54th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - 2.HC

France, June 9-16, 2002

Photography

Prologue - June 9: Lyon ITT, 3.6 km
Stage 1 - June 10: Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne - Saint-Etienne, 173 km
Stage 2 - June 11: Tournon - Le Mont Ventoux, 174 km
Stage 3 - June 12: Montélimar - Pierrelatte ITT, 41 km
Stage 4 - June 13: Isle-sur-Sorgue - Digne, 209 km
Stage 5 - June 14: Digne - Grenoble, 204 km
Stage 6 - June 15: Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 146 km
Stage 7 - June 16: Morzine-Avoriaz - Genève, 150 km

Prologue - June 9: Lyon ITT, 3.6 km

Images by AFP

Prologue specialist Bradley McGee (La Francaise Des Jeux) - on his way to victory
Aussie sprinter Baden Cooke (La Francaise Des Jeux) - hates coming second, but didn't mind so much today
Postal's Steffen Kjaergaard - had a great prologue to finish third
Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) - rode well to place fifth
Didier Rous (Bonjour) - rode to his limit, finishing 10th
Laurent Jalabert (Team CSC Tiscali) - had a solid ride, placing 17th
Richard Virenque (Domo-Farm Frites) - rarely finds prologues to his liking, and this occasion was no different
2001 winner Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) - gets off to a bad start, requiring a wheel change shortly after take-off
Bradley McGee (La Francaise Des Jeux) - delighted with his biggest win in his cycling career to date

Stage 1 - June 10: Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne - Saint-Etienne, 173 km

Images by AFP

Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) rides next to Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) in the early part of the stage
A rare photo of Jacky Durand (FDJ) riding in a peloton
The peloton in no hurry in stage 1
Richard Virenque (Domo) and Didier Rous (Bonjour) putting on a brave face
Alexis Rodriguez (Kelme) leads Jacky Durand (FDJ) during their long breakaway attempt
Jacky Durand leads Alexis Rodriguez on one of the climbs in stage 1
Jacky Durand makes use of the 'Obree descending tuck®' during the first stage
Jacky Durand is about as aerodynamic as you can get on a descent
"We've got to climb that?!?" Armstrong looks forward to Mont Ventoux tomorrow
Jacky Durand throws his arms up as he wins the stage
Jacky Durand raises his arm in triumph as he wins
Jacky Durand smiles with his yellow jersey after winning the first stage

Stage 2 - June 11: Tournon - Le Mont Ventoux, 174 km

Images by AFP

Richard Virenque (Domo) Laurent Jalabert (CSC), Alexandre Botcharov (Ag2r) and Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) ride during stage 2
Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) rides next to Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) in stage 2
Lance Armstrong checks out the opposition on Mont Ventoux
Lance Armstrong attacks Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) on Mont Ventoux
Lance Armstrong Oscar Sevilla (Kelme), Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel), Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) and Floyd Landis (US Postal) ride up the desert-like landscape towards the summit of Mont Ventoux
Oscar Sevilla leads Lance Armstrong on the Ventoux
Denis Menchov (iBanesto) and Aitor Kintana (BigMat) near the top of Ventoux
Denis Menchov wins the second stage atop Mont Ventoux
Denis Menchov clenches his fist as he wins the second stage
Denis Menchov in the podium in the leader's jersey after winning stage 2

Stage 3 - June 12: Montélimar - Pierrelatte ITT, 41 km

Images by AFP

Santiago Botero (Kelme) concentrates during the third stage time trial
Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) rides during the stage 3 time trial, where he finished second and took the overall lead
Lance Armstrong during the stage 3 time trial
After Botero and Armstrong, Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was the best of the rest, finishing third
Race leader Denis Menchov (ibanesto) gives it everything in stage 3
Brad McGee (FDJ) rides hard during the third stage time trial
Santiago Botero grins on the podium after his stage win
Lance Armstrong raises his arm on the podium after claiming the lead
Lance Armstrong in yellow as the new leader of the Dauphine Libere

Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr

Baden Cooke warming up on a turbo trainer for the time trial.
The cyclist from Grenoble, Jacky Durand, preparing to enter the start house for the time trial
Steffen Kjaergaard climbs back onto his bike after signing on
Riders from the Kelme squad before the time trial
Didier Rous happy to have a photo taken before the race
Eddy Seigneur chats to a gendarme while warming up, they did seem to know each other.
Baden Cooke about the cross the river in Montelimar
Frederic Bessy in Montelimar
Lance Armstrong in the time trial
Santiago Botero in the streets of Montelimar
Didier Rous in the streets of Montelimar
Guennadi Mikhailov leaves Montelimar behind

Stage 4 - June 13: Isle-sur-Sorgue - Digne, 209 km

Images by AFP

Race leader Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) rides in the company of teammate Jose Luis Rubiera (C) and Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel)
The US Postal team set the tempo for Lance Armstrong during the fourth stage of the Dauphine Libere.
Floyd Landis (USPS) had a great day to move into second overall
Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour) during his solo effort to win stage 4
Patrice Halgand wins the fourth stage
Lance Armstrong in yellow again after stage 4

Images by Divakar Goswami

For most riders - this is the only side of Lance they see
Ag2R Prevoyance's Decathlon bikes - très bon
Eki's back - Viatcheslav Ekimov (US Postal Service) is given a warm introduction as he signs on
Norweigan driver Steffen Kjaergaard (US Postal Service) - happily signs on for another day of punishment
Leader of the young rider classification - Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Santiago Botero (Kelme-Costa Blanca) and Jose Luis Rubiera (US Postal Service) - wish each other good luck before the start
Colombian Victor-Hugo Pena (US Postal Service) - cruises round before the start
The housewives' favourite - Richard Virenque (Domo-Farm Frites) watches his step after signing on

Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr

Lance signs on for the stage to Digne
The most popular man in L'Isle sur la Sorgue
Baden Cooke relaxes before the depart in L'Isle sur la Sorgue
Botero prepares before the day and his legs show why he won the time trial
Oscar Sevilla nurses his scars after falling in yesterday's time trial
A Cofidis rider chats on the phone with five minutes to the depart in L'Isle sur la Sorgue
Lance Armstrong and Christophe Moreau on the Col de Corobin
Floyd Landis leads the front group on the Col de Corobin with 400 metres to the summit
Nicki Sorensen on the Col de Corobin

Stage 5 - June 14: Digne - Grenoble, 204 km

Images by AFP

Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) wipes sweat from his eyes as he and team-mate Floyd Landis ride in stage 5
Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali) demonstrates the art of the deep tuck descent.
Frederic Guesdon (Francaise des Jeux) celebrates as he crosses the line ahead of Santiago Botero (Kelme-Costa Blanca, not pictured) and Laurent Jalabert (CSC-Tiscali)
Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) on the podium after retaining the Dauphiné yellow jersey for another day

Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr

Santiago Botero tries to leave Laurent Jalabert and the break when climbing to La Mure
Gorka Arrizabalaga cycles into La Mure alone between the break and the peloton
Stage winner Frederic Guesdon fights to stay with the break when climbing into La Mure
Lance Armstrong sits behind the US Postal train when climbing up to La Mure
The final rider climbs into La Mure followed by the Broom Wagon

Stage 6 - June 15: Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 146 km

Images by AFP

Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis - lead the peloton on the descent of the Col de la Colombière
Lance Armstrong (USPS) - rides in the company of his teammate Floyd Landis (R).
The leading trio on the Col de Joux Plane: Christophe Moreau (CA), Lance Armstrong (USPS) and Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis)
Lance Armstrong accelerates away from Andrei Kivilev (Cofidis) and Christophe Moreau (CA) on the Col de Joux Plane
Lance Armstrong rides on his own in the lead on the Col de Joux Plane
Lance Armstrong wins the sixth stage of the Dauphiné Libéré in Morzine

Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr

A view of the final kilometres of the Col de Joux Plane with the backdrop of the Mont Blanc
Lance Armstrong leads the race with 400 metres to the summit of the Col de Joux Plane
Christophe Moreau and Andrei Kivilev chase Lance Armstrong on the Joux Plane
Laurent Jalabert leads the largest group to stay together on the Col de Joux Plane
Nicolas Portal, Cedric Vasseur and Andrea Peron on the Joux Plane
The Australian Baden Cooke on the final metres of the Col de Joux Plane
David Millar nears the summit of the Col de Joux Plane
Didier Rous leads a group on the Joux Plane
Jonathan Vaughters cycles alone on the Col de Joux Plane
Euskaltel rider Samuel Sanchez
Jacky Durand starts to descend after the Col de Joux Plane

Stage 7 - June 16: Morzine-Avoriaz - Genève, 150 km

Images by AFP

Race leader Lance Armstrong shakes hands with second placed Christophe Moreau (in the white combination jersey)
Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis (USPS) and Christophe Moreau (CA) ride in the bunch during the final stage of the Dauphine Libere
Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Kelme) raises his arms as he wins the final stage
"Don't look at me like that!" Lance Armstrong stares down his trophy after winning the Dauphine Libere
The final podium: Floyd Landis (2nd), Lance Armstrong (1st) and Christophe Moreau (3rd).