Botero takes another stage; Armstrong lead still solid

The longest stage in the Tour de France wasn't the longest day on the bike. That honor goes to last Friday's stage to Plateau de Beille that lasted for almost seven hours.

The peloton was in a hurry to finish the seven rated climbs in Tuesday's hot 226km stage 15, a day that looked harder in the road book than it did on the road. They just made it through in less than six hours.
(...)

The stage presented few problems for Lance Armstrong, who muscled a day closer to his fourth consecutive victory. He and his U.S. Postal Service team rode a controlled race and Armstrong easily answered a late charge to the finish line by second-place rider Joseba Beloki. Armstrong finished ninth and retained his 4:21 margin over Beloki.
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OVERALL AFTER 15 STAGES

1. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal, 62:53:36.
2. Joseba Beloki (Sp), ONCE, at 04:21.
3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit), Lampre-Daikin, at 06:39.
4. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), ONCE, at 08:50.
5. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), iBanesto.com, at 10:54.
6. Jose Azevedo (Por), ONCE, at 11:11.
7. Santiago Botero (Col), Kelme-Costa Blanca, at 11:31.
8. Roberto Heras (Sp), U.S. Postal, at 11:46.
9. Levy Leipheimer (Usa), Rabobank, at 13:05.

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Armstrong Revered as 'Sympathique' American

The excited fans who line the route of the Tour de France can give the wrong impression: not all the French care about the world's most prestigious bicycle race. Yet, even many of those indifferent to the sight of wiry men peddling furiously seem to have time for Lance Armstrong, the three-time Tour champion who is now well placed for a fourth successive victory at the finish line in Paris on Sunday.
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thanks to Dumbmonkey

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At the Tour de France: Lance extends his lead, but Virenque steals the show

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The hardest stage of the Tour starts in just a little over an hour. Then another Alps stage, a hilly stage and the final time trial before going into Paris. Lots of work still to do.