Tour takes off
It's the event all pro cyclists aspire to. The grandest Tour of them all takes 198 of the sport's best on a 3,870-kilometer race around the country, from Rouen to Bordeaux to the final procession down the Champs Elysées in Paris. This year 23-year-old wunderkind Jan Ullrich made history as the first German to win the Tour.
Final overall standings
Stage 21: Ullrich takes place among the greats
Stage 20: Olano holds off Ullrich to win time trial
Stage 19: Traversoni gets win after judges' ruling
Stage 18: Another win for Festina; Julich gets third
Stage 17: Stephens wins stage, keeps Postie Ekimov at third
Stage 16: Ullrich protects lead; Riis fades
Stage 15: Pantani wins again, moves into third overall
Stage 14: Ullrich still dominating; Virenque wins consolation prize
Stage 13: Pantani wins at l'Alpe d'Huez; Ullrich shines
Stage 12: Ullrich dominates time trial Indurain-style
Stage 11: Ullrich in lead as race reaches midway point
Stage 10: Ullrich conquers climbs
Stage 9: Happy Bastille Day for France
Stage 8: Zabel again in photo finish
Stage 7: Zabel easily wins Stage 7
Stage 6: Zabel stripped of win; Steels and Abdo expelled
Stage 5: Vasseur pulls fast one on peloton
Stage 4: Minali nips Moncassin in photo finish
Stage 3: Zabel in final 200m; Rominger breaks collarbone
Stage 2: Super Mario king for second day
Stage 1: Super Mario wins first stage
Prologue: Boardman back in yellow; Riis relieved race is underway
Prologue | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 |
Stage 7 | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Stage 10 | Stage 11 | Stage 12 | Stage 13 |
Stage 14 | Stage 15 | Stage 16 | Stage 17 | Stage 18 | Stage 19 | Stage 20 | Stage 21
Race feature
Six Americans survive to arrive in Paris
A record number for American have made it all the way to Paris this year, and have raised the eyebrows of many in this often Eurocentric sport.
Race feature
Winless teams bucking for victory as Tour exits Alps
If a team can’t win the Tour, winning a Tour stage is the next most important goal. For many teams with no hope of vying for the overall, a stage win is their main objective.
Race feature
L’Alpe d’Huez one of Tour’s most famous stages
If the passion of the three-week Tour de France can be summed up in one day, the delirium of this 10-mile climb is it.
Rider profile
The Pirate is back
Despite years of bad luck with injuries, Marco Pantani has been one of the revelations at the 1997 Tour, riding strong in the Pyrenees, finishing an incredible fifth in the Saint Etienne time trial, and now sitting in third place overall.
Race feature
Time trial will test Ullrich’s mettle
If race fans thought Jan Ullrich (Telekom) was strong on the climbs, they are in for a show in Friday's 55-kilometer time trial, where the 23-year-old German wunderkind is expected to dominate Indurain-style.
Rider profile
Ullrich hailed as cycling's next superstar
Just a year after the world was introduced to 23-year-old Jan Ullrich via his astonishing second-place finish in his Tour debut, the young German has cycling's greatest prize within his sights.
Race feature
Pyrenees climbing stages steeped in history
July 14-16 takes the peloton through some of the Tour's toughest climbs, including this year's highest point, at 7,943 feet.
Race feature
Opening week takes toll on peloton
The Tour's opening week was nothing short of bizarre, with spills, protests, delays, anti-doping ejections, and even water-bottle fights.
Rider profile
Big Mat's Arroyo rides proud for Mexico
Though not quite the media darling as Cipollini or Olano, Mexico's Miguel Arroyo is a star back home.
Race feature
Publicity caravan a fan favorite
Cycling fans come out by the thousands to watch the sport's grandest Tour rumble through the streets.
Race feature
Early stages a numbers game for leaders
The first eight stages of the Tour de France are a numbers game, where riders jockey for time bonuses that often determine who wears cycling’s most cherished jersey.
Rider profile
Cipollini stands head and shoulders above peloton
In a sport with big thighs and bigger egos, Mario Cipollini's flamboyant showmanship is more than just talk.
Outside magazine dispatch
The race is on
At the start of a less-predictable new era, a look at the crème of the Tour de France field.
Jersey watch
Riders after more than maillot jaune
All eyes may be on the dozen or so riders aiming to win the Tour de France, but don't forget about the other 186 looking for other honors.
Mig watch
Big Mig back at Tour as returning hero
Who was that familiar rider in his familiar place at the head of the peloton? But this time five-time Tour winner Miguel Indurain was decked out in street clothes and riding in an official Tour car.
Rider profile
Zulle shakes off bad luck in prologue
Vuelta a España champion Alex Zulle (ONCE) hasn't had the best luck this year. Just as he was warming up to make a serious bid for the Tour, he broke his collarbone in a crash in the Swiss national tour. But with 15 pins holding his clavicle together, the 29-year-old rode to an impressive fourth-place finish in the prologue.
Predictions
Rivals will try to knock Riis off throne
Plenty of top-notch riders are lining up to see who can stop Bjarne Riis from defending his Tour title.
Race feature
Tour pays homage to France's Anquetil
This year's Tour started in the hometown of Jacques Anquetil, one of cycling's greatest racers.
Race preview
Bank on Riis to defend title
The smart money is on the confident Dane, nicknamed "the Eagle from Herning," to repeat as Tour champion.
Fantasy Tour
Enter to win a Litespeed bike
Outside Online's Fantasy Tour de France is back, where you are the directeur sportif in charge of your own handpicked team of riders. The receives a Litespeed titanium bike, with cool prizes going to other top finishers.
Fantasy standings
Chat
Who will take it this year?
Tourheads unite! Readers share their thoughts on who will win, who will drop out, and who are the rising stars on the pro peloton.
Looking back
Outside Online's 1996 coverage
In 1996 Bjarne Riis blocked favorite Miguel Indurain from becoming the first man to win six Tours. In doing so, he became the first Danish Tour winner.
