Levi signs with Discovery Channel

VeloNews reported last week that Levi Leipheimer is leaving Gerolsteiner. Levi has signed with team Discovery Channel for next season.

Vacation (Day 2)

Today we went to National Air and Space Museum in Dulles. I really like this place. AOL has had its holiday party here in the past. It is a lot of walking, but the kids had a great time. I will post more photos when I get some time.

Space Shuttle Enterprise

Vacation (Day 1)

I took my family, parents and my nephew to Luray Caverns. It was really fun. The kids had a great time. I will post more photos later.

Stage 20 Results

Stage 20 was the last stage of the 2006 Tour de France. The stage was 154.5km (96 miles) from Sceaux - Antony to Paris. Discovery Channel's Viatcheslav Ekimov lead the peloton onto the Les Champs-Elysees. Ekimov was the oldest rider of the tour, at 40 years old. He has started and finished 15 Tour de Frances. He siad this was his last time riding in the Tour. After 89 hours, 39 minutes, 30 seconds in the saddle, Floyd Landis won the 93rd Tour de France. For 8 years in a row an American has won the tour.

The top five for this stage
1. Thor Hushovd (NOR - C.A)
2. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL)
3. Stuart O'Grady (AUS - CSC)
4. Erik Zabel (GER - MRM)
5. Luca Paolini (ITA - LIQ)

Overall standings (top 5)
1. Floyd Landis (USA - PHO) 89:39:30
2. Oscar Pereiro (ESP - CEI) 00:57
3. Andreas Kloden (GER - TMO) 01:29
4. Carlos Sastre (ESP - CSC) 03:13
5. Cadel Evans (AUS - DVL) 05:08

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Crash from Stage 14

On stage 14 I wrote about 3 of the break away riders crashing on a turn. Here is the video of the crash. That had to hurt.

Stage 19 Results

Stage 19 was the individual time trail. It was 57km (35 miles) from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines. Floyd Landis rode a great stage. He did win the stage, but he is once again in yellow. It looks like that an American will win the Tour de France for the 8th year in a row. Tomorrow the rider head for Paris.

The top five for this stage
1. HONCHAR, Serhiy (UKR, TMO) 01:07:45
2. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 00:41
3. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:11
4. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 02:40
5. LANG, Sebastian (GER, GST) 03:18

Overall standings (top 5)
1. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 85:42:30
2. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 00:59
3. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 01:29
4. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 03:13
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 05:08.

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 18 Results

Stage 18 left the Alpes behind. This stage was 197km (122 miles) from Morzine-Avoriaz to Macon. The stage had three climbs: The Cote de Chatillon-en-Michaille (category-3, 5.1km long - 3.7% at 98.0km), the Cote du Berthiand (cat-2, 4.7km – 6.0% at 130.5km) and the Cote de Chambod (cat-4, 1.9km – 6.4% at 139.5km). Also two intermediate sprints: La Tour (29.5km) and Polliat (169.5km). The only exciting thing of this stage was Robbie McEwen sprinted to the front of the peloton to yell at the lead motorcycle filming the race. The individual time trail is tomorrow. Will Landis move into the yellow jersey.

The top five for this stage
1. TOSATTO, Matteo (ITA, QSI) 04:16:15
2. MORENI, Cristian (ITA, COF) 00:00
3. SCHOLZ, Ronny (GER, GST) 00:02
4. QUINZIATO, Manuel (ITA, LIQ) 00:47
5. HINAULT, Sébastien (FRA, C.A) 01:03

Overall standings (top 5)
1. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 84:33:04
2. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 00:12
3. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 00:30
4. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 02:29
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 03:08

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 17 Results

Stage 17 was the last day in the Alpes and what a stage. This stage was 200.5km (124.5 miles) from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Morzine-Avoriaz. So Floyd Landis may have had a really bad day on stage 16, but today you would not be able to tell. He attacked at the base of the first of five climbs, caught all the break aways and continued pass them to claim the stage victory. Landis moved from 11th overall to 3rd, just 30 seconds behind the leader. I thought Landis' chances of winning the tour were over after stage 16, but I was wrong. (And I am happy that I was wrong)

The top five for this stage
1. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 05:23:36
2. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 05:42
3. MOREAU, Christophe (FRA, A2R) 05:58
4. CUNEGO, Damiano (ITA, LAM) 06:40
5. BOOGERD, Michael (NED, RAB) 07:08

Overall standings (top 5)
1. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 80:08:49
2. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 00:12
3. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 00:30
4. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 02:29
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 03:08


Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 16 Results

Stage 16 was the second day in the Alpes and it did not get any easier. This stage was 182km (113miles) from Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire taking the riders through the highest point in this year's tour. Stage 16 had four massive climbs. Two HC (Hors Category), a cat-2, and cat-1. Mickael Rasmussen lead the race almost all day and took maximum points on all four climbs moving him into the polka-dot jersey. Floyd Landis did not have a very good day. On the last climb he hit the wall. He finished 10 minutes down moving him out of the top 10 in the GC. Not a good day.

The top five for this stage
1. RASMUSSEN, Mickael (DEN, RAB) 05:36:04
2. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 01:41
3. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 01:54
4. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 01:56
5. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 01:56

Overall standings (top 5)
1. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 74:38:05
2. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 01:50
3. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 02:29
4. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 02:43
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 02:56

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 15 Results

Stage 15 was after the rest day and it was not an easy one. This stage was 187km (116 miles) from Gap to L'Alpe d'Huez. Today the race finished on L'Alpe d'Huez, the most famous climb in the tour. This stage contained 3 big climbs: Col d’Izoard (‘Hors Category’ – 2,360m high, 14.5km long, average gradient 7.0% at 86.0km), Col du Lauteret (category-two – 2,058m, 12.1km, 4.4% at 134.0km) and L’Alpe d’Huez (‘Hors Category’ – 1,850m, 13.8km, 7.9% at 187km). And also contained two intermediate sprints: Embrun (at 35.0km) and Le Monetier-les-Bains (121.0km). The climbs just destroyed the riders. Boonen (QSI) abandoned on the Col du Lauraret. Frank Schleck (CSC) won the ultimate stage on top of one of the most celebrated climbs in cycling, L'Alpe d'Huez. Also Floyd Landis was back in the overall lead of the Tour de France after this stage.

The top five for this stage
1. SCHLECK, Frank (LUX, CSC) 04:52:22
2. CUNEGO, Damiano (ITA, LAM) 00:11
3. GARZELLI, Stefano (ITA, LIQ) 01:10
4. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:10
5. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 01:10

Overall standings (top 5)
1. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 69:00:05
2. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 00:10
3. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 02:02
4. MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 02:12
5. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 02:17

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 14 Results

Stage 14 was 180.5km (112 miles) from Montelimar to Gap. Today was the final stage before the Tour approaches the Alps. There will be three difficult climbing stages on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But for today there were two cat-3 climbs, then two cat-2 climbs. The Col de Perty came just after the day's halfway point and the Col de la Sentinelle was almost 10 kilometers before the finish line. There was a six man break away for a while. The three of those six riders riders crashed going around a turn. Two of the three riders in the crash had to leave the race with broken bones. Rik Verbrugghe broke his leg and David Canada broke his collar bone. Monday is a rest day for the rider. On Tuesday the race will start into the Alps.

The top five for this stage
1. FEDRIGO, Pierrick (FRA, BTL) 04:14:23
2. COMMESSO, Salvatore (ITA, LAM) 00:00
3. VANDEVELDE, Christian (USA, CSC) 00:03
4. MOREAU, Christophe (FRA, A2R) 00:07
5. TOTSCHNIG, Georg (AUT, GST) 00:07

Overall standings (top 5)
1. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 64:05:04
2. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:29
3. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 01:37
4. MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 02:30
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 02:46

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 13 Results

Stage 13 was 230km (143 miles) from Beziers to Montelimar. This was the longest stage of this years tour, and it was hot. The temperature coming off the road was more than 100 degrees. A lot of the riders complained that the stage was too long. This was a very interesting stage. The break away got over 29 minutes on the peloton. This does not happen very often. In the end Jens Voigt won the stage and Oscar Pereiro took the yellow jersey. It was the 7th different person to wear the yellow jersey this year.

The top five for this stage
1. VOIGT, Jens (GER, CSC) 05:24:36
2. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 00:00
3. CHAVANEL, Sylvain (FRA, COF) 00:40
4. QUINZIATO, Manuel (ITA, LIQ) 00:40
5. GRIVKO, Andriy (UKR, MRM) 06:24
6. MC EWEN, Robbie (AUS, DVL) 29:57

Overall standings (top 5)
1. PEREIRO SIO, Oscar (ESP, CEI) 59:50:34
2. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:29
3. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 01:37
4. MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 02:30
5. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 02:46

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 12 Results

Stage 12 was 211.5km (131 miles) from Luchon to Carcassonne. This stage had four climbs: Col des Ares (category-2 at the 27km mark), Cote de Pujos (cat-4 at 47.5km), Cote de Paul de Pailhes (cat-4 at 126.0km) and the Cote de Pamiers (cat-4 at 136.0km). Also two intermediate sprints: in Caumont (at 76.0km) and Mirepoix (162.0km). The Discovery Channel did not have a good start to today. Paolo Savoldelli abandoned at 43 kilometers into the stage, followed later by Benjamin Noval. Yaroslav Popovych of Team Discovery Channel got into a break away and stayed away to the end. With 7 kilometers to ride, Popovych started launching strong attacks against the break away. On the 5th attack he was successful and took the lead and kept it to win the stage. Popovych move from 23rd place to 10th.

The top five for this stage
1. POPOVYCH, Yaroslav (UKR, DSC) 04:34:58
2. BALLAN, Alessandro (ITA, LAM) 00:27
3. FREIRE, Oscar (ESP, RAB) 00:29
4. LE MEVEL, Christophe (FRA, C.A) 00:35
5. BOONEN, Tom (BEL, QSI) 04:25

Overall standings (top 5)
1. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 53:57:30
2. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 00:08
3. MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 01:01
4. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 01:17
5. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 01:52

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Extreme Diet Coke & Mentos Experiment

You do like Diet Coke? How about Mentos? How about the two together? Check this out.

Stage 11 Results

Stage 11 traveled into Spain today. The stage was 206.5km (128 miles) from Tarbes to Val d'Aran - Pla-de-Beret. Stage 11 had five climbs: Col du Tourmalet (‘hors category’ – 18.3km with an average gradient of 7.7% at 75km); Col d’Aspin (category-one – 12.4km, 5.1% at 105km), Col de Peyresourde (category-one – 9.7km, 6.8% at 136km), Col du Portillon (category-one, 8.0km, 7.9% at 161km) and Pla-de-Beret (13km, 5.5% at 204.5km). There were only two intermediate sprints at Arcizac-ez-Angles (at 17.5km) and Luchon (at 151.0km). It was great race day. In the end it was left to 3 guys, Menchov, Leipheimer, and Landis. Leipheimer did great today. He has moved up from 58th to 13th in the GC. At the end of the day, the yellow jersey changed hands again for the 6th time in this year's Tour. An American is in yellow again, Floyd Landis.
After the stage some of the riders chose to ride down the descent and return to the team hotels in the valley. On the way down, Paolo Savoldelli of Team Discovery was struck by a spectator on his right eyebow, which caused he to crash. He received 15 stitches. I am sure there will be more details tomorrow.

The top five for this stage
1. MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 06:06:25
2. LEIPHEIMER, Levi (USA, GST)
3. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO)
4. EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 00:17
5. SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 00:17

Overall standings (top 5)
1 LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 49:18:07
2 DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 00:08
3 MENCHOV, Denis (RUS, RAB) 01:01
4 EVANS, Cadel (AUS, DVL) 01:17
5 SASTRE, Carlos (ESP, CSC) 01:52

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 10 Results

Stage 10 started the high mountain stages. In my opinion this is where the Tour really starts. The stage was 190.5km (118 miles) from Cambo-les-Bains to Pau. Stage 10 had three climbs: Col d’Osquich (category-3 at 50.0km), Col de Soudet (‘Hors Category’ at 101.5km) and the Col de Marie-Blanque (category-1 at 148.0km). The stage also had two intermediate sprints: Larceveau (at 37.5km) and Laguinge (at 74.5km). Juan Miguel Mercado and Cyril Dessel started a break away early and stayed away for the entire day. At the end Mercado won the stage, but Dessel claimed two jerseys - Yellow & Polka-Dots.

The top five for this stage
1. MERCADO, Juan Miguel (ESP, AGR) 04:49:10
2. DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 00:00
3. LANDALUZE, Inigo (ESP, EUS) 00:56
4. MORENI, Cristian (ITA, COF) 02:24
5. RINERO, Christophe (FRA, SDV) 02:25

Overall standings (top 5)
1 DESSEL, Cyril (FRA, A2R) 43:07:05
2 MERCADO, Juan Miguel (ESP, AGR) 02:34
3 HONCHAR, Serhiy (UKR, TMO) 03:45
4 MORENI, Cristian (ITA, COF) 03:51
5 LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 04:45

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 9 results

Stage 9 was very boring. At least until the last 30 seconds of the race. This stage was 169.5km (105 miles) from Bordeaux to Dax. The stage was basically flat. In the last seconds of the race the sprinters turned up the heat. Robbie McEwen came out of no where to almost win the stage. He came in second, loosing the stage to Oscar Freire by inches.

The top five for this stage
1. FREIRE, Oscar (ESP, RAB) 03:35:24
2. MC EWEN, Robbie (AUS, DVL)
3. ZABEL, Erik (GER, MRM)
4. BOONEN, Tom (BEL, QSI)
5. MORENI, Cristian (ITA, COF)

Overall standings (top 5)
1. HONCHAR, Serhiy (UKR, TMO) 38:14:17
2. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:00
3. ROGERS, Michael (AUS, TMO) 01:08
4. SINKEWITZ, Patrik (GER, TMO) 01:45
5. KLÖDEN, Andréas (GER, TMO) 01:50

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 8 Results

Stage 8 was 181km (112 miles) from Saint-Meen-le-Grand to Lorient. This stage contained four climbs: Cote de Mur-de-Bretagne (cat 3 at 75.0km), Cote de Saint-Mayeux (cat 4 at 78.5km), Cote de Gouarec (cat 4 at 94.0km) and Cote de Ty Marrec (cat 4 at 138.5km). It also had three intermediate sprints: Plessala (at 38.0km), Locmalo (112.5km) and Plouay (142.0km). There was a five man break away from the 47km mark until 32km to go. Then Sylvain Calzati took off and made it to the finish line more than 2 minutes ahead of anyone else.

The top five for this stage
1. CALZATI, Sylvain (FRA, A2R) 04:13:18
2. CARLSTRÖM, Kjell (FIN, LIQ) 02:05
3. HALGAND, Patrice (FRA, C.A) 02:05
4. MC EWEN, Robbie (AUS, DVL) 02:15
5. BENNATI, Daniele (ITA, LAM) 02:15

Overall standings (top 5)
1. HONCHAR, Serhiy (UKR, TMO) 34:38:53
2. LANDIS, Floyd (USA, PHO) 01:00
3. ROGERS, Michael (AUS ,TMO) 01:08
4. SINKEWITZ, Patrik (GER, TMO) 01:45
5. FOTHEN, Marcus (GER, GST) 01:50

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 7 Results

Stage 7 was the individual time trial. This stage was 52km (32 miles) from Saint-Gregoire to Rennes. I was shocked how this stage ended. I thought the riders from the USA would have done much better. They just did not ride poorly (other than Floyd Landis) but CSC's Bobby Julich crashed. He got up from the crash, but was then taken away in an ambulance. He did some damage to his wrist. Levi Leipheimer had a really bad day. It looked like he was not feeling very well. T-Mobile's Sergei Honchar had a wonderful ride. He blew the field out of the water. This was Honchar first Tour stage win.

The top five for this stage
1. HONCHAR (UKR, TMO) 1h 01'43"600 (50.6km/h)
2. LANDIS (USA, PHO) 1'01"
3. LANG (GER, GST) 1'04"
4. ROGERS (AUS, TMO) 1'24"
5. LARSSON (SWE, FDJ) 1'33"

Overall standings (top 5)
1) Sergei Honchar
2) Floyd Landis, Phonak, at 1:00
3) Michael Rogers, T-Mobile, at 1:08
4) Patrik Sinkewitz, T-Mobile, at 1:45
5) Marcus Fothen, Gerolsteiner, at 1:50

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 6 Results

So it has been a few days seen I posted results from the Tour. Well, I took my family camping this weekend (I will post about that later), so I missed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday's stages. Tivo recorded all of them, but that's a lot to watch. I have finished watching Friday and Saturday's stages. So, on with the results:
Stage 6 of the Tour was 189km (117 miles) from Lisieux to Vitre. This stage did not get very exciting until the very end. The sprinters are just incredible. Robbie McEwen came out of no where to win his 3rd Tour de France stage this year. I thought Boonen was going to win this one. He was perfectly position for the sprint. The out of no where, Gert Steegmans launched Robbie McEwen to a win.

The top five for this stage
1. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL) 04:10:17
2. Daniele Bennati (ITA - LAM)
3. Tom Boonen (BEL - QSI)
4. Bernhard Eisel (AUT - FDJ)
5. Thor Hushovd (NOR - C.A)

Overall standings (top 5)
1. Tom Boonen, QuickStep, in 29:21:00
2. Robbie McEwen, Davitamon-Lotto, at 12"
3. Michael Rogers, T-Mobile, at 21"
4. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, at 25"
5. George Hincapie, Discovery Channel, at 25"


Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 5 results

Stage 5 of the Tour was 225km (140 miles) from Beauvais to Caen. This is the first day that the race saw rain during the stage. Yesterday Egoi Martinez of team Discovery had a great ride. Moving from 22nd to 5th place overall. In the Tour de France things can change very fast. At around 15km from the finish Martinez had a bad crash. Because of the crash he has moved to 88th place overall, 1:39 behind the leader. The Tour giveth and the Tour taketh away.

The top five for this stage
1. Oscar Freire (ESP - RAB) 05:18:50
2. Tom Boonen (BEL - QSI)
3. Inaki Isasi (ESP - EUS)
4. David Kopp (GER - GST)
5. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL)

Overall standings (top 5)
1 BOONEN, Tom BEL QSI 25:10:51
2 ROGERS, Michael AUS TMO 13"
3 FREIRE, Oscar ESP RAB 17"
4 HINCAPIE, George USA DSC 17"
5 HUSHOVD, Thor NOR C.A 19"

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 4 results

Stage 4 of the Tour headed back into France today. This stage was 207km (129 miles) from Huy, Belgium to Saint-Quentin, France. Egoi Martinez of team Discovery had a great day. He won all 3 intermediate sprints getting 18 points and 18 seconds. This pulled him from 22nd place into 5th overall.

Right before the final turn Julian Dean, Thor Hushovd's lead man, crashed. It looked really bad, but he did not bring anyone else down. In the end the Australian, Robbie McEwen won the stage. This is his 10th Tour de France stage win.


The top five for this stage
1. Robbie McEwen (AUS - DVL) 04:59:50
2. Isaac Galvez (ESP - CEI)
3. Oscar Freire (ESP - RAB)
4. Thor Hushovd (NOR - C.A)
5. Tom Boonen (BEL - QSI)


Overall standings (top 5)
1. BOONEN, Tom BEL QSI 19:52:13
2. ROGERS, Michael AUS TMO 01"
3. HINCAPIE, George USA DSC 05"
4. HUSHOVD, Thor NOR C.A 07"
5. MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP DSC 10"



Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 3 results

Stage 3 of the Tour was 216.5km (134.5 miles) from Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg to Valkenburg, Linburg. Today was a bad day for some of the riders. 3 more riders had to abandon the race today. Erik Dekker and Fred Rodriguez crashed on the approach to the 3rd climb. Dekker fractured his collarbone and also required stitches to his face. Later on in the race with about 20km left, Alejandro Valverde crashed. He also fractured a collarbone.

In the end it was Kessler from T-Mobile winning the stage. Tom Boonen came in 4th gaining enough time to give him the yellow jersey. Big George Hincapie moves up into 3rd only 5 seconds behind the leader.

The top five for stage 3
1. Matthias Kessler (GER - TMO)
2. Michael Rogers (AUS - TMO) at 5"
3. Daniel Benatti (ITA - LAM) at 5"
4. Tom Boonen (QSI - BEL) at 5"
5. Erik Zabel (GER - MRM) at 5"


Overall standings (top 5)
1 BOONEN, Tom BEL QSI 14:52:23
2 ROGERS, Michael AUS TMO 01"
3 HINCAPIE, George USA DSC 05"
4 HUSHOVD, Thor NOR C.A 07"
5 SAVOLDELLI, Paolo ITA DSC 15"


Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 2 results

Stage 2 of the Tour de France was 228.5km (142 miles) from Obernai, France to Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. The riders spent more than 5.5 hours in the saddle today. This stage is the 2nd longest stage of the Tour this year.

Danilo Di Luca was the first rider to drop out of the race this year. He left due to an infection and fever. Now there are only 175 riders in the race.

It was nice to see Hushovd starting today's stage after the cut he got on his arm yesterday. Hushovd had to have 3 stitches in his arm yesterday after getting hit by a promotional hand being waved by a spectator. The tour organizers have prohibited PMU (sponsors of the green jersey contest) from distributing the hands in the last 2km of sprint stages.

Hushovd took back the yellow jersey today at the end of the stage, with Hincapie falling to 4th place. The last 10 seconds of the race was very exciting. A T-Mobile rider was in a break away with a chase group right on his heels. They caught him less than 200 meters from the finish line. There was also a crash inside the 2km mark.

The top five for stage 2
1. Robbie McEwen (DVL) 05:36:14
2. Tom Boonen (QSI)
3. Thor Hushovd (C.A)
4. Oscar Freire (RAB)
5. Daniele Bennati (LAM)


Overall standings (top 5)
1. HUSHOVD, Thor (NOR) C.A 09:54:19
2. BOONEN, Tom (BEL) QSI 05"
3. MCEWEN, Robbie (AUS) DVL 08"
4. HINCAPIE, George (USA) DSC 10"
5. ZABRISKIE, David (USA) CSC 16"



Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage 1 Results

Stage 1 of the 2006 Tour de France took us in a big 185km (115 mile) loop which started in Strasbourg, made its way into Germany, and then back to Strasbourg. The route went through some beautiful country side. That is one reason I like to watch this race. Today was a day for the sprinters. (Some of the craziest people that you can put on a bike.) On the final intermediate sprint, George Hincapie sprinted out of the field for the bonus time. One of Hushovd's Credit Agricole teammates counter attacked, and passed Hincapie for the 2nd-place - 4 seconds bonus. But Hincapie still got a 2 second bonus which put him in the Yellow Jersey at the end of Stage 1.

Hushovd did not have a good day. He was injured on the final straight, with the finish line in sight. It looked as if his right elbow caught on something held over the barriers by a spectator. It looked really bad. There was blood everywhere. I hope he is able to start tomorrow in stage 3.

The top five for stage 1

1. Jimmy Casper (COF) 04:10:00

2. Robbie McEwen (DVL)

3. Erik Zabel (MRM)

4. Daniele Bennati (LAM)

5. Luca Paolini (LIQ)

Overall standings (top 5)

1. George Hincapie (USA) DSC

2. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A at 2"

3. Erik Zabel (GER) MRM at 6"

4. Sebastian Lang (GER) GST at 6"

5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) CEI at 6"

Stage Map

(From www.olntv.com)

Stage Topography

(From http://www.olntv.com/)

2006 Tour de France started today

So the Tour de France started today. A few days ago I thought that this year it would be Ullrich, Basso, and Landis on stage the final day. That all changed yesterday. Ullrich, Basso, and many other riders were all provisionally suspended by their teams the day before the Tour started due to a purported blood-doping ring run by two former team directors, a former team doctor, and the director of a university haematology lab in Madrid. (More) So this year we may see 3 Americans standing on the podium.

The Prologue started and ended in Strasbourg. The route today was only 7.1km (4.4 miles). The fun starts tomorrow.
The top five riders for day 1:

1. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A - 7.1km in 8'17"

2. George Hincapie (USA) DSC at 01"

3. Dave Zabriskie (USA) CSC at 04"

4. Sebastian Lang (Ger) GST at 05"

5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) CEI at 05"

Stage Map

(From http://www.olntv.com/)

Stage Topography

(From http://www.olntv.com/)