Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Saturday's Tour de France Stage 20 departs Montélimar at 11:40 CET (5:40am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at the top of Mont Ventoux between 16:01 and 16:28 CET (10:01am and 10:28am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 7:00am U.S. Eastern (7:40am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 13:30 CET (7:30am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- Tour de France via Eurosport UK LIVE.  (English)

- Tour de France LIVE on Versus live video streaming.  Link at right.

- Rumors swirling that Cadel Evans may join Lance Armstrong's Team RadioShack next season...

- The American Team RadioShack and British team Sky have submitted applications for ProTour licenses to the UCI.  According to UCI president Pat McQuaid, each application contains a list of most of the riders that will be on the team's roster.  (today's L'Equipe)

He's Back

Alexandre "Vino" Vinokourov in Nice, France,
his adopted home, in March, 2006.
Copyright © 2006 Pete Geyer/www.cyclingfans.com

- Alexandre Vinokourov, suspended in 2007 for doping, is eligible to race again as of today.  But first, he'll be on the Champs-Elysees in Paris Sunday, at the finish of the 2009 Tour de France, invited by the ambassador of Kazakhstan.  Barring incident, the Astana team, originally put together by Vinokourov, should do a victory lap post-stage as the Kazakh rider looks on, ready to take back "his" team.  Lance Armstrong is departing to create a new team, RadioShack.  Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel is expected to join him.  -Pete

Alexandre Vinokourov and the Tour devil
Copyright © 2007 Murray Webb
 

Tour de France Stage 19 Profile

- Tour de France Stage 19 departs Bourgoin-Jallieu at 12:45 CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Aubenas between 16:58 and 17:24 CET (10:58am and 11:24am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern also for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:45 CET (8:45am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Please help spread the word:
  Tweet cyclingfans.com  Thanks. -Pete

- Friday's Tour de France Stage 19 departs Bourgoin-Jallieu at 12:45 CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Aubenas between 16:58 and 17:24 CET (10:58am and 11:24am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern also for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:45 CET (8:45am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- Listen LIVE:  Eurosport LIVE audio feeds in multiple languages including English, Deutsch, Español, Français.  (links in "Live audio streaming" section at right)

- Also LIVE today:  Brixia Tour (Italy) LIVE here.  (through Sunday) -Bernie S.  (More on this race later)

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport UK.

- TDF LIVE via Versus live video streaming.  Link at right.

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport. (French)

- News:  Lance Armstrong is expected to announce a new American title sponsor today for his next team.  This is not official but we believe that sponsor will be Radio Shack.  Subsequent to a huge assist and tip from ESPN's Bonnie Ford, yesterday evening we were first to post a story regarding Radio Shack as the possible sponsor and you can read how the story developed here.

- The first riders have departed.

- Tour de France Stage 18 Individual Time Trial at Annecy starts at 11:10 CET (5:10am U.S. Eastern) when the first rider (Hutarovich) departs.  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern also for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Please help spread the word:
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- Stage 18 Individual Time Trial at Annecy:  Partial Start Order and Times here.  (full list to come)

- Thursday's Tour de France Stage 18 Individual Time Trial at Annecy starts at 11:10 CET (5:10am U.S. Eastern) when the first rider (Hutarovich) departs.  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern also for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:30 CET (8:30am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- LIVE radio feeds:  BBC, RTL-L'Equipe, and Radio Monte Carlo (RMC) audio feeds all playing.  (Links under "Live audio streaming" at right)

- In an interview with El Pais (Spain), Johan Bruyneel confirmed Nike is not a title sponsor for a new American team.  (Announcement expected tomorrow.)  This confirms what Lance Armstrong said on French TV last week.

- It is pouring rain at the finish.  (Eurosport)

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport UK.  David Harmon and Sean Kelly commentating.

- Tour de France LIVE on Versus live video streaming.  Link at right.

- Le Tour LIVE via Eurosport.  (French)

- Today is the stage "de tous les dangers" as the French say.  Unpredictable, a lot can happen.  Former D.S. Cyril Guimard was quoted in today's L'Equipe as saying that yesterday the Schlecks worked simply to eliminate some competition for the podium.  Today?  "Their target should be Contador."  Should be interesting.  Unfortunately, they'll have to do without Jens Voigt after his hard crash yesterday. -Pete

Tour de France Stage 17 Profile

The peloton today will reach Sallanches in the shadow of
Mont Blanc at kilometer 92.  (file photo: 2005 Dauphine Libere)
photo Copyright © 2005 Pete Geyer/cyclingfans.com

- Tour de France Stage 17 departs Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 12:20 CET (6:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Le Grand-Bornand between 17:00 and 17:33 CET (11:00am and 11:33am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 6:30am U.S. Eastern (6:20am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 12:15 CET (6:15am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Please help spread the word:
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- Wednesday's Tour de France Stage 17 departs Bourg-Saint-Maurice at 12:20 CET (6:20am U.S. Eastern) and is expected at Le Grand-Bornand between 17:00 and 17:33 CET (11:00am and 11:33am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 6:30am U.S. Eastern (6:20am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 12:15 CET (6:15am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- LIVE radio:  BBC, RTL-L'Equipe and Radio Monte Carlo (RMC), all feeds now playing the Tour de France LIVE.  (links in "Live audio streaming" section at right)

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport UK.

- Tour de France LIVE via Versus video stream.  Link at right.

- Tour de France LIVE via TDP.  (Spanish)

- So who is going to take advantage of all the downhill kilometers in this stage?  Wow.

- Tour de France Stage 16 departs Martigny at 12:55 CET (6:55am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Bourg-Saint-Maurice between 17:11 and 17:41 CET (11:11am and 11:41am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 6:30am U.S. Eastern (6:55am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 12:45 CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern).  Live coverage on France 2 is scheduled to begin at 13:50 CET (7:50am U.S. Eastern).

Meet the American podium girl, Laura Antoine

2009 Tour de France:  American Laura Antoine, podium girl.
Copyright © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti/cyclingfans.com

- Phil Liggett noted her bubbly personality on the air and Versus and Sporza have both featured her story on television.  How did American Laura Antoine, from Saint Louis, become a podium girl at the 2009 Tour de France?  Pics and videos here.

Tour de France Stage 16 Profile

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.

- Please help spread the word:
  Tweet cyclingfans.com  Thanks. -Pete

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- Tour de France LIVE via TDP.  (Spanish)

- Le Tour LIVE via France 2.

- TDF LIVE via Eurosport.  (English)

- Le Tour EN DIRECT.  (French)

- Tour de France LIVE via Rai.

- Tour de France LIVE via Versus video streaming.  Link at right.

- The situation with Astana is fascinating.  Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall of the team bus this morning?  Though it's up to their rivals to attack, Johan Bruyneel teams tend not to sit back and wait for things to happen.  They like to take control.  How about a two-pronged attack, with Armstrong going first on the final climb.  Contador follows wheels of whatever rivals are still in the game, then picks his moment to attack them and bridge up to Armstrong.  (No one likely would be able to follow Contador.)  Then Armstrong and Contador work together to the finish?  Time differences may not be huge on this stage but leaders always like to put time into their rivals and the latter want to make up time.  Will Astana's rivals sit back and watch things unfold or will they try to take the initiative?  The yellow jersey is up for grabs.  Who wants it most today?  -Pete

- First video streams for Stage 15 should be live at around 13:30 CET (7:30am U.S. Eastern).  We'll update with the latest feeds right here as coverage gets underway.

- Interesting stage today.  There may not be big time differences at the finish but it will be interesting to see who attacks and when.  Teammates Armstrong and Contador surely will have an eye on each other.  Who will make a move first?  The Tour won't be won today but it could be over for some.  Mostly the stage should inform us about what we might expect in the days ahead.  Who still has a good shot at winning the race?  -Pete

- Nearly the entire stage today will take place in Switzerland.

Tour de France Stage 15 Map

Stage 15 map courtesy A.S.O.

- Tour de France Stage 15 departs Pontarlier at 12:00 CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Verbier (Switzerland) between 17:16 and 17:51 CET (11:16am and 11:51am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 7:30am U.S. Eastern (7:40am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 15:45 CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).  Live coverage on France 2 is scheduled to begin at 13:30 CET (7:30am U.S. Eastern).

Tour de France Stage 15 Profile

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

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- Tour de France Stage 15 departs Pontarlier at 12:00 CET (6:00am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Verbier between 17:16 and 17:51 CET (11:16am and 11:51am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 7:30am U.S. Eastern (7:40am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 15:45 CET (9:45am U.S. Eastern).  Live coverage on France 2 is scheduled to begin at 13:30 CET (7:30am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport Germany.

- Tour de France LIVE via Rai.

- Le Tour LIVE via France 2.

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport.  (Spanish)

- Le Tour LIVE via Eurosport France.

- Tour de France LIVE video streaming on Versus.  Link at right.

- Le Tour LIVE on France 2.

- Tour de France Stage 14 departs Colmar at 12:30 CET (6:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Besançon between 17:05 and 17:31 CET (11:05am and 11:31am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (7:40am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.

- Please help spread the word:
  Tweet cyclingfans.com  Thanks. -Pete

- Tour de France Stage 14 departs Colmar at 12:30 CET (6:30am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Besançon between 17:05 and 17:31 CET (11:05am and 11:31am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (7:40am U.S. Eastern for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- LIVE audio feeds:  Eurosport LIVE audio (multiple languages) and BBC and French radio LIVE audio feeds listed under "Live audio streaming" at right.  You can use these stand-alone or combined with the live video feeds of your choice.  BBC options include both low and high bandwidth streams.

- Le Tour LIVE via France 2.

- TDF LIVE via Versus live stream.  Link at right.

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport UK.

- News:  Levi Leipheimer is out of the race with a broken wrist following yesterday's crash.  Big blow for Astana and Lance Armstrong in particular.

- Le Tour LIVE via Eurosport France.

- Tour de France Stage 13 departs Vittel at 12:15 CET (6:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Colmar between 17:04 and 17:30 CET (11:04am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern as well for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

Tour de France Stage 13 Profile

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.

- Please help spread the word:
  Tweet cyclingfans.com  Thanks. -Pete

- Friday's Tour de France Stage 13 departs Vittel at 12:15 CET (6:15am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Colmar between 17:04 and 17:30 CET (11:04am and 11:30am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern as well for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- TDF LIVE via TDP.  (Spanish)  More below and at right.

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport UK.

- Thank you, Phil Sheehan, BBC Radio Cycling Producer, for keeping us informed on the BBC's live coverage of the Tour de France.  Radio commentators are Simon Brotherton and ex-Tour rider Graham Jones.

- Tour de France LIVE via Versus live video stream.  Link at right.

- Le Tour LIVE via Eurosport France.

- Tour de France Stage 12 departs Tonnerre at 12:25 CET (6:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Vittel between 17:22 and 17:50 CET (11:22am and 11:50am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern as well for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

 Notes:  (latest notes always appear at the top, below sticky notes)

Follow cyclingfans on Twitter and never miss a race. Cyclingfans.com: The #1 source on the internet for live race coverage.

- Please help spread the word:
  Tweet cyclingfans.com  Thanks. -Pete

- Thursday's Tour de France Stage 12 departs Tonnerre at 12:25 CET (6:25am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Vittel between 17:22 and 17:50 CET (11:22am and 11:50am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern as well for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- NEW!  Tour de France Online game.  Free to play.  You get to play the directeur sportif.  Create your cycling team, train it and compete against players from all over the world on the official stages of the 2009 Tour de France.  From the makers of Pro Cycling Manager, Tour de France Online 2009 is much more than the typical cycling fantasy league game and they are offering prize money to the winners.  Click banner below or here for more info and to sign up.

- TDF LIVE video via TDP.  (Spanish)

- Tour de France LIVE via Eurosport France.

- Audio:  Tour de France LIVE audio feeds are playing in English, Deutsch, Español, Français, and Russian.  Links in our "Live audio streaming" section at right.

- Tour de France LIVE video streaming on Versus.  Link at right.

- TDF LIVE via Eurosport Poland.

- Tour de France Stage 11 departs Vatan at 12:45 CET (6:45am U.S. Eastern) and is expected in Saint-Fargeau between 17:05 and 17:29 CET (11:05am and 11:29am U.S. Eastern).  Tour de France live coverage on Versus TV is scheduled to begin at 8:30am U.S. Eastern (8:30am U.S. Eastern as well for the Versus live streaming).  Live coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 14:15 CET (8:15am U.S. Eastern).

- For Tour de France via satellite info, MJ Ray has you covered in our cycling via satellite blog here.

- We recommend you open our Twitter feed in a separate window now.  If ever we have a server outage, we will update on Twitter and direct you to a live coverage page on another server.

- Welcome to our live coverage guide for the 2009 Tour de France.

- Live streaming video online/webcast

- Live broadcast on Universal Sports

- Tape delay on Versus

- Tape delay on Fox Sports Midwest