2004 Tour de France

US Postal Service team leader and five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, left, hands a pen back to a young cheering fan after signing an autograph prior to the 13th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Lannemezan, southwestern France, and Plateau de Beille, Pyrenees mountains, Saturday, July 17, 2004. He won the trial, all but assuring a record sixth overall victory.

US Postal Service team leader Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, reacts as he crosses the finish line to win, ahead of Italian Ivan Basso, seen behind, the 13th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Lannemezan, southwestern France, and Plateau de Beille, Pyrenees mountains, Saturday, July 17, 2004.

Overall leader Thomas Voeckler of France, right, rides with teammate Anthony Charteau in the first kilometers of the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Castelsarrasin, southwestern France, and La Mongie, Pyrenees mountains, Friday, July 16, 2004.

Ivan Basso of Italy crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race ahead of Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas, unseen, between Castelsarrasin, southwestern France, and La Mongie, Pyrenees mountains, Friday, July 16, 2004.

The pack rides through sunflowers during the 12th stage.

Overall leader Thomas Voeckler of France, right, rides with teammate Anthony Charteau at the beginning of the 12th stage.

David Moncoutie of France breaks away in the 11th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Figeac, central France, Thursday, July 15, 2004. Moncoutie won the stage, while Thomas Voeckler of France retained the overall lead.

A supporter in her swimsuit waves from the side of the road as the pack rides past during the 11th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Figeac, central France, Thursday, July 15, 2004.

Richard Virenque of France, who took over the best climber`s dotted jersey, reacts on the podium after winning the 10th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoges and Saint-Flour, central France, Wednesday, July 14, 2004.

U.S. Postal team leader and five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas, rides towards the start line prior to the 10th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoges and Saint-Flour, central France, Wednesday, July 14, 2004.

Spectators watch the pack riding through Eymoutiers near the Vassiviere lake, during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat and Gueret, central France, Tuesday, July 13, 2004. Robbie McEwen of Australia won the stage; Thomas Voeckler of France retains the overall lead of the race.

Filippo Pozzato of Italy, right, kisses a hostess as he receives the winner's trophy after winning the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Chateaubriand, western France, and Saint-Brieuc, Brittany, Saturday, July 10, 2004.

Tom Boonen of Belgium reacts as he crosses the finish line, winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Bonneval and Angers, western France, Friday, July 9, 2004.

The breakaway group with cyclists (from left to right) Magnus Backstedt of Sweden, Stuart O'Grady of Australia, Jakob Piil of Denmark, Sandy Casar of France, and Thomas Voeckler of France during the 5th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Amiens, northern France, and Chartres, west of Paris, Thursday, July 8, 2004. O'Grady won the stage, with Voeckler taking over the overall leader's yellow jersey.

Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, right, and Jan Ullrich of Germany, first left, pedal in heavy rain as the pack rides during the 5th stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Amiens, northern France, and Chartres, west of Paris, Thursday, July 8, 2004.

U.S. Postal Service teammates greet each other after winning the 4th stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a 40-mile team time-trial between Cambrai and Arras, northern France, Wednesday, July 7, 2004. Team leader Lance Armstrong took the overall lead.

Jean-Patrick Nazon of France reacts as he crosses the finish to win the third stage of the 91st Tour de France cycling race, between Waterloo, Belgium, and Wasquehal, northern France, July 6, 2004. Robbie McEwen of Australia, seen at right, finished third in the stage behind Nazon and Erik Zabel of Germany, unseen, and took the overall lead of the race.

A resident dressed like a soldier from the Napoleon era, right, watches riders in the early portions of the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race, between Waterloo, Belgium, and Wasquehal, northern France, July 6, 2004. Lion's Hill, with the sculpture of the Lion of Waterloo, is seen in background. Napoleon's troops lost their last battle in Waterloo on June 18, 1815.

U.S. Postal Service team leader and five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, second left, rides in the pack during the second stage of the 91st Tour de France cycling race, between Charleroi and Namur, Belgium, July 5, 2004. Robbie McEwen of Australia won the stage, amd Thor Hushovd of Norway took the overall lead of the race.

The pack rides through wheat fields outside the Belgian village of Boussu-lez-Walcourt, close to the French border, during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race, stage between Charleroi and Namur, Belgium, July 5, 2004. Australia's Robbie McEwen won the stage, and Norway's Thor Hushovd took the yellow jersey.

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