The retirement of Tour legend Lance Armstrong has found every pro team vying for cycling’s most prestigious victory and consequently, 2006 was one of the most hotly contested Tours in recent history. Each stage of France’s gruelling three-week race is recapped with maps, stage profiles, and an insider’s perspective of the top riders in the peloton. More than just an annual race recap, the editors of VeloNews deliver the spirit of the Tour through engaging stories of ambition and courage that pave the road to the Tour and the collision of dedication and fate that await 21 teams and 189 of the sport’s most capable athletes.