Topic: Pyrenees

In increasingly urban France, farmers still wield political clout

France's rural community is shrinking, but candidates in next week's presidential election are careful to woo farmers, who turn out in higher rates than other voters.

Westminster dog show 2012: Could a Dalmatian win it all? A Dachshund?

A Dalmatian and a Dachshund are group winners at the Westminster dog show 2012, but they are among dozens of breeds that have never won 'Best in Show.' Why that is.

Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez in 'The Way': movie review

Martin Sheen gives an unshowy performance in 'The Way,' about a grieving father's pilgrimage across Spain to honor his son (Emilio Estevez).

3 really good August novels

This month's fiction roundup features three middle-aged men in crisis. Thankfully, there's not a convertible or comb-over in the bunch.

Tour de France winner: Cadel Evans's often-sullen ride to historic victory

Cadel Evans's victory marks the first time an Australian has won the Tour. Until now, Evans, a runner-up in 2007 and 2008, was known as one of the Tour's prickliest riders.

'Clean' team winning Tour de France by nearly 12 minutes

Garmin-Cervélo, a US squad seeking to transform cycling with a zero-tolerance policy on doping, defied skeptics with an impressive performance in the Alps – including today's Alpe d'Huez climb.

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.

Tour de France 101: How long is the race?

Wolf wars: Can man and predator coexist in the West?

As the gray wolf comes off the Endangered Species list, new questions swirl about whether the animal can survive without federal protection – and its impact on cattle and other wildlife. The view from one ranch.

Lourdes Shrine bomb threat prompts evacuation

Lourdes Shrine: Thousands of people, many disabled or ailing, were evacuated from the shrine at Lourdes, France after a bomb threat.

Tour de France 2010 delivers drama – without the doping

After a lackluster 2009 edition, this year's Tour de France was filled with action, from the cementing of Contador and Schleck's rivalry to Armstrong's bumpy exit from the sport he dominated in unprecedented fashion.

Contador's Tour de France win caps off banner summer of sports for Spain

Alberto Contador's Tour de France win – with only a 39-second lead over rival Andy Schleck, who finished second – is the latest triumph in an amazing summer of sports for Spain.

Tour de France Stage 19: Alberto Contador poised to win his third Tour de France title

Alberto Contador secured his third Tour de France title Saturday, but it wasn’t without a final challenge from rival Andy Schleck. The defending champion has a lead of 39 seconds and is expected to finish the Tour, which ends tomorrow in Paris, in the yellow jersey.

Tour de France Stage 18: Mark Cavendish wins battle of the sprinters

Tour de France Stage 18 was won by Briton Mark Cavendish in a close finish. But overall race leader Alberto Contador maintained his eight-second lead over Andy Schleck. In Saturday's sprint, Schleck will take one last run at Contador.

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.

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 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.

Lance Armstrong, beaten, resigned to Tour de France defeat

Lance Armstrong conceded that his ambitions of an eighth Tour title were at a premature end.

Tour de France 101: Where does it go?

This year's Tour de France is considered one of the toughest in years, including two ascents of the notorious Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenées.

Tour de France 101: How long is the race?

This year's Tour de France is considered one of the toughest in years, more than 300 miles longer than last year.

What to look for in the 2010 Tour de France: Lance Armstrong, 'clean' squads, and cobblestones

As the Tour de France gets under way, the Saxo Bank and Garmin teams – pioneers of a stringent new antidoping standard – were first and second in the team standings. Watch for them to prove that it's possible to win clean.