Stage 14 | Tarbes / Luz-Ardiden
Lance rode a tactical race today not going for the win but preserving his position overall with a fourth place finish behind Jan Ullrich. A very popular winner at the finish. It was a Basque rider winning a stage near Basque Country - Roberto Laiseka.

Even the super-strong Ullrich seems aware that he’ll have to play the role of runner-up to the Tour’s defending champion. And their cooperation in ridding their ‘grupetto’ of those who still threatened Ullrich’s historical fourth runner-up position was one of the day’s highlights. Unlike the 13th stage, when Ullrich attacked hard, raced hard, fell hard and still finished second to the rider who is now on a date with hat-trick destiny, the German-American alliance was obvious right through to the end when Ullrich nabbed third ahead of Armstrong – and immediately after the finishline offered a hand in a gesture of appreciation.

Ullrich is second with Kivilev 8 sec back. Lance is leading Jan Ullrich by 5 min 5 sec. Lance's team, United States Postal Service, will protect Lance's lead for the next 6 days except for Friday which is a time trail. Lance will do well there too. There is no way that Jan can gain any significant time on Lance in the time trial. Lance may gain more time on Jan. Sunday will be that last stage which is primarily a parade down the Champs-Elysées.