By James Raia
E-Mail: address@hidden
Web site: WWW.BYJAMESRAIA.COM
The current issue of Tour de France Times can also be read on my web site. CLICK HERE
To read the previous issue CLICK HERE
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PUBLISHER'S GREETING
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Welcome to another special edition of Tour de France Times. News is emerging from the event as fast as a massive downhill sprit, so here's a TFT update before I depart Thursday night. I'll report back July 3 after the prologue in Liege, Belgium.
I also want to inform subscribers that I will be providing Tour de France radio reports. Capital Public Radio (CPR) in Sacramento and its varied Northern California and Nevada affiliates as well as National Public Radio (NPR) will broadcast individual segments.
The first CPR and NPR reports can be heard on Friday, July 2. CPR reports will also be broadcast July 9, 16 and 23. Additional NPR reports will be heard periodically throughout the event on Morning Edition.
One more thing: As a TFT subscriber, please tell friends and colleagues about the free electronic newsletter or forward them this issue for their consideration. To subscribe, visit: WWW.BYJAMESRAIA.COM
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TOUR NEWS, NOTES AND QUOTES
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According to a report by Andy Hood on VeloNews.com, Christian Vande Velde didn't know until Monday that he will be competing in the Tour de France. Vande Velde is a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, but he did not get selected for the U.S.P.S. squad the past two years. He made his Tour debut impressively in 1999, but crashes and injuries curtailed recent years' efforts. Vande Velde, 28, of Lemont, Ill., competes for Liberty Seguros, the Spanish team led by Roberto Heras. Vande Velde apparently called his team director rather than wait for the team announcement . . . The seven Americans competing in the Tour this year will be one more than participated in 2003. Nine U.S. riders competed in 2002 . . . Jan Ullrich, the 1997 race winner and five times a runner-up, believes Armstrong wasn't racing 100 percent earlier this month when he lost two minutes in the time trial up Mt. Ventoux at Le Dauphine Libere. Ullrich believes his arch nemesis is "bluffing," according to reports in German daily newspapers . . . Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) of Italy leads the new Union Cycliste International's rankings released earlier this week. Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton are respectively seventh and 15th, as the only two U.S. riders among the top-20 . . . The Tour's official web site, www.letour.fr has been updated. Stage starting time and various other information is now posted all well as the new 2004 merchandise . . .
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POSTCARD FROM LE TOUR
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RAY CHARLES & JEAN CLAUDE, LUXEMBOURG BARKEEP
After 35 years as a chef, Jean-Claude Weyrich wanted more. What he got was a small bar and restraurant in downtown Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - a perfect platform to regale regulars and one-night passersby. To read the complete article, visit:
RAY CHARLES AND THE LUXEMBOURG BARKEEP
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TOUR DE FRANCE FLASHBACK 1998
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JAN ULLRICH: THE GERMAN STAR 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. To read the complete article, visit:
ULLRICH DEFENDS IN DUBLIN
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TOUR DE FRANCE ARTICLE SHOWCASE
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THE AMERICANS IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE, 2004
Several dozen American riders, competing for three different U.S. teams and a handful of internationally sponsored squads, have participated in the Tour de France. But only six Americans -- Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Andy Hampsten, Davis Phinney, Jeff Pierce and Tyler Hamilton -- have won individual stages. This year, seven riders on five different teams will comprise the U.S. contingent. To read the complete article, visit:
AMERICANS IN THE 2004 TOUR DE FRANCE
COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU, LE TOUR
The Tyler Hamilton Foundation (THF) will host a live viewing of stage 13 of the Tour de France on movie screens across the United States on Saturday, July 17. To read the complete article, visit:
COMING TO A THEATER NEAR YOU, LE TOUR
THE TOUR DE FRANCE AT A GLANCE
The Tour de France is the world's largest free sporting event. Spectators can watch every stage in person along the entire route, this year beginning in Liege, Belgium on July 3 and continuing to Paris, France on July 25. To read the complete article, visit:
THE TOUR DE FRANCE AT A GLANCE
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TFT'S QUICK PEDAL STROKES
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AMAZON.COM
Everything offered by the internet's largest online retailer.
ENDURANCE SPORTS NEWS
Endurance news from around the globe. Timely, pertinent, free.
JAMES RAIA'S ONLINE STORE
Amazon to Rudy Project, Land's End to R.E.I.
ROCK & ROLL BOB ROLL
Cycling's rebel announcer on Le Tour de France.
STRETCHING IS FOR CYCLISTS, TOO
Brad Walker is a long-time stretching expert.
THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE
The best cycling movie ever made?
THE TOUR WITHIN THE TOUR
Twenty-four essays about the cyclists, people & places of the Tour.
THE WEEKLY DRIVER
Succinct, syndicated car reviews by James Raia.
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TFT'S BUSINES PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
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Tour de France Times wishes to acknowledge and encourage the support of our new business partners:
ALLSPORTCENTRAL.COM
Registration. Results. Relax.
BIKECAFE.NET
The worldwide cycling resource.
CALIFORNIAWINEANDFOOD.COM
California wine and food and global ambiance.
DIRTRAGMAG.COM
The mountain bike forum.
LUFTHANSA.COM
There's no better way to fly.
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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 Tour de France.
Story links, race information, suggestions and letters to the editor are encouraged via e-mail. Please include your name and city and state of residence. Names held upon request.
Use of this newsletter is encouraged with the publisher's permission.
Send correspondence to: address@hidden