Wellesley's McNeill a Tour de force; local rides in prestigious French race Aug 7, 2009
The Etape du Tour starts in Montelimar and ends at the summit of Mont Ventoux in France, which is 1912 meters tall (6,273 feet). The race is a total of 170. (Wellesley Townsman, MA)
Opinion: Contador defied everyone, including Lance Aug 1, 2009
"Last year when I signed with Astana I did not know that I was returning with Lance. But it was that or nothing," he said in his final press conference after the 20th stage up Mont Ventoux. "It was very complicated," he said of his cohabitation with Armstrong. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Austin MurphyINSIDE THE TOUR DE FRANCE Jul 28, 2009
Until it mattered most, with his podium spot in the balance Saturday the sinister Mont Ventoux, Armstrong lost time to the leaders on this Tour's most daunting climbs. He was slower than we remember in the so called Race of Truth, finishing 10th and 16th in the individual time trials. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Armstrong Eyeing 2010 Tour de France Jul 28, 2009
The day before in the big mountain climbing Stage 20 to the top of Mont Ventoux, Schleck, Contador and Armstrong were the 3rd, 4th and 5th riders to cross the Finish Line ... To be precise, from the website of Le Tour de France, Contador had accumulated 81 hours 46 minutes and 17 seconds at his finish at the top of Mont Ventoux on Saturday. (CBS News)
Contador is ready to take victory tour Jul 26, 2009
MONT VENTOUX, France - Alberto Contador all but sealed his second Tour de France title yesterday, keeping the yellow jersey after a punishing mountain ride in the next-to-last stage ... Armstrong, the seven-time champion who is riding in his first Tour since 2005, held off attacks from his closest challengers in the dreaded climb up Mont Ventoux to hold third place ... Armstrong said the start of the ride to Mont Ventoux was a little aggressive, but his assignment was clear. (Boston Globe)
Contador on course for Tour triumph; Lance seals podium Jul 26, 2009
Huge crowds lined the climb up to the bald peak of Mont Ventoux, one of the most celebrated and dreaded cycling climbs in France ... 8-mile Stage 20 from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, featuring a 13. (USA Today -- Sports)
Contador in driver's seat; Armstrong stays in third Jul 26, 2009
The fabled and dreaded Mont Ventoux today provides a dramatic climax to Lance Armstrong's comeback Tour and teammate Alberto Contador is expected to keep the yellow jersey ... Today's stage: 167 kilometers, Montelimar to the Mont Ventoux, a 13. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Contador Maintains Tour de France Lead Jul 26, 2009
MONT VENTOUX, France, July 25, 2009 ... Left to right: Alberto Contador of Spain (wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey), American Lance Armstrong, Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, and brother Andy (wearing the best young rider's white jersey), climb Mont Ventoux pass during the 20th stage of the Tour de France cycling race, Saturday July 25, 2009 ... Armstrong, a seven-time champion in his first Tour since 2005, held off attacks from his closest challengers in the... (CBS News)
In the end, France is in love with Lance Jul 26, 2009
Awaiting the riders on Saturday is one of the hardest ascents in cycling, Mont Ventoux, where Stage 20 will culminate. For Armstrong, it has been a long road to the finish. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Contador Cements Tour Lead; Armstrong Remains In 3rd Place Jul 26, 2009
MONT VENTOUX, France (July 25, 2009)--Alberto Contador all but locked up the Tour de France title Saturday, keeping the yellow jersey after a punishing mountain ride in the next to last stage ... Juan Manuel Garate of Spain won the 20th stage, which finished with a grueling climb up Mont Ventoux. (KWTX.com, TX)
TOUR DE FRANCE Mountain takes the measure of men Jul 25, 2009
(07-25) 04:00 PDT Mont Ventoux, France -- The name means "windy mountain," and that it is ... Today's stage: Stage 20 goes from Montlimar to Mont Ventoux (103. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Stage is set for Contador Jul 25, 2009
The Spaniard leads Luxembourg s Andy Schleck by 4 minutes 11 seconds and Astana teammate Lance Armstrong by 5:21 heading into the last big stage - the 104-mile ride today from Montelimar to a punishing finish up Mont Ventoux in the Alps ... For all his prowess over the years, Armstrong has never won at Mont Ventoux. (Boston Globe)
Ventoux looms in Armstrong's route again Jul 25, 2009
ABENAS, France -- Riders refer to Mont Ventoux as the "oven." Usually, there's little activity at the top, save for rocks and a trinket-strewn monument to a cyclist who died there four decades ago ... Next stage: Today's 20th stage is a 167-kilometer stage from Montelimar to the Mont Ventoux ... "The 'giant of Provence,' Mont Ventoux. Know it well. We're old friends, but haven't always gotten along.". (News & Observer -- Sports)
Contador Keeps Tour Lead; Cavendish Wins Stage Jul 25, 2009
Mont Ventoux Looms As Tour De France Climax - Sports News Story - KFOX El Paso ... Mont Ventoux Looms As Tour De France Climax ... The fabled and dreaded Mont Ventoux on Saturday provides a dramatic climax to Lance Armstrong's comeback Tour -- and teammate Alberto Contador is expected to keep the yellow jersey. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Contador 2 days from Tour win; Armstrong 3rd Jul 25, 2009
The fabled and dreaded Mont Ventoux on Saturday provides a dramatic climax to Lance Armstrongs comeback Tour and teammate Alberto Contador is expected to keep the yellow jersey ... For all his prowess over the years, the seven-time Tour champion has never won at Mont Ventoux ... Tour planners saddled competitors with Mont Ventoux to maintain race suspense until the next to last race day, featuring four extra-steep patches along a 13. (MSNBC -- Sports)
TOUR DE FRANCE Contador heads to victory Jul 24, 2009
Armstrong's move up to third place in this year's Tour means the competition for the two spots on the podium flanking Contador on the Champs Elyses will continue all the way to the 6,246-foot summit of Mont Ventoux on Saturday. Armstrong has several reasons to dig as deeply as he ever has, not the least of which is his desire to end a long losing streak on Ventoux, which he calls France's meanest mountain. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Armstrong severely beaten but back on Tour podium Jul 24, 2009
His biggest remaining challenge is an uphill finish at the daunting Mont Ventoux on Saturday _ where he never won. The threat for Armstrong is likely to come from Briton Bradley Wiggins, 11 seconds behind him in fourth. (Longview Daily News, WA)
American, Japanese climbers found dead on Mt. Fuji Jul 24, 2009
Mont Ventoux looms as the implacable star of Saturday's Stage 20. Called the "Bald Mountain" and the "Giant of Provence," it rises 6,273 feet above the Comtadine Plains. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Lance rises to 3rd, Contador wins time trial Jul 24, 2009
The biggest remaining challenge is an uphill finish at Mont Ventoux on Saturday which Armstrong calls the toughest ascent in France a day before the race ends on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The threat for Armstrong is again likely to be the Schleck brothers, who have either matched or bettered the American on the climbs this year. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Contador tactic tests morale Jul 23, 2009
"Armstrong still believed he can finish second when the Tour finishes Sunday in Paris. More than likely, he'll be in the top three after today's stage because he is a significantly better time trialist than either Schleck.But the Tour will have one final mountain stage -- a climb of the Mont Ventoux -- Saturday, which could shake the standings the Schlecks' way."Yes, it's still my goal," Armstrong said of finishing second. "I think it's possible. "Andy Schleck countered: "We're not [time trial]... (News & Observer -- Sports)
Be the king of the mountain, Anderson urges Cadel Jul 23, 2009
CADEL EVANS should use the next days to recover and regenerate his lost moral in a bid to win the penultimate stage to the mountain top of Mont Ventoux on Saturday, says Australian cycling great Phil Anderson ... "Maybe if he can try and win a stage . . . He lost more time [on Tuesday]. But after a couple of more days like this, maybe on Mont Ventoux he can get away and win,'' Anderson said. "By putting himself out of a threatening position [overall] he will be able to put a huge effort on the... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Evans relegated in Silence-Lotto pecking order Jul 23, 2009
If anything, it may allow him to have greater reserves for a possible attempt at a stage win on Thursday's 40km stage 18 time trial at Annecy or in Saturday's 20th stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux. For the latter, with him so far down on the overall classification, he will not be chased by the overall contenders. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Ipswichs Wilcox gives post-Etape du Tour bicycle race report Jul 23, 2009
We rode through Taulignan, Nyons, Col d Ey, Buis les-Baronnes, Col de Fontaube, Sault, Col N.-D. des Abeilles, Mormoiron, Bedoin, up to Le Chalet Reynard and then to the summit of Mont Ventoux ... 8 kilometers) at an average grade of 4 percent; and Mont Ventoux via Bedoin - 12 ... The elevation at the summit of Mont Ventoux is 1,912 meters or 6,273 feet. (Ipswich Chronicle, MA)
Lance drops to 4th, Contador closes in on win Jul 23, 2009
Armstrongs challenge for a spot on the podium on the Champs-Elysees rides on the question: Can he regain ground in the time-trial Thursday, and then hold on Saturday on the dreaded Mont Ventoux. He says a second-place finish is still within his reach. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Armstrong could pedal to another kind of win Jul 22, 2009
Of course, with some of the most challenging mountain stages including the forbidding Mont Ventoux, looming, nobody should write Armstrong out of an eighth triumph just yet. But if Contador holds on, Armstrong could enhance his legacy by remaining the supportive teammate he was in Sunday's alpine stage. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Schleck still confident he can win Tour de France Jul 21, 2009
Riders got a rest before the two other Alpine stages, an individual time trial in Annecy on Thursday and a ride up the feared Mont Ventoux on Saturday before the race ends in Paris on Sunday. Wednesday's stage from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand features five difficult climbs, including two Category-1 ascents over the last 25 miles. (Anchorage Daily News)
Contador eyes other Tour rivals, not Armstrong Jul 21, 2009
Friday marks a relatively flat stage before the race climax this year - an uphill finish at Mont Ventoux, which Armstrong has called the hardest climb in France - on the next-to-last day. Contador knows he'll need to be on guard, and in form. (FindLaw News)
Contador wins, Lance drifts back Jul 21, 2009
Riders get a rest day Monday before the two other Alpine stages, an individual time trial in Annecy on Thursday, and a ride up the dreaded Mont Ventoux on Saturday. The Tour ends Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. (Columbia Daily Herald, TN)
Ascend into Tour history or descend into disappointment Jul 18, 2009
Everyone is looking to the Mont Ventoux but in the time trial, the boys are on their own ... Montelimar to Mont Ventoux, 167km ... With four third- and fourth-category hills on the route leading to the foot of Mont Ventoux, most riders will reach it with varying doses of apprehension and fatigue. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Armstrong looks forward to climbing again at Tour Jul 18, 2009
Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Sports. Friday, July 17, 2009. (Ionia Sentinel-Standard, MI)
Tour de France: Armstrong looks forward to climbing again Jul 17, 2009
Web search enhanced by. Published: Friday July 17, 2009 MYT 10:20:00 AM. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Armstrong poised to climb into lead Jul 17, 2009
Local Search Site Search. THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING. (Boston Globe)
Mountains beckon leaders Jul 17, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009. Search stories on N&O.com. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Ipswichs Wilcox to ride over Tour de France stage for cause of youth literacy Jul 17, 2009
However, the relatively smooth roads of the North Shore and Merrimack Valley are a far cry from the mountainous roads of the 107-mile (172-kilometer) Montelimar to Mont Ventoux stage, the scene of this year s Etape du Tour ... The race runs over different stages of the Tour de France almost every year, but this year s edition represents a return after nine years to the Montelimar to Mont Ventoux route that Tour de France riders will race over on July 25 as Stage 20 of the 21-stage Tour ... In... (Ipswich Chronicle, MA)
Rogers defeats pain - now for his breakaway Jul 17, 2009
Everyone wants to be there, but I will have a go for sure," Rogers said after Wednesday's 192km 11th stage from Vatan to Saint-Fargeau in which British teammate Mark Cavendish won his fourth stage in a bunch sprint. If Rogers can't get in a breakaway, he hopes to at least be able to assist the revelation of his US team, German Tour rookie Tony Martin, who was seventh overall at 1:00 to Nocentini going into Thursday's 12th stage. Martin, 24, has potential but his team will not pressure him to... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
After flat Stage 12, riders looking to stretch legs in mountains Jul 17, 2009
By Joel Saget, AFP/Getty Images. Lance Armstrong rides with his Astana teammates during Stage 12. (USA Today -- Sports)
Armstrong still in third despite punctured tire Jul 17, 2009
Web Search powered by YAHOO. American seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, left, and Mark Cavendish of Britain, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, right, ride alongside in the pack during the 12th stage Thursday. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Contador will fade in Alps, Lance won't Jul 15, 2009
Finally, the four toughest mountain stages are yet to come, including the most highly anticipated: Stage 20, which finishes atop Mont Ventoux and, coming the day before the largely processional stage that marks the Tour's end in Paris, is the last chance for anyone to gain serious time. Those are three good reasons to declare the race wide open. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Lance's rival proves he's got power to burn Jul 14, 2009
This was the first of three days in the Pyrenees, and the peloton still have the Alps to ride through and the final mountain climb of Mont Ventoux. With all their rivals behind them on the overall standings, Astana's top riders could continue to ride like they did today, force the others to dig deep into their reserves to chase down attacks, wear them down, and systematically take chunks of time out of all of them. (MSNBC -- Sports)
AustinMurphyInside The Tour De France The rivalry between Lance and his talented teammate heats up. Jul 14, 2009
By de-emphasizing the three Pyrenean stages, by back loading this Tour with Alps, by sending the peloton up Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence, the day before its ceremonial promenade into Paris, the designers of this course will succeed, brilliantly, in preserving the suspense of the race until the last possible moment. They got it right. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Armstrong or Contador? Jul 13, 2009
1km climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux ... But he still believes Mont Ventoux could be the decider ... "That's (Alps) where the race is going to be decided. The combination of those days, from Colmar all the way to the top of Mont Ventoux - it's a very difficult six days. "We'll wait, the hardest mountain in France (Mont Ventoux) is on the last day basically so you can't forget that. (iAfrica.com)
Daily grind for Michael Jul 12, 2009
Then the Tour has three days in the Alps, followed by a 40km stage 18 time trial and then the 167km 20th stage finishing on 1912-metre Mont Ventoux. send photos, videos ffs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or us. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
* LE TOUR FRANCE: Contador attacks in the Pyrenees Jul 12, 2009
He has already said that the last week of the race would be crucial with its four mountain stages, including a finish at the intimidating Mont Ventoux on the penultimate day. After more than six hours in the saddle on Friday, the Texan seemed unfazed by Contadors display. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Lance still 0.22 second behind; Pyrenees next Jul 10, 2009
The granddaddy stage comes the day before the July 26 finale in Paris, with an uphill finish on Mont Ventoux, one of cyclings most legendary climbs. So far in his comeback year after 3 years in retirement, Armstrong has proved he can hold his own in time trials, like the one on opening day in Monaco, and gain time in the flats. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Analysis: Armstrong, Contador ready to duke it out Jul 10, 2009
If he makes it through the only big mountain stage in the Pyrenees intact, the Texan will have time to recuperate before the final week of climbing in the Alps and up Mont Ventoux. Contador must understand that his chances to win another Tour are on the line on Friday, while Armstrong understands he is rewriting Tour de France history as each day goes by. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Tour de France: Armstrong is just off lead Jul 10, 2009
The granddaddy stage comes the day before the July 26 finale in Paris, with an uphill finish on Mont Ventoux, one of cycling's most legendary climbs. So far in his comeback year after 3. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Evans can bounce back, says team manager Jul 9, 2009
The Tour, Sergeant said, was less than a week old and there were still the Pyrenees, Vosges and Alps mountain ranges to come, not to mention one more 40-kilometre time trial and the back-breaking ascent of Mont Ventoux on the second-last day of the three-week race, which ends in Paris on July 26. Evans slipped from eighth overall at one minute four seconds to 35th at 2:59 after the Montpellier team time trial, but Sergeant would not rule him out. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Armstrong back into contention at the Tour Jul 8, 2009
Armstrong has already said the third week, featuring a long time trial, three mountain stages, and a finish up the daunting Mont Ventoux, will be very hard. Cavendish earned his second consecutive Tour stage victory and his sixth overall, ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd and Cyril Lemoine of France after completing the 122. (FindLaw News)
* Armstrong takes charge in France Jul 8, 2009
He has already said the third week, featuring a long time trial, three mountain stages, and a finish up the daunting Mont Ventoux, would be very hard. The cancer survivor has got plenty of time to move up to first place and can ride with serenity now that he leads Contador, who had a 22 second-cushion over Armstrong before Mondays epic stage won by king of sprint Mark Cavendish. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Evans plummets as Armstrong just misses yellow Jul 8, 2009
The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper. Cadel Evans 's hopes of winning the Tour de France are almost gone following the poor performance of Silence-Lotto in the team time trial. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Lance Armstrong gives Tour de France new juice Jul 4, 2009
On July 25, the penultimate day, they face an especially difficult 108-mile stage, starting at Montelimar (altitude 328 feet) and rising throughout the day to the top of Mont Ventoux, at 6,273 feet. The ride is considered hot, bleak, and a place that may separate the final pack. (Christian Science Monitor -- USA)
Faster, faster: it's the tour de living room Jul 4, 2009
With fondue, macaroons and pastries on the menu, she is also very excited to be getting her hands on some Mont Ventoux cheese, a conical French cheese with a white snow top inspired by the mountain at the heart of the race's most gruelling climb. Daniel Talmont is a doctor at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital who grew up in France watching the tour as a boy in the 1950s. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
HotelTravel.com's Guide to Lance Armstrong's Tour de France Comeback Jul 3, 2009
The 2009 Tour de France kicks off with short individual time trials on Saturday 4 July in flashy Monaco, but the eventual winner will not be decided until after the grueling Mont Ventoux climb three weeks later ... "This year's Tour de France will be memorable for many reasons. First there is heightened interest with the return of the American Lance Armstrong. He has called the ascent of Mont Ventoux the toughest of all the Tour climbs, and the Ventoux is also practically the only big stage... (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
AustinMurphyInside The Tour De France The Tour de France could quickly devolve into a soap opera. Jul 3, 2009
The delightful (if slightly sadistic) decision to send the peloton up Mont Ventoux, a beast of a climb that could dramatically reshuffle the standings, on the penultimate day of the race. Neither Pyrenee nor Alp, the Ventoux is an ominous, anomalous hump of rock rising 6,000 feet above Provence. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
TdF rivals line up Jul 2, 2009
In keeping with their bid to maintain suspense right till the end, organisers have this year done away with the traditional penultimate stage time trial and replaced it with the monster climb to the Mont Ventoux. It is where British legend Tommy Simpson died in 1967, and where the likes of Eddy Merckx, Armstrong and a few other big Tour names have helped forge their yellow jersey triumphs. (iAfrica.com)
Lance's legacy Jul 1, 2009
British cyclist Tom Simpson died while trying to ascend Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France ... Armstrong still has one stage left to conquer: the legendary Mont Ventoux, where this year's Stage 20 (July 25) finishes ... Then we come to Mont Ventoux. (USA Today -- Sports)
Armstrong, old-school racing highlight '09 Tour Jun 28, 2009
The pack will then head out along the Mediterranean, through the Pyrenees, across central France, into the Alps and then up the fabled Mont Ventoux a day before the July 26 finish in Paris ... Other innovations include an uphill finish at the moonscape-like Mont Ventoux in the next-to-last stage -- an effort to dangle sporting suspense all the way up to the traditional cruise on Paris' Champs-Elysees for the finish ... Mont Ventoux's inclusion almost seems tailor-made for Armstrong, who has... (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- More)
Armstrong, old-school racing on tap at Tour Jun 27, 2009
The pack will then head out along the Mediterranean, through the Pyrenees, across central France, into the Alps and then up the fabled Mont Ventoux a day before the July 26 finish in Paris. Riders will dip into Spain, Switzerland and Italy during the 2,141-mile trek and face 20 major mountain climbs during the three weeks. (MSNBC -- Sports)
