www.cyclingnews.com presents the 93rd Tour de France

93rd Tour de France, July 1-23, 2006

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Stage 2 - Monday, July 3: Obernai - Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg), 228.5 km

Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto)
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

It's a long day on Monday for the Tour de France peloton, with the second longest stage of Le Tour on the program. Stage two heads northwest towards Luxembourg with two Cat 3 cols in the first 50km.

After the frantic battle for mountain points on the ascents, a break should get away, but the sprinters teams will have to be careful not to let them get too much time and roll it up. With two Cat 4 hills in the last 17km, opportunistic counter-attackers will try for the winner's bouquet in Esch-sur-Alzette.

Stage details, Full results, report & photos, Live report

Stage 1 - Sunday, July 2: Strasbourg - Strasbourg, 183 km

Jimmy Casper (Cofidis)
Photo ©: Sirotti

Sunday's Stage 1 flat sprinters' stage starts and finishes in Strasbourg, with a 30km incursion into Germany midway through the stage. It will be a tight, tense day with plenty of crashes and a big battle between Boonen's Quick.Step, McEwen's Davitamon-Lotto and Zabel's Milram teams to win the first en ligne stage at Le Tour 2006.

Stage details, Results, Live report

Prologue - Saturday, July 1: Strasbourg ITT, 7 km

Thor Hushovd (CA)
Photo ©: Sirotti

The 93rd Tour de France opens with a completely flat 7km rush through the Alsatian capital of Strasbourg. Always a challenge from the tension and stakes, the all-out eight minute effort will at least establish who's got it and who doesn't as the Tour opens.

Stage details, Full results, report & photos, Live report

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Tour 2006 Preview: Who will fill Armstrong's shoes?
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Stage 20 video

July
- July 24 # 2 - Floyd Landis profile, Mission accomplished for Caisse d'Epargne, More speculation about T-Mobile change, CSC satisfied, Third fastest Tour in history, Landis to ride two Dutch crits, Phonak's Tour riders extend contracts, Phonak comes home with the big prize
- July 24 - Stage 20 wrap-up, Two weeks of suffering for the Champs-Élysées, Post-stage quotes, Ekimov retiring in September, ProTour rankings following Tour, Gerolsteiner not up to snuff
- July 23 #3 - An interview with Robbie McEwen, A strange yet remarkable Tour, Rider quotes
- July 23 #2 - An interview with Floyd Landis, Cunego wins the battle for the white jersey, Eddy Merckx: Landis is the deserved winner, Axel Merckx: "Supporting Landis 100%", Cyril Dessel: "Looking forward to the Champs Elysées", Hincapie: "Happy for Landis"
- July 23 - Stage 19 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, An interview with Andreas Klöden, Hunter and Brard's final torture, Booty and the beast: Payday for Merckx, Gerolsteiner optimistic again,
- July 22 #3 - Tour green jersey almost assured, Evans angry with CSC, Rogers aiming for good TT, Gerrans impressed, A day in the convoy, The science behind an exploit
- July 22 #2 - Evans satisfied, Dessel on cloud #7, French hopes increased - Calzati, Post-race quotes, Gonchar goes swimming?
- July 22 - Stage 18 wrap up, An interview with the winner, An interview with Oscar Pereiro, Epic Landis "could not be held back"
- July 21 #3 - Historicial exploits and the Landis ride, Evans frustrated, Erik Breukink: Menchov played all or nothing, Rasmussen: Menchov a little unfortunate, Gerolsteiner chief "expected worse", Totschnig has bronchitis, Watch out for those cars
- July 21 #2 - Freire goes home, Bjarne Riis: Landis is the favourite now, Schleck: Chapeau for Landis, Jens Voigt: Not seen this for 10 years, Post-stage quotes, Pre-stage 17 quotes
- July 21 - Stage 17 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, Pereiro is Mr. Plus, Dessel lacking strength, Cunego loves the Tour, but he'll give it a miss next year
- July 20 #3 - "Team leader" Kessler takes care of "Captain" Klöden, Voigt: "Are they all crazy?", Mixed fortunes for Lampre-Fondital, De Jongh is gone
- July 20 #2 - Echavarri: Pereiro won the jackpot, Attacking is the only solution for Sastre, Schleck: We had to believe in Carlos, Axel Merckx: When you're empty, you're empty, Marc Sergeant: Still surprises to come, All for nothing for Leipheimer, "No explanation" for Hincapie, Tour a survival test for Gerrans, Post-stage quotes
- July 20 - Stage 16 wrap-up, An interview with the maillot jaune, An interview with the winner, An interview with Floyd Landis, Cyril Dessel gives his regrets to Phonak
- July 19 #3 - Sunderland: Patience pays off for Schleck, Gerolsteiner: In illness and in health, up l'Alpe, Armstrong talks doping
- July 19 #2 - Rookie Cunego will come back to win, Dessel not targetting 'best Frenchman', Evans may win the Tour..., Horner happy to help, Fothen impressed on L'Alpe, Post-stage quotes
- July 19 - Stage 15 wrap-up, An interview with the maillot jaune, An interview with the winner, Riis very satisfied, Oscar Pereiro defended his jersey until the last metre, Post-stage 15 quotes
- July 18 #3 - Bruyneel goes for "best possible feeling", Giantkiller and legend maker: L'Alpe D'Huez and its history, Gerolsteiner riders sick and worried, Boogerd determined, Eisel and Zabel anticipate pain, Armstrong at start, McEwen for crowd pleaser
- July 18 #2 - Evans & McEwen confident, Rest day wrap: Tour 2006 still wide open
- July 18 - Pereiro will fight, "Les jeux sont faits" - Phonak confident, 100 percent for Klöden, Gerolsteiner on the lookout, Jean-Marie Leblanc interview, A strange chase, Celestino on way home, Freire leaves the Tour... for a day
- July 17 #2 - Italy and Belgium still waiting, Boogerd picks up more spotty points, Neither green nor polka dotted jerseys the goals for Rabobank, Three times lucky for Aerts?, Croaky Horner getting better, Evans and Rogers look good in Gap, Rogers reacts to T-Mobile criticism, Pre-stage 14 quotes, Boonen to skip Vuelta, Freire has a son
- July 17 - Stage 14 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, Self punishment for Toto, Verbrugghe's season finished, Tough day for Saunier Duval Prodir team
- July 16 #4 - Landis happy to wait, Robbie looking good so far, Rider soundbites, The tour keeps on changing
- July 16 #3 - Armstrong wins award; knocks French soccer team
- July 16 #2 - Record to be set in 2006 Tour? Hinault: "Landis needs to finish it", Chavanel: "Why not again tomorrow?", Brard: "Oscar is a Hollywood star", Another Eisel top 10, New jersey for Fothen
- July 16 - Stage 13 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, An interview with the maillot jaune, It's show time in Phonak, Ballan disappointed
- July 15 # 4 - Le Mével, the "invalid" who can race, Boonen and Peeters play down tension with Davitamon, Boonen's girlfriend: "Tom never stays angry for long", Steegmans suffering, Tour of Attrition
- July 15 #3 - Boonen beating bunch boosts morale
- July 15 #2 - McEwen: Stop racing? You gotta be taking the piss!, Ballan frustrated, Voigt’s aggression doesn’t pay off this time, Pre-stage 12 quotes
- July 15 - Stage 12 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, Bruyneel remotivates Discovery, No regrets for AG2R after stage 11, Fight over the polkadot jersey: to be continued
- July 14 #3 - Boonen: "Low speed kills my sprint", Saunier Duval very happy with De La Fuente, extends contract, Arroyo’s stage win bid highlight for Caisse d'Epargne team, Savoldelli downed and out
- July 14 #2 - Stage 11 post-race quotes, Wrong strategy for T-Mobile?, Stage 11 round up, Sastre approaches podium
- July 14 - Stage 11 wrap-up, An interview with Floyd Landis, No plan works for Menchov, Boogerd puts himself at Menchov's service, Gonchar's not under investigation in Italy
- July 13 #3 - Pre-stage 11 quotes, Ludwig defends tactics, No legs for Mayo, Close Encounters of the Unpleasant Kind, Moto crash in stage 10
- July 13 #2 - AG2R's fairytale, Jurdie delighted, Australians survive, Pre-stage 10 quotes, Merckx renews
- July 13 - Stage 10 wrap-up, An interview with the maillot jaune, An interview with the winner, Klöden: "My legs will do the talking"
- July 12 #3 - Dr Allen Lim: UCI aero rule cost Landis time, Schleck waiting for uphill, McEwen keeps an eye on Freire, Gerolsteiner update, Swiss doping official not surprised at Ullrich
- July 12 #2 - Bruyneel says Discovery will attack, Le Tour: Bigger than one rider, Mayolooking forward to Pyrenees, Rasmussen denies rivalry, Simoni eager, Cunego and Bennati hoping for stages
- July 12 - Stage 9 wrap-up, winner's interview, Boonen still confident, Surprise guest in Dax: Cipo is here!, Pineau believes in polkadots, Stage 9 time losses, Caisse d'Epargne on the first week
- July 11 # 2 - Landis 'perfectly poised', Down, but not out: Team CSC, The wheel turns for O'Grady
- July 11 - A week in the life of Floyd, McEwen: Evans will win the Tour, Tom Boonen: You're only human, Klöden: I can win the Tour, Voigt keeps on keeping on, Van Impe to Boonen: Stay calm, Hulsmans tips Floyd vs Evans showdown, Vansevenant renews
- July 10 #3 - Rest Day 1 wrap-up, Landis to undergo surgery after Tour, Sergeant: We're not going to chase, Davitamon-Lotto is the biggest earner so far, Knaven's view on week 1
- July 10 #2 - A break goes all the way, Post-stage quotes from McEwen, Evans, Horner, Rogers & Gerrans, De Clercq tips Evans
- July 10 - Stage 8 wrap-up, Winner's interview, Despairing Boonen gives up green, Zabriskie on the attack
- July 9 # 3 - Julich's loss a "major setback" for CSC, The old Boonen is back, Coucke happy with his squad, A "surprising" time trial, says Wegmann
- July 9 # 2 - Pretenders and contenders sorted out by TT, Stage 7 quotes
- July 9 - Stage 8 wrap-up, Winner's interview, Post-stage comments, Julich crashes out, Mixed feelings at Gerolsteiner, Clerc: "Negotiations over ProTour dead", McQuaid reacts to rejection of ProTour
- July 8 # 2 - Rogers is ready for yellow, No excuses from Boonen, Le Lance coming to Le Tour, Brard shows the tricolore jersey
- July 8 - Stage 6 wrap-up, An interview with Robbie McEwen, Steegmans: The perfect lead-out man, Geslin goes for it on the home front, Landis looking forward to TT
- July 7 #3 - McEwen considers Freire a threat, Little Sam's big day out, Schleck, Vansummeren and others crash, Gerolsteiner update, Fisticuffs over mountain points?, Sacchi out
- July 7 #2 - McEwen lead out misfires, Stage 5 quotes, pre-start quotes
- July 7 - Stage 5 wrap-up, An interview with the winner, Post-stage quotes, Boonen: "Ça c'est le Tour!", Schleck unlucky, Millar looking forward to TT, No room for T-Mobile's Italians?, Hours left to join Fantasy Le Tour
- July 6 #4 - Bad luck for Mayo, but without consequences, Fuentes: "Tour at that speed impossible without doping",
- July 6 #3 - Australian round-up: McEwen on top again, Stage 4 quotes, Pre-start quotes
- July 6 #2 - An interview with stage 4 winner, Wiggins almost wiggles out a win, Third top ten finish for Eisel, Valverde wants to come back for the Vuelta, T-Mobile car searched
- July 6 - Stage 4 wrap-up, An interview with Floyd Landis, Boogerd ready to Boogie-Woogie, Wilfried Cretskens diary: What I do, Millar will get to Paris, Any rider supporting Portugal at the TdF?, Just over 1 day left to join Fantasy Le Tour
- July 5 #3 - An interview with Robbie McEwen, Julich ready to stand up, Casar downed by drunk spectator, O'Grady OK to start, Dekker leaves hospital, Tour visits Flanders in 2007
- July 5 #2 - Australian round-up: Rogers ecstatic, O'Grady broken, Evans relieved, McEwen disappointed
- July 5 - Stage 3 wrap-up, Pit-bull Kessler never let go till today, An interview with Tom Boonen, Valverde, Rodriguez, Dekker all out; Horner and O'Grady also injured, Valkenburg for the second time, Fothen: White jersey is "a nice bonbon"
- July 4 #2 - Netherlands ready for Tour!, "Maillot Jaune would be welcome" says Valverde
- July 4 - Stage 2 wrap-up, Stage winner: "Every win is special", An interview with Wilfried Cretskens, A quick chat with George Hincapie, Aussie-Norwegian round-up, Gerolsteiner fighting back, T-Mobile's Azzuri and "Klinsi's boys", T-Mobile riders told to end Ferrari connection, Hot Picks for Fantasy le Tour
- July 3 #4 - "Too many teams" in chaotic sprint, Tour organisation bans PMU hands, Hushovd alright, Di Luca out, Zabel: "Damn it all!", T-Mobile to continue sponsorship
- July 3 #3 - Australian round-up: Safely out of harm's way, Aussie sprinters on the hectic finale, Tuesday might be my day - Gerrans
- July 3 #2 - An interview with Cadel Evans: Stepping up to the plate, View from the sidelines: An interview with Theo De Rooy
- July 3 - Stage 1 wrap-up, Casper: Greatest day of all, Hincapie: first disappointed, then rewarded, Pozzato plays his cards first for Boonen at Le Tour, Danilo DiLuca sick, hoping for better days, Damiano Cunego: Tour rookie and potential protagonist, Tour Diary Watch: the Germans
- July 2 #2 - Australian round-up: A better day, Morale-booster for Rogers & T-Mobile, Mended Gerrans confident
- July 2 - Big Thor takes Tour prologue, An interview with Thor Hushovd, Post-race quotes, Hincapie disappointed, Unfortunate start for Landis, Lang thrilled with fourth, Eisel satisfied but looking to Sunday's sprint, Still time to join Fantasy le Tour game
- July 1 #2 - An interview with Robbie McEwen, Fuentes' code names athlete's dogs, Cycling Australia to question Davis, Gerolsteiner reactions: Scholz and Totschnig "shocked", Perdiguero as mountain support for Landis, Join le Tour Fantasy Game - play for free!
- July 1 - Ullrich "shocked", Frommert explains further, Alejandro Valverde speaks, Víctor Cordero: "I could take the same decision as Tour", Armstrong wins battle against the Sunday Times, Santos González explains
June
- June 30 #6 - Astana-Würth leaves the Tour
- June 30 #5 - Team CSC faces the press, Mancebo ends career, New doping charges for CSC?, Reactions to Ullrich suspension, Bruyneel maintains focus
- June 30 #4 - More riders named by UCI, Leblanc: "An open Tour with clean riders", Team CSC: Ignorance or bluff?, McQuaid: Saddened rather than shocked, More prizes for le Tour Fantasy Game!
- June 30 #3 - More riders suspended: Basso and Mancebo out, Ullrich's ex-trainer: "catastrophe", Belda questioned, David Millar is ready
- June 30 #2 - Ullrich, Sevilla and Pevenage suspended, The list gets longer, ASO rejects CAS decision, Bruyneel bearish on TDF doping situation
- June 30 - Riders reiterate their innocence, An interview with Chris Carmichael, Lampre lads looking forward to Tour test
- June 29 #3 - More names released in Operacion Puerto, Astana-Würth OK to race
- June 29 #2 - Guardia Civil report expected very soon, ASO reacts to UCI "recommendation", Spanish cycling chief "had doubts" for years, Ullrich to be questioned?, Judge Serrano opens investigation on El País, De Rooy: "Everybody for Menchov", Sastre approaching Tour form, Papa Savoldelli, Win a T-Mobile team bike
- June 29 - Vinokourov: "It's not normal", CAS ruling: A question of image, UCI asks riders for written statement, Astana-Würth's nine not definite, Armstrong lawyers clarify
- June 28 #2 - Ullrich to sue newspaper and do DNA test?, Astana Würth bound for Strasbourg, but no team presentation, Gerolsteiner's double hopes - two captains, two goals, Jalabert going for July 14 win, Davitamon-Lotto gets a cook for the Tour
- June 28 - Ullrich Tour okay, Who will wear the green and polka dots?, Rasmussen: 1800km to get ready, Bishop to welcome Tour riders, Hamilton to keep Olympic gold, Commesso makes Lampre team, Two world champions for Natour Broker, Grand Prize for Fantasy Le Tour 2006 announced
- June 27 #3 - Hands tied at UCI, CAS to rule Astana-Würth case before Tour start, Spanish sport council denies McQuaid's declaration, AG2R, Française des Jeux, Bouygues & Crédit Agricole for Tour, Valverde: "I'm better than in 2005", Grabsch honoured by Tour selection, Van den Broeck to Davitamon
- June 27 #2 - Haselbacher considering his future, More Fantasy Le Tour 2006 Game tips
- June 27 - Tour organisers confirm Astana withdrawal request, Carmichael defends Armstrong, Armstrong answers L'Equipe & LeMond, Andreus disappointed, Rabobank drops Dekker, Eisel without expectations, Bouygues Telecom for the Tour
- June 26 #3 - Astana-Würth out of Tour?
- June 26 #2 - Hamilton and Ullrich linked to Operación Puerto , Caisse D'Epargne-Illes Balears for the Tour
- June 26 - More Operación Puerto details, Spanish championships not ridden after rider protest, LeMond: "Armstrong threatened my life", Zabel out for 7th Green jersey, Agritubel for Tour de France, SBS Tour de France ride through Sydney
- June 25 - A tour of the Tour's birthplace
- June 24 - Armstrong denies allegations, suspects Pound to have leaked documents, Millar's ban ends, Valenciana riders volunteer blood samples
- June 23 #2 - New allegations against Armstrong, Ullrich to wed
- June 23 - Lampre and Davitamon ready for Tour, Schleck hurt, but OK for Tour, Tour de France à la Poole, Looking for Tour accommodation?
- June 22 #3 - Astana-Würth OK for ProTour licence
- June 22 #2 - Lance, with or without you: An open letter from Johan Bruyneel, Waiting for the UCI: Leblanc, Rabobank under pressure, Fantasy Le Tour 2006 Game Tips
- June 22 - Saunier Duval-Prodir announces Tour line up, Liquigas ready for the Tour
- June 21 #2 - T-Mobile announces Tour de France line-up, Ullrich skips Nationals, Sevilla celebrates victory, The pressure is on for Boonen, Vuelta considers retracting Comunidad Valenciana's invitation, Cancellara disappointed, Schmitz in hospital
- June 21 - Cofidis announces Tour team, AG2R aims for podium, Mayo to lead Euskalte
- June 20 #2 - Jan Ullrich: closing in on top form, but to skip nationals?, "No risks" in Totschnig's final preparations
- June 20 - Basso ready for Tour, Quick Step announces Tour team, Fantasy Le Tour 2006 game prizes confirmed
- June 19 #2 - Ullrich "stronger than last year", Gerrans pleased with Switzerland, Rogers still improving, Contador: We have to keep training, CSC, Liquigas announce Tour line-ups, Gerolsteiner at altitude, Haselbacher disappointed
- June 19 - Phonak names Tour team, Rabobank names Tour team, Flanders wants 'Le Grand Départ', Fantasy Le Tour 2006 game ready to play!
- June 18 - No Tour for McGee
- June 17 #2 - McEwen's knee should be fine, Rogers happy with improving form
- June 17 - Discovery Channel Tour roster
- June 16#2 - Gerrans motivated, Rasmussen hits the wall, Gerolsteiner names TdF squad
- June 16 - McGee in doubt for Tour, Zabel picks Ullrich, Boonen, Cunego confirmed for Tour
TdF 2006 Rider Reactions - October 27, 2005: Comments from key riders and sports directors
TdF 2006 Reactions - October 27, 2005: No team time trial, and Armstrong's reign a 'very long chapter'
2006 Route unveiled - October 27, 2005: 2006 Tour route unveiled

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