...had only one top-five rider. On Sunday, Virenque was their best-placed finisher -- eighth. French cyclist Thierry Gouvenou noted that this year's race began with 43 Italians, compared with only 39 Frenchmen. "The Tour is getting more...

...making for a soggy beginning to the three-week race. The stage was marked by a long breakaway by France's Thierry Gouvenou, who left the pack at 48 miles but was overcome late in the race by Ludo Dierckxsens. The Belgian was overtaken...

...making for a soggy beginning to the three-week race. The stage was marked by a long breakaway by France's Thierry Gouvenou, who left the pack at 48 miles but was overcome late in the race by Ludo Dierckxsens. The Belgian was overtaken...