of clip art that comes with Microsoft Office.

In honor of le Blaireau's award-winning protester shove, and the brief appearance of a Frenchman in yellow, I thought I would link to Bobke Strut's homage, Get Your Grand Tour On, which likewise restricts itself to Office clipart, with support from two headshots.

Vaughters works blue in the Garmin-Chipotle car

One of my favorite micro-moments of today's Versus coverage was when Jonathan Vaughters, chatting with Robbie Ventura as they followed David Millar around the TT course and unaware that Versus had cut back to the car, responded to Ventura's “How's this going for you?” with, “F---, man...”

And it was the exact right response, not the angry version of the word, but the “I don't know, man, that is some heavy stuff...” version.

Ventura jumped back in after a brief pause for shock.

Vaughters apologized via Twitter (how Web 2.0 is that?): “Sorry to all the parents out there. It was just really intense today... JV.”

It was somewhat ironic, because Vaughters was displaying a very soothing, positive vibe in his encouragement to Millar. I was thinking what a far cry from “Venga! Venga! Venga!” shouted out the car window...

Also:

re: Cycling | Stage 4: Your Phil Liggett Quote of the Day

Update: re: Cycling has found YouTube video of the footage. Watch Ventura's face.

Schumacher grilled over '07 amphetamines positive

VeloNews | Schumacher has his own out-of-competition positive to explain

Journalists at the Tour wasted no time drawing parallels between a positive for amphetamines by Stefan Schumacher last October, and this year's out-of-competition positive for cocaine for Tom Boonen, who organizers barred from the Tour.

Schumacher explained simply:

“Our cases cannot be compared. Tom Boonen underwent a doping test. I didn't undergo a doping test. It was a police control when I was coming back from a disco,” said Schumacher as he sat in the race's yellow jersey.

“I don't have a problem with Boonen, he's a big champion and I don't know why he's not been invited to the Tour.”

Schumacher denied taking amphetamines, but they are present in some over-the-counter medications. His positive doesn't affect his career because, as he said, it was not measured in a sample drawn for doping controls. He also pointed out that the amount involved was “microscopic.”

Schumacher's Gerolsteiner team, looking for a new sponsor, sanctioned the rider at the time, and considers the issue closed.

Also:

The Canadian Press | Stefan Schumacher takes yellow jersey after winning Tour de France time trial

Schumacher takes the time trial!

Classics specialist Stefan Schumacher of Gerolsteiner turned in a head-turning performance to dominate the Stage 4 time trial at the Tour.

Schumacher was the only man to go under 36:00 on the day, finishing in 35:44. Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen just edged Garmin-Chipotle's David Millar, both in 36:02 to round out the stage podium.

Stage 4 results
1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, Germany, 35:44
2. Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, 36:02
3. David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, Great Britain, 36:02.53
4. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, 36:11
5. Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank, Switzerland, 36:17.22
6. Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, 36:18.01
7. Jens Voigt, CSC-Saxo Bank, Germany, 36:19
8. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, 36:21
9. George Hincapie, Columbia, USA, 36:25
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, Italy, 36:31

Among the overall GC threats, Cadel Evans had the best day, finishing 4th on the day in 36:11, better than world champion Fabian Cancellara, who finished in 36:18. Denis Menchov showed he's here to win, only 7 seconds slower than Evans, while riding from a very early start, without benefit of many time checks.

Damian Cunego scored a 37:10, Alejandro Valverde a 37:18, while Carlos Sastre managed only a 37:27. Mauricio Soler, tipped by some as a longshot, must still be suffering from his accident on Stage 2, and was 161st on the day in 40:24, already 17:46 back of the race lead.

Overall standings mirror the stage finish, with Schumacher taking the overall race lead.

Overall after Stage 4:
1) Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, Germany, in 14:04:41
2) Kim Kirchen, Columbia, Luxembourg, @ :12
3) David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, Great Britain, @ :12
4) Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, Australia, @ :21
5) Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank, Switzerland, @ :33
6) Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle, USA, @ :37
7) George Hincapie, Columbia, USA, @ :41
8) Thomas Lövkvist, Columbia, Sweden, @ :48
9) Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas, Italy, @ :58
10) José Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne, Spain, @ 1:01
11) Denis Menchov, Rabobank, Russia, @ 1:12

Columbia's Kirchen leads the green jersey competition, teammate Thomas Lövkvist leads in the white jersey competition, Thomas Voeckler holds the polka-dots, and Garmin-Chipotle extends its team competition lead, now leading Team Columbia.

Stage 4 ITT underway

Today's stage is a 29.5 kilometer time trial. That's shortish for Tour TTs.

The big favorite for the stage is Fabian Cancellara, reigning world champion in the discipline. He's our current leader among riders who have finished.

David Millar and Cadel Evans are among the riders still to start who might challenge Cancellara's time. Stefan Schumacher has scorched all the early time checks, and he comes in with a 35:44!

Current standings: 1. Stefan Schumacher, Gerolsteiner, 35:44
2. Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, 36:01
3. David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, 36:02.53
4. Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, 36:11
5. Fabian Cancellara, CSC-Saxo Bank 36:17.22
6. Denis Menchov, Rabobank 36:18.01
7. Jens Voigt, CSC-Saxo Bank 36:19
8. Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle 36:21
9. George Hincapie, Columbia 36:25
10. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas 36:31
11. Thomas Lövkvist, Columbia 36:31
12. Ivan Gutierrez, Caisse d'Epargne 36:34
13. Sylvain Chavanel, Cofidis 36:53
14. Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle 36:54

Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Chipotle hit times right in line with the leaders at the intermediate time checks: He was 4th at TC1, and tied Cancellara for 3rd at time check 2. He finishes at 36:21, 4th so far, with teammate Millar just out on the course.

Stefan Schumacher of Gerolsteiner has set a much faster time at Time Check 2, a full 23 seconds than Jens Voigt. Schumacher is the first (so far only) rider to go under 36 minutes.

George Hincapie of Team Columbia came through with the 2nd fastest time so far at Time Check 1, behind Schumacher but ahead of Voigt. He faded late, but finished with the 6th-best time so far.

Cadel Evans started slow, but moved up at each time check, finishing with a 36:11, 2nd at that time, iwth a few finishers to ride.

Millar has been a little behind Schumacher at the time checks. He's got 6 seconds on Schumacher in the overall, so he needs to finish in 35:50 or better. He comes in in 36:02, not quite fast enough!

Kim Kirchen is going fast, 2nd at all the intermediate checks, and here he comes to the line ... He's in with a 2nd, 36:01! It looks like Schumacher will take the race lead.

Alejandro Valverde is suffering, and will be nowhere near the leaders: 37:18.38! That's more than a minute lost for the Spanish champion.

For realtime updates, check out my Twitter feed.

Frischkorn introduces Garmin-Chipotle

VeloNews | Fresh Tour Korn: Will Frischkorn shares his stage 3 diary

Garmin-Chipotle's Will Frischkorn took the team's first award at the Tour today, finishing on the podium for the day and the overall, and taking the most aggressive rider race numbers.

Spend 208 kilometers at the front of the world's biggest bicycle race, and you'll hear from a few well-wishers; Frischkorn said he's never had so many messages waiting on his Blackberry. The joy of a great result is tempered by being on the second step:

When Dumoulin attacked with 2k to go I'd planned on hitting out just as I got to the back of the line ... he beat me to it and it was game on. I jumped up to him, but made a real error jumping first when Feillu went by. I should have let Samuel do it first. Too eager. Then my second, and key, mistake, was pausing for a second with 350 to go. I had the legs to come around, and came close, but ran out of time. Aargh! I couldn't be more excited with second, but wouldn't be an athlete if I didn't want to be one step higher.

Frischkorn's ride also put Garmin-Chipotle in the early lead in the team competition.

Also:

VeloNews | Mr. Rogers' Tour - Will power

Neal Rogers offers his perspective on Frischkorn, and how great it was to have the Euro journalists asking him if he knew anything about a rider. For once.

Dumoulin takes Stage 3, Feillu in yellow

France earned a stage win and a yellow jersey, as a 4-man breakaway initiated by Garmin-Chipotle's Will Frischkorn held off the sprinters on the run into Nantes.

The break went out almost from the first kilometer, and was helped by a late stage accident that cost possible GC contenders Riccardo Ricco and Denis Menchov more than 30 seconds to Alejandro Valverde, Cadel Evans, and other overall contenders.

In the final kilometer, Samuel Dumoulin was first to attack, matched by Frischkorn, then Romain Feillu countered, and rode straight past the pair. Dumoulin was able to pull Feillu back, and Frischkorn just couldn't quite catch the French speedster.

Robbie McEwen led in the field, mere inches ahead of Erik Zabel, then Oscar Freire.

Feillu takes over the race lead, followed by Paolo Longo Borghini and Frischkorn. Feillu is the first Frenchman in yellow since Cyril Dessel in 2006. His Agritubel team is at the Tour as a wildcard.

Stage Top 10:
1) Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis
2) Will Frischkorn, Garmin-Chipotle, same time
3) Roman Feillu, Agritubel, s.t.
4) Paolo Longo Borghini, Barloworld, at :14
5) Robbie McEwen, Silence-Lotto, at 2:03
6) Erik Zabel, Milram, same time
7) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, s.t.
8) Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole, s.t.
9) Robert Förster, Gerolsteiner, s.t
10) Mark Cavendish, Team Columbia, s.t.

General Classification, Stage 3
1) Romain Feillu, Agritubel, in 13:27:05
2) Paolo Longo Borghini, Barloworld, @ :35
3) Frischkorn, Garmin-Chipotle, @ 1:42
4) Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne, @ 1:45
5) Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, @ 1:46
6) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, same time
7) Jerome Pineau, Bouygues Telecom, s.t.
8) David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle, s.t.
9) Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, s.t.
10) Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, s.t.

These finishing positions determine start order for tomorrow's 29-kilometer individual time trial. Denis Menchov and Riccardo Ricco got caught on the wrong side of the late-stage crash, and rolled in 38 seconds behind the main field. As a result, they'll start around 50 riders from the end, and won't have as many intermediate time splits for reference.

Kim Kirchen holds the green jersey. Feillu holds the white jersey in addition to the yellow, but it will be worn by Andy Schleck of CSC.

Frischkorn gets two days in the most agressive rider's red race number, since there is no award during the time trial.

Out of the Tour: Saunier Duval's Angel Gomez, injured in a mid-stage accident with CSC's Nicki Sørensen.

Hushovd bags Stage 2

Another select sprint, and a 6th career stage win for the God of Thunder, Thor Hushovd.

With 1 kilometer to go, Fabian Cancellara attacked strongly, and was countered by Filippo Pozzatto, who won here on Stage 7 in 2004. But the two opportunists couldn't hold off the sprint specialists, and were caught up by a strong group that included Alejandro Valverde, Kim Kirchen, Jerome Pineau, and Thor Hushovd.

When Hushovd launched, Team Columbia tried to follow, but Kim Kirchen couldn't quite match Hushovd.

Stage 2:
1) Thor Hushovd, Credit Agricole
2) Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, same time
3) Gerald Ciolek, Team Columbia, s.t.
4) Robbie Hunter, Barloworld, s.t.
5) Erik Zabel, Milram, s.t.
6) Yury Trofimov, AG2R, s.t.
7) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, s.t.
8) Jimmy Casper, Agritubel, s.t.
9) Martin Elminger, AG2R, s.t.
10) Leonardo Duque, Cofidis, s.t.

Kirchen moves up into the green jersey lead, the first jersey for Team Columbia, while Thomas Voeckler takes undisputed lead in the King of the Mountains competition.

Stage 2 on the road

Today we have a 164.5 kilometer stage from Auray to Saint Brieuc. It features the first 3rd Category climb of the race, the Cote de Mur-de-Bretagne, along with 3 more 4th Category climbs and 3 intermediate sprints.

Drug tests were conducted this morning on the Lampre, CSC-Saxo Bank, Columbia, and Saunier Duval squads. All riders were cleared to race.

Mauricio Soler took the start with a fractured wrist. The 2007 King of the Mountains was injured in a crash late on yesterday's stage.

Garmin-Chipotle's Danny Pate was involved in the day's first break, along with Jens Voigt, Bernhard Eisel, Fabian Wegmann, Sylvain Chavanel, and a couple of others. It was chased down by Bouygues Telecom, with only Chavanel surviving, and joined by current poka-dot jersey leader Thomas Voeckler at the top of the day's first climb.

1st Climb, 4th Category
1) Sylvain Chavanel, Cofidis, 3 pts
2) Voeckler, Bouyges Telecom, 2 pts
3) Bjorn Schroeder, Milram, 1 pt

It looks like Schroeder, tied with Voeckler for the climber's jersey lead, isn't going to just give it up, but Voeckler and Chavanel are riding 30 seconds ahead of the field.

1st Sprint
1) Chavanel, 6 pts
2) Voeckler, 4 pts
3) Robbie Hunter, Barloworld, 2 pts (@ :35)

Chavanel and Voeckler continue to push the advantage. At the base of the day's 2nd climb, they've got 2:45.

2nd Climb, 4th Category
1) Voeckler, 3 pts
2) Chavanel, 2 pts
3) David Arroyo, 1 pt (@ 4:00)

The escapees got as big a gap as 6:25 with 100 kilometers to ride, but now the gap is falling, with Alejandro Valverde's Caisse d'Epargne team leading the chase.

2nd Sprint
1) Chavanel, 6 pts
2) Voeckler, 4 pts
3) Gilbert, FdJ, 2 pts (@ 4:25)

Gilbert is wearing the green jersey, currently owned by Alejandro Valverde.

As the leaders climb the 3rd Cat Mur-de-Bretagne, Christophe Moreau and David Lelay of Agritubel have attacked from the field.

3rd climb, 3rd Category Cote de Mur-de-Bretagne
1) Chavanel, 4 pts
2) Voeckler, 3 pts
3) Moreau, Agritubel, 2 pts (@ 3:00)
4) Lelay, Agritubel, 1 pt

It's only a few kilometers from the Mur to the day's last climb.

4th Climb, 4th Category
1) Voeckler, 3 pts
2) Chavanel, 2 pts
3) Moreau, 1 pt (@ 2:00)

The field is around 3:30 back of Voeckler and Moreau.

3rd Sprint
1) Chavanel, 6 pts
2) Voeckler, 4 pts (@ :20)
3) Lelay, 2 pts (@ :53)

Voeckler wasn't dropped, but lost some time to change bikes. He and Chavanel quickly regroup.

Moreau continues to close. Finally, at 57 kilometers to ride, the four French riders are together, with 3:00 on the peloton. Lelay is a local rider who is riding his first Tour.

Française des Jeux has taken up the chase now, and we've got a French team chasing down a break of French riders. With 33 kms to ride, the gap has fallen below 1:30.

Rubens Bertogliati took a phantom spill with less than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) to ride, and is now suffering behind the main field along with Mauricio Soler, more than a minute behind the peloton.

The gap continues to drop, now under a minute with 13 kilometers/8 miles to ride.

Where are they from?

I always review the nationalities breakdown for the Tour, with a special eye toward the English-speaking countries. Here's last year's, for comparison.

USA
George Hincapie, Team Columbia
Christian Vande Velde, Garmin-Chipotle
Will Frischkorn, Garmin-Chipotle
Danny Pate, Garmin-Chipotle

This is the least in years, with Freddie Rodriguez riding in the U.S., Bobby Julich not selected, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer barred with Astana, and David Zabriskie nursing a back injury.

Australia
Baden Cooke, Barloworld
Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto
Simon Gerrans, Credit Agricole
Adam Hansen, Team Columbia
Brett Lancaster, Milram
Trent Lowe, Garmin-Chipotle
Robbie McEwen, Silence-Lotto
Stuart O'Grady, CSC-Saxo Bank
Mark Renshaw, Credit Agricole

Baden Cooke is back; Adam Hansen, Trent Lowe, and Mark Renshaw are new, and Michael Rogers is out.

Great Britain:
Mark Cavendish, Team Columbia
Christopher Froome, Barloworld
David Millar, Garmin-Chipotle

Out are Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins and Charlie Wegelius. I've got Christopher Froome as being from Kenya, which isn't in the list below. Put him there, and Great Britain drops to just a pair.

New Zealand
Julian Dean, Garmin-Chipotle

As last year.

South Africa
Robbie Hunter, Barloworld
John-Lee Augustyn, Barloworld

Adds Augustyn.

Canada
Ryder Hesjedal, Garmin-Chipotle

First Canuck since 1997. Maybe Michael Barry will join him one year.

Here's the official breakdown, according to the Tour website:

40: France (2007 count in parentheses: 35)
30: Spain (42)
21: Italy (18)
16: Germany (19)
12: Belgium (13)
10: The Netherlands (7)
9: Australia (6)
4: USA (6), Russia (6) and Switzerland (5)
3: Colombia (3), Great Britain (5) and Luxembourg (2)
2: South Africa (1), Austria (3), Belarus (2), Norway (2), Sweden (1) and Ukraine (2)
1: Brazil (1), Canada (0), Denmark (1), Kazakhstan (4), New Zealand (1), Poland (0), Czech Republic (0), Slovakia (0) and Slovenia (1)

Spanish representation drops from 42 riders last year to 30 this year, with France jumping from 35 to 40.

Valverde makes a statement in Stage 1

Spanish champion Alejandro Valverde showed tremendous power in closing down late attacks by Kim Kirchen and Stefan Schumacher and smoking to the first stage victory and overall leadership.

Stage 1 Results and Overall Classification (updated)
1) Alejandro Valverde, Caisse d'Epargne
2) Philippe Gilbert, Française des Jeux, @ :01
3) Jerome Pineau, Bouygues Telecom, s.t.
4) Kim Kirchen, Team Columbia, s.t.
5) Riccardo Ricco, Saunier Duval-Scott, s.t.
6) Cadel Evans, Silence-Lotto, s.t.
7) Fränk Schleck, CSC-Saxo Bank, s.t.
8) Filippo Pozzato, Liquigas, s.t.
9) Oscar Freire, Rabobank, s.t.
10) Oscar Pereiro, Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.

It's the first day in yellow for Valverde, in his 4th Tour. He also leads the green jersey competition, which Philippe Gilbert will wear tomorrow. Valverde made time on all the contenders, from 1 second on Evans, 7 on Sastre and Menchov, up to 3:04 on Mauricio Soler, who crashed late in the stage.

Thomas Voeckler takes the first King of the Mountains jersey, by finishing ahead of Bjorn Schroeder, with whom he's tied on points.

Riccardo Ricco is the first leader of the white jersey competition.

Lillian Jegou was awarded the red most combative race numbers for tomorrow.

First lanterne rouge is Aleksandr Kuschynski of Liquigas, 4:56 back.

Versus ditches Trautwig

It's Christmas in July for U.S. Tour fans, as the Versus network has revamped its broadcast team.

Gone is Al Trautwig, who combined bombast and ignorance in staggering proportions. Replacing him is Craig Hummer, a former competitive swimmer and professional lifeguard who also has anchored bull riding and sailing coverage for Versus.

Hummer kicked off the network's broadcasters' jersey competition by picking outstanding climber Riccardo Ricco to win today's stage which finishes with a “sprinter's hill” over the last 2 kilometers.

Update: Ricco was 5th, so that was a pretty good pick after all.

I can't tell if Trautwig's absence is just because of all the pre-Olympics events on NBC, but best wishes to Hummer.

Stage 1 on the road

It's like a classic for the jersey today, as the Tour foregoes a prologue and gives the leader's jersey to the first man to finish a 197.5 kilometer stage in Brittany, the far west of France.

To borrow from Liggett, this one's got a sting in the tail, as there's a tough climb up to the finish that would seem to preclude the field sprint experts and throw things toward the classics specialists and sprint opportunists like Zabel and Freire.

Eight riders went away early: Jegou (FdJ), Voeckler (Bouyges), Auge (Cofidis), de La Fuente (Saunier Duval), Perez (Euskaltel), Arrieta and Lequatre (AG2R), and Schroeder (Milram). Their gap got up to 8:15, but has been creeping down for 70 kilometers.

There are polka-dot points up for grabs today, and it looks like Thomas Voeckler may be chasing them.

First rider out of the Tour is Herve Duclos-Lassalle of Cofidis. Son of longtime pro Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, he fell and injured his left wrist.

1st climb, 4th Category:
1) Bjorn Schroeder, 3 pts
2) Thomas Voeckler, 2 pts
3) David de la Fuente, 1 pt

2nd climb, 4th Category:
1) Voeckler, 3 pts
2) Schroeder, 2 pts
3) Geoffroy Lequatre, 1 pt

3rd climb, 4th Category:
1) Jegou, 3 pts
2) Voeckler, 2 pts
3) Schroeder, 1 pt

We've also had two intermediate sprints:

1st intermediate sprint:
1) Lequatre, 6 pts
2) Jegou, 4pts
3) Perez, 2 pts

2nd intermediate sprint:
1) Lequatre, 6 pts
2) Auge, 4 pts
3) Jegou, 2 pts

One interesting change to this year's Tour is that there are NO time bonuses available, either at intermediate or finish lines.

You can get an idea of which teams feel like they've got a chance at the finish by who is working at the front to bring the break back. Today, that's Rabobank (for Oscar Freire), Caisse d'Epargne (for Alejandro Valverde), Liquigas (for Fillippo Pozzatto) and Credit Agricole (for Thor Hushovd).

At the day's last intermediate climb, Schroeder took 1 more point than Voeckler, so whichever of that pair finishes the stage more highly placed will wear the first King of the Mountains jersey:

4th climb, 4th Category:
1) de la Fuente, 3 pts
2) Schroeder, 2 pts
3) Voeckler, 1 pt

With less than 40k to ride, the gap is down to just over 2 minutes.

3rd intermediate sprint:
1) Lequatre, 6 pts
2) Perez, 4 pts
3) Jegou, 2 pts

The gap has continued to drop. As it approached 1:30, the break started to splinter, with Auge and then de la Fuente attacking. Jegou was the only one who could bridge to de la Fuente, and the pair have kept about 1:30 on the field, while their 6 compatriots have been reabsorbed.

Jegou and de la Fuente were caught with about 7 kilometers to ride. At almost the same moment, a crash in back took down 3 Barloworld riders, including last year's King of the Mountains, Mauricio Soler, who has said he hopes to ride for yellow this year. He's seriously gapped as Silence-Lotto and now Team Columbia are full gas at the front.

Coming to the finish, a series of attacks went off the front, including Stefan Schumacher, then a big attack by Kim Kirchen that looked like it might stick with 250 meters to go, but Alejandro Valverde showed amazing closing speed, reeled in and rocketed past Kirchen and took the stage and the first yellow jersey of the 2008 Tour.

Final rosters and race numbers released

Tour de France 2008 | Riders' list

Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans starts the 2008 with the big fat bullseye of race number 1 on his back. Evans was 2nd in last year's Tour, and organizers gave him the easiest number in the race to spot after prohibiting the Astana team of last year's race winner, Alberto Contador, from competing in this year's race.

Garmin-Chipotle's Danny Pate sits at the other end of the train, wearing rider number 199.

Mauricio Soler of Barloworld, the defending King of the Mountains, starts in “lucky” number 51.

Google brings Street View to entire Tour route

Google Maps - Tour de France 2008

Google is taking Street View on the road.

The 3D panorama view for Google Maps is already available in dozens of US cities, allowing you to fly through stitched-together photos of San Francisco's Lombard Street, Broadway, or Ocean Drive in South Beach, Miami.

Now, Google is taking the tech outside the United States for the first time, offering Street View for not just the cosmopolitan parts of this year's Tour, but the entire route, from start to finish. Combined with a Google Maps .kml file of the route, you can fly through the entire route, viewing photos of any spot on the course at any time.

There's also an official introduction video on YouTube.

Also:

Google Earth Blog

Google Sightseeing | Tour de Street View