ESPN.com: TOUR DE FRANCE 2005

Armstrong says U2 singer Bono is one of his personal heroes.

Lance's Last Goodbye

Lance Armstrong will be remembered as one of the world's greatest athletes, but the seven-time Tour de France winner tells ESPN's Jeremy Schaap that he still hasn't grasped such lofty praise. Video ESPN Motion

• Lance wins No. 7 | Tour de Lance | Vote: Lance's era
• Tour diary | Is Lance the best?: Skip says no | Your choice

MORE FEATURES

President Bush congratulates Lance
President Bush told Armstrong his win was 'a testament not only to your athletic talent but to your courage.'

Rovell: Armstrong a winning spokesman, too
Lance Armstrong's career on a bike might be at an end, but his career as a marketer isn't slowing down.

Armstrong an inspiration to American cycling
Lance Armstrong was able to bring cycling into the mainstream, but will the sport stay there in his absence?

Vinokourov leaving T-Mobile team
Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov told his T-Mobile team on Wednesday that he would leave at the end of the season.

What's next, Lance?
Don't expect to see Lance Armstrong take a regular job after he retires from cycling next Sunday.

Safe and conservative wins race?
Overall leader Lance Armstrong set off Wednesday on the Tour's longest stage so far, a 148.8-mile trek from Pau to Revel. He's playing it safe for the Tour's final stages.

Hood: Armstrong puts it in cruise control
Lance Armstrong hates rest days. But he knows he's in great position heading to the final week of the Tour de France.

Ullrich conceding Tour, focuses on podium finish
Five-time Tour de France runner-up Jan Ullrich is settling for another podium place after again being overshadowed by Lance Armstrong.

Armstrong vying for French hearts
Lance Armstrong is trying to capture more than just a seventh straight Tour de France title. He wants to win over the French fans, too.

Sunday course passes spot where Casartelli died
The 15th stage of the Tour de France on Sunday will be a painful test as Lance Armstrong rides past the place where teammate Fabio Casartelli crashed and died 10 years ago.

Fifth-place Valverde trades white jersey for white flag
Spain's Alejandro Valverde, who won the first Alpine stage and was fifth in the overall standings, dropped out of the Tour de France Friday.

Crow flies with Lance, ready to sing winning song
If Sheryl Crow wrote a song about Lance Armstrong, the title would be simple and to the point: "Make 'em suffer."

Bristol Bob: Are you strong enough?
The Tour de France is the inspiration behind the latest from Bristol Bob and the Page 2 Crue.

Caple: Tour de Lance
Jim Caple made a stop at the Tour de France, and got to see the champ, Lance Armstrong, snag the yellow jersey.

Cyclist Rumsas released ahead of French doping trial
Lithuanian rider Raimondas Rumsas, facing a trial on doping charges, has been released from jail, his lawyer said.

Beloki's long road back to contention
Spanish rider Joseba Beloki is eager to compete despite the painful memories of his bad crash in the Alps two years ago.

Leader Armstrong tries to start without yellow
Lance Armstrong set off Wednesday with the Tour de France lead, but decided against wearing the yellow jersey that he earned a day earlier.

Zabriskie sore but back in the saddle after crash
David Zabriskie came home 176th in the 183-kilometer fifth stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday but was happy to have made it to the finish after his high-speed crash in Tuesday's team time trial.

Hood: Luck is on Lance's side at Tour de France
The Tour de France turned cruel for one American and bright for another on 41 miles of French asphalt.

Carmichael: Lance is a true leader
Lance Armstrong's teammates would ride through fire for him, not because of money or the jerseys on their backs, but because he's mastered the art of effective leadership.

Zabriskie's apprenticeship to Armstrong over
David Zabriskie added his name to the long list of Lance Armstrong's potential successors when he beat his former boss Saturday.

Uni Watch: Polka dots popular in France
The latest tour of uniforms stops off in France, visits the popular titanium necklaces, and introduces the pitcher who wore lettuce under his cap.

Lance's mom: Ready for ride to be over
Lance Armstrong's mother says she's already starting to feel nostalgic for her son's final Tour de France.

Armstrong only rider checked in surprise Friday test
Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong underwent a surprise doping test at his hotel on Friday afternoon.

Ullrich's injuries minor after crash into manager's car
Germany's Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner, was injured in a freak training accident on the eve of the Tour's start on Friday but escaped mostly unhurt.

Riders all clear to start Tour after blood tests
All 189 riders set to compete in this year's Tour de France were cleared to race after undergoing blood tests Thursday.

Ullrich tired of Armstrong's seconds, wants win
While Lance Armstrong bids to end his career with a seventh straight Tour de France title, longtime rival Jan Ullrich is close to a less desirable record.

Tour notes: Top prize $480K; 91st gets $480
Lance Armstrong will pick up a handsome check if he wins the Tour de France for the seventh straight year.

Use the Tour de France Tracker for live race updates, route maps, rider profiles and stage-by-stage results.

THE STAGES
	DATE	LOCATION
1	Sat, 7/2	Fromentiere - Noirmoutier-en-l'lle, 19 km TT
2	Sun, 7/3	Challans - Les Essarts, 181.5 km
3	Mon, 7/4	La Chataigneraie - Tours, 212.5 km
4	Tue, 7/5	Tours - Blois, 67.5 km TTT
5	Wed, 7/6	Chambord - Montargis, 183 km
6	Thu, 7/7	Troyes - Nancy, 199 km
7	Fri, 7/8	Lunéville - Karlsruhe, 228.5 km
8	Sat, 7/9	Pforzheim - Gérardmer, 231.5 km
9	Sun, 7/10	Gérardmer - Mulhouse, 171 km
-	Mon, 7/11	Rest day - Grenoble
10	Tue, 7/12	Grenoble - Courchevel, 192.5 km
11	Wed, 7/13	Courchevel - Briançon, 173 km
12	Thu, 7/14	Briançon - Digne-les-Bains, 187 km
13	Fri, 7/15	Miramas - Montpellier, 173.5 km
14	Sat,7/16	Agde - Ax-3 Domaines, 220.5 km
15	Sun, 7/17	Lézat-sur-Lèze - Pla d'Adet, 205.5 km
-	Mon, 7/18	Rest day - Pau
16	Tue, 7/19	Mourenx - Pau, 180.5 km
17	Wed, 7/20	Pau - Revel, 239.5 km
18	Thu, 7/21	Albi - Mende, 189 km
19	Fri, 7/22	Issoire - Le Puy-en-Velay, 153.5 km
20	Sat, 7/23	Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne, 55 km TT
21	Sun, 7/24	Corbeil-Essonnes - Paris, 144 km

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