89th Tour de France - Grand Tour

France, July 6-28, 2002

TdF 2002 Features & diaries

Final wrap up    Racy Language    Rest Day features    Interviews     TdF diarists     Tour Tech     Previews    

Final wrap up

The year of the team - A full analysis and wrap up of this year's Tour
Apres le Tour - in the back seat of the team car
Lance Armstrong - July 27 press conference

Racy Language talks to Lance Armstrong

Cyclingnews' European editor Tim Maloney interviewed Lance Armstrong in the weeks leading up to his attempt at Tour win number four. Countdown To Le Tour: Lance Armstrong speaks to Cyclingnews about 2002 Preparation, Competition and the USPS Doping Dossier
Armstrong's Spring campaign over - American sets his sights on quest for 4th consecutive Tour De France title (May 1, 2002)

Rest Day Features

After act one, what's next?. A look at what's in store for the peloton as they head towards the moutains
A look inside the Alfa Romeo of race director Jean-Marie LeBlanc
Tim Maloney spends one day aboard the "Moto Presse Ecrit" Kawasaki in Moto Madness
Le Tour 101 - answers to those TdF questions you've not been too afraid to ask

Interviews

Lance Armstrong - Pre-Tour press conference, where he discussed race preparation, the strength of his team, and the likely contenders for the Tour title.
Lance Armstrong - July 25 press conference given in the Alps. The Maillot Jaune spoke about his 2002 Tour up to this point, his USPS team, and a variety of other topics.
Lance Armstrong - July 27 press conference after his fourth stage victory in the individual time trial (Stage 19). Questions once again focused on his race this year, his expectations for the future, and how he views his competition in the race.
Chris Carmichael - Lance Armstrong's long time coach Chris Carmichael speaks about Armstrong's preparation, chances, rivals, the parcours and more.
Baden Cooke Part 1 - With three big wins this season, coupled with his fine second place in the prologue of TdF warm-up race, the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, you could say Cookie's developing quite an appetite for wins in French stage races. Which brings us to young Cookie and his ravenous yearning for a stage win the Tour de France.
Baden Cooke Part 2 - When you're scooting along at 70 clicks an hour, there's no time for talking. Gerard Knapp managed to get a few words with Cookie once he slowed down.
Erik Dekker - Getting hip to Mr Congeniality.
David Etxebarria Part 1 - In part one of this special interview, Euskatel-Euskadi's hard man explains the reason behind the creation of the "Euskaltel animal", what it means to be from the Basque country, and why it's useful to know more than one dialect - especially at dinner time. Also available in Spanish.
David Etxebarria Part 2 - In the second part of this special interview, Etxebarria talks about who in EE's hot and who's not, his predictions for the TdF, memories from his time at ONCE and some unfulfilled cycling dreams. Also available in Spanish.
Igor Gonzales de Galdeano - ONCE's chrono man (Spanish version)
Ivan Basso - The story of the wolf and the stallion. Ivan Basso may be the hero that saves what dignity remains within a country that worships the sport of football and cycling above all else.
Julian Gorospe - Euskaltel's DS on the orange team's Tour aims
Tyler Hamilton - Great friends off the bike they may be, but it's not just going to be Lance versus France - Tyler Hamilton will be giving his all to put Austin Powers in a spot of difficulty come the high mountains.
Robert Hunter - The 25 year-old South African sprinter muses about his team's withdrawal from pro cycling at the end of the year, the fact that he's now "on the market" and his recent discussions with US Postal and some French teams.
Floyd Landis - Cyclingnews spoke to the fat-tyre addict turned relevatory roadie after Stage 6 of the Dauphiné Libéré in the French mountain resort of Morzine, where the American rider clinched his second place on GC after a fine ride on the toughest day of this prestigious "hors categorie" French stage race.
The Legend of Landis Part 1 - The story of Floyd Landis is among the most intriguing to emerge out the world of pro cycling in the last few years. USPS director Johan Bruyneel was well aware that Lance Armstrong needed some heavy artillery for his defence of the Tour, and after an incredible ride in the Dauphiné Libéré, Bruyneel recruited young gun Landis to the TdF squad.
The Legend of Landis Part 2 - In part two of our interview with Floyd Landis, he talks about his switch from mountainbiking and his entry into the world of professional road racing.
Robbie McEwen - The McPocket Rocket from the Gold Coast has clocked up more wins this season than your local Micky Ds serves cheeseburgers and fries on a Saturday night. OK - it's maybe not that many, but the Lotto-Adecco rider has been winning races ever since his victory in the Aussie road titles back in January and has not stopped winning. Find out about his preparation and plans leading up the world's biggest cycling race.
Bradley McGee - The prologue favourite from down under talks about his goals, preparation and the fruits of the Aussie FDJ connection a few days before the Tour kick-off.
Stuart O'Grady - "I'm back on bike, ready to do everything I can to keep the green jersey until AFTER the line on the Champs-Elysées!". Find out what else the Adelaide man had to say a few hours before he rolls off the start ramp in Luxembourg.
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez - Euskaltel-Euskadi's 24 year old Tour rookie isn't expected to do great things. Except that is, by himself. Cyclingnews talked to this ambitious young rider in English and Spanish.
Richard Virenque - Virenque's solo victory in Paris-Tours in the latter half of the 2001 season signalled a comeback. However his path of retribution is not complete: the Frenchman still wants to show who's boss when the road veers skywards in two weeks time.

TdF diarists

In addition to the exclusive journal by Cyclingnews diarists Bradley McGee, Floyd Landis, John Eustice, Mike Tomalaris and A Podium Girl Gone Bad, the following list provides you with a profile on other riders who will be keeping a regular diary during their adventures in this year's Tour. Click on the rider journals link for a short profile on each rider that goes straight to their diary; or click on the stage comments link that includes a summary of all their comments on one page. Some have daily updates, while others update their diaries only when they have not expended all their energy after a hard day in the saddle.

Brad McGee's TdF diary     Floyd Landis' TdF diary     John Eustice's TdF diary     Mike Tomalaris' TdF diary    
Other rider journals  - stage comments: Prologue - Stage 7, Stages 8 - 14

Tour Tech

Tour bikes Part 1 - European editor Tim Maloney manged to shoot some of the latest team bikes around "Tour Central"
Tour bikes Part 2 - Tim Maloney's still snapping away. You think you've just died and gone to heaven.
Tour bikes Part 3 - Part 3 includes Euskaltel's Orbea, Tacconi's Carrera, Ag2r's Decathlon, and Lance Armstrong's Daddy Yo-Yo.
Tour bikes Part 4 - Time trial machines are a slightly different breed - we profile them here.
Pro bikes: ONCE's Giant TCR Composite TdF Special - None more black (and gold)

Previews

The Tour de France 2002 teams form guide - Part one, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four