THE RACE LIVE

Even before Jens Voigt reaches the end of stage 10, we can report that Armstrong is back in the yellow jersey. The new top 10 is:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel - 1,6866.0km in 37h11’04" (44.92km/h)
2. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) Rabobank at 38"
3. Ivan Basso (Italy) CSC at 2’40"
4. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole at 2’42"
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Illes Balears at 3’16"
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner at 3’58"
7. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) Illes Balears at 4’00"
8. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile at 4’02"
9. Andreas Kloden (Germany) T-Mobile at 4’16"
10. Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak at 4’16"
The new leader of the best young rider classification is the winner of stage 10, Alejandro Valverde.

The top 10 in the 10th stage of the 2005 Tour de France is:
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain) IBA
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) DSC - at same time
3. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) RAB at 9"
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) IBA at 9"
5. Ivan Basso (Italy) CSC at 1’02"
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) GST at 1’15"
7. Eddy Mazzoleni (Italy) LAM at 2’14"
8. Cadel Evans (Australia) DVL at 2’14"
9. Andreas Kloden (Germany) TMO at 2’14"
10. Andrey Kashechkin (Kazakstahn) C.A at 2’14"

Mazzoleni has led a group of riders include Evans, Ullrich and Kloden over the line 2’12" behind Valverde.

Leipheimer has claimed sixth place 1’15" behind Valverde.

Ivan Basso has claimed fifth place in the 10th stage. He was 1’01" behind Valverde.

Alejandro Valverde has won the 10th stage in a sprint against Lance Armstrong. It’s the Spaniard’s first stage win in the Tour de France.

Armstrongt has attacked and is only matched by Valverde. The stage win is going to go to either one of these two riders....

There are 30 points on offer in the climbing classification for the first rider across the line in Courchevel. The four stage leaders appear content to cooperate. They are 1km from the end of the stage and Armstrong, Mancebo, Valverde and Rasmussen have all done their share of work at the front.

Armstrong’s group is less than 2km from the finish. They are all sharing the work in the lead. Valverde is the latest rider to come forward to do a turn.

Jaksche is now 55" behind Armstrong, Mancebo, Valverde and Rasmussen. Landis is riding with a group of five riders that is 1’35" behind Armstrong. Then comes Ullrich and Kloden at 1’45".

The only rider who hasn’t done a turn in the lead group is Rasmussen. The leading quartet are 3km from the finish of the stage.
Rasmussen has just come forward for the first time but it was just a brief turn of pace.

Mancebo has now come to the front. His contorted frame is setting the pace of the lead group with a lead of 1’34" over Ullrich and Kloden.

Armstrong is now in charge of the lead group. He is setting a furious pace in the final 4km but cannot get ride of Rasmussen, Valverde and Mancebo.

Basso is now 17" behind Armstrong’s group. With 4km to go Armstrong has come to the front of the lead group again.

We don’t have a time check for Basso but can report that Mancebo, Valverde, Rasmussen and Armmstrong are less than 5km from the finish. They lead Ullrich and Kloden by 1’13".

Armstrong has just gone to the back of the lead group. He is letting Mancebo set the pace. This quarter has 6km to go in the stage.

The lead group is now being led by Valverde. Armstrong could match the pace and the American has just come forward. Behind him is Rasmussen and Mancebo.
These guys are 1’13" ahead of Ullrich.

Armstrong’s group is now 1’10" ahead of Ullrich who has joined forces with Kloden with 7km to go in the stage.

The four leaders are now just 7km from the end of the stage. The yellow jersey is 11 minutes behind Armstrong’s quartet.
The pace up front is being set by Armstrong.
They are 15" ahead of Basso and 50" ahead of Evans...

Basso has been dropped by Armstrong’s group. There are now just four riders in the lead of the stage: Armstrong, Valverde, Mancebo and Rasmussen.

The leading five riders are Armstrong, Mancebo, Valverde, Rasmussen and Basso are 10" ahead of Evans; 25" ahead of Kloden; 40" ahead of Landis and Mazzolini and Piepoli; 50" ahead of Ullrich and Kacheschkin.

Armstrong is taking inspiration from the fact that Ullrich has been dropped. The American is now leading the front group which now includes: Armstrong, Rasmussen, Basso, Mancebo and Valverde.

Jan Ullrich is 32" behind the leading group of eight riders. There are 9.5km to go in the stage and Armstrong is now setting the pace.

Leipheimer has joined the lead group which has just dropped Evans.

There are now seven riders in the lead of the stage. The lead group consists of Armstrong, Basso, Rasmussen, Mancebo, Valverde, Evans and Jaksche. They are 10km from the finish of the stage.

Mancebo is setting the pace of the Armstrong group. The riders in this group are:
Mancebo and Valverde (IBA), Armstrong (DSC), Rasmusssen (RAB), Evans (DVL) and Basso (CSC).

Popovych has just buried himself in an attempt to get ride of all the riders in Armstrong’s group. The American is now setting the pace of the chase group. The only riders who have been able to match the effort of Armstrong are Valverde, Basso, Evans, Rasmussen and Mancebo.
Ullrich has been dropped.

There are 14 riders in Armstrong group:
Armstrong, Popovych, Ullrich, Kloden, Basso, Mancebo, Evans, Rasmussen, Landis, Piepoli, Kashechkin, Mazzoleni, Leipheimer and Valverde.
They are 45" behind Jaksche.

Vinokourov has been dropped by the Armstrong group.

Jaksche is now 7’39" ahead of Voigt and 55" ahead of Armstrong’s group.

The riders in the group that’s now 1’00" behind Jaksche are: Armstrong, Hincapie, Popovych, Ullrich, Kloden, Vinokourov, Basso, Mancebo, Evans, Rasmussen, Landis, Piepoli, Kashechkin, Mazzoleni, Leipheimer and Valverde.

Armstrong’s group has just caught Pereiro. The bunch that’s being led by Hincapie also includes Mickael Rasmussen and Mancebo. They are 1’00" behind Jaksche.

Hincapie is now taking over the pace setting of the elite group that has just dropped Azevedo. Valverde is also present. They are 1’09" behind Jaksche.

There are about 15 riders in the group that includes Lance Armstrong. Some of the riders in this group include: Armstrong, Azevedo, Hincapie, Ullrich, Vinokourov, Mancebo, Evans, Landis, Piepoli, Mazzoleni and Leipheimer.

Julich and Botero have now been dropped by Armstrong’s rapidly-diminishing group.

Sastre has been caught by the peloton but he’s tried again. George Hincapie is leading the pursuit at the time that Moreau, Rogers and Karpets have been dropped.

Moreau, Karpets, Garzelli have all been dropped by the peloton with 15km to go.

Carlos Sastre has just attacked the Discovery Channel-led peloton. He has a lead of about 30 meters at this stage and it seems like he’s not going to get away from the group that’s led by Savoldelli.

Jaksche is now 15km from the finish of the stage. His team leader, Heras, has just been dropped by the peloton.

Jaksche is now 15" ahead of Pereiro. The pace that’s being set by Savoldelli at the head of the peloton is causing all sorts of damage. Some of the riders who have been dropped are: Heras, Merckx, Astarloza, Beloki...

Jaksche dropped Pereiro with 17km to go in the stage. He now leads the peloton by about 1’45". The bunch continues to be led by riders from the Discovery Channel team. They have just caught Krivtsov.

Jaksche has dropped Pereiro. The Liberty-Wurth rider is now on his own at the front of the stage. He was 35" ahead of Brochard at the last time check.

Jaksche and Pereiro are now 20" ahead of the rider in third place, Brochard.

The peloton is now less than 20km from the finish. This group is 2’00" behind the two stage leaders and the tempo is causing many riders to be dropped. The latest to slip out the back of the Discovery-led group is Brad McGee.

Facci and Isasi have been caught by the peloton which is now being led by Rubiera, Savoldelli, Hinapie, Popovych, Azevedo and Armstrong.

Jaksche and Pereiro are now 10" ahead of Brochard.

Iban Mayo has been dropped by the peloton.

Jaksche and Pereiro are now in the lead of the stage. They have dropped Brochard and are now less than 20km from the finish of the 10th stage.
The peloton is 2’15" behind the stage leaders.

The yellow jersey has dropped off the back of the peloton that’s being led by seven riders from the Discovery Channel team.

One of the riders in the lead of the stage has punctured. Krivtsov has dropped out of the lead group because of the flat. The stage is now being led by Pereiro, Jaksche and Brochard.

The leading quartet have just passed the sign stating that the final climb has begun. There are 22km to go in the stage.

There are now four riders at the front of the stage. They are: Krivtsov, Jaksche, Brochard and Pereiro. The are now on the final climb and have dropped their former escape companions in the last couple of kilometers.

There are riders dropping off the back of the peloton. One of the first to lose contact was Dario Cioni of the Liquigas team.

As the peloton went under the 25km to go kite, it was 2’55" behind the seven stage leaders. Manuel Beltran has now come to the front of the peloton which had been led by Padrnos and Noval on the approach to the climb to Courchevel.

The peloton is currently about 23km from the finish of the stage. It is 3’05" behind the seven stage leaders.

Mauro Facci has also dropped out of the lead group. There are now seven riders working together on the early slopes of the climb to Courchevel.

Luis Sanchez has done a long turn at the front of the lead group on the approach to the final climb. He has just peeled off and is waiting for the peloton. There are now eight riders in the lead group.

The last time a stage of the Tour concluded at Courchevel was in 2000. The winner back then was Marco Pantani. In the final meters of the stage, some spectators dressed in souvenir jerseys - yellow, polka-dot and green - got onto the course and crossed the line alongside Pantani.

The peloton is now 3’15" behind the leading nine riders who are now about 6km away from the final climb.

After doing a lot of work in the lead group, Jorg Jaksche has dropped to the rear over the last couple of kilometers. The final climb isn’t far away and it looks as though Jorg is saving some energy for the 22.2km ascent to Courchevel.

All of the Discovery Channel team are at the head of the peloton on the approach to the final climb of stage 10. This bunch is now 3’30" behind the nine escapees.

Here’s a reminder of the riders involved in the escape today.
Luis Sanchez and Jorg Jaksche (Liberty Seguros)
Oscar Pereiro Sio (Phonak)
Mauro Facci (Fassa Bortolo)
Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel)
Joost Posthuma (Rabobank)
Yuriy Krivtsov (AG2R)
Gianluca Bortolami (Lampre-Caffita)
Laurent Brochard (Bouyges Telecom)
This group is currently 31km from the finish of the stage with an advantage over the peloton of 3’30".

The only team with two riders in the lead group of nine is Liberty-Wurth. Both Jaksche and Sanchez are doing most of the work up front. They are getting some help from Pereiro.
This group is now 3’45" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is being led by the Discovery Channel team. This group is now 4’30" behind the nine stage leaders with 40km to race.

Jaksche’s group of seven has just caught Brochard and Sanchez. The peloton is 4’38" behind the group of nine riders at the front of the stage.

Brochard and Sanchez still lead the stage but only Brochard is going any work. The Spanish Liberty-Wurth rider is happy to ride in his slipsteam as he waits for Jaksche’s crew to catch up.

Brochard and Sanchez lead a group of seven riders (Jaksche, Pereiro, Posthuma, Facci, Bortolami, Isasi and Krivtsov) by 1’15" and the peloton by 5’25".

Sanchez isn’t doing a lot of work in the lead of the stage. It looks like he might be waiting for his Liberty Seguros-Wurth team-mate Jorg Jaksche who was 1’55" behind at the last check.

The peloton is now 6’15" behind Brochard and Sanchez. The yellow jersey, Voigt, has just been seen delivering water for his CSC team-mates in the middle of the bunch.

Brochard and Sanchez are now together in the lead of the stage. They are 1’00" ahead of Bortolami, Facci, Krivtsov and Posthuma and 1’55" ahead of Isasi, Jaksche and Pereiro. The peloton is 6’10" behind.

The points for the sprint in Bourg-Saint-Maurice were won by:
1. Brochard (BTL) 6pts
2. Sanchez (LSW) 4pts
3. Bortolami (LAM) 2pts
The peloton past the site of the sprint with a deficit of 6’10" on the stage leader.

Laurent Brochard has been caught by Sanchez. The next group on the road is Bortolami, Facci, Krivtsov and Posthuma (at 30"). The next group is Pereiro and Jaksche who have just caught Isasi. This trio is 2’40" behind the stage leaders.

Jaksche and Pereiro have just past the site of the second sprint with a deficit of 2’40" on Brochard.

There are now two riders ahead of a group of four. Brochard leads Sanchez by 20" and Bortolami, Facci, Krivtsov and Posthuma by 50".

Laurent Brochard has taken first-place points at the 2nd intermediate sprint of the stage (in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, at the 124.5km mark).

Brochard is still in the lead of the stage. He has an advantage of 20" over Sanchez, 30" over Posthuma, Facci and Krivtsov, 45" over Bortolami, 3’05" over Jaksche and Pereiro and 4’55" over the peloton.

Some diesel is on the road between the 112 and 114km mark of the stage. It has been covered by sand but it has the potential to make the descent dangerous but the riders have been warned about the problem.

Yaroslav Popovych has crashed on the descent of the Cormet-de-Roseland. He is said to have hit the CSC team car. He’s back on his bike and racing to try and rejoin the main peloton.

At the top of the Cormet-de-Roseland, Jaksche and Pereiro attacked the peloton. This pair is now 3’00" behind the stage leader, Brochard.

Laurent Brochard is using all of the road to try and increase his advantage over the chasers on the descent. He is currently 3’40" ahead of the peloton.

Laurent Brochard leads the stage by 12". The next riders on the road are Joost Posthuma, Yuriy Krivtsov and Luis Sanchez.

The first riders have past the summit of the first climb. The points were won by:
1. Laurent Brochard (BTL) 15pts
2. Joost Posthuma (RAB) 13pts
3. Yuri Krivtsov (A2R) 11pts
4. Luis Sanchez (LSW) 9pts - at 7"
5. Mauro Facci (FAS) 8pts
6. Giancluca Bortolami (LAM) 7pts - at 45"
7. Inaki Isasi (EUS) 6pts
8. Jorg Jaksche (LSW) 5pts - at 3’40"

Laurent Brochard has claimed first-place points at the top of the Cormet-de-Roseland. He led Posthuma and Kivtsov over the top.

Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov Facci and Sanchez are now 1km from the top of the Cormet-de-Roseland. They are 42" ahead of Bortolami and Isasi and 4’40" ahead of the peloton.

The yellow jersey has rejoined the peloton that’s now 4’25" behind Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Facci and Sanchez with 3km to climb.

Garzelli and Voigt have just lost contact with the peloton that’s now 4’40" behind the five stage leaders. The yellow jersey is fighting hard to try and stay near the group that’s now down to about 45 riders. He is about 25 meters behind this group that’s now being led by four Discovery Channel riders.

There are now some extra Discovery recruits coming to the front of the peloton. George Hincapie is now behind Noval, Rubiera and Beltran. Jens Voigt is still in this group.

Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov Facci and Sanchez are now 40" ahead of Bortolami and Isasi. The peloton is 4’55" behind with 5km to climb.

The peloton is now being led by three riders from the Discovery Channel team. There are 45 riders in this group. Voigt has been able to maintain his place in the group although he’s been seen hovering at the rear of the group that’s being driven by Rubiera, Beltran and Noval.

The five stage leaders are now 5km away from the summit of the Cormet-de-Roseland. They lead the peloton by 5’05". In between these two groups are Bortolami and Isasi.

The peloton is now being led by riders from the T-Mobile and Discovery teams. The pace is currently being set by Manuel Beltran. Behind him is Oscar Sevilla.

Jens Voigt was at the head of the main peloton at the start of the first climb. The yellow jersey is now drifting back of the bunch. He’s fighting to stay in touch...

Posthuma, Facci, Brochard, Sanchez and Krivtsov are now in the lead of the stage. They are 20" ahead of Bortolami and Isasi and 5’12" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is now 5’12" behind the stage leaders. At the front of the main pack are Andreas Kloden and Jose Luis Rubiera.

Iban Mayo has been dropped by the peloton which has now just caught up with the Garzelli group.

Valverde has set off in pursuit of Garzelli’s group.

Facci has caught the four riders at the front of the stage.

Garzelli has done a rapid turn of pace at the head of the peloton. He has been matched by Jaksche, Pereiro, Sevilla, Horner and Mancebo.

Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov and Sanchez now lead Bortolami, Isasi and Facci by 15".

There has been an acceleration at the front of the stage. Posthuma has done a strong turn. He has been matched by Brochard, Krivtsov and Sanchez.

There has not been an attack on the first climb. The peloton is currently 6’20" behind the seven escapees (Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez) who have 10km to climb before cresting the summit of the Cormet-de-Roseland.

There are riders from Rabobank and Phonak now at the head of the peloton. The yellow jersey has also come forward in the last couple of minutes.

The peloton began the first climb with a deficit of 8’05" on Brochard’s group. The escapees are now 6’20" ahead of the peloton that’s still being led by Pietro Caucchioli.

Boonen, McEwen, Da Cruz, White, O’Grady, Cancellara are some of the other riders to be dropped by the peloton on the Cormet-de-Roseland.

The seven leaders are about 13km from the summit of the first climb. There has not been an attack since this group came together at the 16km mark. The pace of the escape group is currently being set by Luis Sanchez.

There is now just one Credit Agricole rider at the head of the peloton. It’s the Italian recruit Pietro Caucchioli. He leads Stefano Garzelli in the group that is now 7’10" behind Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez.

Jalabert, Backstedt, Nuritdinov, Hulsmans are some of the rider riders to be dropped early on the Cormet-de-Roseland.

The peloton is now 7’50" behind the seven escapees. The bunch is still being led by riders from Credit Agricole, but there are now just two from the French team setting the pace. Behind them are riders from Liquigas, Phonak, Davitamon-Lotto and Rabobank.

Tombak, Forster, Etxebarria are some of the other riders to get spat out the back of the bunch early on the first climb of stage 10.

There are some riders dropping off the back of the peloton early on the Cormet-de-Roseland climb. One of the first to go was the leader of the AG2R team, Jean-Patrick Nazon.

The peloton has 20km to go before reaching the summit of the Cormet-de-Roseland. It is 8’05" behind Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez.

The bunch is still being led by riders from the Credit Agricole team. This group is currently in Beaufort at the 82km mark. The peloton is about to start the first climb of the stage.

The leaders covered 38.4km in the second hour of racing. The average speed after two hours is 42.3km/h.

The peloton has 24km to ride before reaching the summit of the first climb today. It is 8’30" behind the seven-man escape group. The Cormet-de-Roseland is a 20.1km long ascent.

Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez have begun the ascent of the Cormet-de-Roseland. They are 8’30" ahead of the peloton.

The winner of stage nine, Mickael Rasmussen, is also the leader of the mountains classification. He is wearing a special outfit today with polka-dot knicks to match his spotted jersey.
His Rabobank team-mates are now moving up to the front of the peloton as it approaches the first major challenge of the stage, the Cormet-de-Roseland climb.

The peloton is now 8’30" behind the seven escapees. The bunch is at the 75km mark and it’s being led by four riders from the Credit Agricole team.

The Cormet de Roseland is the first climb in the Alps of this year’s Tour. It rises for 20.1km and the 1,967m high summit is at the 104km mark of today’s stage. The average gradient is six per cent. There are sections which are as steep as eight per cent. This is the eighth time the mountain has been on the Tour’s itinerary.
The former winners at the category-one climb are: Henk Lubberding (in 1979), Francis Castaing (in 1984), Mathieu Hermans (in 1987), Claudio Chiappucci (in 1992), Alex Zulle (in 1995), Udo Bolts (in 1996) and Mario Aerts (in 2002).

The peloton is now 8’40" behind the seven escapees. The attack was instigated by Posthuma and Brochard in the first kilometer of the stage. These two riders were joined by Krivtsov at the 3km mark. A counter-attack from Sanchez, Facci, Bortolami and Isasi caught the three early escapees at the 16km mark.

There are only eight teams with a full contingent of nine riders still in the Tour. The complete formations are: Discovery Channel, T-Mobile, Rabobank, Cofidis, Quickstep, Bouyges Telecom, Gerolsteiner and Euskaltel.
There are 173 riders still in the race. Today’s retiree is Gerrit Glomser. His Lampre-Caffita team-mate Evgeny Petrov didn’t take the start after a doping control conducted by the UCI this morning.

There are four riders from the Credit Agricole team at the head of the peloton. Behind this quartet are riders from Liquigas and T-Mobile. The bunch is currently 8’50" behind the seven escapees.

The rider who finished stage nine in 10th place, Gerrit Glomser of the Lampre-Caffita team has just abandoned the Tour de France. There are 173 riders still in the race.

The maximum advantage of the seven-man escape group was 10’40". The peloton has just arrived in the feedzone with a deficit of 9’10".
The Credit Agricole team is leading the peloton’s pursuit of Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez.

The seven escapees are 9’20" ahead of the peloton. The riders on the attack are Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez. This group has just arrived at the feedzone in Grignon after 62km of racing.

Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez are now 9’40" ahead of the peloton that continues to be led by the Credit Agricole team. The bunch was at the 49km mark when this time check was taken.

The chase by Credit Agricole has dropped the advantage of the seven escapees from 10’40" to 10’05".

With the advantage of the seven escapees blowing out to 10’40", the Credit Agricole team has decided to start chasing. The French team has riders in second place in the points classification (Hushovd), mountains classification (Moreau) as well as the general classification (Moreau).

The average speed for the first hour of racing in stage 10 is 46.1km/h.

The peloton is currently being led by riders from the Credit Agricole team. The last time check had this group 10’40" behind Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez.

The current advantage of Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez over the peloton is 9’40". This is the biggest lead of any escape in the 92nd Tour de France. Before today, the largest leading margin was held by Mickael Rasmussen in stage nine. The eventual winner in Mulhouse worked up a maximum lead of 9’35" on the peloton.

With the peloton at the 36km mark the advantage of the seven escapees has grown to 9’40".

Of the seven riders who are currently over eight minutes ahead of the peloton, two have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.
Gianluca Bortolami (LAM) won his only stage in Rennes 11 years ago.
Laurent Brochard (BTL) won the stage to Loudenvielle on Bastille Day in 1997 as a member of the Festina team.

With the peloton at th 28km mark, the advantage of the seven escapees - Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez - is 8’05".

At the peloton past the site of the 1st intermediate sprint in Detrier (at the 26km mark), it was 7’50" behind Posthuma, Brochard, Krivtsov, Bortolami, Isasi, Facci and Sanchez.

The first intermediate sprint was meant to be at the 40km mark but because of the shortened stage it was at the 26km point of the stage that’s been reduced by 14km.
The points in Detrier were won by:
1. Gianluca Bortolami (LAM) 6pts
2. Mauro Facci (FAS) 4pts
3. Yuriy Krivtsov (A2R) 2pts

With the advantage of the seven escapees now up to 8’20", Laurent Brochard is the virtual leader of the Tour de France. He began the stage in 49th place 7’58" behind Jens Voigt.

Giancluca Bortolami has claimed first place at the first intermediate sprint. (Full results will be posted shortly.)

With 5km to go to the first intermediate sprint in Detrier (at the 26km mark), the seven-man escape group has a lead of 8’20" on the peloton.

Posthuma (RAB), Brochard (BTL), Krivtsov (A2R), Bortolami (LAM), Isasi (EUS), Facci (FAS) and Sanchez (LSW) are 6’25" ahead of the bunch at the 18.5km mark.

Of the seven riders who are currently 5’50" ahead of the peloton, the best-placed in the general classification is Laurent Brochard (BTL). He began the stage in 49th place overall, 7’58" behind Jens Voigt (CSC).

The four counter-attackers caught the leading trio at the 16km mark. Posthuma (RAB), Brochard (BTL), Krivtsov (A2R), Bortolami (LAM), Isasi (EUS), Facci (FAS) and Sanchez (LSW) are now 5’50" ahead of the peloton.

The advantage of the escapees is likely to grow as the yellow jersey and other riders at the head of the peloton answer the call of nature.

Jens Voigt and his CSC team-mates are at the front of the peloton which is currently 4’30" behind the three stage leaders.
The chasing four are now just 20" away from Brochard’s group.

After 14km of racing Krivtsov, Brochard and Posthuma lead four riders (Bortolami, Isasi, Sanchez and Facci) by 36" and the peloton by 4’30".

There are seven riders currently in the lead of the stage. They are:
Laurent Brochard (FRA - BTL), Yuriy Krivtsov (UKR - A2R) and Joost Posthuma (NED - RAB).
They are 40" ahead of Inaki Isasi (ESP - EUS), Gianluca Bortolami (ITA - LAM), Luis Sanchez (ESP - LSW) and Mauro Facci (ITA - FAS).
The peloton is 2’50" behind the leading trio.

At the 11.5km mark, the peloton is 2’50" behind the leading trio.

The three stage leaders - Brochard, Krivtsov and Posthuma - are 40" ahead of the four chasers after 11km of racing.

At the 9km mark, the three stage leaders have an advantage over the peloton of 1’20". The move was instigated by Posthuma and Brochard in the first kilometer of the stage.

Brochard (BTL), Posthuma (RAB) and Krivtsov are 55" ahead of the peloton and 32" ahead of four chasers - Bortolami (LAM), Facci (FAS), Sanchez (LSW) and Isasi (EUS).

Isasi has caught up with the six early escapees. There are now seven riders 55" ahead of the peloton at the 7.5km mark.

Inaki Isasi (EUS) has gone off the front of the peloton. He is now in pursuit of the six riders who attacked in the first few kilometers of stage 10.

Posthuma (RAB), Sanchez (LSW), Brochard (BTL), Bortolami (LAM), Krivtsov (A2R)and Facci (FAS) are ahead of the peloton by 23" at the 5.5km mark.

After some problems with protesters at the beginning of the stage, the site of the official start was moved to the 14km mark.

Krivtsov has caught Brochard and Posthuma. These three riders now have a small advantage over the peloton.

Posthuma (RAB) and Brochard (BTL) have attacked in the first kilometer of the 10th stage. They are now being chased down by Krivtsov (A2R).

The official start of the 10th stage was at 12.30pm. There is an attack in the first kilometer but we don’t yet have the name of the rider involved.

The peloton has come to a halt in Brignoud. The stage has been delayed because of protests but the race organizers have said that the start is imminent.

The 10th stage was expected to begin at around midday. There was meant to be a 9.7km neutral zone but that was extended by 11.5km because protests were planned to disrupt the racing at the start of the stage.
The peloton is currently at a standstill in Brignoud, the new site of the official start.
We can expect the stage to begin any minute now.

The German CSC rider who currently leads the general classification has spent one day in the yellow jersey before today. Jens Voigt was the overall leader for stage nine of the 2001 Tour after finishing 2nd to Laurent Jalabert on the day to Colmar.
Voigt rode for the Credit Agricole team four years ago. He surrendered the overall lead to his team-mate at the time, Stuart O’Grady.
Voigt said after stage nine that he hopes that the jersey will be taken from him by a team-mate today. "I’m a good bike rider, but I’m not built for the high mountains," said ’Jensie’. He hopes that his team leader, Ivan Basso will be able to move from seventh overall to first after the climb to Courchevel.

The riders are still in the extended neutral zone. They are near the town of Brignoud which is where the official start will take place today.

There were 174 riders at the sign on this morning. Below is a summary of the riders who have abandoned the Tour.
Constantino Zaballa (SDV) quit during stage five.
Claudio Corioni (FAS) quit during stage six.
Steve Zampieri (PHO) and Alessandro Spezialetti (LAM) quit during stage seven.
Isaac Galvez (IBA), Sylvain Calzati (A2R) and Leon van Bon (DVL) quit during stage eight. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) and Serhiy Honchar (DOM) didn’t take the start for stage eight.
Dave Zabriskie (CSC), Jose Angel Gomez (SDV), Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (LSW), Jaan Kirsipuu (C.A) and Luciano Pagliarini (LIQ) quit during the ninth stage.
Evgeny Petrov (LAM) was declared unfit to contest the 10th stage after blood controls earlier today.

The weather bureau has reported that the temperature at the start in Grenoble is 22 degrees in the air and 30 degrees at road level. The sun is shining early today but there is a chance of rain late in the stage.
There were storms at the site of the finish late yesterday and the temperature dropped to about 15 degrees at 5.00pm in Courchevel.

The peloton is currently rolling through the neutral zone.
Please note: there has been a change to the itinerary for the 10th stage because of protests that were planned at the start in Grenoble. The official start is now going to be in Brignoud, the town that was meant to be at the 11.5km mark of the 192.5km stage.

Riders from the Lampre-Caffita, AG2R, CSC and Discovery Channel teams had blood tests this morning. Of the 33 riders tested all but one were cleared to continue the Tour de France.
Evgeny Petrov (LAM) will no longer be in the race.

After nine stages of the 92nd Tour de France the four classifications are led by the following riders:
Jens Voigt (CSC) wears the yellow jersey as the leader of the general classification. In second place is Christophe Moreau (C.A) who is 1’50” behind the German and the rider currently in third place overall is Lance Armstrong (DSC) by 2’18”.
Tom Boonen (QST) still wears the green jersey as the leader of the points classification. He has 133pts, five more than Thor Hushovd (C.A). In third place is Stuart O’Grady (COF) who has 109 points.
Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) is still in the polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification. The Danish rider increased his lead on the day of his stage victory in Mulhouse. He now has 88 points, 48 more than Moreau and 51 more than Voigt.
Vladimir Karpets (IBA) wears the white jersey as the leader of the young rider classification. The Russian leads Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) by just one second and Alejandro Valverde by 1’11”.

The stage from Grenoble to Courchevel includes two category-one climbs. The first is the 1,967m high Cormet-de-Roseland (at the 118km mark) and the final ascent to the ski station at Courchevel.
This is the first day that the riders will be allowed to ride without their helmets for the final climb. This is part of a rule that was introduced by the sport’s governing body two years ago which states that helmets are mandatory for all races, but if a stage concludes with a climb that’s longer than 5km, then helmets can be removed for the final ascent.

There are two intermediate sprints during the 10th stage. They are in Detrier (at the 40km mark) and in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (at 138.5km).

The 192.5km 10th stage of the 2005 Tour de France was meant to begin at 11.40am but it will start 10 minutes early because of a protest in Grenoble. The itinerary has changed slightly for the stage from Grenoble to Courchevel. The official start will now be in Brignoud (which was meant to be the 11.5km mark of the stage).
The amendment has been made by the organizers at the last minute to ensure there are no interruptions to the racing because of the planned protest.