Official Communication of the Tour de France

Weather on Saturday: Sunny and hot during the whole day. A few clouds in the Carcassonne area. Weak wind from southeast. Temperatures: 24 - 30 degrees.

Medical Communication:

Sandstod (Dan): - Still in the intensive care unit in the clinic of Tarbes. Stable condition. Further official statement on Saturday.

Bénéteau (Fra): Pain in the right knee

Niermann (Ger): Dizziness at the beginning of the stage

Luttenberger (Aut): Cuts on the right elbow and on the right knee

Decisions of the racing commissioners:

Durand (Fra): Disqualification due to holding onto the second vehicle of fdjeux.com. The driver of the car, Martial Gayant, is also disqualified and may not be replaced.

Moreau (Fra): Two minutes time punishment (drove into the wheel of Carlo Sastre)

Sastre (Esp): 10 seconds time punishment (pulling another rider's jersey) plus 10 seconds for pushing a rider from another team

Hincapie (USA): 20 seconds time punishment because of food supply on the last 15km

Leipheimer (USA): 20 seconds time punishment because of food supply on the last 15km

Pascual (Esp): 20 seconds time punishment because of food supply on the last 15km

Pascual (Esp): 10 seconds time punishment because of holding to a vehicle

Aerts (Bel): 10 seconds time punishment because of holding to a vehicle

D Etxebarria (Esp): 10 seconds time punishment because of holding to a vehicle

Moreni (Ita): 10 seconds time punishment because of holding to a vehicle

Michael Sandstod remained in a French hospital overnight after suffering a bad fall coming off the descent of the Col d'Aubisque in Thursday's stage. He broke eight ribs and has trouble breathing. Hospital officials say he is doing better, a relief for everyone on the CSC-Tiscali team. The Daily Peloton wishes him a speedy recovery.

Jacky Durand: Out of the race for holding onto the second team car had little sympathy from Team Directeur Marc Madiot. The former Paris Roubaix winner said, "I respect the judgement."

However Marc Madiot is less than happy with the behavior of the motorcyclists during the racing.

One of his team, Australian Brad McGee, fell yesterday during the descent of Aubisque. Jens Voigt of the Credit Agricole also fell there.

Madiot considers the accidents to be directly the result of the many motorcycles in the race: "They are speeding everywhere without paying enough attention to the cyclists."

Tyler Hamilton, second overall at the 2002 Tour of Italy, suffered again in the long, hot stage today.

"Something was missing. I just exploded. I tried to go with the fast guys, but at the start of the last climb, I tried to go a little conservative," Hamilton said. "It didn't work out either."