51.   Two top riders had to drop out.

52.   Ugrumov and Colombian Oliverio Rincon attacked on the first of two passes up the Cuvignone mountain, putting over one minute between themselves and the other top riders.

53.   While many top riders race in Europe through the spring and early summer, Armstrong logs practice miles over French roads where the Tour will be held.

54.   With those successes behind him, he comes to the worlds in top form with the added encouragement that a number of top riders are missing from the lineup.

55.   Zulle and a few other top riders were caught behind the crash and lost crucial minutes, essentially wrecking their chances.

56.   Zuelle and the other top riders were credited with the same time, making for little movement in the overall standings.

57.   All the top five riders were on Hondas.

58.   The Tour of Spain, or Vuelta, was changed from a spring to an autumn date specifically to lure the top riders.

59.   Two top riders were forced out.

60.   Shaanxi, owned by Japanese businessman Teruya Yoshida and trained by Tunisian born Ellie Lellouche, was ridden into third by top Japanese rider Masayoshi Ebina.