[Le Tour 2003]Stage 20 - Return to Paris
Tour Reporter
race-report@cyclofiend.com
Sun, 27 Jul 2003 23:11:53 -0700
Stage 20 - Ville D'Avray - Paris 152 km
With a preamble lap on the Champs Elysees, this year's course takes two
lazy laps around Paris before returning to the second time to the
world's most famous boulevard in front of the Arch D'Triomphe. The
riders will fire up and down the closed-off cobbles 10 times, before it
is all finished today. Without question, this race will be analyzed and
deconstructed, argued and hypothesized about for months and probably
years to come.
But, the facts are on the on the paper, even if the ink isn't quite dry:
Lance Armstrong will not be denied in his efforts to be the fifth man to
win five Tours de France. Again, the US Postal Service squad will bring
all nine men into Paris, wearing a grey uniform today for some reason
that was briefly mentioned but didn't make sense. They seem to say "US
MAIL" rather than USPS...it _might_ be the 100th anniversary of the
USPS, but that doesn't sound accurate.
Also pretty well decided is the competition for the King of the
MOuntains Jersey - back-from-the-dead Richard Virenque; the White jersey
for the best young rider going to Russian Denis Menchov who rides for
iBanesto.com. Bjarne Riis' CSC team should win the overall team title.
But, the push for the Points Leader's Green Jersey is wide open - a
three way battle between Robbie McEwen, Baden Cooke and Erik Zabel.
Less than thirty points separate them, with two separate sprint points
giving the winner six points for each, and the finish awarding 30
points. It should go down to the final lap of today's stage.
On the Champs Elysees for the first time, FDJeux.com's Baden Cooke takes
the first sprint point after a wonderful leadout by his teammates.
Riding side by side, the wearer of the Green jersey McEwen cannot push
past the flying Aussie (heck, they are _both_ Australian!), which is a
change from days' past. Zabel gets caught up in the peel off of the
leadout riders and can only manage third. Cooke's hellacious tenacity
moves him back into the lead for the Green Points Jersey - but they will
not stop this stage so he can put it back on.
Second time for the sprint point, FDJeux.com again does their best
imitation of Mario Cipollini's Dominia-Vacanze Zebra-Men to again set up
their man Baden Cooke. But, McEwen has not read the script, and fires
out early to immediatly distance himself from Cooke and Zabel to take
the second sprint point, putting the Lotto rider (as I mentioned, also
an Australian) back into the green jersey that he is luckily already
wearing.
As James Brown has said, "Hup! Good God Y'all!"
After a bit of shifting around, man-of-the-mullet Laurent Brochard from
Ag2R pips away and gains a gap over the bunch - he's joined by a couple
of riders, but then unforunately Christophe Moreau from Credit Agricole
whose high place in the overall causes an immediate response by the
chasing peleton.
A break of 8 riders clip off the front, again with Brochard included,
but this time including no one who can affect any of the top standings,
and they move out to about a 35 second leaders with 31 km to go.
33 - Jose Garci Acosta - iBanesto.com
43 - Bram de Groot - Rabobank
72 - Michael Blaudzun - CSC
103 - David Latasa - Kelme
112 - Laszlo Bodrogi - QuickStep
124 - Sebastian Hinault - Credit Agricole
152 - Mikel Astarloza - Ag2R
185 - Maryan Hary - Brioches La Boulangerie
They continue to let them dangle a bit, but then begin eating away at
the gap - nicking away maybe five or seconds a lap. As they get close,
there is a general slowing, as no one wants to be on the front when the
contact is made. Finally, just as the riders steel themselves for the
bell lap, the chase is over and the big birds come home to roost.
Everyone eyes one another as they continue pressing the pace.
Alexandre Vinokourov bends his cranks to keep the pace high for Zabel.
Around the fountain the final time, everyone is clawing their way to a
leadout man - O'Grady has picked Zabel, Cooke has been following
teammate Bradley McGee. McEwen is hidden, but you get a glimpse of green.
Suddenly, nothing is in front of them but the line, and Credit
Agricole's Thor Hushoved has smoke coming from his chain as he tries to
keep up with Brad McGee. Cooke begins his move and McEwen swings out
from nowhere to begin his assault. They both veer slightly to their
left as others fall back - but what's this? Jean-Patrick Nazon of Jean
Delatour zips up in the gap and moves ahead of both riders! A Frenchman
on a French team wins on the Champs Elysees in Paris!
Behind him, Cooke and McEwen bump elbows hips and shoulders and they
hurl their bikes at the line - a total photo finish! The film shows
Cooke in the lead at the line, and he wins the Green Jersey!
Final Stage Results - Stage 20
1 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.38.49
(41.678 km/h)
2 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo
4 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
6 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom
8 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola-So.Di
9 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco
10 Damien Nazon (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere
Final general classification (Complete)
1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor 83.41.12
(40.94 km/h)
2 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 1.01
3 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Team Telekom 4.14
4 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC 6.17
5 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 6.51
6 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 7.06
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 10.12
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 12.28
9 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 18.49
10 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com 19.15
11 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com 19.44
12 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner 21.32
13 Peter Luttenberger (Aut) Team CSC 22.16
14 Manuel Beltran (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor 23.03
15 Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 24.00
16 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon 25.31
17 Jorg Jaksche (Ger) ONCE-Eroski 27.22
18 Roberto Laiseka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 29.15
19 José Luis Rubiera (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor 29.37
20 Didier Rous (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 30.14
21 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio 33.17
22 David Plaza (Spa) Team Bianchi 45.55
23 Félix Garcia Casas (Spa) Team Bianchi 47.07
24 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Prevoyance 49.47
25 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Team Telekom 53.14
26 José Azevedo (Por) ONCE-Eroski 54.31
27 Javier Pascual Llorente (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 57.00
28 Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank 1.00.32
29 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.02.13
30 Inigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.03.35
31 Stephane Goubert (Fra) Jean Delatour 1.05.38
32 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 1.07.55
33 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.09.35
34 Roberto Heras (Spa) US Postal-Berry Floor 1.14.17
35 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Team Telekom 1.16.43
36 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com 1.22.32
37 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 1.25.01
38 Jorg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 1.25.13
39 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.28.53
40 Patrice Halgand (Fra) Jean Delatour 1.30.42
41 José Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.35.51
42 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick.Step-Davitamon 1.37.28
43 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 1.38.49
44 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC 1.39.54
45 Michaël Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 1.41.09
46 Ivan Parra (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.44.01
47 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor 1.44.11
48 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 1.45.09
49 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom 1.45.17
50 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Alessio 1.45.59
51 Xabier Zandio (Spa) iBanesto.com 1.48.53
52 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Lotto Domo 1.50.33
53 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) iBanesto.com 1.52.03
54 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 1.53.45
55 David Millar (GBr) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 1.54.38
56 David Canada (Spa) Quick.Step-Davitamon 1.58.01
57 Angel Casero (Spa) Team Bianchi 1.58.32
58 Mikel Pradera (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 1.59.37
59 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 2.00.09
60 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 2.00.56
61 Udo Bölts (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.01.38
62 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon 2.02.01
63 Guido Trentin (Ita) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 2.02.02
64 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 2.02.11
65 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) Jean Delatour 2.03.39
66 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 2.06.00
67 Pablo Lastras (Spa) iBanesto.com 2.06.30
68 Marcos Serrano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.07.26
69 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 2.10.30
70 Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Team Bianchi 2.10.41
71 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 2.11.33
72 Isidro Nozal (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.12.14
73 David Latasa (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2.12.58
74 Andrea Noe (Ita) Alessio 2.17.58
75 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio 2.20.52
76 Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal-Berry Floor 2.21.53
77 Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor 2.25.19
78 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) FDJeux.com 2.26.58
79 Dario Cioni (Ita) Fasso Bortolo 2.31.37
80 Mikel Artetxe (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.34.10
81 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Saeco 2.34.47
82 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 2.35.04
83 René Andrle (Cze) ONCE-Eroski 2.35.17
84 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saeco 2.35.47
85 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour 2.36.01
86 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto Domo 2.37.20
87 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Vini Caldirola-So.Di 2.40.28
88 Victor Hugo Pena (Col) US Postal-Berry Floor 2.40.49
89 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom 2.40.50
90 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 2.41.24
91 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 2.43.44
92 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 2.47.07
93 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) FDJeux.com 2.47.54
94 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Telekom 2.48.34
95 Franck Renier (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 2.48.54
96 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 2.51.18
97 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 2.51.58
98 Alberto Lopez Munain (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.52.45
99 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 2.56.35
100 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) iBanesto.com 2.57.09
101 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3.02.37
102 Pavel Padrnos (Cze) US Postal-Berry Floor 3.05.34
103 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Bianchi 3.06.23
104 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) iBanesto.com 3.09.07
105 Médéric Clain (Fra) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 3.09.22
106 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Team CSC 3.11.36
107 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom 3.11.39
108 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Quick.Step-Davitamon 3.12.20
109 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole 3.14.11
110 Christophe Mengin (Fra) FDJeux.com 3.14.47
111 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJeux.com 3.19.43
112 Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Saeco 3.20.14
113 Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC 3.20.57
114 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.21.01
115 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank 3.21.43
116 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola-So.Di 3.23.43
117 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) FDJeux.com 3.25.22
118 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 3.25.33
119 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.28.18
120 Bekim Christensen (Den) Team CSC 3.28.23
121 Christophe Oriol (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 3.29.35
122 Alvaro Gonzalez Galdeano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 3.32.37
123 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick.Step-Davitamon 3.33.45
124 Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 3.34.57
125 Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) iBanesto.com 3.35.10
126 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 3.36.10
127 Inigo Cuesta (Spa) Cofidis, Credit Par Telephone 3.37.12
128 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Lotto Domo 3.38.38
129 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bricohes La Boulangere 3.39.58
130 Maryan Hary (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.40.55
131 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.45.18
132 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Lotto Domo 3.51.56
133 Bradley McGee (Aus) FDJeux.com 3.52.49
134 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Vini Caldirola-So.Di 3.54.39
135 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.56.38
136 Thomas Liese (Ger) Team Bianchi 3.56.49
137 Frédéric Finot (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.57.53
138 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Credit Agricole 4.00.26
139 David Munoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 4.03.40
140 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com 4.04.10
141 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour 4.04.59
142 Julian Usano (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 4.05.46
143 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo 4.13.28
144 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Vini Caldirola-So.Di 4.14.48
145 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Bianchi 4.26.08
146 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Alessio 4.27.59
147 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Domo 4.48.35
Points classification - Green Jersey
1 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com 216 pts
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo 214
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Telekom 188
4 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 173
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 156
6 Jean-Patrick Nazon (Fra) Jean Delatour 154
7 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 153
8 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Bianchi 122
9 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 112
10 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bricohes La Boulangere 107
King of the Mountains - Polka Dot Jersey
1 Richard Virenque (Fra) Quick.Step-Davitamon 324 pts
2 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio 187
3 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal-Berry Floor 168
4 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 137
5 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com 136
6 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 130
7 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 125
8 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 124
9 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC 116
10 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 100
Young rider - White Jersey
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) iBanesto.com 84.00.56
2 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R Prevoyance 42.29
3 Juan Miguel Mercado (Spa) iBanesto.com 1.02.48
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 1.05.17
5 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 1.09.09
6 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick.Step-Davitamon 1.17.44
7 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom 1.25.33
8 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) iBanesto.com 1.32.19
9 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 1.51.49
10 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio 2.01.08
11 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) FDJeux.com 2.07.14
12 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2R Prevoyance 2.15.20
13 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Jean Delatour 2.16.17
14 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) iBanesto.com 2.37.25
15 Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJeux.com 2.59.59
16 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.01.17
17 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 3.05.49
18 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.08.34
19 Maryan Hary (Fra) Brioches La Boulangere 3.21.11
20 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.25.34
21 David Munoz (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 3.43.56
22 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com 3.44.26
23 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Jean Delatour 3.45.15
24 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Bianchi 4.06.24
Combativity classification - Special Award
1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Telekom
Centenaire classification (special award for results into the 6 cities
which originally hosted the Tour de France)
1 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 82 pts
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 86
3 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Team Bianchi 103
4 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 118
5 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 123
6 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 165
7 Damien Nazon (Fra) Bricohes La Boulangere 169
8 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com 184
9 Bradley McGee (Aus) FDJeux.com 188
10 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 210
11 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC 210
Teams classification
1 Team CSC 248.18.18
2 iBanesto.com 21.46
3 Euskaltel - Euskadi 44.59
4 US Postal - Berry Floor 45.53
5 Team Bianchi 1.12.40
6 Team Telekom 1.38.45
7 Quick Step - Davitamon 2.02.17
8 Brioches La Boulangere 2.02.36
9 Ag2R Prevoyance 2.08.06
10 Cofidis Credit Par Telephone 2.08.56
11 ONCE - Eroski 2.13.30
12 Alessio 3.12.37
13 Saeco - Macchine Per Caffe 3.15.42
14 Kelme - Costa Blanca 3.23.31
15 Jean Delatour 3.52.26
16 Gerolsteiner 3.53.35
17 Fassa Bortolo 3.59.07
18 Rabobank 4.03.59
19 Credit Agricole 5.40.11
20 Lotto - Domo 6.01.44
21 FDJeux.com 6.51.17
22 Vini Caldirola - So.Di 8.20.01
----
Thanks for Reading!
-- Jim
--
You are receiving this email from the Tour-Junkie at Cyclofiend.
http://www.cyclofiend.com
To subscribe, unsubscribe or to change any of your information, please
visit the "Race-Report" info page:
http://lists.cyclofiend.com/mailman/listinfo/race-report
All rights reserved - copyright by Jim Edgar 2003
Permission granted to circulate this publication via manual forwarding
by email to friends, providing that the text is forwarded in its
entirety and no fees are charged.
Questions or comments can be sent to this email address, or to
editor@cyclofiend.com