Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage VII

Publisher's Greeting

The Tour has entered its second week and the peloton has traveled nearly 800 miles. There are two stages and a rest day before stage 10, the first mountain stage. Thomas Voieckler, the young Frenchman, will likely retain the Yellow Jeresey until then -- and then Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo and any other overall contender will began their climbs into the mountains and up the standings.

The periodic rain continued Saturday and this 91st edition couldn't be more opposit from last year's battles in record-setting temperatures.

Any talk of doping has been marginal at best in The Tour this year. But the first ban from the event via drugs occurred prior the seventh stage when Christophe Brandt (Lotto) of Belgium after failing a doping control in stage 2 in Namur.

Tour News, Notes And Quotes

Thomas Voeckler kept the Yellow Jersey for the third day after placing 43rd in another windy and periodically rainy day in France.

Filioppo Pozzato (Fassa Bortolo) of Italy took the stage while Voeckler kept his 3:01 cushion over Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) of Australia.

Lance Armstrong is in sixth position at 9:35 and all of the other contenders -- Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo -- remain steady in their place . . .

The event lost it first in-race disqualification via doping when Christophe Brandt (Lotto-Domo) was not allowed to begin stage 7 after results showed a faied test after stage 2 in Lamur . . .

The peloton is down to 176 riders with Joly Sebastien (France) of Credit Agricole in last place @ 49:28 . . .

Numerous riders dsplayed their displeasure with the finish of stage six, including Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton. Hamilton, in fact, spoke the race dircector Jean-Marie LeBlanc about the tight finish and ittss accident circumstances prior to the seventh stage.

Postcard From Le Tour

Will return July 11th..

Americans In The Tour De France

 
Individual Stage Results
Stage 6, Bonneval to Angers, 196 kilometers
Stage Results
39. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C., (U.S.P.S) @ 10 seconds
48. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif., (Rabobank), same time
49. Tyler Hamilton, Marblehead, Mass, (Phonak), s.t.
55. Lance Armstrong, Austin, Texas (U.S.P.S.), s.t.
80. Bobby Julich, Reno, Nev., (CSC) s.t.
91. Christian Vande Velde, Lemont, Ill., (Liberty Seguros), s.t.
152. Floyd Landis, San Diego, Calif., (U.S.P.S)., s.t.
General Classification
6. Armstrong @ 9:35
7. Hincapie @ 9:45
8. Landis @ 9:51
13. Hamilton @ 10:11
25. Julich @ 10:35
26. Leipheimer @ 10:43
90. Vande Velde @ 15:03

For complete results, visit the web sites:

CyclingNews.com
LeTour.fr
ProCycling.com
VeloNewws.com
More TDF Links

Previous reports:
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage VI
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage V
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage IV
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage III
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage II
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage I

© Copyright 2004, James Raia

Posted with the permission of James Raia.

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