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Tour de France, France

Stage 6, Troyes - Nancy, 199K

7 July

The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
The Stone Cold Assassin Strikes!

Stages and Maps, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

I was expecting another bunch sprint today in stage 6. And there would have been one had poor Christophe Mengin not gone down and taken half the field down in the process. But, unexpected things happen in life and in sport.

What a thriller! The last 15K really was some exciting racing. Although, at first it was looking like Mengin would hang on by the skin of his teeth for victory, which didn't sound all that exciting to me. But, fate reared it's (sometimes) ugly head and put the kabosh on the hometown hero's party.

I would really like to focus on the amazing Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile). This man is an absolutely electrifying bike racer! How many GC riders could manage to escape and stay away from the peloton on a stage like this? I'll tell you how many ... one! His name is Vino. Granted, there was a crash that assisted his getaway, but he scores highly in the DD book of valor for even trying something so bold. You would have to wait several lifetimes to see the likes of Lance Armstrong, Jan Ullrich or Ivan Basso attempt what Vino did today. And he managed to grab a small handful of seconds that will no doubt come in handy over the next few weeks.

I'm sure that Lance Armstrong is now looking over his shoulder constantly, half expecting to see Vinokourov there with his stone face expression that gives nothing away. You can bet that hit a nerve with Tex! He saw up close and personal how dangerous the Kazakh man is to his bid for #7.

My prediction is this: On Saturday's stage over the Col de la Schlucht, Vinokourov will dish out a brutal attack that will blow the field to pieces. We will see then and there who will be able to follow. It's a climb that could suit him. Not incredibly long or steep, but enough to cause a serious selection. And with the fire power that he packs, we are likely to see quite an offensive!!
- The Dust Devil