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7 July 2005

8 July News ...

Armstrong Makes Sporting Gesture for Fallen Comrade

"Today I don't want to wear the yellow jersey," said Lance Armstrong to the race director, Jean-Marie Leblanc, at the start of stage 5. Leblanc replied, in French, "If you don't wear the maillot jaune then tomorrow you don't start." Armstrong could have probably stopped the Tour in its tracks by not donning the coveted Maillot Jaune, but he concede to the race director's demands.

Armstrong was trying to make a sporting gesture to his fallen comrade, David Zabriskie (Team CSC). Zabriskie took a spill in stage 4 and lost the leader's jersey. The hearts of tifosi world-wide stopped when they saw the young American fall. Zabriskie looked certain to keep the maillot jaune up until the fall.

Armstrong had a chance to review the TV footage and realized that Team CSC might have won without Zabriskie's fall. Armstrong added, "Last night, I re-watched the TV footage, and I understood that without the misfortune David would have kept the yellow jersey." However, Leblanc insisted that Armstrong wear the leader's jersey. "I wanted to make a nice sporting gesture but the organizers had their objectives with the sponsors, and the people on the street waiting hours to see the maillot jaune."

David Zabriskie is as Tough as Nails

After a night at the hospital following stage 4, and a long day in the saddle in stage 5, Zabriskie is battling on. We checked-in with the CSC crew after stage 5 and the American had this to say: "I got through today without too much hassle. I was still quite sore at the beginning, and it still hurts when I breathe heavily. Mentally, however, I feel much better than yesterday [after stage 4], when I was really down." Zabriskie is battling on for his teammate, Ivan Basso, and because this is the Tour de France. "The team has given me a lot of support on top of the crash, and I feel ready to go on."

Team CSC DS, Bjarne Riis, was happy to get another day over with. The team was in the thick of the action for stage 5. Riis adding, "We tried to make some of the break always at the beginning, especially Jens Voigt. ... The most important though is, that we got through the stage fairly easy and that we have been able to shake off yesterday's disappointment." Voigt is in 3rd overall and has a possibility of taking the yellow jersey.

92nd Tour de France:
Startlist, Classifications, Tour Challengers, Discovery Channel Profile
Key Stages, Key Stage Descriptions, Stages and Maps, Overall Map
Photos, Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

Robbie McEwen Gets Revenge with Stage Victory

Yesterday in stage 5 of the 92nd Tour de France Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) got his revenge. The Aussie, after relegation two days ago, out-gunned Tom Boonen (Quick-Step). The two went head to head and it was McEwen that just edged the big Belgian by half a wheel. On crossing the line McEwen was obviously delighted, signaling to his chest. McEwen post-stage had this to say, "I put my finger to my chest for two reasons. The first: I am the strongest, at least today. The second: My team is the strongest, and not only today. I wanted this victory, I did not think of the other, I wanted to redemption for the frustrations. For me and my companions. They are fantastic, all at my service."

McJet, who scored three wins in the Giro d'Italia in May, is a perfect person to explain the differences in the grand tour sprints. "The difference in the Giro and the Tour is not existent. Also the level of the racers is identical, at the Giro there was Petacchi and not Boonen, at the Tour there is Boonen and not Petacchi. Only the preparation of the sprint is different. At the Tour it is longer and faster. And here there are more roundabouts. The green jersey ... At the Tour nothing is impossible. But It would be a miracle for me and misfortune for him [Boonen]."

McJet is always capable of pulling off spectacular sprints in the dodgiest of circumstances. He has gained many fans with his no-holds-barred sprinting style. For a more in-depth look read The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap: Grit and Nerve in Dodgy Conditions.

Ullrich Rides with Force in Opening Stages

Jan Ullrich, along with the other GC favorites, were seen at the front of the peloton in the closing kilometers. The final 15K of any sprint stage are always precarious and Ulle was taking no changes. The German added, "The closing stretch was again very hectic, and I´m happy that we only had to pause briefly when there was a spill in the field." Luckily the fall only involved one rider and was not a mass crash.

There has been speculation around the Tour de France that the crash of Ulle was some how fabricated. Perhaps part of the ongoing psychological warfare between Discovery Channel and T-Mobile. Armstrong has pulled tricks in the past and now some are wondering if the German is up to the same antics. For Ulle the crash is real, "I'm just happy that I've got over the effects of my crash in training. That's largely thanks to the help of my physiotherapist Birgit Krohme and our two doctors Lothar Heinrich and Stefan Voigt."

We should see Ulle firing at full speed when the race hits the German roads. Ullrich is a killer on any stage and the German tifosi might help add that extra edge. Stay tuned over the next three stages.

No Changes in the Tour Jerseys

Yellow Jersey: There were no changes in the overall GC in Stage 5. Lance Armstrong is still in yellow thanks to the work of his Disco team. George Hincapie and Yaroslav Popovych were doing pulls for their captain in the closing K's. Their hard work paid off, keeping the Disco Cowboy on the front to avoid possible crashes.

Polka Dot (climber's jersey): Erik Dekker was not threatened by the 4-man escape of stage 5. His closest rivals are Voeckler and Bertogliati. Dekker and his Rabobank team are getting some nice media attention in the climber's jersey. There days are numbered though, come Friday or Saturday we should see a change.

Green Jersey (sprinter's jersey): Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) is still leading this competition thanks to his two wins. Finishing second in stage 5 enabled him to earn a little more points. His closest rival, Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), is consistent in the sprint, but he is not winning.

White Jersey (best young rider): No changes here today, Popovych (Discovery Channel) still leads. He took the jersey thanks to a Disco domination in the stage 4 team TT. In stage 5, yesterday, he was doing work to keep his leader safe, and by doing so he was in safety. Popovych should hold on until the mountains, then we will see a good battle. Karpets (Illes Balears) and Contador (LSW) will be hard-chargers, giving the Ukrainian all sorts of trouble.
If you need to know more about the classifications, then read here: Tour de France Classifications

Constantino Zaballa is First Riders Out

The 92nd Tour de France suffered the loss of its first rider. Constantino Zaballa (Saunier Duval - Prodir) did not finish yesterday's stage after a crash. BiciRace.com sends best wishes out to Zaballa. For a complete list of riders who have left the Tour de France, consult our startlist. We have crossed out the names for you, like Constantino Zaballa.

 

6 July News ...