July 15, 2003 – A day full of excitement and marred with sadness in the Tour de France today. Lance Armstrong (USPS) narrowly avoided a horrible crash as Joseba Beloki  (ONCE) did just that sustaining multiple injuries and is out of the Tour. Beloki crashed out of the race and Armstrong rode like a cyclocrosser to avoid the Spaniard. Telekom rider Alexandre Vinokourov won the stage and clawed back some time, suddenly becoming a possible rival to the American in this Tour.

Stage 9: Bourg d'Oisans – Gap,  184.5 K 

1.Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team  Telekom                    5.02.00
(36.65 km/h)
2. Paolo Bettini (Ita)  Quick.Step-Davitamon                      0.36
3. Iban Mayo (Spa)  Euskaltel-Euskadi                              
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal-Berry  Floor                    
5. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team  Bianchi                                 
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa  Bortolo                                 
7. Georg Totschnig (Aut)  Gerolsteiner                             
8. Francisco Mancebo (Spa)  iBanesto.com                           
9. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa)  Euskaltel-Euskadi                        
10. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC          

Overall: 

1. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal-Berry  Floor               40.15.26
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team  Telekom                       0.21
3. Iban Mayo (Spa)  Euskaltel-Euskadi                             1.02
4. Francisco Mancebo (Spa)  iBanesto.com                          1.37
5. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team  CSC                                 1.52
6. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team  Bianchi                                2.10
7. Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa  Bortolo                                2.25
8. Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal-Berry  Floor                     2.28
9. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa)  Euskaltel-Euskadi                       3.25
10. Denis Menchov (Rus)  iBanesto.com                             3.45