This is turning into one of the most interesting Tours that I have watched. The Tour just finished the three stages in the Alps. In the past Lance has dominated. He isn't so dominating on this tour. At least not yet. That is not to say he isn't the most dominant rider. It's just that, although he is wearing the Yellow Jersey, there are several others within striking distance.

There is a blog for the Tour: Tour de France 2003

Stage 6 | Petacchi storms through
Alessandro Petacchi triumphed in a thrilling sprint finish to the sixth stage of the Tour de France.

This was the last flat stage before the Alps. Lance was still second overal to Pena by 1 sec.

Stage 7 | Virenque takes yellow jersey
Frenchman Richard Virenque delighted a crowd of thousands by racing to his country's first stage win at this year's Tour de France.

Virenque was a big surprise. He took the Yellow Jersey while two of Lance's possible threats lost time.

Stage 8 | Armstrong in yellow
Spain's Iban Mayo won stage eight of the Tour de France after a powerful surge up to the finish in the ski resort of L'Alpe d'Huez.

The last time the Tour went up to L'Alp d'Huez, Lance blew the race open. Not this time. A young spaniard, Iban Mayo, took the stage. He attacked repeatedly and Lance didn't have the final answer. Lance road a smart race and did what he had to do to get the Yellow Jersey but it was not a dominating performance. Lance is a little off. Of course. most would be very happy were they as strong as Lance on a day off.

Stage 9 | Vinokourov takes dramatic win
Telekom's Alexandre Vinokourov won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, but leading contender Joseba Beloki is out after crashing on the final descent.

Again, US Postal and Lance were setting the pace and the other elite riders kept attacking. Finally, on the last climb, Vinokourov, a threat, attacks. Lance chases, with Beloki who is another threat. Beloki crashed pushing Lance off the road into a mountain biking trip cross country to the other side of the hairpin turn. He was able to regain the chase group but with no chance to catch Vinokourov, who took the stage.

Overall results
1. Lance Armstrong USA US Postal 40:15:26
2. Alexandre Vinokourov KAZ Telekom +00:21
3. Iban Mayo ESP Euskaltel +01:02
4. Francisco Mancebo ESP iBanesto.com +01:37
5. Tyler Hamilton USA Team CSC +01:52
6. Jan Ullrich GER Team Bianchi +02:10
7. Ivan Basso ITA Fassa Bortolo +02:25
8. Roberto Heras ESP US Postal +02:28
9. Haimar Zubeldia ESP Euskaltel +03:25
10. Denis Menchov RUS iBanesto.com +03:45

Tyler Hamilton kept attacking on the last climb and he has been racing with a broken collar bone since the first stage. Jan Ullrich faded on the last climb. This is turning into a most interesting race.

Armstrong under pressure
Lance Armstrong is back in yellow as the Tour de France moves through the first mountain stages, but everything may not be as it seems.

Lance has been known to get stronger in the later stages. He will have the chance. Tuesday is flat, Wednesday is off, Thursday doesn't have any hills to speak of, and then Lance has to go back to work. Friday is a time trial and Saturday starts 4 four days in the Pyrenees. Three mountain stages, a day off, and then the final mountain stage. There still a lot of fun to be had.

Here is a great source of Tour pictures.

Graham Watson Cycling Photogaphy

...then leads the chase of Millar, and Jorg Jaksche who was a threat to the Yellow jersey - Beloki, Ullrich and Basso can only follow...

Here are a couple of background pieces.

Armstrong couldn’t do it without help
4-time Tour de France champ needs USPS teammates’ invaluable support

The best team in sports right now isn’t necessarily in the NBA or the NFL, it may be the underappreciated and largely unrecognized U.S. Postal Service cycling team, a bunch of guys who continually sacrifice their bodies and egos to escort Lance Armstrong to the finish line in Paris, so he can hoist the Tour de France trophy and be an Inspiration to Us All. They don’t get the trophy, or even an ESPY. They’re not even very well known in this country. But they’re one of the most dominant cycling teams that ever rode a road, and an example to franchises everywhere.
[more]

  thanks to Tour de France 2003

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