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Tour-Armstrong starts Tour gamble in Monaco (Reuters)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:02 PDT

Lance Armstrong will begin to find out whether his gamble to return to the Tour de France is a credible one when the seven-times champion tackles a tough opener in front of Monaco's casino on Saturday.

Tour ready for start with Armstrong back (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:56:43 PDT

The Tour de France is ready for another edition with Lance Armstrong, and Saturday's opening stage may show whether he's ready to challenge for another title. Armstrong's 37-year-old legs will be tested immediately when the three-week race begins with a 9.6-mile time trial. The stage will be run along the hilly streets and hairpin turns of Monaco, a Mediterranean principality better...

Armstrong's comeback: real deal or whim? (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:18:46 PDT

This is what retirement ultimately might look like for Lance Armstrong: reminiscing about his Tour de France exploits to an audience of suits and evening dresses who paid $1,000 a plate to hear him and mingling with a couple of princes. No wonder Armstrong got back into cycling. He isn't quite ready to go gentle into the good night of cocktail engagements and perhaps -- only he knows -- a life...

Don't count Armstrong out, Hincapie says (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:32:46 PDT

George Hincapie helped Lance Armstrong win seven straight Tour de France titles and believes his old friend could surprise a lot of people this year. Back competing after 3 1/2 years of retirement, Armstrong will start his first Tour since 2005 on Saturday, in the opening and difficult time trial in Monaco.

Five to watch in the Tour de France (Yahoo! Sports)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:12:00 PDT

Five riders, five stages to keep your eyes on during this year's Tour de France.

Armstrong under doping watch at Tour de France (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:22:48 PDT

France's sports minister says Lance Armstrong will be "particularly monitored" for doping during the Tour de France. The seven-time Tour winner has come out of retirement to ride in cycling's showcase. The three-week race starts Saturday in Monaco. "The (doping) controls will be multiplied, and I tell Lance Armstrong that he will be particularly, particularly, particularly...

New spoils await Armstrong on the Tour (Yahoo! Sports)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:57:00 PDT

Lance Armstrong likely won't win the Tour de France but could gain the respect of France and redemption for his beloved sport.

Menchov aims for double with win at Tour de France (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:08:43 PDT

Denis Menchov won the Giro d'Italia and will attempt to capture the Tour de France to become the first man to win both races in the same year since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. The 31-year-old Russian impressed in claiming the biggest win of his career in Italy in May and turns his attention to the Tour where he will have the help of his strong Rabobank team and rising star Robert Gesink.

Tour-Armstrong race prospects a mystery - team manager (Reuters)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:59:00 PDT

There are still doubts as to how Lance Armstrong will perform on the Tour de France, Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel said on Friday.

Boonen cleared to ride in Tour de France (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:56:55 PDT

Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen was cleared Friday to compete in the Tour de France after winning his appeal of a ban for testing positive for cocaine The French Olympic committee's arbitration panel handed down the decision a day before the Tour is set to start in Monaco. "Obviously, I'm happy.