Le Tour de France

BioJedi · July 2nd, 2002, 15:50

Le Tour, greatest cycling event starts on Saturday in Luxembourg.

Once again we will see Amstrong vs rest of the world.

Do you think that Amstrong will win again?

July 2nd, 2002, 15:58

of course he will!
he is the best, no doubt about that

the tour will have an étape near my home!
i think i gonna see that

bono · July 2nd, 2002, 19:16

Wil Pantani be there ... I heard that Jan Ulrich is out and ther eare not too many people left to be at the level of Armstrong ... I just hope it will be great compatative race - drugs free!
I had enogh of the black venom that was cast over this great sport ...

BioJedi · July 2nd, 2002, 19:32

Yeah Ulrich nor Pantani aren't going, I bet for this podium

1st Amstrong
2nd Beloki
3rd Moreau

paw · July 3rd, 2002, 02:12

The Route this year:
Stage 0 -- Saturday July 6 (7 km)
Luxembourg prologue
Stage 1 -- Sunday July 7 (192,5)
Luxembourg - Luxembourg
Stage 2 -- Monday July 8 (181)
Luxembourg - Sarrebruck
Stage 3 -- Tuesday July 9 (174,5)
Metz- Reims
Stage 4 -- Wednesday July 10 (67,5)
Epernay - Château-Thierry team TT
Stage 5 -- Thursday July 11 (195)
Soissons - Rouen
Stage 6 -- Friday July 12 (199,5)
Forges-les-Eaux - Alençon
Stage 7 -- Saturday July 13 (176)
Bagnoles-de-l'Orne - Avranches
Stage 8 -- Sunday July 14 (217,5)
St Martin de Landelles - Plouay
Stage 9 -- Monday July 15 (52)
Lanester - Lorient Time Trial
Rest day -- Tuesday July 16
Rest Day in Bordeaux
Stage 10 -- Wednesday July 17 (147)
Bazas - Pau
Stage 11 -- Thursday July 18 (158)
Pau - La Mongie
Stage 12 -- Friday July 19 (199,5)
Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille
Stage 13 -- Saturday July 20 (171)
Lavelanet - Béziers
Stage 14 -- Sunday July 21 (221)
Lodève - Le Mont Ventoux
Rest -- Monday July 22 -
Rest Day in Vaucluse
Stage 15 -- Tuesday July 23 (226,5)
Vaison-la-Romaine - Les-Deux-Alpes
Stage 16 -- Wednesday July 24 (179,5)
Les-Deux-Alpes - La Plagne
Stage 17 -- Thursday July 25 (142)
Aime - Cluses
Stage 18 -- Friday July 26 (176,5)
Cluses - Bourg-en-Bresse
Stage 19 -- Saturday July 27 (50)
Régnié-Durette - Mâcon Time Trial
Stage 20 -- Sunday July 28 (144)
Melun - Paris-Champs-Elysées

paw

paw · July 3rd, 2002, 02:14

Key Features of Le Tour 2002:

Running from Saturday July 6th to Sunday July 28th, the 2002 Tour de France will be made up of one prologue and 20 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,300 kilometres.
These 20 stages have the following profiles:
* 10 flat stages
* 1 medium mountain stage
* 6 high mountain stages
* 2 individual time-trial stages
* 1 team time-trial stage

* 5 mountain finishes
* 2 rest days
* 108 kilometres of individual time-trials
* 68 kilometres of team time-trials
* 1 transfer by plane and 1 by train (TGV)
* 21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed.
* 8 new stop-over towns: Sarrebruck, Château-Thierry,
Saint-Martin-de-Landelles, Bazas,
Lavelanet, Vaison-la-Romaine, Bourg-en-Bresse, Régnié-Durette.

paw

paw · July 3rd, 2002, 02:29

Key Mountain stages:

Stage 11:Pau- La Mongie (158 km)
At 66,5km -- Col d'Aubisque -- 16,7 km climb at a gradient of 7,1 %
At 76,5km -- Col de Soulor -- 2,3 km climb at a gradient of 5,2 %
At 158km -- La Mongie -- 12,9 km climb at a gradient of 6,8 %

Stage 12: Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille (199,5 km )
At 55km -- Col de Menté -- 9,4 km climb at a gradient of 9 %
At 70,5km -- Col de Portet d'Aspet -- 4.4 km climb at a gradient of 9,6 %
At 106,5km -- Col de la Core -- 14,3 km climb at a gradient of 5,8 %
At 154km -- Col de Port -- 12,6 km climb at a gradient of 4,9 %
At 198km -- Plateau-de-Beille -- 15,9 km climb at a gradient of 7,8 %

Stage 14: Lodève - Le Mont Ventoux (221 km)

At 220,5km -- Le Mont-Ventoux -- 21 km climb at a gradient of 7,5 %

Stage 15: Vaison-la-Romaine - Les-Deux-Alpes (226,5 km)

At 68,5km -- Col de Prémol -- 2,2 km climb at a gradient of à 5,5 %
At 116km -- Col de Grimone -- 11,5 km climb at a gradient of à 4,8 %
At 190km -- Col d'Ornon -- 9,8 km climb at a gradient ofà 4,8 %
At 226,5km -- Les Deux-Alpes -- 11,5 km climb at a gradient of à 6,1 %

Stage 16: Les-Deux-Alpes - La Plagne (179,5 km)

At 34km -- Col du Galibier -- 33,7 km climb at a gradient of 4,7 %
At 57km -- Col du Télégraphe -- 4,8 km climb at a gradient of 3,5 %
At 112km -- Col de la Madeleine -- 19,3 km climb at a gradient of 7,9 %
At 179km -- La Plagne -- 17,3 km climb at a gradient of 7 %

Stage 17: Aime - Cluses (142km)

At 31,5km -- Cormet de Roselend -- 19,4 km climb at a gradient of à 5,8 %
At 70km -- Col des Saisies -- 15,3 km climb at a gradient of à 6 % At 96,5km -- Col des Aravis -- 11,7 km climb at a gradient of à 4,9 %
At 121,5km -- Col de la Colombière -- 11,8 km climb at a gradient of à 5,6 %

These are the stages where most of the race will be won or lost.

paw

colocolo · July 3rd, 2002, 09:57

I

Cycling Tours .... Man o' man As a kid growing up in Chile I used to follow all major races throught the World..I will stay posted and close to this thread..I hope US TV stations show action this year.

July 3rd, 2002, 12:56

don't worry colo, i think the american sponsors understood the impact the tour de france will have in usa

i live between the étape 18 and 19, you will see my place, the country side is typical here with many ponds and many sort of birds

bourg en bresse is a pretty town with a beautiful cathedral and mâcon is a touristic town near a river called "la saône".
in fact i will not be able to see the tour de france in my place if i judge by the date

i will be in holidays.

i'm pretty sure amstrong will win, he is really too much strong.
no one can be compared to him.

colocolo · July 3rd, 2002, 14:07

jULY 2, 2002

PARIS (Reuters) -

The Tour de France, rocked by one of the biggest doping scandals ever in 1998, has worked hard to restore its image and organizers have announced a 10-point plan for this year's race in a bid to avoid any more bad publicity.

The 1998 scandal was so big -- with the entire Festina team being thrown off the Tour, bans for some of its riders and suspended jail sentences for its director and a medical team member -- that many believed cycling would learn a lesson and stamp out doping completely.

But in spite of pledges and promises by teams and riders, more scandals have arisen on other cycling races and Italy's best three riders, Marco Pantani, Stefano Garzelli and Gilberto Simoni, are currently serving doping bans.

The image of cycling has been so badly tarnished that some of the leading sponsors are leaving the sport. The Italian Mapei company, which had funded a team for 10 years, announced last week that it was pulling out after its captain Garzelli failed a dope test during the Giro d'Italia in May.

But the Tour, the world's biggest race, has been comparatively drug-free in the last couple of years and a system of increasing tests and informing riders of the risks they run has been in place since 2001.

This year, Tour organizers have barred Italian team Saeco after their leading rider Simoni tested positive for cocaine during the Giro and Tour chiefs Patrice Clerc, Jean-Marie Leblanc and Daniel Baal have announced new measures to fight doping.

Each team and its riders will be asked to sign a strict code of conduct, while all the riders at the start in Luxembourg on Saturday will be blood-tested to decide if they can start.

FASTER TESTS

Six to 10 riders will be tested each day and some tests will be targeted, organizers said, to investigate suspicious behaviors or results.

An airlift will be organized for urine and blood samples to be sent daily to France's antidoping laboratory in Chatenay-Mallabry, near Paris, to speed up the process.

A meeting will take place before the start to remind the riders of the sanctions they would face in case of a doping offence.

The Tour is also funding a research program on doping by leading French scientists.

To fight the use of erythropoietin, the banned hormone that led to the 1998 scandal, 90 anti-EPO tests will be conducted, up from 72 last year.

Organizers said it was the maximum number of tests the French laboratory could handle within a month.

The main concern for organizers was a discrepancy between French antidoping laws and the rules of the International Cycling Union (UCI), the sport's ruling body.

The UCI allows the use of corticoid injections for emergency treatment while it is forbidden by French law.

Tests on the Tour will be made by a UCI doctor but the French sports ministry or the World Anti Doping Agency will also be entitled to check riders away from the race.

As a result, a rider cleared by the UCI could still face a ban from French authorities.

Sports Minister Marie-George Buffet, who led a strong antidoping campaign in her five years in office, was replaced by former Olympic fencing champion Jean-Francois Lamour after last month's elections and many expect Lamour's approach to the doping problem to be more lenient.

******lili ... I will be on the

lookout for Etapes 18 and 19 ...when I see the countryside farm with the Zizou flag on the front pole, I will know its Your place !!!******

July 3rd, 2002, 14:16

hehe, yo colo! i will do it

if you see a farm with 4 chemneys a little swim pool near a little castle bord of the river, that will be mine

colocolo · July 3rd, 2002, 14:19

Quote:

Originally posted by lili
hehe, yo colo! i will do it
if you see a farm with 4 chemneys a little swim pool near a little castle bord of the river, that will be mine

I will be prepared !!!! Merci !!!!

BioJedi · July 3rd, 2002, 14:32

I hope that this year there isn't going to be any big dopping scandal as we have seen in the Giro de Italia.

July 3rd, 2002, 14:34

have you not understood they are all dopped?
all
or maybe watch the queue of the peloton if you want find a clean racer.

BioJedi · July 3rd, 2002, 18:03

I don't think so, maybe some are dopped but not all take cocaine or other strong sustances

BioJedi · July 4th, 2002, 00:12

Ullrich has done possitive for amphetamine in a surprise control as Telekom have confirmed, he isn't in the Tour so no problem.

Laurent Paumier has been discarted by his team, Ag2r to run the Tour, because a possitive of corticoids during Midi Libre.

gOD · July 4th, 2002, 15:49

How nice to find this topic.. last year I stareted it and it was a discussion only between me and Chivu. I adore le Tour

With ulrich out of the way Armstrong is bound to catch his 3 consecutive win. I think the Spanish Armada will win a lot of stages, but I doubt anybody is good enough yet to trouble Lance.

chivu · July 4th, 2002, 16:22

Euh, he already won 3 Tours gOD. So this would be his fourth win if he makes it again with the yellow jersey to Paris.

Certainly with Ulrich out you wouldn't think that anyone can really trouble him. The most interesting battle will probably be for the remaining podium places. Beloki should challenge once more and Sevilla should do fine too. For the rest it will be interesting to see how Armstrong's former teammates (Leipheimer and Hamilton) will do this year, when they're the main riders of their team. Hopefully Boogerd will be able to do something in Levi's shadow this edition.

Even without Ulrich it still should be an exciting three weeks.

colocolo · July 5th, 2002, 13:24

LUXEMBOURG (July 4, 2002 4:43 p.m. EDT) - Countries of teams selected for the Tour de France which begins on Saturday:

France:
AG2R, Bonjour, Cofidis, Credit Agricole, FDjeux.com, Jean Delatour

Italy
Mapei, Fassa Bartolo, Lampre, Alessio, Tacconi

Spain
I.Banesto, ONCE, Kelme, Euskaltel

Belgium
Lotto, Domo

Netherlands
Rabobank

Germany
Telekom

Denmark
CSC-Tiscali

United States
US Postal

colocolo · July 5th, 2002, 14:13

Wow !!!! GREAT news .... If you have DirectV in the States...Channel #608 OLN (Outdoor Life Networlk) has a great line-up for the Entire Tour ... Take a look !!!!!!

7/5/2002 8:00PM - 9:00PM 2002 Tour de France Preview
7/5/2002 11:00PM - 12:00AM 2002 Tour de France Preview
7/6/2002 11:30AM - 1:30PM Prologue - Individual Time Trials
7/6/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Prologue - Individual Time Trials
7/6/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Prologue - Individual Time Trials
7/7/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Prologue - Individual Time Trials
7/7/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 1 - Luxembourg
7/7/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 1 - Luxembourg
7/7/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 1 - Luxembourg
7/8/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 1 - Luxembourg
7/8/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 2 - Luxembourg to Sarrebruck
7/8/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 2 - Luxembourg to Sarrebruck
7/8/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 2 - Luxembourg to Sarrebruck
7/9/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 2 - Luxembourg to Sarrebruck
7/9/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 3 - Metz to Reims
7/9/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 3 - Metz to Reims
7/9/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 3 - Metz to Reims
7/10/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 3 - Metz to Reims
7/10/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 4 - Epernay to Chateau-Thierry
7/10/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 4 - Epernay to Chateau-Thierry
7/10/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 4 - Epernay to Chateau-Thierry
7/11/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 4 - Epernay to Chateau-Thierry
7/11/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 5 - Soissons to Rouen
7/11/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 5 - Soissons to Rouen
7/11/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 5 - Soissons to Rouen
7/12/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 5 - Soissons to Rouen
7/12/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 6 - Forges-Les-Eaux to Alencon
7/12/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 6 - Forges-Les-Eaux to Alencon
7/12/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 6 - Forges-Les-Eaux to Alencon
7/13/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 6 - Forges-Les-Eaux to Alencon
7/13/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 7 - Bagnoles de Lorne to Avranches
7/13/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 7 - Bagnoles de Lorne to Avranches
7/13/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 7 - Bagnoles de Lorne to Avranches
7/14/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 7 - Bagnoles de Lorne to Avranches
7/14/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 8 - St.Martin de Landelles to Plouay
7/15/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 8 - St.Martin de Landelles to Plouay
7/15/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 9 - Lanester to Lorient
7/15/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 9 - Lanester to Lorient
7/15/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 9 - Lanester to Lorient
7/16/2002 1:00AM - 3:22PM Stage 9 - Lanester to Lorient
7/16/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Rest Day
7/16/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Rest Day
7/17/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Rest Day
7/17/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 10 - Bazas to Pau
7/17/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 10 - Bazas to Pau
7/17/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 10 - Bazas to Pau
7/18/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 10 - Bazas to Pau
7/18/2002 8:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 11 - Pau to La Mongie
7/18/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 11 - Pau to La Mongie
7/18/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 11 - Pau to La Mongie
7/19/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 11 - Pau to La Mongie
7/19/2002 8:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 12 - Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille
7/19/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 12 -Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille
7/19/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 12-Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille
7/20/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 12 - Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille
7/20/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 13 - Lavelanet to Beziers
7/20/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 13 - Lavelanet to Beziers
7/20/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 13 - Lavelanet to Beziers
7/21/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 13 - Lavelanet to Beziers
7/21/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 14 - Lodeve to Mont Ventoux
7/21/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 14 - Lodeve to Mont Ventoux
7/22/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 14 - Lodeve to Mont Ventoux
7/22/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Rest Day
7/22/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Rest Day
7/23/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Rest Day
7/23/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 15-Vaison La Roamine-Les Deux Alpe
7/23/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 15 - Vaison La Roamine-Les Deux Alpe
7/23/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 15 - Vaison La Roamine-Les Deux Alpe
7/24/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 15 - Vaison La Roamine-Les Deux Alpe
7/24/2002 7:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 16 - Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne
7/24/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 16 - Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne
7/24/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 16 - Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne
7/25/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 16 - Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne
7/25/2002 8:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 17 - Aime to Cluses
7/25/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 17 - Aime to Cluses
7/25/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 17 - Aime to Cluses
7/26/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 17 - Aime to Cluses
7/26/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 18 - Cluses to Bourg en Bresse
7/26/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 18 - Cluses to Bourg en Bresse
7/26/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 18 - Cluses to Bourg en Bresse
7/27/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 18 - Cluses to Bourg en Bresse
7/27/2002 9:30AM - 11:30AM Stage 19 - Regnie-Durrette to Macon
7/27/2002 3:00PM - 5:00PM Stage 19 - Regnie-Durrette to Macon
7/27/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 19 - Regnie-Durrette to Macon
7/28/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 19 - Regnie-Durrette to Macon
7/28/2002 9:00PM - 11:00PM Stage 20 - Melun to Paris
7/29/2002 1:00AM - 3:00AM Stage 20 - Melun to Paris
8/22/2002 8:00PM - 9:00PM 2002 Tour de France Post Show
8/22/2002 11:00PM - 12:00AM 2002 Tour de France Post Show

Saturday, July 6
Day One Race Coverage
11:30am - 1:30pm ET - LIVE!