Topic: Astana

Tour de France: Sprinters move aside, it's time for the mountain stages

Two-time defending champion Alberto Contador is once again the favorite as the Tour de France heads into the Pyrénéan climbs this week and next week’s Alpine stages.

SCO security summit: Are China and Russia losing patience with Ahmadinejad?

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made his usual denunciations of the US at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan, but Russia and China seem less interested this year.

Afghanistan looms large at SCO security group meeting

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan focused on how Central Asia could be affected by the possible spread of the Arab Spring – as well as failure to stabilize Afghanistan.

Kazakhstan's snap elections draw international criticism

International observers point to serious irregularities during the Sunday snap presidential vote in Kazakhstan that resulted in a sweeping victory of longtime incumbent President Nazarbayev.

Tour de France Stage 15: Schleck vows 'revenge' after Contador steals lead

Two-time winner Alberto Contador bumped Andy Schleck out of the lead during the Tour de France Stage 15 today. But fans whistled with displeasure at Contador, who attacked when Schleck's chain fell off.

Tour de France Stage 14: Schleck refuses to be drawn in by Contador's tactics

Alberto Contador tried rapid acceleration and sudden braking in an attempt to drop the Luxembourger, Andy Schleck, during the Tour de France Stage 14. But Schleck didn't take the bait.

Alberto Contador strikes hard in Tour de France Stage 12

Alberto Contador today shaved 10 seconds off the lead of Andy Schleck in the Tour de France Stage 12. Lance Armstrong's Team RadioShack took the overall team lead.

Tour de France Stage 11 turns into 'gladiator arena'

Tour de France Stage 11 finished in a wild sprint, with Mark Cavendish claiming his third stage win. But his HTC-Columbia teammate was disqualified for head-butting another rider.

Tour de France Stage 10: French riders give strong showing for Bastille Day

The Tour de France Stage 10 was won in a sprint by Portugal’s Sérgio Paulinho. Meanwhile, his RadioShack teammate Lance Armstrong fell another two minutes behind overall leader Andy Schleck.

Tour de France Stage 9 whittles contenders down to Schleck, Contador

After Stage 8 of the Tour de France took Lance Armstrong out of the race, two other possible contenders – Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre – lost critical time. Now it's a race between defending champion Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.

In Stage 6 of Tour de France, Cavendish claims victory again

Mark Cavendish burst into the lead in the final few hundred meters for an exciting end to Stage 6 of the Tour de France. American Tyler Farrar finished second. Tomorrow brings the first mountain stage.

Lance Armstrong tweets adios to Tour de France

Lance Armstrong used his Twitter account to announce that this year's Tour de France will be his last.

Could new Tour king Contador surpass Armstrong's record?

At 26, Alberto Contador has two more Tour de France wins than Armstrong did at that age, as well as victories in cycling's other “grand tours” – something the Texan never accomplished.

Tour de Teamwork

Don't forget the supporting riders who made victory possible.

In Tour de France, Lance back on track for podium

Armstrong says he will join a new team sponsored by RadioShack next year and is still gunning for podium finish in Paris.

RadioShack, Lance Armstrong team up for 2010

Tour de France: Armstrong's team of rivals

At the halfway point, the race drama centers around two teammates vying for another win in the world's premier cycling event.

Lance Armstrong gives Tour de France new juice

The seven-time champion lines up in Monaco on Saturday for Day 1 of an event looking to overcome the doping-inspired moniker "Tour de Farce."

Kazakhstan beyond Borat

A British journalist offers a colorful look at an ancient land and its people.