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57th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - PT
France, June 5-12, 2005
Photography
Prologue - Sunday, June 5: Aix-les-Bains ITT, 7.9 km
Stage 1 - Monday, June 6: Aix-les-Bains-Givors, 224 km
Stage 2 - Tuesday, June 7: Givors - Chauffailles, 187 km
Stage 3 - Wednesday, June 8: Roanne - Roanne ITT, 47 km
Stage 4 - Thursday, June 9: Tournon-sur-Rhône - Le Mont Ventoux,
182 km
Stage 5 - Friday, June 10: Vaison-la-Romaine - Grenoble, 219 km
Stage 6 - Saturday, June 11: Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 155 km
Stage 7 - Sunday, June 12: Morzine-Avoriaz - Sallanches, 128 km
Stage 7 - Sunday, June 12: Morzine-Avoriaz - Sallanches, 128 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- CN's Anthony Tan spots someone to talk to
- Armstrong wants to know what he's signing
- Lance and the throng
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) looks nervous
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) rides to the start
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) looking forward to sign on
- He ain't the defending champ but he still gets number one
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) signs on
- Lance and Popo on the podium
- Wait up
- Landaluze wondering what the day will bring
- Landaluze prepares to sign on
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) looking happier
- Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) will be a dad soon
- Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile)
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) worried
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) would not finish the day
- Vinokourov at the start
- Vino obliges the fans
- Santi Botero (Phonak) is glowing
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) looks annoyed
- Climbing in the French Alps
- Chavanel puts the pressure on
- Check out the backdrop! Quality work by the organisers
- Merckx leads the peloton
- The only way is up
- Chasing hard
- Botero suffers
- Dekker suffers
- Here we go again
- The peloton climbs with the Alps in the background
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) lookin' good
- Erik Dekker on the Domancy climb
- O'Grady climbing alone
- Heras in a spot of bother
- Very watchful in the chase group
- Vino and Kashekhin
- Leipheimer stuck in the middle
- Mancebo puts the pressure on
- Botero follows
- Leipheimer follows
- Vino and Leipheimer comfy
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) leads the Armstrong group
- Armstrong and Mazzoleni climbing
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) on his lonesome
- Botero keeping an eye out
- Codol and Armstrong in the bunch
- This is hard work says Chavanel
- Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) looks up ahead
- Ivan Guttierez (Illes Balears) in the mountains jersey
- Chavanel working alone
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) concentrates
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) riding hard
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) in the hurt box
- The peloton climbs the Cote du Domancy
- Popovych and Hincapie climbing
- Popo leads Hincapie
- Popovych leads Hincapie
- Popovych and Hincapie keep driving
- Popo and George together
- Popovych always in front
- Popo and George
- Whaddya we do boss? Just win!
- Popovych and Hincapie in unison
- Santi Botero (Phonak) takes a flyer
- Botero on the attack
- Armstrong and Leipheimer chase Botero
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) leads Armstrong and Vino, who is just about to go after Botero
- Lance keeps an eye on Vino
- Hey, where do you think you're going?
- Armstrong counters Vino's counter
- Vinokourov goes after Botero
- Landaluze had to go deep to defend his jersey
- Popovych: "Hey George… you forgot something"
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) celebrates his win
- Hincapie salutes as he wins
- Armstrong and Vino fight it out for third
- Vino and Lance fight it out for third
- Armstrong beats Vino with the throw
- Nice throw
- Vinokourov crosses the line for fourth
- Armstrong post-stage
- Santi Botero (Phonak) doing the sums in his head
- How much time do I have?
- Landaluze is congratulated by his soigneurs
- Alright! Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) celebrates his overall win
- You did it!
- A very happy Inigo Landaluze after the stage
- Yes! Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) knows he's got it
- This'll be handy - I need a new weathervane
- George smiles
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) on the podium
Images by AFP
- Discovery team-mates Yaroslav Popovych and George Hincapie skipped away after roughly 35 kilometres and never came back.
- Alexandre Vinkourov (T-Mobile) leads the a rapidly thinning peloton.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) got an armchair ride to the finish today, courtesy of his two team-mates out in front.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) leads the Disco train, with Santiago Botero (Phonak) in tow.
- Munch! Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) has been riding strongly all week, with today no exception.
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears, L) and co. attempt to distance themselves from the maillot jaune of Inigo Landaluze.
- Yaroslav Popovych and George Hincapie drive onwards and upwards.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) put in another gutsy performance to hold onto the race lead by 11 seconds at the end of the day.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) leads Santiago Botero (Phonak).
- Well, what do you expect? Lance was here!
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) takes the final stage in Sallanches.
- Honey, I'm home!
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) outsprints Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile, obscured) and Santiago Botero (Phonak) to make it a Disco 1-2-3 stage victory.
- Really? Holy cow! Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) can hardly believe it.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) gets some help donning the final maillot jaune of the 2005 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was so exhausted by the day's end, they reduced the size of his winner's trophy.
- The final podium - (L to R) Santiago Botero (Phonak, 2nd), Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi, 1st), Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner, 3rd).
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Christophe Edaleine (Cofidis) climbs the Cote du Domancy
- Nicolas Fritsch (Saunier Duval) on the final ascent of the Cote du Domancy
- Stephane Goubert (Ag2r) with concentration written all over his face
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) finds it tough on the Cote du Domancy
- Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) putting in the big ones on the Cote du Domancy
- Andrey Kashechkin (Credit Agricole) digs deep on the Cote du Domancy
- For George Hincapie and Yaroslav Popovych it was a day of Discovery on the Cote du Domancy
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) attacks his rivals on the Cote du Domancy on the penultimate lap of the circuit
Stage 6 - Saturday, June 11: Albertville - Morzine-Avoriaz, 155 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- It ain't easy getting a quote from the man.
- Sheryl Crow looks more pumped about the day than her boyfriend...
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) has a warm-inner glow about him today.
- The peloton on their way to Morine at the start of the day.
- The peloton a pretty sight in Les Alpes.
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) was Armstrong's ever-faithful lieutenant today.
- Maryan Hary (Bouygues Telecom) was the second rider of the day to come to grief after Alberto Contador, crashing on the descent of the Col de la Colombière.
- Now this is how you do it...
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) launches his winning move three kilometres into the Col de Joux-Plane, with David Moncoutié (Cofidis) bridging up to him moments later.
- Behind, what remained of the peloton went into damage control.
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) takes off with Floyd Landis in tow, but it wasn't for long.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) was in a no-fuss mood today.
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) had a great ride to finish with Armstrong today.
- Jose Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) leads the group containing Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) and Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) on the Joux-Plane.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) rode within himself today, and as a result, retained the race lead.
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) wasn't too far behind Botero and Moncoutié.
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) comes home a winner in Morzine.
- A limp salute is all Santiago Botero (Phonak) can muster, his energy totally spent on the road behind.
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) looking quietly confident for the month ahead at the start in Albertville.
- The peloton ride through the area known as Les Alpes.
- The weekend crowds were out in force today. Check out all those campervans!
- What's left of the 'peloton' at the start of the Col de Joux-Plane.
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) and David Moncoutié (Cofidis) go for it on the Col de Joux-Plane.
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) steps on the gas.
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) and David Moncoutié (Cofidis) away on the Col de Joux-Plane.
- Did you say attack? Santiago Botero (Phonak) appears to be having problems with radio reception.
- David Moncoutié (Cofidis) giving it plenty on the Joux-Plane.
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) was roughly 30 seconds behind the leading pair on the Joux-Plane.
- And Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) was just a few seconds behind Mancebo.
- Marzio Bruseghin (Fassa Bortolo) rode very well to eventually finish fifth.
- Here comes Lance!
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) drives the group behind, with Armstrong and Leipheimer in tow.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) rode within his limit today.
- Jose Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) drives the group containing Armstrong.
- Armstrong and Gomez Marchante share the pace-making on the Joux-Plane.
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) in the hurt box.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) cheered on by a Basque fan, before leaving his group behind.
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel-Euskadi) rode courageously to hold onto his maillot jaune.
- Jorg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros) was part of the Armstrong group that formed on the Col de la Colombière, but succumbed to the pace set on the Joux-Plane.
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) was another victim of the Joux-Plane.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) was well off the winning pace, eventually finishing almost 17 minutes down.
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) triumphs in Morzine.
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) rolls out in Albertville at the last possible moment
- David Arroyo (Illes Balears) finishes in eighth place in Morzine
- Axel Merckx (davitamon-Lotto) the previous day's winner in Grenoble, is all smiles in Albertville
- The CSC spares lorry is well stocked
- Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) signs autographs in Albertville
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) looking pretty relaxed in Albertville
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) seems to have somehting on his mind in Albertville
- The finish in Morzine with the OLN team of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen taking up the road with their pre-show interview
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) sprints in Morzine to finish two seconds in front of Lance Armstrong
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) rolls out at the start in Albertville
Stage 5 - Friday, June 10: Vaison-la-Romaine - Grenoble, 219 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) wins the fifth stage into Grenoble
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) celebrates his victory
- Ahh…
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) refuels post-stage
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) finishes his ride
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) is escorted by a team soigneur
- Eddy Mazzoleni (Lampre-Caffita) had a good ride, but faded at the end to finish fourth
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) crosses for fifth
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) finishing sixth
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) finishes in 10th after being part of the day's breakaway
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) finishes in 23rd
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) finishes the stage
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) comes across the line in 25th
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) kept the mountains jersey
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) crosses the line
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is told where to go
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) looks for his bus
- Oscar Sevilla (T-Mobile) at the end of a long day
- Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) cruises across the line
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) back as a winner after a two year break
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) salutes from the podium
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) smiles from the podium
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) looks completely thrilled to be in yellow
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) contemplates being the new leader
- Hmm, two more days and three teammates. Not easy.
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) is now the points leader
Images by AFP Photo
- Levi and Odessa kiss each other before the start of the stage
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) kisses one of his dogs before the start
- Landaluze and Mourey ride in the early break
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) chats with Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel)
- The peloton during stage 5
- The peloton stretched out en route to Grenoble
- The T-Mobile train has a passenger
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) on a descent
- Vinokourov and Armstrong ride together
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) during his long, solo effort
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) descends, with Floyd Landis on his wheel
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) tries to get the most out of a descent
- Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) concentrates hard
- Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel) striving for the yellow jersey
Images by Russell Standring/grenoblecycling.free.fr
- A contented Axel Merckx on the podium in Grenoble
- Inigo Landaluze leads the chase behind Mercx on the second category Col de Grimone
- The peloton is dwarfed by the mountains above the Col de Grimone
- Paolo Bossoni outsprints Sylvain Chavanel to take fifth place in Grenoble
- Benjamin Noval rolls over the line in third place in Grenoble
- Alexandre Vinokourov leads the mountains classification in Grenoble
- Janek Tombak (Cofidis) and Nicolas Portal (Ag2r) chase the front breakaway riders on the Col de Grimone
Stage 4 - Thursday, June 9: Tournon-sur-Rhône - Le Mont Ventoux, 182 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) signs a magazine for a fan
- Leipheimer's Gerolsteiner boys kept him out of the wind
- "Where's the boss?"
- "George to Lance, George to Lance, come in Lance...Where are you? Oh. Right."
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) and Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile)
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) climbs
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) with Botero and Vinokourov on his wheel
- David Moncoutie (Cofidis) checks to see the damage he's caused
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) puts the hurt on Leipheimer and Armstrong
- Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) attacks the leader's group
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) just a little off the pace
- Armstrong's group chases Leipheimer
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) nears the summit of Mont Ventoux
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) in suffer mode
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) leads Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) and Wim Van Huffel (Davitamon-Lotto) on the Ventoux
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) celebrates his win at the top of Mont Ventoux
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) followed in the footsteps of Petrarch (and many others) by climbing Mont Ventoux. He also did it faster than anyone else today.
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) on the podium
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) still in the lead
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- José Gutierrez (Phonak) leads the break through the village of Suze-la-Rousse after 114 kilometres
- Christophe Edaleine (Cofidis) rides up to the finish on Mont Ventoux
- Massimo Giunti (Fassa Bortolo) rounds the final bend on Mont Ventoux
- Bernhard Kohl (T-Mobile) has a quiet chat in Tournon-sur-Rhône before the start
- Jose Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) was dropped by stage winner Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) with 150 metres left to the summit of Ventoux
- Daniel Mangeas, the voice of the Tour de France and Dauphine Libere
Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.be
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) leads Jose Marchante (Saunier Duval) on his way to stage victory
- Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) seems pretty relaxed heading up Ventoux
- Showing the strain of Ventoux in many different ways
- Team CSC were quiet today
- Together, we can take on Ventoux or so the theory goes
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) with what appears to be a smile...don't know why
- Carlos Sastre (CSC) finished down the order today
- Frederic Finot (Française Des Jeux) climbs with the Gerolsteiner boys behind him
- We're almost there; the barren slopes of Ventoux provide a dramatic backdrop for racing
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) hits the gas next to Floyd Landis
- The end is in sight but there's more to come in this race
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) hanging tough up Ventoux
- If you keep toiling... you're bound to get somewhere
- Manuel Beltran (Discovery Channel)
- Andrey Kashechkin (Credit Agricole) continues the Kazakh theme up Ventoux
- Nicki Sorensen (CSC) pushes hard and feels the pain
- Maxim Iglinskiy (Domina Vacanze) wasn't as high placed as his compatriot today
Stage 3 - Wednesday, June 8: Roanne - Roanne ITT, 47 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) during his winning ride
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) can even keep the aero tuck while riding through grass
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) drives out of a corner
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) using his excellent aero position to good advantage
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) passed Andrey Kashechkin, who started two minutes ahead of him, in the final metres
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) finishes his ride, one second short of Botero
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) keeps his eyes on what's coming up
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) drives along in the third stage TT
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) in TT mode
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) at full tilt
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) powers along through the trees
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) with his uniquely angled TT style
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) showed excellent form to finish in the top five
- Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Phonak) winds it up
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) happy to be on the podium again
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) puts on the leader's jersey
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) in the yellow and blue leader's jersey
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- The muscles of Cofidis rider, Sylvain Chavanel as he warms up in Roanne
- Erik Dekker is interviewed in Roanne
- Roberto Heras rolls into the last kilometre in Roanne
- The look of a contented man - Levi Leipheimer on the podium in the yellow jersey in Roanne
- The view of the road ahead in Rik Verbrugghe's sunglasses
- The yellow jersey, Samuel Dumoulin starts his time-trial in Roanne
- Thor Hushovd leaves Roanne at the start of his time-trial
Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.be
- Wim Van Huffel (Davitamon Lotto) gets it going during the time trial
- Gerolsteiner were on song today with two riders in the top ten
- Somebody give me air!
- Man, that's sleek!
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) lets rip
- Yeah? You don't say... talking to yourself makes time trials go faster
- Yarolav Popovych powers along
- Note to self: never use borrowed helmets when they are too large
- Luis Sanchez (Liberty Seguros) looks strong during the TT
- At least he can see the funny side
- Carlos Sastre (CSC) is hurting a bit
- Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) sucking in plenty of air for the engine
- Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Liberty Seguros) with a less-than-well-fitted helmet
- Marzio Bruseghin (Fassa Bortolo) takes in plenty of air as he drives it
- Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) and tongue make a great team
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) putting in the big ones
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) in green and looking mean...and fast
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is sleek and fast
- Santiago Botero (Phonak) flies on his way to winning the stage
- Francisco Ruiz (T-Mobile) shows the strain
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) looks slightly perturbed...
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) pushes it during the TT
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) in go fast mode, albeit with a funny face
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) grimaces slightly on his way to second
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) gets down and into it
- Frederic Finot (Française Des Jeux) hurts because mountain men aren't supposed to time trial
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) only had a short stint in yellow
- Bouygues Telecom are using the new Time TT frame and it looks pretty darn fast
Stage 2 - Tuesday, June 7: Givors - Chauffailles, 187 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP
- Go west, young man!
- A bug's eye view of Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel).
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) forces the winning move early in the race.
- Alexandre Vinkourov (T-Mobile) will be a man to watch come the Tour.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) gives the signal for 'It's okay to eat, George'.
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) has been laying low until now.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) grabs a quick bite to eat.
- Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinkourov (T-Mobile) and Andrey Kashechkin (Credit Agricole) ride side by side.
- Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) is one of France's best hopes for overall victory at the Dauphiné.
- The peloton passes a house in need of more than just a quick trim.
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is flanked by T-Mobile's Oscar Sevilla and Alexandre Vinkourov.
- Whaddya reckon Lance - me winning the Tour? Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) and Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Illes Balears) chew the fat.
- Eventual winner Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) bides his time in the breakaway.
- Hey hun, leave the leg-smashing till tomorrow. Sheryl Crow offers some words of wisdom to her boyfriend Lance Armstrong.
- Okay, babe, you can go and play with your friends now. A few more words of wisdom from Sheryl.
- Recent Volta a Catalunya stage winner Anthony Charteau (Bouygues Telecom) ups the tempo in the break.
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) outsprints Anthony Charteau (Bouygues Telecom) and Frederic Finot (Française Des Jeux) to take the stage in Chauffailles.
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) lets out a winning roar.
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) finishes off his victory salute.
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) waves to the partisan crowd before accepting his winner's trophy.
- Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r Prevoyance) in the leader's jersey.
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- The break play cat and mouse with 500 metres left to the finish line
- The peloton chase the four riders in the break with 85 kilometres left to ride
- The small town of Chauffailles was the perfect host for the arrival of stage two
- The Liberty Seguros-Würth team lead the peloton over the Col des Echarmeaux after 87 kilometres
- Lance checks his connection back to the team at the start in Givors
- The Mountains classification leader, Francis Mourey enjoys a joke in Givors
- Credit Agricole lead the peloton in the last 500 metres in Chauffailles
- Robert Hunter is in good spirits in Givors before the start
- T-Mobile rider, Francisco Lara Ruiz (T-Mobile) prepares for the start in Givors
Stage 1 - Monday, June 6: Aix-les-Bains-Givors, 224 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- Hincapie and Hushovd suddenly realise they have to be somewhere else
- Look at all that serenity
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) talks to Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros)
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) talks to The Boss
- I could have sworn it was right back there. Hey, what happened to the peloton?
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) wearing the green points jersey
- Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) driving the six man break
- Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) rides with Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile)
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) trying to make it harder for himself
- Benjamin Noval powers the Discovery train
- Synchronisation, as we know, is crucial in cycling
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) was happy to do a bit of work for Hincapie today
- Hincapie and Armstrong consult while Lotto's Ardila and Vansummeren look on
- Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (Illes Balears) was the last man standing of the breakaways
- Hushovd ('R) just gets it from Hunter
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) salutes from the podium after taking his third ever Dauphine stage win
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) is king for another day
Images by Russell Standring/http://grenoblecycling.free.fr
- Axel Merckx (Dvitamon-Lotto) in Aix les Bains
- Race leader George Hincapie with his Discovery Channel team at the sign on in Aix les Bains
- Euskaltel-Euskadi riders cycle to the start in Aix les Bains
- George Hancapie lines up with Stuart O'Grady in Aix les Bains
- Riders from Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne enjoy five minutes to chat before the depart in Aix les Bains
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) has a chat while riding to the start
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is interviewed in Aix les Bains
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is happy to warm up in Aix les Bains
- Armstrong stays focused on his warm up
- The number one of Lance Armstrong as he powers away in Aix les Bains
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) has 700 metres left to ride in Aix les Bains
- Ex-Tour de France stage winner, Frederic Moncassin in Aix les Bains for the start
- Josu Silloniz (Euskatel) climbs above Aix les Bains
- Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) warms up before the prologue start
Prologue - Sunday, June 5: Aix-les-Bains ITT, 7.9 km
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) powers to victory
- Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) demonstrates the perfect aero form for the TT
- Floyd Landis (Phonak) en route to a fine fourth
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is cheered on by an estimated crowd
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) rides past a French supporter
- Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) going fast
- Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros) hammers
- Santi Botero (Phonak) with the tuck happening
- Roberto Heras (Liberty Seguros) is back in action
- Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) gives it some stick
- Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) flat out
- Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears) doing his best to blend in
- Christophe Edaleine (Cofidis) rides past a couple of interested spectators
- Marc Wauters (Rabobank) inadvertently rides through a picnic
- Andrey Kasheckhin (Credit Agricole)
- Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) riding smoothly
