Posted: July 4, 2005

Cycling: TOUR DE FRANCE TIMES - Volume 3, No. 3 (July 4, 2005)

By James Raia
www.ByJamesRaia.com

Publisher's Greeting

On the 4th of July, An American leads the Tour de France.

Keeping the race leader's jersey for the third day, David Zabriskie (CSC) of Salt Lake City has finished the first two road stages safely in the middle of the peloton.

With Tuesday's team time trial fourth stage likely to shake up the standings, Zabriskie maintains his two-second margin over six-time titlist Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel). Laszio Bodrogi (Credit Agricole) of Hungry is third overall, trailing by 47 seconds.

Belgian Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) claimed the second and third stages as a sprinting specialist and did so with a clear line and without serious challenge. Boonen, who like Zabriskie, is a former teammate of Armstrong's, is not a threat in the overall competition . . .

Beyond Zabriskie and Armstrong, here are the remaining Americans' overall standings: George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) 5th @ 57 seconds; Floyd Landis (Phonak) 6th @ 1:02; Bobby Julich (CSC) 11th @ 1:07; Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner), 15th @ 1:12; Chris Horner (Saunier Duval-Prodir) 54th @ 2:01; Fred Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lott) 65th @ 2:09.

For today's full results, visit the Tour's official web site: www.letour.fr.

Feature Showcase

Phil Liggett: The Voice Of Cycling

After more than three decades, Phil Ligget is still at the top of his broadcasting career. Here's a feature on the Outdoor Life Network commentator known as the "Voice of Cycling."

Postcard From The Tour

LEGE, France — Christine and Gerard Desbrosses know the hectic ways of French city life. They lived in Paris for many years and respectively worked on the stock exchange and in the banking industry.

But tired of the stresses of big-city living, the couple left their jobs in Paris, gathered their three children and began a new life 12 years ago as owners of La Mozardiere. Built in 1830, La Mozardiere, which loosely translates into "the music of Mozart," rests on three acres on the outskirts of the small village. It defines tranquility.

La Mozardiere sits in the middle of a cornfield about 300 yards down a small, narrow paved road. The Desbrosses operate it as a bed and breakfast, and they speak fondly of their new lives.

"It's just a different life, a better life," said Christine Desbrosses, while serving breakfast and looking out of the dining room window into a vision of serene green lawns, fruit trees, a vegetable garden and cornstalks. "Paris was just too crazy."

Built of stone and thick wooden beams, La Mozardiere was a farmhouse for nearly 150 years before falling into disrepair. The Desbrosses purchased the inn from an owner who restored the property in 1976.

The B&B features creaking floors, a spiral staircase and narrow dark hallways. A professional potter, Christine Desbrosses displays in the inn's entrance her handmade plates and other works featuring small mice with protruding top teeth.

The Desbrosses welcome guests from around the world, and Christine spoke of a recent couple who particularly enjoyed their stay.

"We have many people from England who move here, but never Americans," said Desbrosses, who learned English from her patrons. "But one couple who visited from the U.S. decided to sell their home and everything they had. They now live just down the road."

News, Notes And Quotes

The race leader continued his joking ways. Dave Zabriskie and Lance Armstrong exchanged words about exchanging the Yellow Show during stage 3. Zabriskie also tried his sense of humor again in the post-race press conference.

Asked what it was like leading the Tour de France on the 4th of July, he remarked: "Yes, it's nice to lead the Tour of July 4th, but I don't know, I may not be here next year. I might be back home, you know, with barbecues and drinking what everyone likes to drink." . . .

Lance Armstrong was fined 100 Swiss Francs for failing to sign in at the start of the stage . . .

Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) was fined 200 Swiss Francs and relegated by his irrregular activities in the sprint . . .

Three riders were also fined 50 Swiss Francs "Comportement incorrect devant le public" or incorrect public behavior . . .

Stage 4, the 66km team time trial from Tours to Blois will be contested in five-minute intervals beginning with Euskaltel-Euskadi and ending with CSC . . .

Tour de France Times publisher on the radio: In addition to print reports for several daily newspapers, I will be providing radio reports during the race for Capital Public Radio in Sacramento (KXJZ, 88.9FM), National Public Radio (KXJZ 88.9FM) and Sacramento station KTKZ (Newstalk 1380AM).

The network's respective web sites: www.capradio.org, www.npr.org and www.ktkz.com. Dates and times vary.

Web Site Tour/Cycling Articles

ZABRISKIE KEEPS JERSEY IN STAGE 2

The young comedian from Utah finishes well on the "nervous" first road stage.

LEIPHEIMER HAS SIGHT SET ON TOUR PODIUM

Levi Leipheimer of Santa Rosa, Calif., has finished ninth and eighth in the Tour, now he's ready for a better result as the leader of the Gerolsteiner team.

TOUR DE FRANCE FOR DUMMIES

As Lance Armstrong continues his title quest, Tour de France For Dummies provides an easy-to-follow, entertaining guide that demystifies the Tour de France. It's co-authored by Phil Liggett, James Raia and Sammarye Lewis.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: STATISTICAL WONDER

As Lance Armstrong competes for his seventh straight title in his final Tour de France appearance, he'll do so as a statistical marvel. Here are all his facts and figures as the 92nd Tour de France continues.

TOUR DE FRANCE '05: THE DAY-TO-DAY ROUTE

Here's all stage details, from the nine flat stages to the three medium mountain stage and the six mountain stages to the two individual and one team time trial stages.

TOUR DE FRANCE/CYCLING BOOKS

All the books about cycling and the Tour de France.

TOUR DE FRANCE POSTERS AND ARTWORK

Lance Armstrong images to famous pictures from the peloton

More from: Tour de France Times

© Copyright 2005, James Raia

Posted with the permission of James Raia.

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