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9 July 2005

10 July News ...

Armstrong Bluffing For Weekend's Stages

"I have to confess I don't really know these stages, tomorrow's stage [stage 8], I don't know the climb, only what I read on the paper in terms of the length and the gradient of it, but I feel certain that my condition is good enough to follow some attacks." These are the words of a certain 6X Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. It is hard to believe that Armstrong does not know the stages very well. Saturday and Sunday's stages (8 and 9), while not huge mountains, will be technical and provide some difficulties for team Disco. It is likely that if Armstrong did not preview the stages, then his right-hand man, Bruyneel, did.

Looking back at stage 6, was the 6X Tour de France champion was not surprised by Alexandre Vinokourov's (T-Mobile) move. "I have to be honest and say that I think there's being too much made about the move. There was a large crash then so he was perfectly placed, he's staying in the front, staying out of trouble, when 50 guys behind you crash, you're at the front." Armstrong seemed to be confident that Vino was only at the front to stay out of trouble and not to gain time on GC. "With three or four kilometers to go, I don't think Vino was thinking, 'I'm going for the stage win.' I think Vino was thinking, 'I'm going to stay out of trouble and stay up front.'" Armstrong raises some good points that will only be answered over the coming two weeks.

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

Aussie Doubles Up in Chaotic Finish

Australian champion Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) notched a second victory in the 92nd Tour de France. Friday the stage finished in Germany on wet roads, but with a straight finish. The Aussie took out the win over big Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas-Bianchi) and Bernhard Eisel (Française Des Jeux) in a chaotic bunch finish.

A happy McEwen explained the sprint, "At 20K to go it went strong and there was a false nervousness, which I said to my companions 'guys, take it easy, today it is important to remain alive.' The sprint was a gamble. I had to make three sprints in 500 meters: the first for going to the front, the second for throwing myself to the right and the third for taking the sprint. In the last 50 meters I was strong as stone." The Aussie seems to be coming back nicely in this Tour after being handed a beating by Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) in two early stages. Robbie explained his plans over the coming two weeks, "I have no objectives, I will go forward, of course looking for victories."

It was a sprint finale that was marred by a crash. In the mix and fighting for position, the peloton faded right. Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros-Würth) followed and clipped Isaac Galvez (Illes Balears). Both Isaac and Angelo Furlan (Domina Vacanze) hit the deck and the peloton scrabbled around them. Davis was later relegated for what the race jury considered irregular sprinting. BiciRace.com had an interview with Allan Davis earlier this year, have a read.

Wegmann Has a Go, Gets Polka-Dot Jersey

The cool weathered continued in stage 7. But making the move solo, for a total of 160K was Fabian Wegmann. The stage finished in Germany, Wegmann is German and riding for a German team, the escape just made sense for him, providing a perfect opportunity for some publicity.

Wegmann had his work cut out for him and the move was ultimately doomed when the sprinters teams turned on the power. The young German did gain something for his efforts. He collected enough mountain points on the day's small climbs to gain the polka-dot jersey. This meant podium time for Wegmann and today he will be in a cool looking leader's jersey.

Savoldelli Riding Under Disco Orders

Winner of the 2005 Giro d'Italia is now riding as a domestique. Paolo Savoldelli is under strict orders to ensure a 7th Tour de France victory for Lance Armstrong. Il Falco explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Me, Popovych and Hincapie must always stay close to Armstrong. While Azevedo will be the last man on the climbs. There will be very little freedoms, because all the weight of the race is on us. Up until now we have not participated in any breaks."

Il Falco had the benefit of racing next to one of Armstrong's key rivals in May. For three weeks Il Falco was side by side with Ivan Basso (Team CSC), battling for the maglia rosa. Now Basso is up against Armstrong for the maillot jaune. Savoldelli added, "Basso had a strong go in the Giro and we will see if he has another round [here at the Tour]. I expect him to be stronger than Ullrich and Vinokourov."

Tour Jerseys, A Polka Dot Change-up

Polka Dot (climber's jersey): Rabobank to Gerolsteiner. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) could not do much to stop Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) from swooping up the mountain points. Wegmann went out on a solo 160K move as the race entered Germany. The German took maximum points on the day's two climbs. Of note is that Wegmann won the overall climber's competition of the 2004 Giro d'Italia.

Yellow Jersey: Everything the same here. Lance Armstrong still looks good in yellow. He must sleeping less as the race heads to the mountains, where his lead will be under fire. His Disco boys should form a strong defense in stage 8 to help protect his lead.

Green Jersey (sprinter's jersey): Our green friend, Tom Boonen (Quick-Step), took a tumble early in stage 7. He seemed to be fine and sprinted for a top 10 spot in the stage finish. His left hip was bloody and his shorts were ripped when he rode past the BiciRace.com crew. Threatening Boonen is Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), just 11 points back.

White Jersey (young GC rider): Popovych (Discovery Channel) has no overall goal in the youth competition. He is wearing the white jersey due to his tireless work for the team leader, Lance Armstrong. Everywhere the Cowboy goes, Popo is there riding the range with him. We will see how this works when the race hits the high mountains. Stay tuned for A Clockwork Disco.
If you need to know more about the classifications, then read here: Tour de France Classifications

Francisco "Paco" Mancebo Becomes Father

Francisco Mancebo, leader of Illes Balears in the Tour de France, has become a first time father along with his wife, Luisa Garcìa. Luisa gave birth to a baby girl which they have named Paula in the Madrid suburb of Boadilla del Monte The birth occurred at the Monteprìncipe Hospital and apparently without complications.

The entire crew at BiciRace.com would like to wish our strongest "enhorabuena" ("congratulations" in Spanish) to Paco and Luisa.
- Paco

Barry and Danielson Riding Strong in Tour of Austria

Discovery Channel is riding strong in two countries. Over at the Tour of Austria Michael Barry scored a stage win on a shortened Stage 5. The stage was down to 52K after an overnight snowfall forced road closures.

The day before in the uphill TT, Tom Danielson blew the doors off the competitors, except for Gerhard Trampusch. Gerhard out climbed Tom on the 10K test, but the American proved strong after a short Giro d'Italia. Also in the mix was Saul Raisin, who contributes regularly on BiciRace.com. (See our interview section for interviews with Michael Barry or Tom Danielson.)

8 July News ...