2004 Tour de France

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2004 Tour de France
Route of the 2004 Tour de France
Route of the 2004 Tour de France
Race details
Dates3–25 July
Stages20 + Prologue
Distance3,391 km (2,107 mi)
Winning time83h 36' 02"
Results
  Winner Lance Armstrong none[a]
  Second  Andreas Klöden (GER) (T-Mobile Team)
  Third  Ivan Basso (ITA) (Team CSC)
Points  Robbie McEwen (AUS) (Lotto–Domo)
Mountains  Richard Virenque (FRA) (Quick-Step–Davitamon)
Youth  Vladimir Karpets (RUS) (Illes Balears–Banesto)
Combativity  Richard Virenque (FRA) (Quick-Step–Davitamon)
  Team T-Mobile Team
← 2003
2005 →

The 2004 Tour de France was a multiple stage bicycle race held from 3 to 25 July, and the 91st edition of the Tour de France. It has no overall winner—although American cyclist Lance Armstrong originally won the event, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced in August 2012 that they had disqualified Armstrong from all his results since 1998, including his seven Tour de France wins from 1999 to 2005; the Union Cycliste Internationale confirmed this verdict.[3]

The event consisted of 20 stages over 3,391 km (2,107 mi). Armstrong had been favored to win, his competitors seen as being German Jan Ullrich, Spaniards Roberto Heras and Iban Mayo, and fellow Americans Levi Leipheimer and Tyler Hamilton. A major surprise in the Tour was the performance of French newcomer Thomas Voeckler, who unexpectedly won the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification in the fifth stage and held onto it for ten stages before finally losing it to Armstrong.

This Tour saw the mistreatment of Filippo Simeoni by Armstrong on Stage 18. Armstrong also made a "zip-the-lips" gesture on camera, apparently referencing Simeoni.

The route of the 2004 Tour was remarkable. With two individual time trials scheduled in the last week, one of them the climb of Alpe d'Huez, the directors were hoping for a close race until the end. For the first time in years, the mountains of the Massif Central made an appearance.

Teams[]

For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 2004 Tour de France.
Team CSC during the team time trial on stage four

The first 14 teams in the UCI Road World Rankings at 31 January 2004 were automatically invited. Initially the organisers had an option for a 22nd team, which would be Kelme, but after Jesús Manzano exposed doping use in that team, Kelme was not invited,[4] and the race started with 21 teams of nine cyclists.[5]

The teams entering the race were:[6]

Qualified teams

Invited teams

Route and stages[]

The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,000 m (6,600 ft) at the summit of the Col de la Madeleine mountain pass on stage 17.[7][8]

Stage characteristics and winners[9][10][11][12]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
P 3 July Liège (Belgium) 6.1 km (3.8 mi) Individual time trial  Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
1 4 July Liège (Belgium) to Charleroi (Belgium) 202.5 km (125.8 mi) Plain stage  Jaan Kirsipuu (EST)
2 5 July Charleroi (Belgium) to Namur (Belgium) 197.0 km (122.4 mi) Plain stage  Robbie McEwen (AUS)
3 6 July Waterloo (Belgium) to Wasquehal 210.0 km (130.5 mi) Plain stage  Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA)
4 7 July Cambrai to Arras 64.5 km (40.1 mi) Team time trial  U.S. Postal Service (USA)
5 8 July Amiens to Chartres 200.5 km (124.6 mi) Plain stage  Stuart O'Grady (AUS)
6 9 July Bonneval to Angers 196.0 km (121.8 mi) Plain stage  Tom Boonen (BEL)
7 10 July Châteaubriant to Saint-Brieuc 204.5 km (127.1 mi) Plain stage  Filippo Pozzato (ITA)
8 11 July Lamballe to Quimper 168.0 km (104.4 mi) Plain stage  Thor Hushovd (NOR)
12 July Limoges Rest day
9 13 July Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to Guéret 160.5 km (99.7 mi) Plain stage  Robbie McEwen (AUS)
10 14 July Limoges to Saint-Flour 237.0 km (147.3 mi) Hilly stage  Richard Virenque (FRA)
11 15 July Saint-Flour to Figeac 164.0 km (101.9 mi) Hilly stage  David Moncoutié (FRA)
12 16 July Castelsarrasin to La Mongie 197.5 km (122.7 mi) Mountain stage  Ivan Basso (ITA)
13 17 July Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille 205.5 km (127.7 mi) Mountain stage  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a]
14 18 July Carcassonne to Nîmes 192.5 km (119.6 mi) Plain stage  Aitor González (ESP)
19 July Nîmes Rest day
15 20 July Valréas to Villard-de-Lans 180.5 km (112.2 mi) Mountain stage  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a]
16 21 July Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez 15.5 km (9.6 mi) Individual time trial  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a]
17 22 July Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand 204.5 km (127.1 mi) Mountain stage  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a]
18 23 July Annemasse to Lons-le-Saunier 166.5 km (103.5 mi) Hilly stage  Juan Miguel Mercado (ESP)
19 24 July Besançon to Besançon 55.0 km (34.2 mi) Individual time trial  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a]
20 25 July Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris (Champs-Élysées) 163.0 km (101.3 mi) Plain stage  Tom Boonen (BEL)
Total 3,391 km (2,107 mi)[13]

Race overview[]

Main articles: 2004 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 9 and 2004 Tour de France, Stage 10 to Stage 20

During this Tour de France the men who were delivering the drugs to riders had names like Alibaba, Asterix, Obelix[14]and Motoman.[15]

Doping[]

See also: Lance Armstrong doping case

The 18th stage saw mistreatment of Filippo Simeoni by Lance Armstrong, after Simeoni had testified about doping and doctor Michele Ferrari.[16]

The book L. A. Confidentiel, by David Walsh and Pierre Ballester, came out shortly before the 2004 Tour, accusing Lance Armstrong of doping. Lance Armstrong and his lawyers asked for an emergency hearing in French court to insert a denial into the book. The French judge denied this request. Armstrong also launched defamation suits against the publisher and the authors, as well as magazine L'Express and UK newspaper The Sunday Times which both referenced it.[17][18][19]

Subsequent to Armstrong's statement to withdraw his fight against United States Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) charges, on 24 August 2012, the USADA said it would ban Armstrong for life and stripped him of his record seven Tour de France titles.[20][21] Later that day it was confirmed in a USADA statement that Armstrong was banned for life and would be disqualified from any and all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to 1 August 1998, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, winnings, finishes, points and prizes.[1] On 22 October 2012, the Union Cycliste Internationale endorsed the USADA sanctions, and decided not to award victories to any other rider or upgrade other placings in any of the affected events.[2]

Classification leadership and minor prizes[]

There were four main individual classifications contested in the 2004 Tour de France, as well as a team competition. The most important was the general classification, which was calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage.[22] Time bonuses given at the end of each mass start stage.[23] If a crash had happened within the final 3 km (1.9 mi) of a stage, not including time trials and summit finishes, the riders involved would have received the same time as the group they were in when the crash occurred.[24] The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the general classification and was considered the overall winner of the Tour.[22] The rider leading the classification wore a yellow jersey.[25]

The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing in the highest positions in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints during the stage. The points available for each stage finish were determined by the stage's type.[22] The leader was identified by a green jersey.[25]

The third classification was the mountains classification. Most stages of the race included one or more categorised climbs, in which points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit first. The climbs were categorised as fourth-, third-, second- or first-category and hors catégorie, with the more difficult climbs rated lower.[26] The leader wore a white jersey with red polka dots.[25]

The final individual classification was the young rider classification. This was calculated the same way as the general classification, but the classification was restricted to riders who were born on or after 1 January 1979.[26] The leader wore a white jersey.[25]

The final classification was a team classification. This was calculated using the finishing times of the best three riders per team on each stage; the leading team was the team with the lowest cumulative time. The number of stage victories and placings per team determined the outcome of a tie.[26]

In addition, there was a combativity award given after each mass start stage to the rider considered, by a jury, to have "made the most effort and who has demonstrated the best sportsmanship".[26] The winner wore a blue number bib the following stage.[25] At the conclusion of the Tour, Richard Virenque (Quick-Step–Davitamon) was given the overall super-combativity award.[27] The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass the summit of the highest climb in the Tour, the Col de la Madeleine on stage 17. This prize was won by Gilberto Simoni.[28]

Classification leadership by stage[29][30]
Stage Winner General classification
Yellow jersey 		Points classification
Green jersey 		Mountains classification
Polkadot jersey 		Young rider classification
White jersey 		Team classification Combativity award
A white jersey with a red number bib.
P Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara no award Fabian Cancellara U.S. Postal Service no award
1 Jaan Kirsipuu Thor Hushovd Jens Voigt Jens Voigt
2 Robbie McEwen Thor Hushovd Paolo Bettini Jakob Piil
3 Jean-Patrick Nazon Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Jens Voigt
4 U.S. Postal Service Lance Armstrong[a] Matthias Kessler no award
5 Stuart O'Grady Thomas Voeckler Thomas Voeckler Team CSC Sandy Casar
6 Tom Boonen Stuart O'Grady Jimmy Engoulvent
7 Fillippo Pozzato Thierry Marichal
8 Thor Hushovd Robbie McEwen Jakob Piil
9 Robbie McEwen Iñigo Landaluze
10 Richard Virenque Richard Virenque Richard Virenque
11 David Moncoutié David Moncoutié
12 Ivan Basso Frédéric Finot
13 Lance Armstrong[a] Michael Rasmussen
14 Aitor González T-Mobile Team Nicolas Jalabert
15 Lance Armstrong[a] Lance Armstrong[a] Team CSC Michael Rasmussen
16 Lance Armstrong[a] T-Mobile Team no award
17 Lance Armstrong[a] Gilberto Simoni
18 Juan Miguel Mercado José García Acosta
19 Lance Armstrong[a] Vladimir Karpets no award
20 Tom Boonen Filippo Simeoni
Final Lance Armstrong[a] Robbie McEwen Richard Virenque Vladimir Karpets T-Mobile Team Richard Virenque
  • In stage 1, Lance Armstrong wore the green jersey.
  • In stages 1 and 2, Bernhard Eisel wore the white jersey.
  • In stage 3, Jaan Kirsipuu wore the green jersey.
  • In stage 4, Jean-Patrick Nazon wore the green jersey.
  • In stages 6 through 15, Sandy Casar wore the white jersey.

Final standings[]

Legend
Green jersey Denotes the leader of the points classification[25] Polka dot jersey Denotes the leader of the mountains classification[25]
White jersey Denotes the leader of the young rider classification[25] A white jersey with a red number bib. Denotes the winner of the super-combativity award[25]

General classification[]

Final general classification (1–10)[31]
Rank Rider Team Time
DSQ  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a] U.S. Postal Service 83h 36' 02"
2  Andreas Klöden (GER) T-Mobile Team + 6' 19"
3  Ivan Basso (ITA) Team CSC + 6' 40"
4  Jan Ullrich (GER) T-Mobile Team + 8' 50"
5  José Azevedo (POR) U.S. Postal Service + 14' 30"
6  Francisco Mancebo (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto + 18' 01"
7  Georg Totschnig (AUT) Gerolsteiner + 18' 27"
8  Carlos Sastre (ESP) Team CSC + 19' 51"
DSQ  Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank + 20' 12"
10  Óscar Pereiro (ESP) Phonak + 22' 54"

Points classification[]

Final points classification (1–10)[32]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Robbie McEwen (AUS) Green jersey Lotto–Domo 272
2  Thor Hushovd (NOR) Crédit Agricole 247
3  Erik Zabel (GER) T-Mobile Team 245
4  Stuart O'Grady (AUS) Cofidis 234
5  Danilo Hondo (GER) Gerolsteiner 227
6  Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick-Step–Davitamon 163
7  Jean-Patrick Nazon (FRA) AG2R Prévoyance 146
DSQ  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a] U.S. Postal Service 143
9  Laurent Brochard (FRA) AG2R Prévoyance 139
10  Andreas Klöden (GER) T-Mobile Team 131

Mountains classification[]

Final mountains classification (1–10)[33]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Richard Virenque (FRA) Polka dot jersey A white jersey with a red number bib. Quick-Step–Davitamon 226
DSQ  Lance Armstrong (USA)[a] U.S. Postal Service 172
3  Michael Rasmussen (DEN) Rabobank 119
4  Ivan Basso (ITA) Team CSC 119
5  Jan Ullrich (GER) T-Mobile Team 115
6  Christophe Moreau (FRA) Crédit Agricole 115
7  Andreas Klöden (GER) T-Mobile Team 112
8  Francisco Mancebo (ESP) Illes Balears–Banesto 77
9  Jens Voigt (GER) Team CSC 71
10  Axel Merckx (BEL) Lotto–Domo 65

Young rider classification[]

Final young rider classification (1–10)[34]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Vladimir Karpets (RUS) White jersey Illes Balears–Banesto 84h 01' 13'
2  Sandy Casar (FRA) FDJeux.com + 3' 42"
3  Thomas Voeckler (FRA) Brioches La Boulangère + 6' 01"
4  Michael Rogers (AUS) Quick-Step–Davitamon + 16' 28"
5  Iker Camaño (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 22' 03"
6  Jérôme Pineau (FRA) Brioches La Boulangère + 22' 32"
7  Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Brioches La Boulangère + 29' 32"
8  Michele Scarponi (ITA) Domina Vacanze + 37' 50"
9  Mikel Astarloza (ESP) AG2R Prévoyance + 1h 29' 53"
10  Benjamín Noval (ESP) U.S. Postal Service + 1h 32' 30"

Team classification[]

Final team classification (1–10)[35]
Rank Team Time
1 T-Mobile Team 248h 58' 43"
2 U.S. Postal Service + 2' 42"
3 Team CSC + 10' 33"
4 Illes Balears–Banesto + 52' 26"
5 Quick-Step–Davitamon + 57' 33"
6 Phonak + 57' 42"
7 Rabobank + 1h 26' 24"
8 Crédit Agricole + 1h 30' 35"
9 Brioches La Boulangère + 1h 32' 12"
10 Euskaltel–Euskadi + 1h 47' 46"

See also[]

  • List of doping cases in cycling

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q On 24 August 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that they had disqualified Armstrong from all his results since 1998, including his victory in the 2004 Tour de France.[1] The Union Cycliste Internationale, responsible for the international cycling, confirmed this verdict on 22 October 2012.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lance Armstrong Receives Lifetime Ban And Disqualification Of Competitive Results For Doping Violations Stemming From His Involvement In The United States Postal Service Pro-Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy". United States Anti-Doping Agency. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lance Armstrong stripped of all seven Tour de France wins by UCI". BBC News. BBC. 22 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  3. ^ Ryan, Barry (22 October 2012). "UCI confirms Lance Armstrong's life ban". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company Limited. Archived from the original on 22 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Invitations for the Tour de France 2004 Tour de France". Amaury Sport Organisation. 27 February 2004. Archived from the original on 6 April 2004. Retrieved 6 April 2004.
  5. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – The riders". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 2 May 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – The teams". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 14 January 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  7. ^ Augendre 2016, p. 179.
  8. ^ "91st Tour de France – The Climbs". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – The map". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – All the stages". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  11. ^ "91ème Tour de France 2004" [91st Tour de France 2004]. Mémoire du cyclisme (in French). Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  12. ^ "The history of the Tour de France – Year 2004 – The stage winners". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  13. ^ Augendre 2016, p. 110.
  14. ^ "Rudy Pevenage:If I wrote a Doping Book it Would be Crazy". cycling news. 19 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Hamilton details Moto man in book excerpt run by The Times". velonews. 5 September 2012.
  16. ^ The USADA Report Against Lance Armstrong, by the Numbers Archived 13 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Thursday, 11 October 2012 By Adventure Lab, Outside Magazine, retr 2012 10 18
  17. ^ CYCLING; Armstrong Is Suing Accuser Archived 1 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, By RICHARD SANDOMIR; Samuel Abt in Paris contributor, 16 June 2004, New York Times, retr 2012 10 20
  18. ^ Armstrong wants doping denial in book Archived 27 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine, ABC News (Australia) 19 June 2004, retr 2012 10 20
  19. ^ Judge calls Armstrong's request 'abuse' of system Archived 13 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, 2004 6 21, via espn.go.com, retr 2012 10 20
  20. ^ "Lance Armstrong will be banned from cycling by USADA after saying he won't fight doping charges". The Washington Post. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  21. ^ "USADA to ban Armstrong for life, strip Tour titles". CBS News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c Race regulations 2004, p. 18.
  23. ^ Race regulations 2004, p. 20.
  24. ^ Race regulations 2004, p. 12.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Race regulations 2004, p. 8.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Race regulations 2004, p. 19.
  27. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Overall combativity standings". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  28. ^ Maloney, Tim; Jones, Jeff (22 July 2004). ""No Gifts": Armstrong sprints to third consecutive stage win". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Leaders overview". ProCyclingStats. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  30. ^ van den Akker, Pieter. "Informatie over de Tour de France van 2004" [Information about the Tour de France from 2004]. TourDeFranceStatistieken.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tour de France 2004 – Overall individual standing". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Overall points standing". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Overall climber standing". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Overall youth standing". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  35. ^ "Tour de France 2004 – Overall team standing". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

Bibliography[]

  • Augendre, Jacques (2016). Guide historique [Historical guide] (PDF). Tour de France (in French). Paris: Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  • Race regulations (PDF). Tour de France. Paris: Amaury Sport Organisation. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2016.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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