BiciRace.com :: Tour de France

2005 Tour de France, Rest Day 2

Tour de France, France

Rest Day 2, Pau

18 July

Stages 10 to 15, A Review

Stage List, Photos

Valverde Strikes in the Grande Boucle

Stage Winner: Valverde, photo: CyclingTime.com

Stage 10 of the 2005 Tour de France all came down to a four-man move, battling it out for GC time and possible stage glory. The four were Armstrong, Rasmussen (Rabobank) in all polka-dot, and the Illes Balears duo of Mancebo and Valverde. It was Rasmussen to open up the attacks, but his move was quickly marked. Then it was the turn of Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel). Alejandro Valverde was the only man who could follow the Texas tornado. As Armstrong faded in the closing meters, it was young Valverde who came past for big international win.

Vino Fires Long Range Missile at Disco

Vino Solo, photo: CyclingTime.com

It was an epic performance by Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) on an epic stage. Stage 11 took the riders over the Col de la Madeleine (HC), Col du Télégraphe (Cat 1) and the Col du Galibier (HC). Vino formed part an early escape that went on the Madeleine, but then continued his efforts solo on the Galibier. Finally, on the downhill run to Briançon, Vino linked up with Santiago Botero (Phonak). Vino out-foxed the Colombian for a superb victory.

Vino's victory came on the heels of a stage 10 humiliation. In stage 10 it was Discovery Channel who handed out a team stomping, but in stage 11 it was Vino's turn to fire.

Bastille Day Was Rocking Hard

Moncoutié Stage Winner, photo: CyclingTime.com

The French music was out of control after stage 12 of the 92nd Tour de France. The French tifosi had reason to celebrate: their rider had won on their day. It was David Moncoutié's 2nd Tour Win. Moncoutié (Cofidis) hammered it home solo, holding off a disorganized chase group with big names. The Cofidis rider navigated some stunning and technical roads. Bringing it all back home on Bastille day.

Davitamon-Lotto Work Tails Off For Winning McEwen

McEwen Wins, photo: CyclingTime.com

In Stage 13 the Aussie, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), won his 3rd stage in the 2005 Tour de France. Thanks to the strong work of his squad, the fast man from down-under won. Their goal was to bring back the break and escort Robbie McEwen to the line. The team did their job and were rewarded with a 3rd sprint win by the Aussie. Safe in the bunch was the American, Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel), keeping the yellow jersey.

Armstrong Holds and Totschnig Doubles Up For Austria

Totschnig Finishes, photo: CyclingTime.com

It has been 70 years since the last, and only, time an Austrian won a grand tour. In stage 14, under hot conditions, Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner) made it two for Austria. Totschnig was in a 213K break-away, finishing solo on Ax-3 Domaines.

Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) responded to all the attacks and even added to his overall lead. Armstrong retained the yellow jersey after being isolated and attacked. Armstrong was put under the T-Mobile gun on the first of the day's two major climbs. Vino and Ullrich were joined by Ivan Basso (Team CSC) in launching offensives on the 6X TDF champion.

Hincapie Gets First Tour Win on an Epic Day

Hincapie Wins, photo: CyclingTime.com

In stage 15 George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) earned himself an emotional first win in the Tour. He was part of a day-long break that battled through the Pyrenees. Behind the breakaway was Hincapie's team leader, Lance Armstrong, who was busy with his own battle by answering all the attacks of Ivan Basso (Team CSC). The Italian dropped two serious bombs on the American, but could not crack his rival. Armstrong retained his leader's jersey through defensive riding. Together Armstrong and Basso managed to put significant time into Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile).

Read a review of Rest Day 1, Stages 1 to 9

GC after stage 15: (see full listing)
62:09'59", 42.309 K/h
2.46
3.09
5.58
6.31
7.35
9.33
9.38
11.47
12.01
12.57
14.27
15.26
17.56
Seguros-Würth 18.16
19.03
19.30
19.35
20.35
25.48

Points
1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 164
2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis 150
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 142
4 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile 90
5 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner 84
6 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth 81
7 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner 79
8 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 77
9 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 75
10 Gianluca Bortolami (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 75

Mountains
1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 185
2 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Phonak 114
3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 92
4 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 90
5 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Crédit Agricole 89
6 Santiago Botero (Col) Phonak 88
7 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 75
8 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 74
9 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Crédit Agricole 73
10 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile 71

Young rider
1 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 62:24'26"
2 Andrei Kashechkin (Kaz) Crédit Agricole 6.08
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 36.42
4 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Domina Vacanze 54.02
5 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.05.12
6 David Arroyo (Spa) Illes Balears 1.05.44
7 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Illes Balears 1.18.30
8 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick-Step 1.29.49
9 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 1.40.22
10 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 1.48.43

Teams
1 T-Mobile 184:24'01"
2 Discovery Channel 19.28
3 Team CSC 21.58
4 Crédit Agricole 28.11
5 Illes Balears 32.09
6 Phonak 34.30
7 Liberty Seguros-Würth 1.31.14
8 Rabobank 1.42.42
9 Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.47.57
10 Gerolsteiner 2.15.43
11 Ag2R Prévoyance 2.34.42
12 Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.41.11
13 Bouygues Telecom 2.52.22
14 Davitamon-Lotto 3.02.50
15 Française Des Jeux 3.23.03
16 Domina Vacanze 3.24.08
17 Lampre-Caffita 3.36.51
18 Cofidis 4.25.49
19 Liquigas-Bianchi 4.26.45
20 Fassa Bortolo 4.33.36
21 Quick-Step 5.12.04