Tour de France 2003

Four-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, rides past the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The prologue stage of the Tour de France this year was a 4.03-miles individual time trial from the Eiffel Tower, through the streets of Paris, to the Ecole Militaire at the foot of the Champ de Mars held on July 5, 2003. Brad McGee of Australia won the prologue; Armstrong finished in seventh place.

Horrific Crash

Another Tour de France hopeful, U.S. rider Tyler Hamilton of Marblehead, Mass., sits in an ambulance after he was caught in a massive pile-up shortly before the finish of the first stage between Montgeron, south of Paris, and Meaux, west of Paris, July 6, 2003. Dozens of other riders, including Armstrong, were caught in the crash.

Another Win For Aussies

Baden Cooke of Australia reacts as he wins the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race between La Ferte-sous-Jouarre and Sedan, eastern France, July 7, 2003. Erik Zabel of Germany, right, finished fourth behind Jean-Patrick Nazon of France and Jaan Kirsipuu of Estonia.

Riding Through Farmlands

The pack rides through the countryside during the third stage of the Tour de France between Charleville-Mezieres and Saint-Dizier, France, July 8, 2003. Lance Armstrong and U.S. Postal Team riders are seen on the right.

Posties Jump To The Lead

Lance Armstrong follows teammate Viatcheslav Ekimov, of Russia, in the last kilometers of the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a 69-kilometer team time trial between Joinville and Saint-Dizier, eastern France, July 9, 2003. U.S. Postal Service won the stage, and USPS rider Victor Hugo Pena took the overall lead.

Italian Wins Again...

Italian Fassa Bortolo team rider Alessandro Petacchi flashes a three sign for his third victory as he wins the 5th stage of the Tour de France between Troyes, eastern France, and Nevers, central France, July 10, 2003. Colombian Victor Hugo Pena of the U.S. Postal Service team retained the yellow jersey.

...And Again

Alessandro Petacchi further staked his claim that he's the world's king of sprint by winning the 6th stage of the Tour de France, July 11, 2003. The stage ran between Nevers and Lyon (France's second largest city.) Victor Hugo Pena of Colombia, on the U.S. Postal Service team, retains the overall lead.

Alps Loom Ahead

French climber Richard Virenque, left, behind teammate Paolo Bettini of Italy, cools himself off in the ascent of the La Ramaz pass during the 7th stage of the Tour de France between Lyon, central France, and Morzine-Avoriaz, French Alps, July 12, 2003. Virenque won the stage after a 115-mile breakaway, becoming the new overall leader of the race.

Lance In Yellow

Lance Armstrong, as the new overall leader of 2003 Tour de France, puts on the yellow jersey on the podium after the 8th stage, July 13, 2003, between Sallanches and L'Alpe d'Huez, French Alps. Iban Mayo of Spain won the stage, while Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan finished second.

Beloki Is Out

Joseba Beloki, of Spain, cries in pain after falling in a turn less than 5 miles before the finish of the 9th stage, July 14, 2003. Beloki pulled out of the race. Lance Armstrong was following Beloki during the crash and had to go offroad to avoid the fallen Spaniard. He finished fourth behind the stage winner, Alex Vinokurov of Khazakstan.

Tour Reaches Its Midpoint

The pack rides through the old harbour of Marseille during the 10th stage of the Tour between Gap, southeastern France, and Marseille, southern France, July 15, 2003. The peleton was to take a day off to get some rest before the gruelling stages in the Pyrenees.

T5?

Lance Armstrong, trying to win the Tour de France for a fifth consecutive time, shares the podium with movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger after the 11th stage, July 17, 2003, between Narbonne and Toulouse, southwestern France. Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain won the stage.

Iron Jan

Team Bianchi rider Jan Ullrich of Germany pedals during the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a 29-mile individual time trial between Gaillac and Cap' Decouverte, southwestern France, July 18, 2003. Ullrich dominated the stage by completing the course 1 minute and 30 seconds faster than the next best rider and overall leader Lance Armstrong.

Petal Power

Juan Antonio Flech of Spain, right, waves as the pack crosses sunflower fields during the 13th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse, southwestern France, and Ax-3 Domaines, French Pyrenees, July 19, 2003.

In The Pyrenees

The pack rides down the Latrape pass during the 14th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Girons and Loudenvielle-Le Louron, French Pyrenees, July 20, 2003. Italy's Gilberto Simoni won the stage.

Paving The Way

Jan Ullrich of Germany, right, evades Iban Mayo of Spain, center, and overall leader Lance Armstrong, after Armstrong and Mayo fell during the 15th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Bagneres-de-Bigorre and Luz-Ardiden, French Pyrenees, July 21, 2003. Armstrong won the stage, his first of the Tour, while Ullrich finished in third.

First One For Tyler

USA's Tyler Hamilton, left, and David Latasa of Spain speed down the Soudet pass during the 16th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Pau and Bayonne, southwestern France, July 23, 2003. Hamilton won his first Tour de France stage.

Big Supporters

The pack, with overall leader Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, seen at center, speeds past Landes shepherds wearing their traditional outfit and standing on stilts, outside Sore, during the 17th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Dax and Bordeaux, southwestern France, July 24, 2003.

Comic Relief

Overall leader Lance Armstrong jokes with visiting friend and bike enthusiast Robin Williams, prior to the 18th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Bordeaux, and Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole, July 25, 2003. Pablo Lastras of Spain finished first in the stage at an average speed of 30.962 mph, making it the second-fastest road stage in Tour history.

Yes!

Tour winner Lance Armstrong, center, second-place finisher Jan Ullrich, left, and third-place finisher Alexander Vinokourov wave on the podium after the 20th and final stage of the Tour de France, July 27, 2003. Armstrong's record-tying fifth straight win places him alongside the greatest cyclists in the sport.