2008 Tour de France

France is currently hosting the 95th Tour de France - which began on July 5th, and continues through July 27th. The Tour is the world's largest cycle race, with twenty teams of nine riders (invitation-only) entered in this year's race. Ten riders have dropped out so far, including one suspension for a doping offense. (18 photos total)

David Millar of Great Britain strains to take a third place during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial over 29.5 kilometers (18.3 miles) with start and finish in Cholet, western France, Tuesday July 8, 2008. Stefan Schumacher of Germany won the stage and took over the overall leader's yellow jersey.(AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)


The pack of riders climbs the Cote of Mur-de-Bretagne during the second stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Auray and Saint-Brieuc July 6, 2008. The Cote of Mur-de-Bretagne is a 1.5-km ascent at an average gradient of 8.5 percent. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel)


The pack rides, on July 6 2008, during the 164,5 km second stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Auray and Saint-Brieuc. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)


The peloton makes their way during the 7th stage of the 2008 Tour de France, from Brioude to Aurillac, on July 11, 2008 in Aurillac, France. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)


Super-Besse winner, Italian Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval/Spa) rides in the last breakaway, on July 13, 2008, during the 224 km ninth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre. Italian Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval/Spa) won the stage ahead of Russian Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R/Fra) and French Cyril Dessel (AG2R/Fra). (PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images)

The pack passes through fields of sunflowers during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, southern France, Sunday July 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)


Photographers wait for the pack to pass alongside a field of sunflowers during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, southern France, Sunday July 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)


The pack rides along the coastline as they leave Saint-Malo during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Malo and Nantes, western France, Monday July 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski)


German Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner/Ger) is pictured after a fall, on July 9, 2008, during the 232 km fifth and longest stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Cholet and Chateauroux. Haussler recovered and was able to complete the stage, finishing 6:30 back. (STEPHANE MONTE/AFP/Getty Images)


A woman on a horse runs alongside the peloton during stage five of the 2008 Tour de France from Cholet to Chateauroux on July 9, 2008 in Chateauroux, France. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)


Yellow jersey German Stefan Schumacher (L) (Gerolsteiner/Ger) rides across the finish line, on July 10 2008, at the end of the 195.5 km sixth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Aigurande and Super-Besse. Italian Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval/Spa) won ahead of Spanish team leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne/Spa) and Australian team leader Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto/Bel). Schumacher lost his yellow jersey and Luxembourger team leader Kim Kirchen (Columbia -ex-High Road/US) took it. (ASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images)

A spectator known as Didi, dressed as a devil, jumps beside a pack of riders during the fifth stage of the 95th Tour de France cycling race between Cholet and Chateauroux, July 9, 2008. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel)


Italian Riccardo Ricco (Saunier Duval/Spa) sprints to the finish line, on July 10 2008, at the end of the 195.5 km sixth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Aigurande and Super-Besse. Ricco (Saunier Duval/Spa) won ahead of Spanish team leader Alejandro Valverde (L) (Caisse d'Epargne/Spa) and Australian team leader Cadel Evans
(Silence Lotto/Bel). (PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images)


The pack rides, on July 10 2008, during the 195.5 km sixth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Aigurande and Super-Besse. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)


Yellow jersey German Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner/Ger) rides, on July 9, 2008, during the 232 km fifth and longest stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Cholet and Chateauroux. (JOEL
SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)


The pack rides through the rain, on July 12, 2008, during the 172.5 km eighth stage of the 2008 Tour de France cycling race run between Figeac and Toulouse. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)


Mark Cavendish of Great Britain, foreground left, strains in the last meters of the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Figeac and Toulouse, south central France, Saturday July 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

Mark Cavendish of Great Britain and Team Colombia celebrates his victory after winning stage eight of the 2008 Tour de France on July 12, 2008 in Toulouse, France. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)



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