Le Tour 2010
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Victory!
Spain's Alberto Contador celebrates on the podium after the 19th stage time trial between Bordeaux and Pauillac on July 24. Contador's time was good enough to secure his third overall title in four years.
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Take him to the top
Spain's Alberto Contador is escorted to the podium after finishing the Stage 19 time trial between Bordeaux and Pauillac on July 24.
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No quit
Andy Schleck gasps for breath as he rides during the Stage 19 time trial on July 24. Schleck was unable to make up the 8 seconds he trailed leader Alberto Contador by entering the decisive stage.
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Making good time
Fabian Cancellara won the Stage 19 time trial on July 24.
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Star-studded win
Actors Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise pose with Tour de France race leader Alberto Contador of Spain on the podium July 23.
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Can't catch Cavendish
From left to right, Alessandro Petacchi, stage winner Mark Cavendish, Julian Dean and Edvald Boasson Hagen sprint toward the finish line of the 18th stage on July 23. Cavendish won his fourth stage win this year and his 14th of his career.
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Great view
The pack passes through Tartas during the 18th stage on July 23.
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Well done, mate
Stage winner Andy Schleck, left, and Alberto Contador congratulate each other after crossing the finish line of the 17th stage on Thursday, July 22. The two cyclists dueled all the way up the Tormalet Pass, with Contador able to answer Schleck's attack and keep the overall lead and the yellow jersey.
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Mountain main
Saxo Bank team rider Andy Schleck of Luxembourg celebrates after winning the 17th stage. He remained eight seconds off the overall race lead.
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Get baaack
The pack of riders cycles during the 17th stage from Pau to Tourmalet Pass along with some sheep.
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Fight in the fog
Overall Tour leader Alberto Contador, left, and Andy Schleck, only eight seconds behind, battle during the climb up the Tourmalet pass in dense fog during the 17th stage.
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Ahead of the curve
Riders along a bend in the road during the 17th stage.
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Almost, Lance
Pierrick Fedrigo, left, sprints ahead of Ruben Plaza Molina, second from left, and Lance Armstrong, right, to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday.
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Refreshing
Italy's Paolo Tiralongo takes a drink while cycling between Bagneres-de-Luchon and Pau on Tuesday, July 20.
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Follow the leader
Alberto Contador of Spain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, is followed by Samuel Sanchez of Spain as they speed down Tourmalet pass during the 16th stage of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees region of France on Tuesday, July 20.
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Broken bike
Overall leader Andy Schleck, right, looks at his chain as he rides with Alberto Contador in the 15th stage of the Tour de France on July 19. Because of Schleck's chain problem, Contador passed him to take the lead.
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Run for daylight
Riders cycle through the Mas d'Azil cave during the 15th stage of the Tour de France on July 19.
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No room for error
The pack climbs towards Port de Bales pass during the 15th stage of the Tour de France on July 19.
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Flower power
The pack of riders cycles past sunflowers during the 14th stage of the 97th Tour de France between Revel and Ax-3-Domaines, France, on Sunday, July 18.
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Rocky situation
Cyclists ride the course of Stage 14 of the Tour de France, the first stage to enter the Pyrenees in Ax 3 Domaines.
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Wet hellos
Fans swim in a lake as the pack rides between Revel and Ax-Trois-Domaines on July 18.
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Target on his back
Andy Schleck, wearing the yellow jersey of overall race leader, rides during during the 13th stage of the Tour de France between Rodez and Revel on Saturday, July 17. The race ends with the 20th stage in Paris on July 25.
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Petals and pedals
The pack of riders cycle past a bee hovering beside a sunflower during the 13th stage.
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A need for feed
Defending champion Alberto Contador, of Spain, bites his energy bars as he rides during the 13th stage.
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The wheel deal
Picture shows wheels during the 13th stage.
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Redemption
Alexandre Vinokourov, of Kazakhstan, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 13th stage. It was a far cry from the 2007 Tour, when Vinokourov was kicked out and instantly became an emblem of doping shame after testing positive for a banned blood transfusion.
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Past his prime
7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong rides ahead of overall leader Andy Schleck in the 13th stage. Armstrong is far out of contention for the win.
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Still the 1
Andy Schleck leaves the podium with the yellow jersey as race leader at the end of the 13th stage.
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Reign of Spain
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver of Spain celebrates as he cycles ahead of defending champion Alberto Contador, also of Spain to win the 12th stage of the 97th Tour de France on Friday, July 16.
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Yellow fever
A spectator in a yellow Citroen 2CV car waves as the pack, including yellow jersey-wearing Andy Schleck, passes during the 12th stage.
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Convoy
Andy Schleck, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, center, rides in the pack during the 12th stage.
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Fandemonium
Thousands cheer as Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov rides up a final climb to take third place on stage 12. The stage, which started in Bourg-de-Peage, included the La Croix Neuve pass which is nearly 1.2 miles in length with an average gradient of more than 10 percent.
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Peak performance
The pack of riders cycles during the 11th stage between Sisteron and Bourg-Les-Valencee on Thursday, July 15.
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Colored jersey
Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, Thor Hushovd of Norway, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, and Robert Geesink of the Netherlands, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, talk prior to the start of the 11th stage of the Tour de France on July 15.
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Photo finish
Vasil Kyryienka of Belarus at left, and stage winner Sergio Paulinho of Portugal, sprint to the finish line of the 10th stage on Wednesday, July 14. Paulinho, riding for Team Radio shack, beat Kyryienka by half a wheel to win.
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Downhill run
The pack, with Andy Schleck of Luxembourg wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, speeds down Noyer pass during the 10th stage on July 14.
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Cooling off
Matti Breschel of Denmark cools off during the 111.2mile race from Chambery to Gap, on July 14.
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Refueling
Andy Schleck eats during the race on July 14. It was Shleck's first day wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey.
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Beautiful scenery
The pack passes Sautet reservoir on July 14.
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Chatting with a legend
Cadel Evans of Australia talks with Lance Armstrong before the start of the ninth stage on Tuesday, July 13. Evans lost the overall lead, and the yellow jersey, after being injured.
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Liquid relief
Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez dumps water on his face as he rides in a breakaway with Italy's Damiano Cunego, center, during the ninth stage.
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Run for the hills
The pack speeds down Saisies pass during the 9th stage.
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For good luck
The pendant of Belgium's Francis De Greef is shown prior to the ninth stage.
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Leaving the competition behind
Andy Schleck, left, and Alberto Contador look back as they cycle ahead of the pack during the ninth stage. They are 1-2 in the overall standings.
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Close finish
Saxo Bank rider Andy Schleck celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 11. Schleck won ahead of Euskatel rider Samuel Sanchez, right.
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Feeling small
A fan sits on a huge decoration yellow bike on July 11 during the eighth stage of the Tour de France.
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Losing his hair
Lance Armstrong pulls off the wig of a fan as he rides on July 11 in the eighth stage of the Tour de France.
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Battle scars
Lance Armstrong's jersey after he crashed on July 11 in the eighth stage of the Tour de France.
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Breath-taking ride
French rider Damien Monier is given oxygen at the finish of the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 11.
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French delight
Stage 7 winner and new overall leader Sylvain Chavanel of France climbs towards Station des Rousses on Saturday, July 10.
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Cooling effect
Stage 7 winner Sylvain Chavanel of France gets sprayed with water by his team director.
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Warming trend
A family tries to stay warm in a thermal blanket given out by an ambulance after a massive hail storm left hundreds of people stranded during Stage 7 in Station Des Rousses, France.
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Lance Armstrong of the US closes his shirt in the climb towards Station les Rousses during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 165.5 kilometers (102.8 miles) with start in Tournus and finish in Station des Rousses, France, Saturday, July 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)
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Bearing down
Lampre team rider Danilo Hondo of Germany cycles in the Jura mountains during the seventh stage.
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Buzzing the Tour
Jean-Pierre Caloini, right, aka Le Frelon (the hornet) waves to the pack of riders on Friday, July 9, during the 6th stage.
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The man to beat
Astana rider and defending champion Alberto Contador, center, of Spain cycles during the sixth stage.
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Giving chase
A young girl chases the peloton along the 227.5km route from Montargis to Gueugnon in stage six of the Tour de France in Gueugnon, France.
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River crossing
The pack of riders cycles over a bridge during the sixth stage of the Tour de France on July 9.
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Gearing up
A mechanic checks the bike of overall leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland on July 9.
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Flat land in France
The pack rides in the fifth stage of the Tour de France between Epernay and Montargis, France, on Thursday, July 8.
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Roadside view
A fan sitting in a jeep vehicle looks at the riders during the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, July 8.
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Strong finish
Britain's Mark Cavendish sprints to the finish of the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, July 7 in Montargis, France.
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Tears of joy
Brtitain's Mark Cavendish cries on the podium after winning the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, July 8.
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Center of attention
Photographers and fans take pictures as Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, drinks prior to the start of the fourth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, July 7.
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Rocky road
Riders fall on the cobblestones during the third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Several riders crashed on one of the seven sections of cobblestone in the stage.
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Dust be-deviled
Lance Armstrong rides in a cloud of dust on a cobblestone section during the third stage Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Armstrong got a flat tire and dropped to 18th overall. "It was bad luck," he said.
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He's the wheel deal
Thor Hushovd crosses the finish line to win the third stage Tuesday, July 6, 2010.
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Taking the curve
The pack of the riders makes a turn during the third stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday, July 6, 2010.
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Hat trick
A cycling fan attends the start of the third stage Tuesday, July 6, 2010.
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Arc de Triomphe
Sylvain Chavanel of France crosses the finish line to win the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race Monday, July 5, 2010. The second stage started in Brussels and finished in Spa, Belgium over 125 miles away. There were several falls during the stage, so the top riders slowed near the finish. Chavanel won because he broke away from the field.
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Safety concerns
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Team Saxo Bank controls the peloton as they approach the finish line during Stage 2 in Spa, Belgium on Monday, July 5, 2010. The pack deliberately slowed down to avoid wrecks.
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Crowd favorites
The pack with Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, right, passes a village near Brussels on Monday, July 5, 2010.
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Painful moment
U.S. cyclist Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Transition's waits for medics after a crash during Stage 2 on Monday, July 5, 2010. Farrar finished 191st in the stage and is 18 minutes back.
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Traffic jam
The pack rides at the start of the 125-mile second stage on Monday, July 5, 2010.
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Fans of the Rising Sun
Japanese fans wait for the riders with their flag in Brussels before the start of the second stage Monday, July 5, 2010.
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Talk of champions
Five-time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx, right, talks to overall leader Fabian Cancellara before the start of the second stage Monday, July 5, 2010.
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Happy return
Alessandro Petacchi celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the first stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 4, 2010. The 36-year-old Italian is riding his first Tour since 2004.
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Sprint to the finish
Alessandro Petacchi sprints ahead of Mark Renshaw, second from the right, Thor Hushovd, second from the left, and Robbie McEwen in the final sprint Sunday, July 4, 2010. Petacchi clocked 5 hours, 9 minutes, 38 seconds for the stage.
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Pain of the pedal
Lloyd Mondory grimaces as he crosses the finish on foot after crashing during the first stage Sunday, July 4, 2010.
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Clowning around
A clown gestures on his bike while blowing soap bubbles before the first stage of the Tour on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
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Conservative move
Lance Armstrong rides in the pack of the first stage Sunday, July 4, 2010. Armstrong avoided wrecks, finishing in the pack to remain fourth overall.
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Pack mentality
Fans look at the pack ridding on the roadside between Rotterdam and Brussels on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
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'Total mayhem'
Riders fall during the first stage of the Tour on Sunday, July 4, 2010. It was "total mayhem," Lance Armstrong said after the stage.
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Flowery start
The pack of riders cycles during the first stage of the 97th Tour de France on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
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The final ride
Lance Armstrong finishes fourth in the individual time trial in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on the first day of the Tour de France on Saturday, July 3. Armstrong has said this will be his last Tour.
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Bridge work
Maarten Tjallingii from Team Rabobank rides during the prologue on Day 1.
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Let's roll
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland listens to the countdown before starting the prologue on Day 1. The Swiss star finshed first in the event.
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Slick streets
U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer competes in the prologue on Day 1.
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There will be blood
Footon-Serveto team rider Manuel Cardoso cycles after his fall during the prologue.
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Lance in love
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong kisses his girlfriend Anna Hansen prior to the prologue.
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Early leader
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Team Saxo Bank pulls on the race leader's yellow jersey after winning the prologue.
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