By James Raia
E-Mail: address@hidden
Web site: ByJamesRaia.com
To read this issue (#67) on the 'web Click here
To read issue #66 (Was '03 The Best Tour Ever?) Click here
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
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Sign-up for Tour de France Times and win a free copy of the e-book, The Tour Within The Tour de France. Beginning with this issue and continuing until the beginning of the Tour de France, I will forward five copies of my e-book all about the sites and sounds, people and places of the Tour de France to five randomly selected new subscribers.
If you're already a subscriber, please tell a friend or colleague about the offer. I'll notify winners via e-mail. It's a simple equation: sign-up for a free newsletter and win a free e-book. To subscribe, visit:
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NEWSLETTERS/E-BOOKS
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ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
Running, cycling, triathlon and notes and quotes from around the globe. Timely, pertinent, free. Visit:
ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
THE TOUR WITHIN THE TOUR DE FRANCE
Twenty-five essays from the author's first seven years of covering the grand spectacle. The cyclists, people and unique places. Visit:
THE TOUR WITHIN THE TOUR DE FRANCE
TOUR DE FRANCE TIMES
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E-FEATURE SHOWCASE
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TYLER TALES: HAMILTON REPEATS IN ROMANDIE
The Tour of Romandie went better than we had hoped or imagined it would. Together, we were able to drum up victories in stages 3 and 5, win the overall individual and team classifications. It was a really nice feeling. We have been working hard all spring and it was great to finally see all of the collective efforts of the team and staff pay off. To read the complete article, visit:
TYLER TALES: HAMILTON REPEATS IN ROMANDIE
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WEB SITE CYCLING ARTICLES
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OLN CHRONICLES POSTIES IN WEEKLY DOCUMENTARY
A 13-part documentary on five-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team premiered on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) on May 3. Each new half-hour episode of the documentary will be shown on Monday nights and then repeated several times. To read the complete article, visit:
POSTIES' DOCUMENTARY ON OLN
TOUR DE FRANCE: THE GOOD, BAD & WORKING PRESS
Chuck Woodbury is a journalist, author and publisher in Edmonds, Wash. He attended the Tour de France with me in 2002 and was amazed at the immense undertaking of the three-week race. The roads, the press rooms, the cyclists, the food, etc. It was unlike anything he'd experienced -- even as a world traveler. To read the complete article, visit:
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WORKING PRESS
TOUR FLASHBACK (1998): ULLRICH DEFENDS IN DUBLIN
Race savvy well past his 23 years, Jan Ullrich became an adopted French son last summer. With his Dutch teammate Bjarne Riis providing guidance, the young German won the 1997 Tour de France, bicycle racings pinnacle event. But a lot can happen to new champions. Ullrich became his countrys first Tour winner, and he celebrated the way his compatriots like to celebrate - he ate. To read the complete article, visit:
ULLRICH DEFENDS TITLE IN DUBLIN
TOUR FLASHBACK (1999): OPENING DAY TOUR TURMOIL
Like an experienced cyclist in need of training wheels again, the Tour de France begins Saturday in Le Puy du Foy with its pride intact but its forward progress shaky. Cycling's most prestigious event will feature its traditional share of gargantuan climbs and harrowing descents for three weeks through the Alps and Pyrenees. But since last year's edition, when drug scandals and rider protests nearly stopped the race, the event has spent a year addressing its concerns. To read the complete article, visit:
TOUR DE FRANCE IN TURMOIL
TOUR FLASHBACK (2000): LANCE IN LUXEMBOURG
Lance Armstrong, recovered cancer patient, father, global businessman, corporate spokesperson, hero and reigning titlist, begins a quest in Futuroscope, France this weekend only 11 cyclists have ever accomplished. As the leader of the U.S. Postal Service team -- the only U.S.-based team entered in the Tour de France -- Armstrong will begin his quest for two consecutive titles when the 86th edition of the sport's grand event commences on July 1. To read the complete article, visit:
LANCE PREPARES FOR HIS DEFENSE
TOUR FLASHBACK (2001): BILLBOARDS IN THE PELOTON
With rare exception, the cyclists in peloton accept it. In fact, their livelihoods depend upon it. Nonetheless, each starting team of nine riders is a fast-moving billboard of advertisements. Each of the 21 teams wears the jersey of a primary sponsor. But like race car drivers and their automobiles, the cyclists' jerseys, helmets, shoes, socks and bikes are considered valuable real estate for a variety of smaller sponsors, too. To read the complete article, visit:
BILLBOARDS IN THE PELOTON
TOUR FLASHBACK (2002): LANCE IN LUXEMBOURG
On miserably cold and rainy August day 10 years ago in the Basque region of Spain, Lance Armstrong's professional cycling career nearly ended on the day it began. A new professional full of swagger, Armstrong entered his first event, Classica San Sebastian, a World Cup race fancied by top riders seeking one-day glory. But when you're depleted and suffering, attitude means little. To read the complete article, visit:
OPENING DAY IN LUXEMBOURG
TOUR FLASHBACK (2003): TYLER SHINES IN BAYONNE
Eighteen days after continuing his legacy of bad luck and broken bones, Tyler Hamilton rode to a solo victory in Bayonne, France, in the final mountain stage of the Tour de France. After making an early stage mistake when he fell behind the field, the part-time resident of Marblehead, Mass., was victorious in the 197.5 kilometer (122.5 mile) Pau to Bayonne 16th stage in 4:59:21. To read the complete article, visit:
TOUGH-LUCK TYLER WINS STAGE 16
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LINKS TO WEB SITE FAVORITES
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CAR REVIEW: 2004 AUDI A8 L QUATTRO
Value is an integral purchasing factor for many car buyers, and it's often a simple equation. If a consumer has $2,000, $20,000 or $200,000 to spend on a vehicle, what can they fairly expect get for their dollars? But as the price increases into the luxury vehicle category, is there a point of diminishing returns? To read the complete article, visit:
CAR REVIEW: 2004 AUDI A8 L QUATTRO
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NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES
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The United States Postal Service will not renew the sponsorship of its division I cycling team following the 2004 season, according to several international news services and cycling web sites. Gerry McKiernan, a USPS spokesman, told the Associated Press last week that the agency has decided to go "in another direction", possibly with another sports venture. "Now, it is an interesting time to stop," said Lance Armstrong, the team's captain and five-time Tour de France winner. "I think the team is better than ever. I think that we continue to compete at a top level and win tours and win big races." "I think there'll be two different prices for the team," Armstrong said to Bonnie DeSimone of the Chicago Tribune, referring to the prospects of a transfer to a new sponsor. "Obviously, if the team is still winning the Tour, or if I continue, it'll be one level, and when I retire, I suspect it'll drop off to another level." Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) o Germany, the 1997 Tour de France winner and five-time runner-up, will compete in the Tour of Germany (May 31-June 6) and the Tour de Suisse (June 12-20) in his final preparations for the Tour de France. "I've changed my training program for the Tour," Ullrich said on his web site. "My form was not good enough that I would have made a strong placement. Deciding not to race in the two races doesn't influence my chances in the Tour. I have a lot of kilometers in my legs, but I don't have the hardness yet to race that hard." It's early, but it appears six U.S. riders will compete for four different teams in the Tour de France: Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie and Floyd Landis, (USPS), Tyler Hamilton, (Phonak), Levi Leipheimer, (Rabobank) and Bobby Julich (CSC). Tour teams' official rosters begin to be announced following the conclusion of the Tour of Italy on May 30 . . . Speaking of the Giro d' Italia, Fred Rodriquez (Aqua Sappone), is the only American competing in the season's first grand tour.
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LINK EXCHANGE SPOTLIGHT
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Kiri Kundurazieff is a new cyberspace friend who writes a cycling blog called The Cycling Dude. He's not into racing, but appreciates all forms of cycling with a bent toward the relaxing nature of the sport. He's got a refreshing approach in his journals and presents it in a nice way. It's informative with a sense of humor.
Visit: CyclingDude.com to view his latest entries. For other web site and affiliates, Amazon.com to R.E.I., Click here
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2004 TOUR DE FRANCE SCHEDULE
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Prologue - July 3: Prologue Liege ITT, 6 km
Stage 1 - July 4: Liège-Charleroi, 195 km
Stage 2 - July 5: Charleroi-Namur, 195 km
Stage 3 - July 6: Waterloo - Wasquehal, 195 km
Stage 4 - July 7: Cambrai - Arras TTT, 65 km
Stage 5 - July 8: Amiens - Chartres, 195 km
Stage 6 - July 9: Bonneval - Angers, 190 km
Stage 7 - July 10: Chateaubriant - Saint Brieuc, 208 km
Stage 8 - July 11: Lamballe - Quimper, 172 km
July 12: Rest Day: Transfer to Limoges
Stage 9 - July 13: St Leonard de Noblat - Guéret, 160 km
Stage 10 - July 14: Limoges - St. Flour, 237 km
Stage 11 - July 15: St Flour - Figeac, 164 km
Stage 12 - July 16: Castelsarrasin - La Mongie, 199 km
Stage 13 - July 17: Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille, 217 km
Stage 14 - July 18: Carcassonne - Nimes, 200 km
July 19 - Rest Day: Transfer to Nimes
Stage 15 - July 20: Valreas - Villard-de-Lans, 179 km
Stage 16 - July 21: Bourg d'Oisans - Alpe d'Huez ITT, 15 km
Stage 17 - July 22: Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand, 212 km
Stage 18 - July 23: Annemasse - Lons le Saulnier, 166 km
Stage 19 - July 24: Besancon - Besancon ITT, 60 km
Stage 20 - July 25: Montreau - Paris-Champs-Elysees, 165 km
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PUBLISHER'S NOTICES
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Tour de France Times (TFT), an electronic newsletter about cycling's pinnacle event and the cyclists who compete in it, is written, edited and published by James Raia, a journalist in Sacramento, California. Tour de France Times is published monthly, except daily during the three-week race in July.
Story links, race information, suggestions and letters to the editor are encouraged via e-mail.
Send correspondence to: address@hidden Please include your name and city and state of residence. Names held upon request.
Use of this newsletter in electronic formats is encouraged with the publisher's permission. Cheers, James Raia
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