Virenque Wins Tour Stage

Richard Virenque won the first mountain stage (and also the longest stage) of this year's Tour de France, while the overall standings have not changed much because Lance's main rivals finished not long after him. Thomas Voeckler retained the overall lead, but only because of his teammates' help.

The Frenchamn Richard Virenque wanted to win on this day because it is Bastille Day in France (July 14). He was in a two-man breakaway with Axel Merckx (Lotto Domo), but the Belgian could not hold Virenque when he upped the pace. He says that he will really pay for the effort in the days to come like he did in last year's Tour when he took the yellow jersey and the King of the Mountains (KOM) jersey. He only took the KOM jersey this time.