U.S. Riders Dominate Opening Stage of 2005 Tour de France

Give the gift of Outside
Free Knife with your Subscription

• HOME • GEAR • TRAVEL • BODYWORK • ARCHIVES

You Are Here:

Home >> U.S. Riders Dominate Opening Stage of 2005 Tour de France

+ DAILY REPORTS

+ CHRIS CARMICHAEL

+ NEWS

+ TOUR DE FRANCE PHOTOS

+ INTERACTIVE MAP

+ ARCHIVES


	Check out the smoothest rigs this side of L'Alpe d'Huez in "State of the Art," our review of the new spokesmodels of spin. [more]


	Are you fit enough to blow through three weeks of hundred-mile race stages? Funny, neither are we. But with a whole lot of practice and some help from Chris Carmichael and the Outside Training Center perhaps we too could tackle le Tour. Plus, get your questions answered in the exclusive Fitness Q&A with Chris Carmichael. [more]

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

News
Stage 21	July 24, 2005
Stage 20	July 23, 2005
Stage 19	July 22, 2005
Stage 18	July 21, 2005
Stage 17	July 20, 2005
Stage 16	July 19, 2005
Stage 15	July 17, 2005
Stage 14	July 16, 2005
Stage 13	July 15, 2005
Stage 12	July 14, 2005
Stage 11	July 13, 2005
Stage 10	July 12, 2005
Stage 9	July 10, 2005
Stage 8	July 09, 2005
Stage 7	July 08, 2005
Stage 6	July 07, 2005
Stage 5	July 06, 2005
Stage 4	July 05, 2005
Stage 3	July 04, 2005
Stage 2	July 03, 2005
Stage 1	July 02, 2005

Tour de France Photos

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 19-21 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 16-18 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 13-15 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 10-12 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 7-9 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 4-6 [launch gallery]

	Tour de France 2005 Stages 1-3 [launch gallery]


	You've seen them everywhere, from grade school kids to John Kerry's wrist. Buy a yellow wristband emblazoned with Lance's motto, "Live Strong," and join the effort to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation's fight against cancer. [more]

2005 TOUR DE FRANCE

Stage 1: July 02, 2005

Stage 1: July 02, 2005
U.S. Riders Dominate Opening Stage of 2005 Tour de France
By Sara Blask

In an unparalleled display of athletic prowess and determination, six-time champion Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) overtook long-time rival Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) at the nine-mile mark in Stage 1 of the 2005 Tour de France, earning himself the green jersey and a second-place finish, two seconds behind first-time Tour rider, David Zabriskie (Team CSC). Zabriskie and Armstrong are former U.S. Postal teammates.

Salt Lake City-born Zabriskie, 26, finished the 11.8-mile time trial from Fromentine to the island of Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile in a blazing 20 minutes and 51.84 seconds, and will wear the yellow jersey when the Tour continues tomorrow. Averaging 34 miles per hour, Zabriskie set the record for the fastest time ever ridden in a time trial stage of the Tour, eclipsing the previous record set by Greg LeMond in 1989.

"I was expecting big names to perform so it's really an amazing feeling for me to be here right now," Zabriskie said in a televised press conference.

Out of a field of 189 riders from 21 teams, the first stage of the 2,241-mile Tour was dominated by American riders, with four finishing in the top six. George Hincapie, Armstrong's close friend and Discovery teammate, finished in fourth place, 57 seconds behind Zabriskie. Floyd Landis, who wears Team Phonak's green and gold jersey, a team plagued by three positive doping tests in 2004, finished sixth, just over a minute behind the winner.

Seconds after emerging from the start house, Armstrong appeared to have trouble with his right pedal, unclipping from it but skillfully clipping back in. Bidding for his seventh straight Tour victory before he retires, he started a full minute behind Ullrich, who finished 12th with a time of 21:59:340.

Ullrich, winner of the 1997 Tour de France, took a tumble yesterday when he slammed into the back of his team car, shattering its back window. During a training ride on June 22, Armstrong was stung by a bee above his eye, and five minutes later found himself on the ground, his helmet split in half. In an interview with OLN, he called it a "silly crash."

Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) and Ivan Basso (CSC), both considered possible contenders for this year's Tour, finished the first stage in third and 20th places, respectively.

Tomorrow's stage is 113 miles and will begin in the Atlantic town of Challans.

Stage 1 // Overall Standings:
1. Dave Zabriskie (USA)
2. Lance Armstrong (USA)
3. A. Vinokourov (KAZ)
4. George Hincapie (USA)
5. Laszlo Bodrogi (HUN)

Main Page: Daily Reports | Chris Carmichael | News |
Tour de France Photos | Archives



2005 BUYER'S GUIDE • Complete Guide • Gear of the Year • Killer Values • Items to Covet	SUMMER TRAVELER • 1,800 Miles B.C. • Authentic New Mexico • Prime American Lodges • "I Do" With a View	2005 TOUR DE FRANCE • Complete Coverage • Tour Photos • Chris Carmichael's Journals • Daily Reports	MULTIMEDIA FEATURES • Climber Girls Photo Gallery • Jeremy Bloom Video • Madagascar Photo Gallery • Exposure: Sara Carlson



OUTSIDE FEBRUARY 2006 • The U.S. Ski Team • Miles Daisher • Alps Hot List • Winter Workouts	OUTSIDE JANUARY 2006 • Adventure Life List • Reinhold Messner • Hockey • Easter Island	OUTSIDE DECEMBER 2005 • All-Stars • Lance Armstrong • Gift Guide • Winter Escapes	OUTSIDE NOVEMBER 2005 • Australia • Afghanistan • Patagonia • Winter Hot List

FIND GEAR FROM REI
• Hiking Gear
• Cycling Gear
• Paddling Gear
• Snow Sports Gear
• Women's Specific Gear
• Women's Outerwear
• Men's Outerwear
• Kid's Outerwear
• Luggage & Travel Gear
• www.rei.com

FIND ADVENTURE VACATIONS
• 2003 Adventure Travel Catalogs
• Top Cen. Amer/Mexico Vacations
• Hawaii Adventure Vacations
• Dude Ranch Vacations
• Adventure Travel Deals

TRAVEL GUIDES FROM AWAY.COM
• Belize
• British Columbia
• California
• Colorado
• Costa Rica
• France
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Utah
• See All Travel Guides


THE AWAY NETWORK	Away.com Adventure Travel Trip Planning Travel Guides Active Travel Travel Ideas	OutsideOnline.com Outdoor Adventure Outside Magazine Adventure Travel Outdoor Gear Health and Fitness	Gorp.com Hiking Vacation Packages National Parks Camping Gear Backpacking