Criterium International Photos

 

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2008 Criterium International:  For years the peloton crossed the bridge
at Revin twice on the Sunday morning Stage 2.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com

More photos below

- 2010 Criterium International photos:  Stage 1 Photos:  Graham Watson - ASO Photos -
Stage 2 Photos:  Graham Watson - ASO Photos -
Stage 3 Photos:  Graham Watson - ASO Photos -

- March, 2010:  I've shot several editions of the Criterium International over the years.  The gallery below is a look back at the 2004 edition, when the CSC/Saxo Bank domination here began and the last time Lance Armstrong competed in this event.  Many familiar faces here, some in different roles today.  -Pete


2004 Criterium International:  Lance Armstrong before Stage 1 in Rethel.  Having joined the club of 5-time Tour champions the previous July, Armstrong appeared considerably relaxed at this early season race.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Armstrong rides to the sign-in,
passing the T-Mobile bus of rival Jan Ullrich.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Team CSC/Saxo Bank has owned this race for years,
winning for the first time in this 2004 edition and every time since!  (Jens Voigt 4 times (5 overall having also won in 1999 while with Credit Agricole) and Bobby Julich and Ivan Basso once apiece during this time period (Julich, the only American to ever win this race, also won in 1998 while with Cofidis).  Here, they wait to be introduced to the public as Lance Armstrong and USPS descend the podium.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Jose Azevedo was brought in in 2004 to help Armstrong in the mountains of the Tour de France.  Today he is a directeur sportif with Armstrong's RadioShack team.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Wherever Armstrong went, the cameras of the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) were right with him.  Dubbed the "Only Lance Network" by some, OLN (which renamed itself Versus) was actually a USPS team sponsor in 2004 and over the years brought more cycling coverage than ever to American audiences.  Alas, fans often joke that the network occasionally interrupts its commercials to show some racing.  Note where nearly all the French spectators' eyes are fixed above.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Bobby, can you hear me now?  CSC team manager Bjarne Riis talks to Bobby Julich who complained about not receiving a signal from the team radio prior to Stage 1.  Today, Julich is technical director for Team Saxo Bank, notably helping Andy Schleck to improve his time trialing.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  FdJeux team manager Marc Madiot speaks with Bradley Wiggins (Credit Agricole) who left Madiot's team in the off season.  The track cycling star had already made a successful transition to the road, a path that today's young track stars such as Taylor Phinney (Team Livestrong, winner of the U23 Paris-Roubaix), Jesse Sergent (Team Livestrong) and Jack Bobridge (Garmin, U23 World Champion time trialist) have made as well.  Wiggins is now with Team Sky, after having ridden for Cofidis, Team High Road, and Garmin.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) was on top of the world following his inspiring ride, with a broken collarbone, in the previous July's Tour de France.  In April he would line up in Liege to defend his 2003 victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.  But when he tested positive later in the year for blood doping, his world would come crashing down.  Today, Hamilton is offering training services to cyclists of "all levels".
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  The Sunday morning stage in Montherme outside Charleville-Mezieres.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Jonathan Vaughters and the OLN crew check out the scene at the Place Ducale in Charleville-Mezieres, the location for the start and finish of the Sunday afternoon time trial.  Today, Vaughters is team manager at Garmin-Transitions.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Armstrong turned in a solid time trial
and finished on the final podium in third place.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com


2004 Criterium International:  Having grabbed yellow after winning the morning stage in the hills of the Ardennes, Jens Voigt (CSC) went out and also won the afternoon time trial!  The Criterium International in the Ardennes was the perfect race for Voigt.  But with significantly more climbing in the 2010 edition in Corsica, Voigt is not back to defend.
photo Copyright © Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com