July 2, 2004 – Lance Armstrong’s (USPS) assault on the Tour de France’s record book will begin July 3 in Liege, Belgium as the Tour de France rolls away with a 6K prologue.

Remaining in Belgium for the next three stages, the Tour will run counterclockwise, considered more difficult, with a total distance of 3,395K. The topography surrounding Liege and countryside is far from flat, creating openings for the Tour’s opportunists in the opening days before crossing over to France. The sprinters will have their days, as Mario Cippolini is back for the first time since his four consecutive stage wins.

This 91st edition of the Tour has no less than four tests against the clock, including a 65K TTT on stage four, and a lung busting 15K ITT up the famed Alpe d’Huez climb on stage 16. Already the 32-year-old Armstrong and his climbing specialist teammates have traveled to the ascent for a reconnaissance trip. “It’s a physical, technical, and tactical challenge that I take very seriously,” said Armstrong.

Just three days later there will be another 60K test in Besancon that should be the decisive test, and should cement the overall general classification. It is no wonder that Armstrong has spent so much time concentrating on this discipline, with new positions and equipment.

So what will it take to be champion this year? Excellent time trial skills, superb climbing legs, strong teams to situate you at the front and within the TTT, and don’t forget about attentiveness, skill in descending and keeping out of trouble, recovery powers and general good luck.

Allotting for all of this, the men to watch have to be Armtrong, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) and Tyler Hamilton (Phonak), with maybe a revelation like Denis Menchov (Baleares) thrown in. David Millar (Cofidis) is out after admitting to using EPO. Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) is out as well due to a broken shoulder.

TOUR SCHEDULE
Prologue: Saturday, July 3 “” Liège (6K)
Stage 1: Sunday, July 4 “” Liège –Charleroi (195K)
Stage 2: Monday, July 5″” Charleroi — Namur (195K)
Stage 3: Tuesday, July 6 “” Waterloo — Wasquehal (195K)
Stage 4: Wednesday, July 7″” Cambrai — Arras (TTT/65K)
Stage 5: Thursday, July 8 “” Amiens –Chartres (195K)
Stage 6: Friday, July 9 “” Bonneval — Angers (190K)
Stage 7: Saturday, July 10 “” Châteaubriant – Saint-Brieuc (208K)
Stage 8: Sunday, July 11 “” Lamballe — Quimper (172K)
Rest Day: Monday, July 12 “” Transfer to Limoges
Stage 9: Tuesday, July 13 “” Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat — Guéret (160K)
Stage 10: Wednesday, July 14 “” Limoges – Saint-Flour (237K)
Stage 11: Thursday, July 15 “” Saint-Flour –Figeac (164K)
Stage 12: Friday, July 16 Castelsarrasin -La Mongie 199K
Stage 13: Saturday, July 17 Lannemezan – Plateau de Beille (17K)
Stage 14: Sunday, July 18 Carcassonne — Nîmes (200K)
Rest Day: Monday, July 19 Nîmes
Stage 15: Tuesday, July 20 Valréas -Villard-de-Lans (179K)
Stage 16: Wednesday, July 21 Bourg d’Oisans -L’Alpe d’Huez (TT/15K)
Stage 17: Thursday, July 22 Bourg d’Oisans -Le Grand Bornand (212K)
Stage 18: Friday, July 23 Annemasse -Lons-le-Saunier (166K)
Stage 19: Saturday, July 24 Besançon -Besançon (TT/60K)
Stage 20: Sunday, July 25 Montereau-Fault-Yonne – Paris (165K)

October 23, 2003 – Next year's tour route was announced yesterday in Paris and had some surprising changes. Beginning in Liege, Belgium, the Tour follows less traditional counter clockwise direction for the 3,395 kilometre route. Many consider this route to be more difficult than years past. Another interesting tidbit is the first TT occuring in the final week: an uphill TT up the famed Alpe D'Huez.  A few days after that TT, the final TT occurs, just a day before reaching Paris. Can Armstrong make it six? We will have to wait until July to find out…

2004 Tour de France

Prologue – July 3: Prologue Liege ITT, 6 km
Stage 1 РJuly 4: Li̬ge-Charleroi, 195 km
Stage 2 – July 5: Charleroi-Namur, 195 km
Stage 3 – July 6: Waterloo – Wasquehal, 195 km
Stage 4 – July 7: Cambrai – Arras TTT, 65 km
Stage 5 – July 8: Amiens – Chartres, 195 km
Stage 6 – July 9: Bonneval – Angers, 190 km
Stage 7 – July 10: Chateaubriant – Saint Brieuc, 208 km
Stage 8 – July 11: Lamballe – Quimper, 172 km
July 12: Rest Day: Transfer to Limoges
Stage 9 РJuly 13: St Leonard de Noblat РGu̩ret, 160 km
Stage 10 – July 14: Limoges – St Flour, 237 km
Stage 11 – July 15: St Flour – Figeac, 164 km
Stage 12 – July 16: Castelsarrasin – La Mongie, 199 km
Stage 13 – July 17: Lannemezan – Plateau de Beille, 217 km
Stage 14 – July 18: Carcassonne – Nimes, 200 km
July 19 – Rest Day: Transfer to Nimes
Stage 15 – July 20: Valreas – Villard-de-Lans, 179 km
Stage 16 – July 21: Bourg d'Oisans – Alpe d'Huez ITT, 15 km
Stage 17 – July 22: Bourg d'Oisans – Le Grand Bornand, 212 km
Stage 18 – July 23: Annemasse – Lons le Saulnier, 166 km
Stage 19 – July 24: Besancon – Besancon ITT, 60 km
Stage 20 – July 25: Montreau – Paris-Champs-Elysees, 165 km