Sports

Cycling

The Tour de France: A primer

The Tour de France will cover more than 3,600 kilometers (2,237 miles) in 21 stages over 23 days, drawing more than 2-million spectators. The course's circular configuration is traditional, as is the final sprint on Paris' most famous boulevard, the Champs Elysees, and finish under the Arc de Triomphe. One of the most climb-intensive Tours in recent memory, the race features 28 major climbs and likely will be decided in the Pyrenees Mountains in the third week. The purse is 3-million euros ($3,607,462), with 400,000 ($481,127) to the winner.

By Times Staff Writer
Published June 26, 2005

---

THE BREAKDOWN:

Nine flat stages.

Three mixed-terrain stages.

Six mountain stages, including three mountaintop finishes.

Two individual time trials.

One team time trial.

Two rest days.

One transfer by plane, one by train.

KEY STAGES

STAGE 4, JULY 5

The team time trial. Each team member receives the same time, that of the fifth rider across the line. Watch how the top five are pulled by the other four team members and who fades at the end when his score doesn't count.

STAGE 7, JULY 8

Sprinters' paradise. The last two minutes are must-see as dozens of riders jockey for position. The route dips into Germany, homeland of 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich, Lance Armstrong's chief rival.

STAGE 11, JULY 13

This 108-mile stage features three climbs, including the one-two punch of Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier, a combined 28.5 kilometers (17.7 miles) of climbing with grades as steep as 10 percent.

STAGE 15, JULY 17

By far the Tour's most grueling day, with six mountain climbs. Many believe the rider wearing the yellow jersey at the end of this stage will win the Tour.

STAGE 20, JULY 23

If the race is close coming out of the Pyrenees, this 55-kilometer (34.2-mile) time trial will be the decisive stage.

SCORING

The focus of contenders in the general classification (GC) is to cover the course in the least amount of time. Times are cumulative. A stage win receives a 20-second bonus. It is possible to win the Tour without winning any stages, but that's rare.

TEAMS

Cycling appears to be an individual sport, but teamwork is critical. Teams are comprised of nine riders. Those with a contender to win the GC, such as Team Discovery with Armstrong, are geared toward helping that rider maximize his potential. Sprinters pace him in the flats, climbers in the mountains. One rider serves as a buffer for the wind and delivers food and water from the team car. A manager plots strategy, communicating with riders through electronic earpieces from a car behind the pack.

WHY YELLOW?

The yellow jersey - maillot jaune - is the Tour's most visible icon, an easy way for spectators and race officials to identify the leader. It was introduced in 1919 by Tour founder and newspaper man Henri Desgrange as a gimmick, its color matching the pages of his publication. The yellow jersey is awarded to the Stage 1 winner and to the rider at the end of each stage with the lowest cumulative time.

OTHER JERSEYS

POLKA DOT: Worn by the top climber or King of the Mountains, this white jersey with red dots is the second-most prestigious jersey. Frenchman Richard Virenque retired after winning a record seventh polka-dot jersey in 2004. GREEN: Awarded to the top sprinter based on points earned during road races, time trials and designated sprint locations called hot spots. Germany's Erik Zabel won an unprecedented six consecutive green jerseys from 1996 to 2001. WHITE: Honors the race's highest-ranked overall rider age 25 and under. Frenchman Laurent Fignon (1983) and German Jan Ullrich (1997) were 23 when they won the final white and yellow jerseys.

TOP CONTENDERS

* JAN ULLRICH, GERMANY: A near-perfect cyclist, Ullrich is a product of the former East German sports machine. Believed to share Armstrong's physical gifts, Ullrich seems to lack the Texan's spirit and dedication. He wears the hot-pink jersey of Team T-Mobile.

* IVAN BASSO, ITALY: Last year's third-place finisher, Basso rides for Team CSC, the only team as well-organized as Team Discovery. Basso, a tremendous climber, stayed with Armstrong last year in the Pyrenees.

* ANDREAS KLODEN, GERMANY: A teammate of Ullrich's on Team T-Mobile, Kloden was the runnerup last year.

* FLOYD LANDIS AND BOBBY JULICH, USA: While Tyler Hamilton serves a two-year suspension for blood doping, Landis and Julich join Armstrong as the top Americans. Landis is a former Armstrong teammate.

TOUR HEROES

Five riders have won the Tour five or more times.

LANCE ARMSTRONG (6): American cancer survivor goes for record seventh straight win in the final ride of his career.

MIGUEL INDURAIN (5): The first to win five consecutive Tours, the Spaniard won in 1991-95.

BERNARD HINAULT (5): The last Frenchman to dominate, "The Badger" won in 1978-79, 1981-82 and 1985. EDDY MERCKX (5): Considered the greatest cyclist of all time, the Belgian won all manner of races. Nicknamed "The Cannibal," he won the Tour from 1969-72 and 1974. JACQUES ANQUETIL (5): The handsome Frechman was the first to win the Tour five times, 1957 and 1961-64.

TRACKING THE TOUR

Whether you plan to line the streets of some charming French village or fluff the pillows on your couch, up-to-the-minute info is available from a variety of sources.

ON TV: The Outdoor Life Network OLN provides some of the best television coverage in the United States. A prerace show in the morning switches to live coverage, and the show is repeated in the evening prime time with added elements, including interviews. The broadcast schedule is listed at www.olntv.com Also, on Sunday mornings during the Tour, CBS airs a one-hour recap.

ON THE INTERNET: Several sites carry live feeds with results updated by the minute.

Official Tour de France site: www.letour.fr choose the English version by clocking the British flag icon at the bottom right of the screen.

Cyclingnews: www.cyclingnews.com

VeloNews: www.velonews.com

Daily Peloton: www.dailypeloton.com

10 TOUR TERMS

Impress friends with your cycling savvy.

* ATTACK: A quick acceleration to take the lead.

* BOSS: The most respected rider in the pack, usually the defending champion.

* BREAKAWAY: When a group of riders pulls away from the pack, hoping to take the lead and win the stage.

* DOMESTIQUE: A team member who works for the leaders, providing a barrier to the wind and delivering food and water.

* DOPING: The use of banned substances.

* DROPPED: When a rider can't keep up.

* KIT: Cycling jersey and shorts.

* LEADOUT: When one rider accelerates with a second, usually a sprinter, inches behind. The second rider saves energy for the finish by drafting.

* PELOTON: The main pack.

* WRENCH: A bike mechanic.

SOURCES: The Tour de France Companion 2005, by Bob Roll and Dan Koeppel; Tour de France for Dummies, by Phil Liggett, James Raia and Sammarye Lewis.

[Last modified June 26, 2005, 00:34:18]