Cycling photography for July The Local East Coast Australian Time is plus 30 minutes Tour de France NORBA - Deer Valley Volta a Portugal French Track Championships International Thüringen Rundfarht der Frauen Nevada City Classic (and more) The Zinger Bicycle Challenge Vail Downhill/Dual World Cup Canadian National Road Championships US Junior National Road and Track Championships A Tattoo to remember Ster van Walcheren The Buttgen track Olympic Showdown Colorado State Criterium Championships Giro d'Italia Femminile National Championships Tour de France Needing no further explanation, the Tour de France is the biggest bike racing event of all. We'll be bringing you plenty of photography from it. We have devoted a special section of the Tour site to photography. Stages 0 - 5 - June 30 - July 5 Stages 6-11 - July 6 - July 11 Stages 12-17- July 12 - July 19 Stages 18-21 - July 20 - July 23 Neal Mcquarie sent us this photo from the 1987 Tour de France in Berlin Phil Anderson - In the Panasonic team car NORBA Round 3 - Deer Valley The USA's premier off-road series in summer is the NORBA series, comprising cross country (short and long course), dual slalom and downhill racing. Kim Morris was at round three of the series, held in Deer Valley, Utah, and kindly sent us these pictures. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro/Lee Dungarees - Men's Short Track winner Seamus McGrath - Men's short track runner up Steve Larsen (USA) LL Bean/Mongoose - Bloodied Women's 3rd place - Mary Grigson (Aus) Gary Fisher/Saab Women's runner up - Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Polo Sport Volta a Portugal Portugal's biggest tour is the Volta a Portugal, held this year from July 24-August 6. Here are some shots of the race. David Latasa (Banesto) - Rides a bicycle created in the 1900s Action during the Volta - The bunch in the heat The peloton - Pass by a donkey during the 8th stage Jose Garrido - Rides together with unidentified cyclists on his way to winning stage 8 Jose Garrido (Benfica) - Raises his injured arms as he crosses the finish line Pedro Horrillo (Vitalicio) - Smiles as he crosses the finish line to win the 9th stage Candido Barbosa (Banesto) - Crosses the finish line to win the 11th stage French Track Championships Held on the Hyères velodrome from July 24-29, the French track titles were watched with interest by many around the world, as the French are the current leaders in many track disciplines. Arnaud Tournant - During his 1.01.906 winning ride. Phillipe Gaumont - On his way to winning the men's Individual Pursuit title Marion Clignet - On her way to winning the women's Individual Pursuit title The Cote d'Azur team - During their winning Olympic Sprint ride The Cote d'Azur team - A lap of honour after winning the Olympic Sprint Florian Rousseau - Leads Frederic Magne in the final of the men's sprint The Cofidis team - During their winning team pursuit ride. Felicia Ballanger - Wins another women's sprint title Frederic Magne - Battles with Rousseau and Gane in the keirin final International Thüringen Rundfarht der Frauen The first and last time (before the Olympics) that the Australian three member Olympic Women's team rode together was in the 6 day German stage race, the International Thüringen Rundfarht der Frauen. James Victor, Australian women's coach snapped these shots of the team during the race. Australia's three female Olympians - Warming up together before the prologue Anna Wilson - In yellow after winning the prologue. Anna Wilson - Interviewed after stage 1 Australian team photo: Wilson, Tadich, Hemsley, Feldhahn, Rutherford, and Gaudry Australian team photo: As above Anna Wilson - On the podium after winning stage 1 in yellow Podium after stage 1: Mari Holden, Anna Wilson, Hanka Kupfernagel, Simone Klewitz Juanita Feldhahn - Pictured after the last stage. Juanita Feldhahn - Second overall, on the podium Nevada City Classic (and more) The Nevada City Classic had its 40th edition this year, and is the longest continuously running US bike races. Phil Marques was there, and he also tacked on a couple of extra "bonus" pictures. Greg LeMond - Poses with a fan at the Nevada City Classic Trent Klasna (Saturn) - Second overall in the Nevada City classic Pam Schuster (Autotrader.com) - Falls in Nevada City Tina Mayolo-Pic (Autotrader.com) - Nevada City Classic Suzanne Sonye - At the Nevada City Classic with Bob Roll Extra road rash protection... Tour of Somerville - Women's Pro 1,2 Nicole Freedman (Charles Schwab) - BMC Software criterium in San Jose Odessa Gunn (Timex) - BMC Software criterium in San Jose The Zinger Bicycle Challenge Neal Mcquarie had a busy weekend, starting July 15 with the "reborn" Zinger Bicycle Challenge in Colorado. It sounded like an epic event, with only 20 finishers. The following tell some of the story. Josh Collingwood (Aus, Jelly Belly) - At the top of Wondervu pass Brendan Vesty and Trent Klasna - At the Wondervu Pass Mike Carter - During the race (Wondervu pass) Jess Swiggers - During the race (Wondervu pass) Mike Carter - At the first turn of Guanella Pass Scott Moninger - At the first turn of Guanella Pass Daniel E. Hopley - Western NY Composite Team Clark Sheehan (7-UP) - In rain gear Clark Sheehan (7-UP) - 9th overall at 28 minutes Scott Moninger - Wins in the rain Scott Moninger - Wins in the rain Jess Swiggers - A surprising 4th place John Lieswyn (Shaklee) - This *can't* be good for you Carl Swenson (Tokyo Joes International) - 2nd overall Carl Swenson (Tokyo Joes International) - Crosses the line in appalling weather Saturn's Chris Wherry - Crosses for third place Jess Swiggers - Looks shattered afterwards Mari Holden (Timex) - Cornering during the women's crit Nicole Reinhart (Saturn) - Winner of the women's criterium Vail Downhill/Dual World Cup Held in Vail, Colorado on the weekend of July 15-16, the MTB Dual Slalom and Downhill World Cup saw Neal Mcquarie take his camera to capture some of the action. Chris Kovarik - Gets vertical Jared Rando - Skids down John Tomac - Uses the rear wheel Marielle Saner - Or not Nicholas Vouilloz - Under the ski lift Steve Peat - Towards his win Tyler Thompson - Gliding through the air Canadian National Road Championships Held between July 13-16 in Peterborough, the Canadian National Road Championships also served as the Olympic Trials for the road team. Robert Naish, of bikecrazie.com sent the following pictures in. Day 1 - July 13: Time Trial Genevieve Jeanson - Gets her position checked Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee) - Gets his wheelbase checked Eric Wohlberg - Gets his position checked Eric Wohlberg - On the start ramp Heath Cockburn (Jet Fuel Coffee) - On his way Eric Wohlberg - Finishing his impressive ride Eric Wohlberg - Crosses the line Saturn's Clara Hughes - Winner of the women's time trial Clara Hughes - On the podium as the women's champion Day 2 - July 14: Criterium Annie Gariepy (Elita) - During the criterium Andrew Pinfold (Ital Pasta) - Winner of the Elite Men's Criterium crosses the line Andrew Pinfold - On the podium The junior men's criterium podium: Francois Parisien, Martin Gilbert, Frederic Mullette Kim Davidge (Elita) - Winner of the Criterium Points Race Gerard Yentes (Rip n Hammer) - Winner of the Masters Criterium Day 4 - July 16: Road Race Clara Hughes - Riding hard during the road race Genevieve Jeanson - Watches her rivals on the hill. Melanie Nadeau - Beats Leigh Hobson for second place in the women's road race Genevieve Jeanson - Wins the sprint for 19th place Women's winner, Sandy Espeseth - Receives a hug from Clara Hughes afterward Genevieve Jeanson - In the media scrum after the race The women's road race podium: Melanie Nadeau, Sandy Espeseth, Leigh Hobson Czeslaw Lukaszewicz - Chases after the break early in the race Dominique Perras (Phonak) - And Joe Guilliano (Jet Fuel) lead the break Brian Walton - Chases coming into the final lap but it's too late Czeslaw Lukaszewicz - wins the race Czeslaw Lukaszewicz - wins the race The men's podium: Gord Fraser, Czeslaw Lukaszewicz and Brian Walton US Junior National Road and Track Championships Douglas Sheppard sent the following four photos from the US Junior Road Nationals, held July 6-9, 2000, and some of the US Junior Track Nationals, held from July 11-14, 2000. Day 2 - July 8: Criterium Blazing the way in the criterium Tyler Farrar (Saturn-Pazza Velo) - Celebrates his Men's 15-16 win. Women's 17-18 Podium: Franges, Uhl, Tonello, Kimmet, and Genest Nathan Odio (CLBC/Subway) - Takes the Men's 13-14 Criterium Days 4-7 - July 11-14: Track Races Ashley Kimmett and Gill Hatton Megan Long Junior men - Points race Team UPS - On the fly Junior women - Points race Sarah Hammer - Champion of the 17-18 ranks A tattoo to remember Mary Mills forwarded this photo taken of a tattoo emblazoned on the shoulder of a 64 year old masters racer at the Ontario Grand Prix on July 9. No prizes for guessing who the signature is. The photo was taken by Kenneth Samuels of Photographic Experience. Ster van Walcheren The Ster van Walcheren is a 3 day, 4 stage women's race in the Netherlands. Reinier Meijer sent us the following picture from stage 2. Sharon van Essen - Chalks up another win for Farm Frites-Hartol The Buttgen track Over in Buttgen, Germany, is the traditional European training base for the Australian Institute of Sport track team. Neal Mcquarie sent us the following photos (they are not current though!): In full training - Coming round the corner Busy preparing - Helping muscles and joints increase performance Taking the bend - And focusing on positive outcomes Bikes on the track - And bikes off the track Onlookers - Watching the training activity Fitchburg Longsjo classic Billed in the US as the biggest race on outside the Tour de France, the 4 day Fitchburg Longsjo classic (June 29-July 2) attracted a huge field of competors. Jonathan McElvery sent these pictures. Saturn's Lyne Bessette - During the opening time trial Ed Gragus (Jelly Belly) - Riding toward a strong 6th place in the TT Tracey Gaudry (Timex) - In the leader's jersey in stage 2 Henk Vogels (Mercury) - Shows some of the strength that won him the race Olympic showdown This track meeting on the Trexlertown velodrome was billed as a showdown between Australia, the USA and New Zealand. Douglas Sheppard caught some of the action. Tanya Lindenmuth and Fiona Ramage - No love lost off the track Words of encouragement: A father cheers his son Giddeon Massie - Stretching before a race Action - Amongst the juniors Marcelo Arrue and Marty Nothstein - Warming down Ben Kersten - Battles with Marty Nothstein The women - In a tight finish Giro d'Italia Femminile The Giro d'Italia Femminile is taking place in Italy from June 25-July 9, 2000. Mark Carter sent us this photograph courtesy of the Australian women's team. Cyclists preparing - At the start line, ready for a challenging race The leading bunch - During stage 2 Diana Ziliute (Acca Due O) - Pulls off a clear sprint win in stage 3 Colorado State Criterium Championships The Colorado State Criterium Championships were on in May and Neal McQuarie sent us the following photographs, of cyclists from the 7 UP/Colorado Team 7 UP/Colorado Cyclist -Speeds by Clark Sheehan -Taking the bend National Championships The French Championships were held in Poiré-sur-Vie between June 22-25, this year. Included in this batch is also a picture from Spain, and a couple from Sweden, courtesy of Anders Sisell, who runs Nicklas Axelsson's fan site. Jeannie Longo - Riding strongly during the race Jeannie Longo - Crossing the line to win the French Women's title again Edil Savino's Catherine Marsal - Satisfied with second place The women's road race podium: Marsal, Longo-Ciprelli and Magali Le Floc'h Christophe Capelle (Big Mat) - Ecstatic at winning the French Championship Christophe Capelle - Proudly shows off his gold medal jersey on the podium The French Men's podium: Durand, Capelle and Morin Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) - Clear winner in Spain Magnus Bäckstedt and Nicklas Axelsson - Climbing the Gesundaberget Michel Lafis - On the final climb with Stefan Adamsson   Want some more? For more cycling photography, please consult our monthly archives