Dia 1

The First Week of the Tour de France.With the return of Lance Armstrong from retirement and his expected battle with teammate Alberto Contador looming, the Tour de France began a week ago on July 4, 2009. Fridays 140-mile trek from Barcelona to the Andorran ski resort of Arcalis was the longest stage this Tour.(Photo by Koen Haedens/Getty Images)

1

Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank rider Fabien Cancellara sprints ahead of Dutch cycling team Rabobank rider and 87th Giro cycling race winner Denis Menchov of Russia on July 4,Photo by PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images)

2

Seven-time Tour de France winner cycling team Astana rider Lance Armstrong of the United States is helped by a staff member after competing on July 4.Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Astanas rider Andreas Kloden of Germany sprints on July 4, 2009 at the end of the 15-km individual time-trial and first stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run around Monaco.Photo by PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, kisses the overall leaders yellow jersey on the podium after winning the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial of 15.5 kilometersAP Photo/Bas Czerwinski.

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey, sprays himself with water during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 187 kilometers.AP Photo/Christophe Ena

The peloton make its way through the French countryside during stage two of the 2009 Tour de France from Monaco to Brignoles on July 5, 2009 in Brignoles, France.Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Stage winner Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Team Columbia HTC sprints to victory during stage two of the 2009 Tour de France from Monaco to Brignoles, France on July 5, 2009 in Monaco.Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Lance Armstrong and team Astana cycles amid the peloton during stage three of the 2009 Tour de France from Marseille to La Grande Motte on July 6, 2009 in La Grande-Motte, France.Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Mark Cavendish of Britain, strains as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 196.5 kilometers with start in Marseille and finish in La Grande-MotteAP Photo/Laurent Rebours

The peloton leaves Marseille behind during stage three of the 2009 Tour de France from Marseille to La Grande-Motte on July 6, 2009 in Marseille, France. The stage was won by Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Team Columbia.Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Stage winner Mark Cavendish and Team Columbia HTC celebrates his victory with his teammate George Hincapie of USA during stage three of the 2009 Tour de France from Marseille to La Grande-Mote.Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Belgian cycling team Quick Step rider Tom Boonen of concentrates on July 7, 2009 before the start of the 39 km team time-trial and fourth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run around Montpellier.Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

The Cervelo Test Team in action on stage four of the 2009 Tour de France, a 39km Team Time Trial through Montpellier, on July 7, 2009 in Montpellier, France.Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Cycling team Astana leader 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain is pictured upon arrival July 7, 2009 at the end of the 39 km team time-trial and fourth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race.Photo by PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

Fabian Cancellara, wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey, right, and his Team Saxo Bank riders strain to take a third place during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a team time-trial over 39 kilometers.AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski

Seven-time Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana (AST)s rider Lance Armstrong of the United States rides with teammates on July 7, 2009 in the 39 km team time-trial and fourth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race. The team clocked in 00:46:49 and won the stage.Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

The Columbia Team in action on stage four of the 2009 Tour de France, a 39km Team Time Trial through Montpellier, on July 7, 2009 in Montpellier, France.Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Alberto Contador, left, throws his flowers to the crowd as other riders of the Astana team react on the podium after winning the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a team time-trial over 39 kilometers.AP Photo/Christophe Ena

Seven-time Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana Lance Armstrong of the United States leaves his team bus area to ride to the signature ceremony on July 8.LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Fans wait for riders on July 8, 2009 in Cap dAgde before the start of the 196,5 km fifth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Cap dAgde and Perpignan.JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

The peloton rides through the French countryside during stage 5 of 2009 Tour de France from Le Cap D Agde to Perpignan the on July 8, 2009 in Perpignan, France.Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank rider Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland rides on July 8, 2009 in the 196,5 km fifth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Cap dAgde and Perpignan.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

The pack with Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey, passes through a tunnel near Beziers during the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 196.5 kilometers with start in Le Cap dAgde and finish in Perpignan, southern France, Wednesday July 8, 2009.AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski

The winner of the stage, French cycling team BBOX Bouygues Telecom (BBO)s leader Thomas Vockler of France rides in a breakaway with Russian cycling team Team Katusha Mikhail Ignatiev and French cycling team Francaise des Jeux Yauheni Hutarovitch.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

Dutch cycling team Rabobank Robert Gesink is pictured in an ambulance after being injuried on July 8, 2009 in the 196,5 km fifth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Cap dAgde and Perpignan.Koen van Weel/AFP/Getty Images

Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank Fabian Cancellara puts on his yellow jersey of overall leader on July 8, 2009 at the end of the 196,5 km fifth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Cap dAgde and Perpignan.PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Voeckler, center, is congratulated by teammates Alexandre Pichot of France, left, and William Bonnet of France, right, after winning the fifth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 196.5 kilometersAP Photo/Peter Dejong

Thomas Voeckler of France and team Bbox Bouygues Telecom celebrates his win on the podium at the end of stage five of the 2009 Tour de France from Le Cap dAgde to Perpignan on July 8, 2009 in Perpignan, France.Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

French cycling team Francaise des Jeux rider Jussie Veikkanen of Finland juiblates his polka dot jersey of best climber on the podium on July 8, 2009 at the end of the 196,5 km fifth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Le Cap dAgde and Perpignan.PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

The riders make their way under a bridge near the start of stage 6 of 2009 Tour de France from Gerona to Barcelona on July 9, 2009 in Gerona, FrancePhoto by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

2007 Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana leader Alberto Contador of Spain rides in the pack on July 9, 2009 in the 175 km and sixth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona. Swiss cycling team Cervelo rider Thor Hushovd of Norway won ahead of Dutch cycling team Rabobank Oscar Freire of Spain and Spanish cycling team Caisse dEpargne Jose Joaquim Rojas of Spain.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

US cycling team Garmin-Slipstream David Millar of Great Britain rides in a breakway on July 9, 2009 in the 175 km and sixth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

The pack rides along the Costa Brava during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers with start in Girona and finish in Barcelona, Spain.AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski

Seven-time Tour de France winner and Kazakh cycling team Astana Lance Armstrong listens to Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank rider Jens Voigt.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

The pack passes a roundabout during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers with start in Girona and finish in Barcelona, SpainAP Photo/Christophe Ena

Leading man, US cycling team Garmin-Slipstream David Millar rides on July 9, 2009 in the 175 km and sixth stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

Swiss cycling team Cervelo Thor Hushovd jubilates after winning on July 9, 2009 the 175 km and sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona. Hushovd won ahead of Dutch cycling team Rabobank Oscar Freire and Spanish cycling team Caisse dEpargne Jose Joaquim Rojas.PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank rider Fabian Cancellara rides in the pack on July 9, 2009 in the 175 km and sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona.JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong rides in the pack with teammate and 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador on July 9, 2009 in the 175 km and sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race run between Gerona and Barcelona.JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

A fan writes on the ground with yellow chalk Frank and Andy.LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Spectators cheers as the pack with Cadel Evans of Australia passes during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 224 kilometers with start in Barcelona.AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski

Fans wait for riders on the roadside on July 10, 2009, five kilometers before the arrival of the 224 km and seventh stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Barcelona and Andorre Arcalis.LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

The pack rides past La Pedrera designed by Gaudi during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race, starting in Barcelona, and finishing in Arcalis Andorra, Friday July 10, 2009. The 224 kilometer stage, the longest on the Tour this year, features the category 1 Col del Serra-Seca before the climb to Arcalis, which is classified beyond category. The final ascent is 6.5 miles long and has an average gradient of 7.1 percent.AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

French cycling team AG2R-La Mondiale Rinaldo Nocentini rides with teammate Christophe Riblon of France on July 10, 2009, the 224 km and seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race run between Barcelona and Andorre Arcalis.PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images

French cycling team Agritubels Brice Feillu of France jubilates on the finish line before winning on July 10, 2009, the 224 km and seventh stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Barcelona and Andorre Arcalis.PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/07/10/the-first-week-of-the-tour-de-france/