Category: Tour de France

Floyd Landis and Kid Rock: Separated at birth?

I recall reading a few times that cyclist Floyd Landis is a huge fan of Kid Rock.

I found a picture of Kid Rock on the Internet and compared it with Landis' official Tour de France website photo.

Isn't that an uncanny resemblance? …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/14/floyd-landis-and-kid-rock-separated-at-birth/

Popovych wins Tour de France stage: Landis holds onto yellow

With everything looking bleak for the Discovery team, Yaroslav Popovych has given them something to cheer about.

The 26-year-old Ukranian cyclist won Friday's stage after repeatedly attacking the three other cyclists who accompanied him on a 70-mile breakaway. American Floyd Landis held onto the yellow jersey, his Phonak team controlling the peloton on a rolling stage through southern France.

The stage win by Popovych moves him into 10th place, 4:15 behind Landis. That's a big gain, considering he started the day in 23rd place, 9 minutes behind, after cracking in the mountains on Thursday. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/14/popovych-wins-tour-de-france-stage-landis-holds-onto-yellow/

George Hincapie no longer seeking Tour de France victory

“The general (classification) is over for me,” a dejected George Hincapie announced after his 44th place finish on Thursday dropped him to 40th overall in the Tour de France, 23 minutes behind the leader.

The Discovery team stalwart and the only cyclist to participate in every one of Lance Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins had high hopes coming into the race. He was often mentioned as Armstrong's successor on the Discovery team and among the shortlist of contenders to win this year. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/13/george-hincapie-no-longer-seeking-tour-de-france-victory/

Floyd Landis takes yellow jersey; Menchov wins stage

American cyclist Floyd Landis battled on the final climb to take the yellow jersey in the Tour de France on Thursday, highlighting the most exciting stage so far in this year's race.

Russian Denis Menchov, riding for Rabobank, won the stage in a small breakaway of three survivors that also included Landis and another American, Levi Leipheimer.

Leipheimer, who sat in 58th place Thursday morning after a lackluster early Tour, catapulted himself to 13 place overall — 5:39 behind — at the end of the stage with his gutsy 2nd place finish …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/13/floyd-landis-takes-yellow-jersey-menchov-wins-stage/

Biking Bis poll: Tour de France interest generally the “same” or “less”

How interested are Biking Bis readers in this year's Tour de France?

The responses were tied — 36% each — between “less interested than last year” and “same as last year.” Slightly fewer than 1 in 4 — 22% — voted that they were more interested in this year's Tour than last year.

I voted in that latter group, “more interested,” and after watching Stage 10, I'm wondering why. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/13/biking-bis-poll-tour-de-france-interest-generally-the-same-or-less/

Frenchman Dessel takes yellow jersey in Tour de France

The French regained the lead of the Tour de France for the first time since 2004 as Cyril Dessel, left, joined a breakaway on the first climb of the day and jumped from 28th place and into the yellow jersey.

T-Mobile working at the head of the peloton for the first time in what, seven years, was torn between helping its yellow jersey teammate Serhiy Honchar and limiting damage to two or three other team members.

This is what happens in the Pyrenees when no dominating cyclists are left onboard. Cyclists like Dessel (AG2R) and Juan Mercado (Agritubel) — who won the stage in a sprint against Dessel — …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/12/frenchman-dessel-takes-yellow-jersey-in-tour-de-france/

Hitting the mountains at midpoint of 2006 Tour de France

Finally, some killer terrain! Here we are at the midpoint of the Tour de France on Wednesday, and we're finally seeing some mountains… the Pyrenees to be exact.

Sprinters, it's been nice, but it's time for the teams that want to put their guy on the podium in Paris to take over this race. Expect a lot of attacks. Remember, there really aren't any favorites. Plenty of cyclists have a shot to win. Some are on the Discovery team…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/12/hitting-the-mountains-at-midpoint-of-2006-tour-de-france/

Floyd Landis — What is hip?

The news reports that Tour de France cyclist Floyd Landis had a deteriorated hip joint that would require hip replacement surgery intially drew a reaction of shock and awe.

Now comes the question: If it's been a problem for a year or more, why mention it now? Discovery manager Johan Bruyneel says if you're a favorite, you hide your weaknesses, not publicize them. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/11/floyd-landis-what-is-hip/

Freire beats McEwen by inches in Tour de France sprint

As expected, the sprinters' teams put their guys at the front on this completely flat Tour de France stage between Bordeaux and Dax in southern France.

The picture perfect mass sprint resulted in a photo finish showing Oscar Freire taking his second win of this year's Tour from Australian speedster Robbie McEwen. Tom Boonen, boasting 17 wins this year before the Tour, ended in 4th place, just behind Erik Zabel. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/11/freire-beats-mcewen-by-inches-in-tour-de-france-sprint/

How interested are you in the Tour de France this year?

Now that the first week of the 2006 Tour de France is behind us, I'm curious about your level of interest compared to last year. The blog poll is posted at right;  feel free to explain your answers below this article in a comment if you wish.

This is certainly a Tour in turmoil.

The vacuum left by Lance Armstrong's retirement has sucked away a lot of US fans. OLN reports the viewership of its first four live Tour reports is down nearly 50%. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/10/how-interested-are-you-in-the-tour-de-france-this-year/