Posted: July 7, 2005

Cycling: TOUR DE FRANCE TIMES - Volume 3, No. 6 (July 7, 2005)

By James Raia
www.ByJamesRaia.com

Publisher's Greeting

Anyone who thought the Tour de France was over once Lance Armstrong assumed the Yellow Jersey, found out otherwise in stage six.

A crash on the final corner of the rain-marred course cost Christophe Mengin (Francaise des Jeux) of France and Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan the stage win, and the inclement weather also allowed Vinokourov to cut his deficit to Armstrong by 19 seconds to 1:02.

Vinokourov (T-Mobile) attacked the peloton with three kilometers left in the 199-kilometer trek from Troyes to Nancy and he appeared to be on his way to pass Mengin. But when Mengin slipped and crashed into the restraining fence, Vinkourov came out of one of his pedals and slowed to avoid the crash. Lorenzo Bernucci (Fassa Bortolo) of Italy seized the moment and rode to his first pro win. He kissed his wedding ring as he crossed the finish line.

Nonetheless, Vinokourov, who placed third in the 2003 Tour, gained bonus time for his second place and additional time for his gap over Armstrong, for a total of 19 seconds. He's now in third place, trailing by 1:02. Had Vinokourov not eased up approaching the finish and won the stage, he would have gained an additional eights seconds of bonus time.

Armstrong finished 32nd in the stage, seven seconds behind the winner and maintained his 55-second margin over Discovery Channel teammate George Hincapie.

Mengin, who suffered a blackened left eye, eventually was 128th across the line, more than two minutes behind. But because his crash occurred when it did, he was given the same finishing time as the winner.

Stage 7: 7/8, Luneville to Karlsruhe (Germany), 228.5 kilometers. One category 3 climb, one category 4 climb.

For today's full results, visit the Tour's official web site: www.letour.fr.

News, Notes & Quotes

Armstrong commenting on the stage: "When you get behind a crash like that all you can do is pick your way through it and hope you make it to the finish." . . .

Vinokourov, commenting on his second place: "I had to take my foot out of the pedal and certainly that cost me the stage. But I was pleased with the way the stage turned out. When the peloton caught the leaders, there was a slight hesitation in the peloton and that was time to make my move." . . .

The peloton is down to 187 riders after the departure of Claudio Corioni (Fassa Bortolo) of Italy during the sixth stage . . .

David Zabriskie (CSC) of Salt Lake City, the race leader for the first three stages, continued to ride in pain in his second day of recovery from his crash in the final stages of the stage 4 team time trial. Zabriskie placed 178th in the stage, 7:46 behind the winner. Zabriskie fell from ninth overall to 141st, trailing by 9:05 . . .

Tour organizers announced there will be a minute of silence prior to the start of stage 7 to acknowledge the tragedy of the terrorists bombings in London. The Tour didn't announce any further increased security plans. But there has been increased police and security personnel in press rooms this year . . .

Tour de France Times publisher on the radio: In addition to print reports for several daily newspapers, I will be providing radio reports during the race for Capital Public Radio in Sacramento (KXJZ, 88.9FM), National Public Radio (KXJZ 88.9FM) and Sacramento station KTKZ (Newstalk 1380AM).

The network's respective web sites: www.capradio.org, www.npr.org and www.ktkz.com. Dates and times vary.

Postcard From The Tour

There was about one minute to the start of stage 5 in Chambord, and the starting village was nearly empty. But there was a lone Tour cyclist still lingering at the souvenir booth.

His name isn't important, rather the notion that Tour de France riders stay pretty relaxed about each day's task.

It's common for riders to mingle in the starting villages, talk with fans, visit with friends and family, and sign autographs until moments before the start of a race. Tour cyclists like to use their cellphones and drink their coffee, too. And a last-minute conversation or one more cup is common -- just as a race is about to unfold.

Each rider must sign-in near the starting line, too, and sometimes they have to weave their ways through fans to do so. But it's all done so without a lot of fuss and bother.

There are exceptions, most notably Lance Armstrong. He avoids the starting village and often signs in and then returns to seclusion in his team bus.

More from: Tour de France Times

© Copyright 2005, James Raia

Posted with the permission of James Raia.

Subscribe to James Raia's Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times at: www.byjamesraia.com. They're free and spam-free.