Monday, July 14: Live updates from Stage 9
LOUDENVIELLE, France

161.5km

11:21 a.m. (local time):
Now the race has “officially” begun after a slow spin through Pau, where streets are lined with fans. Today is Bastille Day, a national holiday marking the start of the French Revolution. Watch for a French climber, perhaps Polti's Luc Leblanc or Festina's Richard Virenque, to try to pop for a win.

The first climb begins at the category-one Col du Soulor at the 50km mark about 1.5 hours into the stage. The beyond-category Col du Tourmalet should come at about 2:20 p.m., at the 106km mark, followed by the category-two Col d'Aspin at 136 kms at about 3:10 p.m. The final climb is the Col de Val Louren-Azet at 171 kms at about 4:10 p.m., with a steep, fast descent into Loudenvielle at 182 kms around 4:30 p.m.

11:29 a.m. (local time):
No action early. Racers are riding shoulder-to-shoulder as the peloton is riding together in the flats early in the stage, approaching the day's first of two points sprints at the 13.5km mark.

11:44 a.m. (local time):
At the day's first sprint, E. Zabel (Telekom) wins, beating F. Moncassin (Gan) and G. Fagnini (Saeco).

12:01 p.m. (local time):
The pace is slow, with Festina's Virenque and Telekom's Udo Bolts near the front.

12:21 p.m. (local time):
At the start of the day's first climb, the Col du Soulor, Luc Leblanc (Polti) attacks, but is quickly reeled in.

12:29 p.m. (local time):
Banesto's A. Olano pulls out, again reeled in by Festina and Telekom. The riders will be testing their legs on this early climb and getting the blood pumping for the tougher Col du Tourmalet ahead.

12:34 p.m. (local time):
At 41 kms, 9 kms from the summit of Soulor, Telekom, and Festina are at the head of the peloton controlling the pace.

12:41 p.m. (local time):
Festina and Telekom continue to set the pace up Soulor. Maillot jaune Cedric Vasseur (Gan), Festina's L. Brochard, and the rest of the favorites are in the first group, with a second group falling off the pace.

12:44 p.m. (local time):
A group of 50 riders is with the first group of favorites. Casino's Christophe Agnolutto, winner of last month's Tour de Suisse, is off the pace. On the first major climb of the 1997 Tour, the selection is already taking place. Telekom's director sportif Walter Godefroot said it best: "These Pyrenees stages won't determine who will win the Tour. But they will show us who won't."

12:51 p.m. (local time):
Vasseur's hold on the maillot jaune is already slipping. He's falling off the pace and the virtual on-course leader could soon go to someone in the first group. The virtual leader changes throughout the stage, and only becomes officiel after crossing the day's finish line.

12:54 p.m. (local time):
At 4 kms to the summit, Festina's Laukka attacks. Jalabert is falling back, while Vasseur is in "difficulty." It's very cloudy on the summit, obscuring TV images of the riders as they disappear into dark clouds.

12:55 p.m. (local time):
At 3 kms, Davide Rebellin (FDJ) drifts back a little off the pace, with Festina and Telekom working the front of the group. Laukka falls back to the front group of about 30 top riders, including Festina, Telekom, Leblanc. The lead group is out front, Rebellin 10 seconds back, with a group of riders with Jalabert 25 seconds back and a group with Vasseur 40 seconds back.

1:01 p.m. (local time):
The Vasseur group has caught the Jalabert group at 35 seconds back 2 kms from the col.

1:04 p.m. (local time):
Leblanc falls off the pace 1 km from the finish.

1:06 p.m. (local time):
Festina's Brochard and Virenque finish 1-2, with Mercatone's Beat Zberg third at the col with the main group of leaders. Leblanc is alone 25 seconds back while Vasseur, Jalabert, and Zabel are 1'15" back topping the col. Top classifications: Brochard, Virenque, Zberg, Bolts, Ullrich, Dufaux, Casagrande (Saeco), Luttenberger (Rabobank), Pantani (Mercatone), Conte, Herve. Riis and Olano are also there.

1:08 p.m. (local time):
The racers are flying down the col in aero-tucks. The most daring riders can make up time on the descents, but it's a dangerous business. One slip could mean serious injury or even death.

1:11 p.m. (local time):
The descents are blistering, topping speeds of 60 mph. The top riders are already out of the clouds and back down on the lower stretches of the col. Gan's Boardman crashes, but gets back on the bike. Leblanc is trying, but can't get back to the first group. This stage could be a duel between Festina and Telekom. Both teams are riding aggressively at the front attack group of about 30 riders.

1:14 p.m. (local time):
After the descent, Rous and Zberg attack, with Herve counterattacking with Pascual Rodriguez (Kelme). Festina is trying to blow apart the first stage. There's about 18 kms of relatively flat riding before the Col du Tourmalet.

1:22 p.m. (local time):
Vasseur, Jalabert, Leblanc, and Zabel are among the second group that catch the front group at 65 kms.

1:29 p.m. (local time):
Herve (Festina) and Rodriguez (Kelme) have built up a 1'35" lead at 69 kms.

1:36 p.m. (local time):
The break's lead is at 2'25" at 75 kms ahead of a lead group of about 65 top riders, including race leader Vasseur and all the race favorites. No major drops yet. Tourmalet starts at kilometer 94, tops out at 2,114 meters at 106 kms with grades averaging 7.7%, the first "beyond-category" climb.

1:44 p.m. (local time):
Herve and Rodriguez are still out 2'09” as the lead group is content to let them get a head start heading near the day's second climb at Tourmalet.

1:59 p.m. (local time):
Herve and Rodriguez are four minutes out 18 kms from the top of Tourmalet.

2:04 p.m. (local time):
14 kms from the summit, the lead group is still riding together, waiting for attacks. The break is down to 3'45". Gan's Boardman has fallen 2'15" off the lead group after falling in a spill on the descet on Col du Soulor.

2:05 p.m. (local time):
Leblanc is also falling off the pace of the lead group as the riders up the tempo.

2:09 p.m. (local time):
The lead group is starting to splinter as riders fall back off the pace. With 14 kms to go, the duo's lead is 3'20", with Leblanc 4'50" back.

2:16 p.m. (local time):
More splintering as Vasseur, Carmenzind, Heulot start to fade slightly. Ullrich, Riis, Olano, Virenque, and Pantani are among the strongest at the front with 10 kms to the summit. Still, no major attacks, just steady pedalling.

2:24 p.m. (local time):
With 7 kms to the summit, the group is starting to splinter. Olano and Jalabert drop back.

2:29 p.m. (local time):
With 4 kms to go, Herve/Rodriquez are 1'15” ahead of 8 riders: Ullrich, Riis, Virenque, Dufaux, Casagrande, Jimenez, Escartin, Luttenberger. Another group is about two minutes back: Pantani, Bolts, Carmenzind; Jalabert and Olano, with Vasseur are 2'35" back.

2:35 p.m. (local time):
With 3 kms to go, the “Big 8” are powering up the steeps, again obscured in clouds. Jalabert and Olano are losing more time, with Herve/Rodriquez still out front.

2:44 p.m. (local time):
Herve/Rodriquez finish 1-2 on one of cycling most hallowed cols, with Virenque leading the "Big 8" just 19 seconds back. Race leader Vasseur finished with Jalabert and Brochard 3'11" back, putting his on-course hold on the jersey in jeopardy. Olano? He's even further back and hasn't even topped out on the col yet.

2:55 p.m. (local time):
The riders are descending Tourmalet through heavy clouds. Next? The Col d'Aspin, a category-wo climb awaiting at 136 kms.

More details from Tourmalet: Finishing 1'11" back were Pantani, Bolts, Laukka. Olano topped the col at 2'30" behind the front group, but ahead of the Jalabert group.

3:03 p.m. (local time):
On the descent at 122 kms, Olano along with U.S. Postal's Robin and Festina's Rous are working to rejoin the Riis lead group. On the steep descents, riders are putting on extra jackets and jerseys to provide warmth against the cold mountain air. Covered with sweat, the racers need the added insulation. Now, nearly 15 minutes later, a back group of riders is just topping out on Tourmalet.

3:08 p.m. (local time):
Herve and Rodrigues are out front 50 seconds ahead of the Riis group, with Jalabert, Olano, Robin, and Brochard working at 1'50" back.

3:19 p.m. (local time):
The duo are working hard together, putting 1'34" between them and the Riis group at the start of the Col d'Aspin at 126 kms.

3:24 p.m. (local time):
The unrelenting climbs of this stage continue. After a short break, the climbers are attacking the Col d'Aspin, a category-two hill at 136 kms. The top riders are together as Herve and Rodgriguez are 1'10" out.

3:28 p.m. (local time):
Three kms from the summit, race leader Cedric Vasseur (Gan) is suffering, falling back of his chase group and probably losing the maillot jaune he's worn since winning the Tour’s only breakaway stage so far in La Chatre, July 10.

3:30 p.m. (local time):
Ullrich and Virenque dueling at the front of the lead group. Ullrich looks incredibly fresh, while team captain Riis appears to be struggling to keep the pace. Again, the racers disappear into clouds. Riders won’t likely attack too hard, unless a rival is in clear trouble. After Col d'Aspin, there's 40 kms of nearly flat terrain, where riders who are dropped on the climb can catch the leaders going into the final climb at 171 kms.

3:32 p.m. (local time):
Herve's lead is down to 30 seconds at 2 kms from the summit. Jalabert once again is in difficulty, falling off the pace.

3:34 p.m. (local time):
Topping out at Col d'Aspin is Herve, with the chase group just a few seconds back. Jalabert and Vasseur are 25 seconds back on the lead group.

3:39 p.m. (local time):
More from d’Aspit: First was Herve, followed by Brochard, Virenque, Bolts, Ullrich, Olano, Casagrande, Beltran, Riis, and Luttenberger. Vasseur and Jalabert topped out 50 seconds later.

3:42 p.m. (local time):
Herve counterattacks, building up his lead, riding solo down the steep, twisting roads. Herve is attacking, forcing Telekom to work to reel him in, which could work for a Dufaux or Virenque stage win.

3:47 p.m. (local time):
Festina teammate Didier Rous gives chase to catch Herve.

3:51 p.m. (local time):
Herve stays out alone, 45 seconds ahead of Rous, Carmenzind, and Brochard, 1’10" ahead of the Riis/Ullrich/Virenque/Olano group of about 15 riders. Fincato, Buenahora, and Jimenez try to pull ahead, but the lead group pulls them back.

3:56 p.m. (local time):
Riders are in a long, flat section of about 15 kms before the start of the category-one climb up Col de Val Louron-Azet at 171 kms.

4:02 p.m. (local time):
Herve has 35 seconds on the chase group and 1’38" on the peloton.

4:09 p.m. (local time):
Herve wins the sprint at 159 kms, with Brochard, Carmenzind 2-3 just 20 seconds back.

4:10 p.m. (local time):
Herve gives up on break and falls back to chase group. Brochard and Carmenzind power past to take a 20-second lead over Herve and Rous, and two minutes on the peloton at start of the climb.

4:34 p.m. (local time):
With 3 kms to the top of the col, Brochard has pulled out 1'20" ahead of a chase group of six riders: Riis, Ullrich, Virenque, Pantani, Escartin, and Jimenez. Carmenzind and Dufaux are 20 seconds back, Olano 40 seconds back, and Vasseur is barely keep in the yellow jersey.

4:35 p.m. (local time):
Brochard goes out first, followed by Virenque, Pantani, and Ullrich. Riis falls back 27 seconds on the climb.

5 p.m. (local time):
All of France is singing today. On Bastille Day, Frenchman Laurent Brochard (Festina) won Monday's tough climbing stage, while compatriot Cédric Vasseur (Gan) kept the yellow jersey of the overall lead in the most exciting stage of the three-week Tour.

Brochard attacked on the steep descents coming into the finish to win the four-climb stage through the Pyrenees. Teammate Richard Virenque outsprinted Italian Marco Pantani and Telekom's Jan Ullrich to take second, 14 seconds back.

Defending champion Bjarne Riis suffered on the final category-one Col de Val Louren-Azet and finished 41 seconds behind Brochard.

Ullrich pulls within 13 seconds of Vasseur in the overall standings and Olano moves into third overall at 14 seconds back.