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56th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - 2.HC
France, June 6-13, 2004
Photography
Prologue - June 6: Megève ITT, 5.4 km
Stage 1 - June 7: Megève - Bron, 231 km
Stage 2 - June 8: Bron - Saint-Etienne, 181 km
Stage 3 - June 9: Saint-Etienne - Aubenas, 180 km
Stage 4 - June 10: Bédoin - Le Mont Ventoux ITT, 21.6 km
Stage 5 - June 11: Bollène - Sisteron, 149 km
Stage 6 - June 12: Gap - Grenoble, 144 km
Stage 7 - June 13: Grenoble - Grenoble, 200 km
Stage 7 - June 13: Grenoble - Grenoble, 200 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) gets ready for battle
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) and Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) joke in the peloton
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) explaining his sprinting tactics to Iban Mayo
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) takes a breather
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) climbs during the final stage
- The peloton rides during the final stage of the Dauphine Libere
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) rides with Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) on the final climb of the day. O'Grady dropped Casar on the descent and won the stage.
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) powers along during stage 7
- The final podium (L to R): Oscar Sevilla (3rd), Iban Mayo (1st) and Tyler Hamilton (2nd)
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) donned the final green points jersey
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal p/b Berry Floor) makes his way to the start line in Grenoble
- José Azevedo (US Postal p/b Berry Floor) returns to the team bus after signing on
- Michele Bartoli (Team CSC) relaxes before the start in Grenoble
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal p/b Berry Floor) signs his book in Grenoble
- Australian Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) before the start in Grenoble
- The riders roll out from the start in Grenoble with race leader Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) at the front
- Spaniard Iker Flores (Euskaltel-Euskadi) gets ready for a day at the front of the peleton
- The man with the sunglasses, George Hincapie (US Postal p/b Berry Floor) in Grenoble
- Winner of the 2004 Paris Nice, German Jörg Jaksche (Team CSC) in Grenoble
- Race leader Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on his way to sign on in Grenoble
- Race leader Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) behind his team in Villard de Lans
- The peloton lead by the orange jerseys of the Euskaltel-Euskadi team in Villard de Lans
- Victor Hugo Pena (US Postal p/b Berry Floor) before the start in Grenoble
- This year's Dauphiné Libéré stage winner in Aubenas, Frenchman Nicolas Portal (Ag2R Prevoyance) in Grenoble
- Australian Michael Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) in Grenoble
- Spaniard Oscar Sevilla (Phonak Hearing Systems) in Grenoble
- Climbing into Villard de Lans, the break is led by Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) and includes the day's winner Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) on the left
Stage 6 - June 12: Gap - Grenoble, 144 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) attacked at the start of the sixth stage
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) rides in the company of his teammates during stage 6
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) rides behind Tyler Hamilton and Iban Mayo
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) chats with CSC director Bjarne Riis
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) rides during stage 6
- Ivan Basso (CSC) leads Rasmussen during their escape
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) shows the marks of his crash in stage 6
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) and Lance Armstrong (USPS) neck and neck
- Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) en route to a big win
- Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) wins the sixth stage in Grenoble
Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Mikel Astarloza (Ag2R Prevoyance) riding alone on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- A back group containing Eric Dekker (Rabobank) and the previous days winner, Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) above Uriage
- Italian Ivan Basso (Team CSC) riding to second place in Grenoble
- Laurent Dufaux (Quick.Step-Davitamon) and Jean-Cyril Robin (FDJeux.com) riding together on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole) with a kilometre left to ride to the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- Over 20 minutes behind Rasmussen - the final group in the race are lined out on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- Up close with Benjamin Noval (US Postal) on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- Nicolas Portal (Ag2R Prevoyance) leads his group on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
- Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) on his way to winning the stage in Grenoble
- Laurent Dufaux (Quick.Step-Davitamon) and Jean-Cyril Robin (FDJeux.com) ride under the wooded slopes of Chamrousse
- Kevin De Weert (Rabobank) and Santos Gonzalez (Phonak Hearing Systems) lead a back group on the Cote De Villeneuve d'Uriage
Stage 5 - June 11: Bollène - Sisteron, 149 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) at the start
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) well protected by his teammates during stage 5
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) descends and eats at the same time
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) in action during stage 5
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) in good spirits again
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) next to Tyler Hamilton in stage 5
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) rides ahead of Oscar Pereiro during stage 5
- Erik Dekker (Rabobank) in the mountains jersey
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) on the attack in stage 5
- Stuart O'Grady leads George Hincapie in their two man breakaway
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) beats George Hincapie (USPS) across the line to win stage 5
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) in his preferred green points jersey
Stage 4 - June 10: Bédoin - Le Mont Ventoux ITT, 21.6 km
Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews
- The Giant of Provence looms large from the start in Bedoin
- Jean-Cyril Robin (FDJeux.com) rounds the final hairpin on Mont Ventoux
- France's darling, Richard Virenque (Quick.Step-Davitamon) didn't wow the crowds with his ride on the Ventoux
- Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) cracked the top 20 on Mont Ventoux
- Walter Beneteau (Brioches La Boulangère) nears the summit, at last
- Christophe Moreau (Crédit Agricole) put in a solid ride to finish 16th
- Juan Miguel Mercado (Quick.Step-Davitamon) held the lead for some time but missed out on the stage podium
- David Moncoutié (Cofidis) fights his way to 12th place at the summit
- Oscar Sevilla (Phonak) was the first rider to beat Jonathan Vaughters' Ventoux record
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) could only muster fifth best on the day
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) checks to see that his time is indeed the fastest
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) gets an escort back to the podium after his winning ride
Images by AFP Photo
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) looked smooth as he rode to the top in the day's fastest time
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) nears the summit of Ventoux
- Race leader Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) had a great ride to finish seventh, but it wasn't enough to keep the leader's jersey
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) gives it everything
- Oscar Sevilla (Phonak) battles his way up the mountain
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) powers up Ventoux, struggling in the heat
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) is the new leader of the Dauphine Libere
Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal-Berry Floor) passes Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) before the Chalet Reynard on the steep slopes of Mont Ventoux
- Mikel Astarloza (Ag2R Prevoyance) fights with his bicycle on the Mont Ventoux
- Matthew White (Cofidis) is wired up on the Mont Ventoux
- Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) on Mont Ventoux, two kilometres before the Chalet Reynard
- Erik Dekker (Rabobank) would loose his mountains jersey to the day's winner, Iban Mayo
- Andy Flickinger (Ag2R Prevoyance) riding to finish just inside the time limit on the Mont Ventoux
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak Hearing Systems) digs deep to ride to second place on the Mont Ventoux
- George Hincapie (US Postal-Berry Floor) riding to 33rd place on the Mont Ventoux
- Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) would be eliminated for finishing outside the time limit on the Mont Ventoux
- Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) riding to eighth place on the Mont Ventoux
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) on his way to winning on the Mont Ventoux with a record time
- David Millar (Cofidis) on the Mont Ventoux
- David Moncoutie (Cofidis) riding to 12th place on the Mont Ventoux
- The winner the previous day, Nicolas Portal (Ag2R Prevoyance) on the Mont Ventoux
- Carlos Sastre (Team CSC) riding to 18th place on the Mont Ventoux
- Determination from Nicki Sorensen (Team CSC) in hot conditions on the Mont Ventoux
- The rider's view of the Mont Ventoux in the early kilometres of the time-trial from Bedoin.
- Race leader José Gutierrez (Phonak Hearing Systems) riding to seventh place on the Mont Ventoux
Images by Philippe/velopalmares.free.fr
- Nicki Sörensen (Team CSC)
- Joseba Albizu (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
- David Millar (Cofidis)
- Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
- Iker Flores (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
- Floyd Landis (US Postal)
- Erik Dekker (Rabobank)
- Dimitri Muravyev (Credit Agricole)
- Jorg Jaksche (Team CSC)
- Jose Azevedo (US Postal)
- Levi Leiphemer (Rabobank)
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal)
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal)
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak)
Stage 3 - June 9: Saint-Etienne - Aubenas, 180 km
Images by AFP Photo
- José Gutierrez (Phonak) rides in the leader's jersey during stage 3
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) getting used to the heat
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) paces his teammate and race leader José Gutierrez
- David Millar (Cofidis) What you looking at?'
- Nicolas Portal (Ag2r) launches the winning move, dropping Tombak and Flores
- Nicolas Portal (Ag2r) wins the third stage of the Dauphine Libere
Images by Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews.com
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) with his new light bike
Stage 2 - June 8: Bron - Saint-Etienne, 181 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) has an early race chat with Lance Armstrong
- "They're all dopers" reads a sign at the side of the road
- Erik Dekker (Rabobank) took the climber's jersey after a long break with teammate Karsten Kroon and RAGT's Guillaume Auger
- Race leader Iban Mayo's Euskaltel-Euskadi team took responsibility for the chase behind the breakaway
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal Service) had a quiet day in the main field
- Phonak's Cyril Dessel would end up second on the stage
- José Gutierrez (Phonak) takes his chance on a late-stage attack
- Cyril Dessel (Phonak) outsprints Stuart O'Grady for second place
- José Gutierrez (Phonak) took the stage win and the race lead in stage 2
Stage 1 - June 7: Megève - Bron, 231 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Lance Armstrong (L) and Iban Mayo (R) share a joke at the start
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) ready to roll
- The peloton fly down a descent during stage 1
- Jimmy Casper (Cofidis) during his loooooong solo effort
- Euskaltel-Euskadi leads the peloton during stage 1 of the Dauphine
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) looking cool, calm and collected
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) rides during the first stage of the Dauphine
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) well protected by his teammates
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) in the mountains jersey during stage 1
- Thor Hushovd (L) beats Stuart O'Grady (R) to win stage 1
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) on the podium after retaining the yellow jersey
Images by www.velofotopro.fr.st
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal/Berry Floor) in a very chirpy mood at the start in Megève.
- Ex-team-mates, but still buddies - Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton share a laugh.
- Maillot jaune Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) is the star attraction with the youngsters.
- Aussies Baden Cooke and Michael Rogers kick back at the Village Départ.
- Oscar Sevilla (Phonak) catches up on the daily news.
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal/Berry Floor) and Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) will be fighting for an even bigger prize come July.
Prologue - June 6: Megève ITT, 5.4 km
Images by AFP Photo
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) gives it everything in the prologue of the Dauphine Libere, which he won by less than a second
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) on top of the world in the Dauphine prologue
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) ready to start
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) goes all out
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) warms up for his prologue ride
- Alien 4? Lance Armstrong in the start box
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) has his race face on
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) on the climb
- Lance Armstrong (USPS-Berry Floor) en route to third place in the prologue
- Jorg Jaksche (CSC) in motion during the prologue
- David Millar (Cofidis) sets off for his 5.4 km
- David Millar (Cofidis) rides during the prologue time trial of the Dauphine
Images by www.velofotopro.fr.st
- Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) in the start-house.
- Sunglasses, please - Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) bright orange.
- David Millar (Cofidis) psyches himself up with his favourite tunes.
- A very chirpy Oscar Sevilla (Phonak)
- Baden Cooke (FdJeux.com) looking focused.
- Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) looks yonder.
- Lance Armstrong (US Postal/Berry Floor) takes in a few deep breaths.
