Tenth Stage of the Tour de France Cycling Competition - 2004-07-14

In the tenth stage of the Tour de France cycling competition held on Wednesday, a day celebrated by the French as Bastille Day, French cyclist Richard Virenque achieved victory, delighting hundreds of thousands of French fans gathered along the route to cheer on the cyclists. The tenth stage took place on the first mountainous route of the event, covering a distance of 237 kilometers. Virenque completed the race in 6 hours and 22 seconds, marking his seventh victory in his long professional cycling career. The Moroccan-born cyclist is the fourteenth Frenchman to win on Bastille Day since World War II. Virenque rode alone for over 40 miles of the final stretch, finishing about 5 minutes ahead of the other cyclists. German cyclists Andreas Kloden and Erik Zabel finished in second and third places, respectively. French cyclist Thomas Voeckler, who is leading in overall points, placed fifth, while American cyclist Lance Armstrong came in sixth. The eleventh stage of the competition will take place on Thursday, covering a distance of 164 kilometers and including three category 4 climbs. The Tour de France concludes in Paris on July 25.