THE RACE LIVE

There was a change to the top 10 in the general classification because of Pereiro’s involvement in today’s main escape. The top 10 after 19 stage is:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) DSC - 3,408km in 81h22’19" (41.694km/h)
2. Ivan Basso (Italy) CSC - at 2’46"
3. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) RAB - at 3’46"
4. Jan Ullrich (Germany) TMO - at 5’58"
5. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) IBA - at 7’08"
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) GST - at 8’12"
7. Cadel Evans (Australia) DVL - at 9’49"
8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakstahn) TMO at 10’11"
9. Floyd Landis (USA) PHO - at 10’42"
10. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spain) PHO - at 12’39"

The rider who finished fourth in today’s stage has knocked Christophe Moreau out of the top 10 in the general classification.
Oscar Pereiro Sio of the Phonak team is second overall in the climbing classification and 10th in the general classification. He began the stage in 13th place (17’10" behind Armstrong) and ended the day in 10th (at 12’39").

Giuseppe Guerini has earned his T-Mobile team its second stage win in the 2005 Tour de France. The top 10 in the 19th stage is:
1. Giuseppe Guerini (Italy) TMO - 153.5km in 3h33’04" (43.225km/h)
2. Sandy Casar (France) FDJ - at 10"
3. Franco Pellizotti (Italy) LIQ - at 10"
4. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spain) PHO - at 12"
5. Salvatore Commesso (Italy) LAM - at 2’43"
6. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Norway) CSC - at 2’48"
7. Nicolas Portal (France) CSC - at 2’48"
8. Bert Grabsch (Germany) PHO - at 2’48"
9. Sylvain Chavanel (France) COF - at 2’48"
10. Peeter Weening (Netherlands) RAB - 3’50"

The peloton was led to the finish line in Le Puy-en-Velay by Robbie McEwen who beat Thor Hushovd in the sprint. The bunch was 4’30" behind Guerini at the end of the 153.5km stage.

The peloton is being led by riders from the Cofidis team in the final kilometer of stage 19.

Commesso has attacked the chase group and will claim fifth place in the 19th stage. He was 2’42" behind Guerini.

Giuseppe Guerini won the stage by 10" from Sandy Casar. It is the Italian’s second stage victory in the Tour de France. This time, however, he was able to do so without crashing into a photographer in the dying meters of the stage (as was the case back in 1999 when he won at Alpe d’Huez).

Guerini is going to win his second Tour de France stage. He last won at Alpe d’Huez in 1999. It will be his team’s second stage win in the 2005 Tour.

Guerini’s attack is going to net him another stage win. The others in the lead group failed to respond to the T-Mobile rider’s attack.

Guerini is the first rider to attack the lead group. He has a lead of about 100m already.

Pereiro continues to do most of the work in the leading group. He along with Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are now beginning to consider the stage win. They are easing off the gas a little as they prepare to sprint each other in Le Puy-en-Velay.

With 5km to go in the stage, the first chase group was 2’20" behind Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti.

The four stage leaders continue to cooperate. They have less than 3km to go in the stage and one of Pereiro, Casar, Guerini or Pellizotti appears destined to win the 19th stage.
Right now Pereiro is doing most of the work as he has the most to gain in the general classification.

With 10km to go the peloton is 5’25" behind Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti.

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are now 5km from the finish of the stage. They lead Commesso’s group by 2’10".

Despite the perpetual attacks by Commesso, the Most Aggressive rider award has been given to the rider who instigated today’s escape, Sandy Casar.

The peloton has capture Alessandro Bertolini...

Pereiro began the stage in 13th place. His current advantage on the peloton (around 6’00") is enough to push him into the top 10. The rider who stands to lose out to today’s attack, Christophe Moreau (CA) is trying to get his team-mates to cooperate with the peloton’s pursuit of the four-man escape group.

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are less than 10km from the end of the stage. They have been on the attack since the 31km mark. Their lead over Commesso’s group is 2’15".

The last of the chase group, Bertolini, is 5’00" behind Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti with 15km to go in the stage.

Commesso’s group is now 2’15" behind Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti who are 11km from the end of the 19th stage.

Arvesen, Commesso, Chavanel have been caught by Grabsch and Portal with 15km to go. It must be time for Commesso to have another go at attacking...

With 20km to go in the 153.5km stage, the peloton continues to be led by riders from the Gerolsteiner and Davitamon-Lotto teams. The main pack is 6’25" behind Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti.

There are now three riders chasing Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti. Arvesen has caught up with Chavanel and Commesso.

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti have 15km to go in the stage. They are being pursued by Chavanel and Commesso... then come the remnants of the 10-man escape group who are scattered all over the place. The peloton is currently around 6’35" behind Pereiro’s quartet.

At the 20km to go sign Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti led by:
2’20" to Chavanel and Commesso
2’35" to Arvesen and Portal
2’45" to Azevedo, Brabsch, Flecha and Da Cruz

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are 20km from the finish of stage 19. They had a lead of 2’15" with 25km to go.

Chavanel has chased down the latest attack by Commesso. The rest of the chase group appears to have run out of puff. They have not responded to the latest taunt by the Italian.

Commesso has attacked the chase group for about the 10th time. He was 2’15" behind at the 25km to go sign.
Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Da Cruz, Flecha, Weening, Portal and Azevedo have grown tired of chasing Commesso. They were 2’20" behind the four leaders with 25km to go.

The peloton was 6’45" behind the stage leaders at the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint (at 123.5km).

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti have less than 25km to go in the stage. They are about 2 minutes ahead of Commesso’s (re-re-re-formed) group.

Let’s just say that the chase group will be attacked by Salvatore Commesso all the way to the finish of the 19th stage. The Lampre rider is content to let his fellow chasers catch up with him for a few minutes before he surges again.
That’s how it’s been since the Col des Pradeaux. The Italian has attacked again and matched again by Flecha et al.

The main peloton is now being led by riders from Davitamon-Lotto and Gerolsteiner. It is 6’50" behind Pereiro’s quartet.

Commesso’s group now has nine riders in it. They are 2’00" behind Pereiro’s group (at the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint, 123.5km). The composition of the chase group is:
Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Da Cruz, Flecha, Weening, Portal and Azevedo.
Bertolini is 2’10" behind the stage leaders.

The points at the sprint in Bellevue-la-Montagne (at 123.5km) were won by:
1. Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) 6pts
2. Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) 4pts
3. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 2pts

Chavanel has arrived back in Commesso’s group after a stint of cooperation from a neutral spares car. There are now four riders in pursuit of the four stage leaders.

The leading quartet is about to contest the 2nd intermediate sprint of the stage.

Commesso has attacked the chase group again. He has been matched by Grabsch and Da Cruz.

Casar, Guerini, Pereiro and Pellizotti are now 1’55" ahead of Azevedo, Weening, Portal, Da Cruz, Arvesen, Chavanel, Commesso, Flecha, Grabsch and Bertolini.

Whenever the 10-man chase group reforms, Salvatore Commesso (LAM) attacks them. He’s just done it again but this time everyone has the energy to respond.
Commesso is either going to tow his nine fellow escapees up to the four leaders... or cop a whack in the face for his antics by one of the riders in the chase group.

The leaders are now in Bellevue-la-Montagne. They are 1’30" ahead of a 10-man chase group and only have 5km to go to the second intermediate sprint.

The four stage leaders are now being pursued by a group of 10 - until Commesso surges again... the current deficit of the chase group is 1’30". There are 35km to go for Casar, Pereiro, Pellizotti and Guerini.

The peloton’s deficit to Pereiro’s group at the 109km mark is 6’30".

The peloton is now being led by riders from the Davitamon-Lotto, Gerolsteiner and Illes Balears teams.

There are seven riders in the Commesso group - which is now 1’35" behind Pereiro’s quartet. The riders in the chase group are:
Commesso (LAM), Flecha (FAS), Grabsch (PHO), Arvesen (CSC), Weening (RAB), Chavanel (COF) and Azevedo (DSC).

The peloton continues to be led by the Illes Balears team. At the top of the Cote de Malaveille this group was 7’50" behind the four stage leaders.

Commesso is leading the charge to the four stage leaders who are now 1’35" ahead of the remnants of the chase group.

Commesso has attacked the chase group for the third time. He has been chased down by Flecha, Chavanel, Grabsch and Weening.

There are seven riders in the 2nd group on the road. They are: Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Weening and Azevedo - 1’45" behind.
Then comes Da Cruz, Bertolini and Portal - at 1’55".
This was the situation at the 107.5km mark.

The points for the last climb of the 19th stage, the Cote de Malaveille (at 107.5km) were won by:
1. Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) 3pts
2. Sandy Casar (FDJ) 2pts
3. Giuseppe Gueini (TMO) 1pt

The four stage leaders are now near the Cote de Malaveille (107.5km).
They are being pursued by six riders who have dropped Flecha, Portal, Bertolini and Da Cruz from the chase group.
The peloton is 8’30" behind Pereiro’s quartet.

The best-placed of the four riders at the front of the 19th stage is Oscar Pereiro Sio. The Phonak rider who won the stage to Pau began today in 13th place overall, 17’10" behind Armstrong. With his current advantage of 8’35" on the peloton he has moved into the top 10 in the general classification.

Guerini, Casar, Pereiro and Pellizotti are now 2’10" ahead of Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Da Cruz, Weening, Portal and Azevedo.
Flecha and Bertolini have not been able to respond to the attacks by Commesso. They are 2’20" behind the leading quartet.

The chase by the Illes Balears team has knocked the advantage of the four escapees over the peloton down to 8’00".

Commesso has attacked the 10-man chase group around the 100km mark. He has been caught by Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Da Cruz, Flecha, Bertolini, Weening, Portal and Azevedo.

The peloton is now being led by six riders from the Illes Balears team. Their group is 8’55" behind the four leaders.

Oscar Pereiro Sio has lead over three of today’s four climbs. He has added another 17 points to his tally in the mountains classification. There is another climb in the stage but even if the current runner-up in the race for the polka-dot jersey wins every climb from here until the Champs-Elysees, he cannot beat Mickael Rasmussen.

The peloton is now 8’40" behind Guerini, Casar, Pereiro and Pellizotti.
At the top of the 4th climb, the four leaders had an advantage of 2’10" on the 10-man chase group.

The points at the top of the fourth climb of stage 19 (at the 96km mark) were won by:
1. Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) 3pts
2. Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) 2pts
3. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 1pt

Guerini, Casar, Pereiro and Pellizotti are less than 1,000 from the top of the Col des Terrasses.

The 10-man chase group is now 2’05" behind the leading quartet. Azevedo, Arvesen, Commesso, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal, three have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.
Salvatore Commesso (LAM) won in Albi in 1999 and Fribourg-en-Brisgau in 2000.
Juan Antonio Flecha (FAS) won in Toulouse in 2003.
And Peter Weening (RAB) won in Gerardmer in stage eight this year.

The peloton is currently 7’50" behind Casar, Guerini, Pereiro and Pellizotti.

Of the four riders in the lead of the 19th stage (with about 60km to go to Le Puy-en-Velay) two have previously won a stage of the Tour de France.
Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) won the stage to L’Alpe d’Huez in 1999.
Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) won the 16th stage (to Pau) this year.

The peloton is being led by the Discovery Channel and CSC teams. They appear content to allow the 14 riders who have gone on the attack to contest the stage win.
Casar (FDJ) instigated the escape at the 30.5km mark. He was joined first by Guerini (TMO), then Pereiro (PHO) and later by Pellizotti (LIQ).
Then a counter attack of 10 riders formed at the 40km mark. They are still behind Casar’s group by over two minutes.

With the peloton at the 85km mark, its deficit to the four stage leader has grown to 6’00".

Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal are two minutes behind the four stage leaders.

The average speed of the second hour of racing in stage 19 is 44.1km/h. The average of the first two hours is 42.4km/h.

The riders who were dropped on the Col des Pradeaux have caught up with the yellow jersey’s peloton just before the feedzone (at the 77km mark).

As the peloton arrives at the feedzone, it is 4’30" behind Casar, Pereiro, Guerini and Pellizotti.

The four stage leaders have just ridden through the feedzone at the 77km mark. They are 1’40" ahead of the 10-man chase group and 3’45" ahead of the peloton.

On the descent the counter-attacking riders have joined forces. There are now four riders (Guerini, Casar, Pereiro and Pellizotti) 1’40" ahead of 10 (Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal).
The peloton is now 3’45" behind the leading quartet.

At the top of the 3rd climb (at 68km), the situation of the race was as follows:
1. Pereiro Sio (PHO) 10pts
2. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 9pts
3. Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) 8pts
4. Sandy Casar (FDJ) 7pts
5. Peter Weening (RAB) 6pts - at 1’20"
6. Bert Grabsch (PHO) 5pts
7. Salvator Commesso (LAM)
8. Carlos Da Cruz (FDJ)
9. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC)
10. Azevedo (DSC)
11. Nicolas Portal (A2R) - at 1’55"
12. Alessandro Bertolini (DOM)
13. Sylvain Chavanel (COF)
14. Juan Antonio Flecha (FAS)
The peloton was behind by 3’35" at the top of the 3rd climb.

The chase group has crested the Col des Pradeaux 1’20" behind the stage leaders. The minor points were won by: Weening, Grabsch and Commesso.

The first four riders in the stage have reached the top of the Col de Pradeaux. The order at the summit was:
1. Pereiro 10pts
2. Pellizotti 9pts
3. Guerini 8pts
4. Casar 7pts...

After being dropped for a moment, Hushovd has rejoined the peloton.

A group of about 30 riders has been dropped by the peloton on the 3rd climb of the stage. The green jersey is in the dropped group.

The four stage leaders are in the final kilometer of the Col de Pradeaux.

Commesso has been caught by Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Da Cruz, Weening and Portal with 2km to climb.
Chavanel, Flecha and Bertolini have been dropped by the riders who have just caught Commesso.

With 5km to climb to the top of the 3rd ascent, the peloton is 3’30" behind the four stage leaders.

Casar, Pereiro, Pellizotti and Guerini are now 5km from the top of the Col des Pradeaux. They are 40" ahead of Commesso and 1’20" ahead of Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal.

At the 64km mark, the peloton is 3’55" behind Casar, Pellizotti, Guerini and Pereiro.

Pereiro, Pellizotti, Casar and Guerini are still in the lead of the stage. They are on the Col des Pradeaux and are being pursued by Commesso (who is 48" behind).
The next group on the road is: Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal. These nine are 1’00" behind the four stage leaders.
The peloton is at 3’45".
These time checks were taken at the 62km mark.

Commesso has attacked the 10-man counter-attack group on the 3rd climb.

The riders who are now in pursuit of Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are:
Azevedo (DSC), Arvesen (CSC), Grabsch (PHO), Flecha (FAS), Chavanel (COF), Commesso (LAM), Da Cruz (FDJ), Bertolini (DOM), Weening (RAB) and Portal (A2R). This group is 45" behind Casar’s group.
The peloton is now 2’40" behind the four stage leaders.

The final cat-2 climb of the 2005 Tour is the Col des Pradeaux. This is an 11.4km ascent with an aveage gradient of 5.6 per cent. The leaders are currently at the base of this climb.

The points for the intermediate sprint in Ambert (at the 55.5km mark) were won by:
1. Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) 6pts
2. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 4pts
3. Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) 2pts
The 10-man chase group was 55" behind.

After a frantic start to the 19th stage, the Discovery Channel boys have come to the front of the bunch. They have one representative in the counter-attack (Azevedo) and appear content to allow the escapees to continue with their efforts.

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti are near the site of the first intermediate sprint (which is at the 55.5km mark). They are 45" ahead of the 10-man chase group and 1’40" ahead of the peloton.

Pereiro (PHO), Casar (FDJ), Guerini (TMO) and Pellizotti (LIQ) lead by 35". The composition of the chase group is Azevedo (DSC), Arvesen (CSC), Grabsch (PHO), Flecha (FAS), Chavanel (COF), Commesso (LAM), Da Cruz (FDJ), Bertolini (DOM), Weening (RAB) and Portal (A2R).
The peloton is now 1’10" behind the leaders.

Portal, Weening and Grabsch have chased down Arvesen’s group. There are now 10 riders in pursuit of the four stage leaders.

Azevedo, Arvesen, Flecha, Chavanel, Commesso, Da Cruz and Bertolini are now in pursuit of the four stage leaders (Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti) at the 47km mark. The counter-attack is 30" behind the stage leaders and 10" ahead of the peloton.

At the 45.5km mark, Garate and Arvesen have been caught by the peloton which is being attacked by riders from Cofidis, Fassa Bortolo, Lampre and Domina Vacanze.

Pereiro (PHO), Casar (FDJ), Guerini (TMO) and Pellizotti (LIQ) lead Arvesen (CSC) and Garate (SDV) by 20" and the peloton by 30" at the 43km mark...

The average speed for the first hour of racing in stage 19 is 40.7km/h.

Pereiro, Casar, Guerini and Pellizotti lead Garate and Arvesen by 15" and the peloton by 38". Arrieta has been caught by the peloton.

Pereiro, Casar and Guerini have been joined by Pellizotti at the 40km mark.

Pereiro, Casar and Guerini lead Pellizotti by 5", Arvesen and Garate by 10" and Arrietta by 25" and the peloton by 40".

At the 38.5km mark, Pereiro, Casar and Guerini lead Pellizotti by 12"; Arvesen and Garate by 15" and the peloton by 30".

The points for the cat-3 Cote de Saint-de-Eloy-la-Glaciere were won by:
1. Pereiro (PHO) 4pts
2. Guerini (TMO) 3pts
3. Casar (FDJ) 2pts
4. Pellizotti (LIQ) 1pt

Pereiro, Casar and Guerini are 15" ahead of the peloton at the 37km mark. In between the leaders and the bunch are three riders - Garate, Arvesen and Pellizotti.

Pellizotti is about to catch Garate and Arvesen who are 8" behind the leading trio - Pereiro, Casar and Guerini.

Pereiro, Casar and Guerini are 5" ahead of Arvesen and Garate. The peloton is 12" behind the leading trio.

Pereiro, Casar and Guerini are now being chased by Garate (SDV) and Arvesen (CSC). They are 1km away from the 2nd climb.

There are two more riders involved in the counter-attack. But they are not getting any closer to Casar, Guerini and Pereiro.

Scholz and McGee are 10" behind the three stage leaders and 5" ahead of the peloton at the 35km mark.

Pereiro, Guerini and Casar are 15" ahead of the peloton that’s now at the 34.5km mark.

Riders from the Cofidis team are chasing down the three escapees who are now just 8" ahead of the bunch.

Casar (FDJ), Pereiro (PHO) and Guerini (TMO) are now 10" ahead of the peloton.

Pereiro has caught Casar and Guerini at the 31.5km mark. This trio is 8" ahead of the peloton that’s being led by the Saunier Duval-Prodir team.

The two leaders - Casar and Guerini - are being chased down by Pereiro Sio of the Phonak team.

Casar (FDJ) and Guerini (TMO) lead at the 30.5km mark. They have a lead of 10".

The bunch continues to be attacked by the FDJ team is at the front of the peloton and is chasing down anything that moves.

The bunch is now at the 28km mark. Although there have been plenty of escape attempts, the bunch is all together after about 40 minutes of racing.

The attack by Ullrich et al has been reeled in by the peloton. Now that’s a surprise...

Savoldelli, Aerts, Ullrich, Garzelli, Ludewig, Mayo chased down the escape.

Julich’s group is now 5 seconds ahead of the peloton which is being led by the Discovery Channel team.

Hincapie (DSC), Nardello (TMO), Julich (CSC) Arroyo (IBA), Botero (PHO), Gustov (FAS), Jaksche (LSW), Moreau (CA), Marichal (COF), Voeckler (BTL), Scholz (GST), McGee (FDJ) and Zubeldia (EUS) are now on the attack and have a small advantage over the peloton.

The points of the first climb in stage 19 - the Cote des Gerbaudias (at 23km) were won by:
1. Christophe Moreau (CA) 3pts
2. Ronny Scholz (GST) 2pts
3. Brad McGee (FDJ) 1pt

The Gerolsteiner rider with Moreau is Ronny Scholz. They are being pursuied by a group of about eight riders.

Christophe Moreau and a Gerolsteiner rider are now attacking the peloton. These two have claimed first and second place at the first climb (at 23km).

The escape by Heras has been chased down and the peloton is all together again as it begins the ascent of the Cote des Gerbaudias.

There is a group of about 10 riders now attempting to bridge the gap to Roberto Heras.

Roberto Heras (LSW) has attacked the peloton at the 20.5km mark. He is on his own with a lead of about 200m on the peloton.

The peloton is still all together. The Discovery Channel team is now at the head of the bunch as it nears the first climb of the 19th stage. The Cote des Gerbaudias is a cat-4 ascent. It’s 6km long with an average gradient of just 3.1 per cent. The summit is at the 23km mark.

The Francaise des Jeux squad has been at the head of the peloton. This French team has chased down each of the escape attempts in stage 19. They caught Vicioso and Righi at the 18km mark.

One rider has attacked the peloton at the 16.5km mark. Angel Vicioso is now in the lead of stage 19. He is being pursued by Righi (LAM).

Despite a number of escape attempts, the peloton is all together at the 15km mark. The Francaise des Jeux team is at the head of the pack as it races through to town of Sugeres.

Pereiro was joined briefly at the head of the stage by Juan Antonio Flecha. These two riders were quickly chased down at the bunch is together again at the 13km mark.

There has been an escape attempt by Pereiro at the 12km mark.

The winner of seven Tour stages between 1949 and 1955, Raphael Geminiani was at the ’Ville Depart’ this morning. He contested a total of 10 Tours de France and was second overall in 1951. Today he was honored by the race organizers because of his involvement in 30 Tours.

There are a number of riders trying to escape the peloton which is now at the 10.5km mark. The only rider who has been able to establish a slight lead on the pack is Moos who attacked in the first kilometer. His escape was over at the 8km mark.

Egoi Martinez, one of the riders involved in yesterday’s 10-man escape group, has attacked the peloton at the 9km mark. The reaction from the bunch has been swift and the Euskaltel rider has been caught.

The escape attempt by the Swiss rider on the Phonak team is over. Moos was caught by the bunch at the 8.5km mark.

The peloton has been led by the Fassa Bortolo team. At the 8km mark the bunch is closing in on the rider who attacked in the first kilometer.

Michael Boogerd (RAB), Oscar Sevilla (TMO) and Massimo Guinti (FAS) all visited the race doctor after the 18th stage to Mende with complaints that they had been stung by insects.

The pace at the start of the 19th stage is extremely rapid. There is one rider ahead of the peloton by 12". Alexandre Moos (PHO) attacked in the first kilometer.

The peloton is now riding through Aulhat-Saint-Privat at the 3.5km mark. It is 12" behind Moos.

The advantage of the lone attacker, Alexandre Moos (SUI - PHO) is 10" at the 2km mark.

There has been an attack in the first kilometer of racing in the 153.5km stage from Issoire to Le Puy-en-Velay. The escapee who currently has a slight lead on the peloton is Alexandre Moos of the Phonak team.

There were 155 riders at the sign on in Puy-de-Dome. No one abandoned overnight.

The official start of the 19th stage of the 92nd Tour de France was given at 1.36pm.

The peloton was expected to reach the site of the official start at around 1.37pm. The ’depart fictif’ was at 1.30pm... and the bunch is currently rolling through the 3.5km neutral zone.

The temperature at the start of stage 19 is 27 degrees Celsius in the air and 40 degrees at road level. The sun is shining and there are only a few high clouds in Puy-de-Dome. The riders can expect another hot day of racing today.

After 18 stages of the Tour de France, the following riders are wearing the four prize jerseys:
Lance Armstrong (DSC) is in the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification. He has an advantage of 2’46” on Ivan Basso (CSC) and 3’46” on Mickael Rasmussen (RAB). Jan Ullrich is in fourth place, 5’58” behind the American.
Thor Hushovd (CA) is in the green jersey as leader of the points classification. He has 164 points – 14 more than Stuart O’Grady (COF) and 22 more than Robbie McEwen (DVL).
Mickael Rasmussen (RAB) is in the polka-dot jersey. The Danish rider has an unbeatable tally of 185 points in the climbing classification. In second place is Oscar Pereiro Sio (PHO) with 135pts. Third is held by Armstrong with 92pts.
Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) is in the white jersey as leader of the youth classification. The Ukranian increased his advantage over Andrey Kashechkin (CA) yesterday. The Kazakh rider is now 7’47” being in the young rider category. Third place is held by Alberto Contador (LSW) who is 41’20” behind Popovych.

There are two intermediate sprints today, the first in Ambert (at 55.5km) and the second in Bellevue-la-Montagne (at 123.5km).
Thor Hushovd continues to lead the race for the green jersey. He has an advantage over Stuart O’Grady of 14pts.
The Australian has been suffering stomach problems overnight but he is still hopeful of challenging the Norwegian for the lead in the points classification.

The 19th stage features five categorized climbs:
The cat-4 Cote de Gerbaudias (at 23km)
The cat-3 Cote de Saint-Eloy-la-Glaciere (at 38.5km)
The last cat-2 ascent of the 92nd edition the Col des Pradeaux (at 68km)
The cat-4 Cote des Terrasses (at 96km)
And the cat-4 Cote de Malaveille (at 107.5km)

The 19th stage of the 2005 Tour de France is scheduled to get underway at 1.30pm. There is a 3.5km neutral zone before the peloton arrives at the site of the official start.
The last category-two ascent of the 92nd edition is the Col des Pradeaux at the 68km mark. The leader of the mountains classification is Mickael Rasmussen. The Danish Rabobank rider who won the stage to Mulhouse has an unbeatable collection of points in the race for the polka-dot jersey.