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News :: July 2005

23 July 2005

Armstrong's Last Chance

Today's TT will be Lance Armstrong's last chance to claim an individual stage win. It will be tough going for the Texan, who used to win every Tour TT available. This year he was beat by David Zabriskie (Team CSC) in the opening TT. Now Armstrong (Discovery Channel) looks ready to make amends. "To win a stage is important, but it is not everything. If I arrive 2nd and lose a little, that's OK, the same for me." Armstrong gave his thoughts on the course and his key rival: "It is a hard course, because it starts with a climb and then the descent has tricky turns, at the end the street seems flat but I don't know if it is. I will take all I can for the win, but it will be a hard battle with Ullrich. He is in form and is going well at the end of this Tour."

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

Beppe Turbo On 2nd Victory

Guerini Rides In Escape, photo: CyclingTime.com

Beppe Turbo (T-Mobile) shot to glory in stage 19 of the Tour de France. He was part of a day-long escape and then attacked for the win at 2K to go. It was only Guerini's second ever Tour stage victory. In 1999 at L'Alpe d'Huez he memorably collided with an amateur photographer with only 1K to go. This time his finish was clear of any distractions. "I've been looking for a win for a long time. My condition was very good, I looked for the right break as I've been doing for the past few days and today it worked perfectly. The last road in was very straight. I jumped away and got a good gap. They didn't chase me immediately so I knew I could win it, and I am delighted that I did," said Guerini post-stage.

Getting into the right move is tricky in the Tour. Then going for the stage win is even something harder. Guerini explains, "There were days when I tried to get into a break, but it always went bad. Of the four I was surly the slowest in a sprint, so I had to work out something for myself. ... I knew that Pereiro was climbing the classification and not very interested in the sprint. I watched the others for a moment and then I made my move."

Guerini is a long time warrior and well deserving of a win. Only a few years back Guerini finished on the podium in the Giro d'Italia, before switching over to the German T-Mobile team. "After two podiums at the Giro d'Italia [3rd in 1997 and 1998] I decided that I would go to the Tour in a top-notch squad. So I selected Telekom and became a gregario of Ullrich." Guerini is always there for his German buddy, Jan Ullrich. "Ullrich has the same class and level as Armstrong but has worse luck. This morning he said to me 'Beppe, put it in Turbo.' He gave me some great encouragement."

Pereiro Now in 10th Overall

Pereiro In Escape, photo: Discovery Channel

Oscar Pereiro (Phonak) was keen in making sure the 4-man escape group stayed clear in stage 19. The Spaniard moved from 13th to 10th place in the overall because of the time gap the group gained. "Guerini launched a determined attack 1.5K before the finish line," noted Pereiro after the finish. "Until that point, Guerini, Sandy Casar, Franco Pellizotti and I were wonderfully in tune. ... I led most of the time. I was also the driving force on the climb to Col des Pradeaux."

Pereiro was happy with his upward GC movement. Pereiro explains, "Now I'm 1'57" behind my teammate, Floyd Landis. In the difficult and steep 55K time trial I will do all I can to hold on to this position. I'm enormously motivated. Therefore, I should also come out of the race against the clock with a good finish."

Rebellin Wins Stage 1 of Brixia Tour

Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is back. Yesterday "Tin-Tin" took out the first stage of the Brixia Tour over young-gun, Emanuele Sella (Panaria-Navigare). The stage ended in a two-man sprint after 171K, from San Vigilio to Toscolano. Coming in third, 27 seconds back, was former world champion, Igor Astarloa.

"I knew that I felt good. But it was a long period of training and I did not know my real condition," said Rebellin after his win. "It was the first win of the year for me and I am very satisfied. After this I will focus on Hamburg [HEW - Cyclassics] and, above all, San Sebastian. The ProTour classification is not yet decided, I am far behind, but I still hope. ... Up until the end of Lombardia it is an open battle."

22 July News ...