Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage VI

Publisher's Greeting

We're approaching a week into ther race, and with 14 stages remaining we're still not close to a mountain stage. The first significant climb occurs in stage 10 on July 13 with a 237-kilometer trek from Limoges to St. Flour.

The ascent will be a categorie 1 effort, a 5.5 kilometer section with an 8 percent grade. With the exception of the stage 4 time trial, the stages to date have been preambles, so let the climbing begin and let's see the contenders show their abilities.

Tour News, Notes And Quotes

What was expected to be nondescript sprinters' stage certainly proved otherwise. There was even news the before the stage when Mario Cipollini (Domina Vicanze), the flashy Italian with 12 career Tour de France stage wins, and Italian compatriot Alessandro Petachhi (Fassa Bortolo) both exited the event . . .

Cipollini, who crashed earlier in the race, apparently has re-visited the shin injury that caused him to abandon the Tour of Italy. He'll likely have surgery next week. Petacchi, who had won four stages after six stages of the race last year, has been a non-factor this year. He also apparently re-injured a hip and also left for Italy . . .

Late Thursday night, Lance Armstrong held an impromptu press conference. It wasn't intended to include breaking news, but when the five-time race titlist was asked about his thoughts on competing in the Summer Olympics, the five-time Tour winner said he's decided not to compete in Greece. Armstrong, the divorced father of three children, said he's been away from his children too much in recent months and said he would rather spend the time being a father . . .

There was no immediate announcement of Armstrong's replacement for the five-rider squad, but the concensus has Freddie Rodriquez, the Emeryville, Calif., rider as the logical choice . . .

Armstrong also again avoided tragedy in the stage. When a few others went down in front of him at 12km into the stage, he crashed and fell on his hip and arm. But he was not hurt and was brought back to the main group by several teammates. Armstrong also went down in the pile-up just under the one-kilometer banner and with a majority of the field. Because the riders were within 1,000 meters from the finish, all were given the same time as the winner . . .

"The banners were tight and you've got 200 guys going 40 mph, I don't know what they we're thinking," said Armstrong regarding the finishing crash. "It's a good thing it happened about 10 meters inside the 1km mark." . . .

Yellow Jersey wearer Thomas Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangere) of France lost a few seconds to second-place Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) of Australia. But Voeckler will retain the leader's jersery for stage 7 after finishing 128th in the stage in the same time as the stage win Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Davitamon) of Belgium.

There were no other significant changes in the top 10 overall standings, with Armstrong still leading three teammates, including two Americans, while in sixth place @ 9:35 . . .

With the departure of Cipolinni and Petacchi, the peloton has 179 riders remaining from its 188 original total in Liege on July 3.

Postcard From Le Tour

One can always count on the Australians. Last night, I met two Aussie journalists in the lobby my hotel and I saw the same guys at breakfast. One thing led to another. We shared tales of cycling, including a wondrous account from John Trevarrow, a former pro who rode who finished the Tour of Italy more than 20 years ago while touting the virtues of tobacco for a cigarette company.

That's a tale for another time. The Aussie contingent also included a young radio journalist Thomas Connell. At age 20, it seems Connell knows his way around GPS systems.

I hadn't been able to decipher the system in my rental car for the first week of travel, but Connell took a five-minute at my system had me set for the 200-plus kilometer drive from Chartres to Angers.

The GPS equipment couldn't have worked better. In fact, since I'm driving each day by myself, the confident-sounding women's voice provided nice company.

Americans In The Tour De France

 
Individual Stage Results
Stage 6, Bonneval to Angers, 196 kilometers
Stage Results
33. George Hincapie, Greenville, S.C., (U.S.P.S), same time as winnner
34. Lance Armstrong, Austin, Texas (U.S.P.S.), s.t.
102, Tyler Hamilton, Marblehead, Mass, (Phonak), s.t.
109. Floyd Landis, San Diego, Calif., (U.S.P.S)., s.t.
133. Christian Vande Velde, Lemont, Ill., (Liberty Seguros), s.t.
140. Levi Leipheimer, Santa Rosa, Calif., (Rabobank), s.t.
176. Bobby Julich, Reno, Nev., (CSC), s.t.
General Classification
6. Armstrong @ 9:35
7. Hincapie @ 9:45
8. Landis @ 9:51
13. Hamilton @ 10:11
24. Julich @ 10:35
26. Leipheimer @ 10:43
95. Vande Velde @ 15:03

For complete results, visit the web sites:

CyclingNews.com
LeTour.fr
ProCycling.com
VeloNewws.com
More TDF Links

Previous reports:
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage V
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage IV
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage III
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage II
Cycling: James Raia Reports from the Tour de France - Stage I

© Copyright 2004, James Raia

Posted with the permission of James Raia.

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