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2001 Tour de France
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The great favorite was the winner of 1999 and 2000, the American Lance Armstrong. His major opponent, like last year, would probably be German Jan Ullrich. Other major contenders seemed to be Joseba Beloki from Spain, Christophe Moreau from France and Francesco Casagrande from Italy. Not starting, because their teams were not selected, were Swiss Alex Zülle, Italian climber Marco Pantani and Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini.
Prologue (short time trial), Dunkerque:
One of the favorites to win the prologue, last year's winner David Millar, fell in the last curve, and thus was only 110th. Winner was Christophe Moreau, but his gains on most other favorites were small, with the exception of Casagrande, who was 120th and lost 45 seconds. Stuart O'Grady (8th) and Jaan Kirsipuu (11th) are well-placed sprinters who might gain the yellow jersey in the coming days (there are seconds 'bonification' for the riders who score high on the final or intermediate sprints)
1. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 2. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 0.03 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 0.04 4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0.07 5. Florent Brard (Fra) 6. Santiago Botero (Col) 0.10 7. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 0.13 8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 9. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 0.14 10. Antonio Tauler (Spa)
Stage 1 (Saint-Omer to Boulogne-sur-Mer)
Frenchman Jacky Durand, well known for his attacking style, did it again. He was chased, and finally joined, by his fellow countryman Christophe Oriol. The two escapers were caught back by the peloton, but Durand had managed to be first on two small (4th category) climbs, and thus was the first wearer of the mountain jersey this Tour de France. Laurent Brochard tried to get away in the last kilometres, but in the very last kilometre was caught back. Thus, the stage became a mass spurt, won by Erik Zabel.
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 2. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 3. Jimmy Casper (Fra) 4. Thor Hushovd (Nor) 5. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 6. Damien Nazon (Fra) 7. Steven de Jongh (Ned) 8. Christophe Capelle (Fra) 9. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 10. Robert Hunter (RSA)
general classification:
1. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 2. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 0.03 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 0.04 4. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 0.07 5. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 6. Florent Brard (Fra) 7. Santiago Botero (Col) 0.10 8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 0.11 9. Jacky Durand (Fra) 0.13 10. Joseba Beloki (Spa)
points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 35 2. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 30 3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 30
mountains classification:
1. Jacky Durand (Fra) 10 2. Christophe Oriol (Fra) 6 3. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 2
stage 2 (Saint-Omer to Antwerp)
A group of 16 riders escaped from the peloton, and stayed away until the end, although with only a small difference. Because sprinter Stuart O'Grady was present, he was expected to take both the stage and the yellow jersey, but the Rabobank team had different plans. Their rider Erik Dekker, who took 3 stages in 2000, was present, and was expected to try something, but instead he helped his team mate Marc Wauters to escape. Marc got Arnaud Pretot with him, and they scored first and second. Because he also had had a good prologue, this was enough for Wauters to take the yellow as well.
1. Marc Wauters (Bel)
2. Arnaud Pretot (Fra)
3. Robert Hunter (RSA)
4. Servais Knaven (Ned)
5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus)
6. Davide Bramati (Ita)
7. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel)
8. Ivan Basso (Ita)
9. Marco Milesi (Ita)
10. Erik Dekker (Ned)
peloton at 0.22
General classification:
1. Marc Wauters (Bel) 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 0.12 3. Servais Knaven (Ned) 0.27 4. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 5. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 0.28 6. Rik Berbrugghe (Bel) 7. Robert Hunter (RSA) 0.29 8. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.30 9. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 10. Bobby Julich (USA) 0.31
Points classification:
1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 45 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 43 3. Erik Zabel (Ger) 40
The stage seemed to be a likely prey for Erik Zabel: Some mountains (in the Ardennes), too tough for the pure sprinters, but not tough enough to really break the peloton, with a spurt going uphill. His team worked hard for him, even though this might cost them some power which they might need to help Jan Ullrich in the mountains. Marc Wauters had the honor to drive through the village where he lives ahead in the yellow, but later had to let the peloton go in the Ardennes. Apparently, the pressure got too much for him, for although he is certainly not a climber, he normally should not lose any time on a hill stage like this. Another person who lost time was Francesco Casagrande, still suffering from a broken arm he got in May. Because Wauters dropped out, Stuart O'Grady got to wear the yellow jersey after all, one day later than expected.
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 2. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra) 3. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 4. Fabio Baldato (Ita) 5. Francois Simon (Fra) 6. Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) 7. Christophe Capelle (Fra) 8. Franck Bouyer (Fra) 9. Serge Baguet (Bel) 10. Lance Armstrong (USA)
General classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 0.17 3. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) 0.18 4. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.20 5. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 6. Bobby Julich (USA) 0.21 7. Lance Armstrong (USA) 8. Erik Zabel (Ger) 0.23 9. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0.24 10. Florent Brard (Fra)
Points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 75 2. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 47 3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 45
Mountains classification:
1. Benoit Salmon (Fra) 20 2. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) 10 3. Jacky Durand (Fra) 10
Patrice Halgand was the great attacker in the first part of the stage, which gained him the mountains jersey. In the end this led to a break-away group of nine. The nine riders got up to 10 minutes ahead, but the teams of US Postal (Armstrong) and ONCE (Beloki and Gonzalez de Galdeano) started chasing, because the break-away also contained Bobby Julich and Michael Boogerd, who might well be considered dangerous outsiders. The heavy chase combined with a strong wind against caused the peloton to break. All favorites as well as yellow jersey O'Grady were in the first group, but still some riders who could well place in the top-10 were left behind. After the nine were caught, the second group could rejoin, but the combined group of about 80 riders gained 18 minutes over a lot of other riders. Laurent Jalabert, Francisco Mancebo and Ludo Dierckxsens managed to escape. Mancebo in the end was caught back, but Jalabert and Dierckxsens were just a few seconds ahead of the (first) peloton, the first winning the spurt. One favorite was lost for this year's Tour definitively, because Casagrande abandoned.
1. Lauren Jalabert (Fra) 2. Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 0.07 4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) 5. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 6. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 7. Robert Hunter (RSA) 8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 9. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) 10. Sebastien Talabardon (Fra)
General classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 0.18 3. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 0.23 4. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.26 5. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 6. Bobby Julich (USA) 0.27 7. Lance Armstrong (USA) 8. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0.30 9. Florent Brard (Fra) 10. Santiago Botero (Col) 0.33
Points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 75 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 69 3. Robert Hunter (RSA) 49
Mountains classification:
1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 28 2. Benoit Salmon (Fra) 26 3. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) 10
Stage 5 (Verdun to Bar-le-Duc[?])
A team time trial, one of the hardest disciplines of cycling. The riders, going by team, have to make the fastest time for their team (fifth to arrive counts). Where it was expected that O'Grady would lose some time here on the major contestants for the general classification, his Crédit Agricole team surprised everyone by actually winning the stage. The ONCE team, considered the great favorites, placed second. Loser of the day was Jan Ullrich, who lost 30 seconds on Lance Armstrong (US Postal) and 1 minute on Joseba Beloki (ONCE). In the results the major GC contenders of each team are given between brackets. In the general classification, Credit Agricole now takes places 1 to 3, while the rest of the top-10 are all ONCE riders except for Moreau.
1. Credit Agricole (Julich) 2. O.N.C.E.-Eroski 0.31 (Beloki, G. de Galdeano) 3. Festina 0.54 (Moreau, Casero) 4. US Postal Service 1.26 (Armstrong, Heras) 5. Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.38 (Botero) 6. Rabobank 1.47 (Boogerd) 7. Team Deutsche Telekom 1.50 (Ullrich) 8. Cofidis 2.55 (Kivilev) 9. Bigmat/Auber 93 2.56 10. Mapei-Quick Step 2.58 (Garzelli)
General Classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.26 3. Bobby Julich (USA) 0.27 4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 0.57 5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 1.07 6. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 1.08 7. Joerg Jaksche (Ger) 1.12 8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 1.17 9. Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) 1.20 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 1.23
Stage 6 (Commercy[?] to Strasbourg)
Little happened in this stage. A group of 5 riders (Axel Merckx, Michele Bartoli, Laurent Brochard, Rik Verbrugghe and Fred Bessy) got ahead with a maximum lead of 3 minutes, but was caught back by the joint work of Crédit Agricole and the sprint teams. The sprint was won by Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu. Belgian sprinter Tom Steels originally placed fourth, but because of 'irregular riding' during the spurt was declassified to the last place of the peloton.
1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 2. Damien Nazon (Fra) 3. Jan Svorada (Cze) 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) 5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 6. Jimmy Casper (Fra) 7. Nico Mattan (Bel) 8. Christophe Capelle (Fra) 9. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) 10. Romans Vainsteins (Lat)
General classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.26 3. Bobby Julich (USA) 0.27 4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 0.57 5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 1.07 6. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 1.08 7. Joerg Jaksche (Ger) 1.12 8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 1.17 9. Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) 1.20 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 1.23
Points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 93 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 85 3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 72
Mountains classification:
1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 37 2. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 32 3. Benoit Salmon (Fra) 29
Stage 7 (Strasbourg to Colmar)
Although the Alps were not yet there, this was quite a mountainous ride through the Vosges. A breakaway group of five stayed ahead (the unlucky Basso crashing), containing German Jens Voigt, who thus took over the yellow jersey from his teammate O'Grady. Laurent Jalabert took his second stage win in this still young Tour de France - on the French national holiday, moreover.
1. Lauren Jalabert (Fra) 2. Jens Voigt (Ger) 0.11 3. Laurent Roux (Fra) 4. Inigo Cuesta (Spa) 0.13 5. Ivan Basso (Ita) 1.36 6. David Etxebarria (Spa) 4.28 7. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 8. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 9. Matteo Tossato (Ita) 10. Franck Bouyer (Fra) peloton about 70 riders; others at 10.50 to 24.50 behind
General Classification:
1. Jens Voigt (Ger) 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 2.34 3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 4.03 4. Bobby Julich (USA) 4.06 5. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 5.00 6. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 5.10 7. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 5.11 8. Joerg Jaksche (Ger) 5.15 9. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 5.20 10. Ivan Gutierrez (Spa) 5.23
Points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 93 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 90 3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 72
Mountains classification:
1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 60 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 50 3. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 32
Stage 8 (Colmar to Pontarlier[?]):
The peloton took a day-off, but not so a group of 14 riders that had broken away. In the end they had a lead of almost 36 minutes, by far the largest one achieved in recent history. Even a lead of 22 minutes had not occurred in the last 25 years. Formally, this meant that the whole peloton finished out of time limits, but the referees understandably used a rule saying that they could give clemency to any group of more than 20% of the stage's starting riders, officially citing the weather conditions as their reason to do so. Still, the effects on the general classification were huge: Stuart O'Grady, who was in the group, retook the yellow jersey, and is now over 35 minutes ahead of Armstrong. Armstrong also has to make good over half an hour on Frenchman François Simon. Perhaps even more dangerous is Andrei Kivilev. He is 'only' 13 minutes ahead of Armstrong, but unlike the others from the escape group, he is known to be good in the mountains, so he needs not lose very much on the toppers in the rest of the Tour. Memories went back to 1990, when in the first stage a group of four riders won 15 minutes. One of them, Claudio Chiapucci, held on to the end, and ended second, only 2 minutes behind winner Greg Lemond.
Among the fourteen breakaways was Erik Dekker, who had won a surprising three stages in the 2000 Tour de France. In the end phase of the stage, he escaped from the group, getting joined by fellow Dutchman Servais Knaven. Spanish Aitor Gonzalez set out to bridge the gap, and succeeded; however, in doing so, he also brought Dekker's team mate Marc Wauters (who had won in Antwerp and had worn the yellow jersey for one day). With the help of Wauters, Dekker had no difficulty winning the spurt, and thus he could add a fourth Tour stage to his list of wins.
1. Erik Dekker (Ned) 2. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) 3. Servais Knaven (Ned) 4. Marc Wauters (Bel) 0.04 5. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2.32 6. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 7. Jacky Durand (Fra) 8. Bram de Groot (Ned) 9. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 10. Nicola Loda (Ita) peloton at 35.54
General classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Francois Simon (Fra) 4.32 3. Bram de Groot (Ned) 21.16 4. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 22.07 5. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 27.15 6. Jens Voigt (Ger) 29.23 7. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 29.49 8. Marc Wauters (Bel) 30.12 9. Ludovic Turpin (Fra) 30.35 10. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) 31.56
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 116 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 103 3. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) 72
Mountains classification:
1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 60 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 50 3. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 32
Stage 9 (Pontarlier[?] to Aix-Les-Bains[?]):
The stage started very fast, with many attacks. It was Bradley McGee and Davide Etxebarria who managed to make a gap of 1'20. Sergei Ivanov went after them and bridged the gap. The three leaders, chased by Momo Agnolutto, got a maximum of 7 minutes, but after that, the joined forces of Bonjour (of sprinter Damien Nazon) and Telekom (Zabel) quickly reduced the difference. Agnolutto was caught back, but the others managed to stay away, albeit only by a few seconds. Ivanov looked tired, and did not do his part of the work, but that appeared to be just a fake, trying to save his strength. He escaped, and went to the finish alone.
1. Sergei Ivanov (Rus) 2. David Etxebarria (Spa) 0.16 3. Bradley McGee (Aus) 0.17 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) 0.24 5. Damien Nazon (Fra) 6. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 7. Paolo Bettini (Ita) 8. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) 9. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 10. Sven Teutenberg (Ger)
General classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 2. Francois Simon (Fra) 4.32 3. Bram de Groot (Ned) 21.16 4. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 22.07 5. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 27.15 6. Jens Voigt (Ger) 29.23 7. Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) 29.49 8. Marc Wauters (Bel) 30.12 9. Ludovic Turpin (Fra) 30.35 10. Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) 31.56
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 136 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 90
Mountains classification:
1. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 66 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 50 3. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 33
Stage 10 (Aix-Les-Bains[?] to L'Alpe D'Huez[?]):
Finally the mountains were reached, and the work started for the riders who went for the general classification. Only one normal Alps stage this year, plus a climbing time trial (stage 11).
Laurent Roux, Eladio Jimenez and Toni Tauler were the early attackers this stage, and by the time the riders reached the first of three 'hors category' climbs, the Madeleine, they were 13'35 ahead of a peloton of about 45 riders. The Telekom team of Jan Ullrich led this peloton, hoping to make it a tough race. On the second climb, the Glandon, only one man was still up front, Roux, and he was 7 minutes before the peloton. In that peloton, Armstrong seemed to be in problems. Where usually he would climb in the front of the group, he was now in the back, and his facial expressions were also not that positive. Furthermore, only two riders from his team (Roberto Heras and Jose Luis Rubiera) were with him.
But when the final mountain, the famous Alpe d'Huez was reached, things were shown to be very different. Rubiera attacked on the start of the climb, Armstrong followed, but only a few other riders did - in the end it is just Armstrong and Ullrich. When Rubiera has to drop off, Armstrong attacks again, and now loses Ullrich too, and climbs the Alpe alone. He overtakes Roux, and climbs up the Alpe d'Huez in 38'01" - only 26 seconds short of Marco Pantani's record from 1995, scored after a much lighter stage. Kivilev (12th at 4.39) keeps up well, and seems likely to take the yellow jersey in the Pyrenees. For now, it is on the shoulders of Francois Simon, who scored a creditable 29th place (10.20 behind Armstrong). Stuart O'Grady ends way in the back. After having worn it six days, he says goodbye to the yellow jersey. He is now concentrating on the green one. Armstrong is now the first of the favourites, at fourth place. He will still have to deal with Simon and Kivilev before getting the yellow.
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 1.59 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 2.09 4. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 2.30 5. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 2.54 6. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) 4.01 7. Laurent Roux (Fra) 4.03 8. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 9. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) 10. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) 4.07
General classification:
1. Francois Simon (Fra) 2. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 11.54 3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 18.10 4. Lance Armstrong (USA) 20.07 5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 21.42 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 22.21 7. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 22.41 8. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 23.34 9. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 24.07 10. Santiago Botero (Col) 25.52
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 136 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 90
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Roux (Fra) 127 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 106 3. Eladio Jimenez (Spa) 80
Stage 11: Grenoble to Chamrousse[?]:
A mountain time trial was part of the Tour de France for the first time in several years. Lance Armstrong once again showed that he is the #1 contender for this year's tour. Laiseka, Sevilla and Montgomery all have a good result. Someone who does no ins Kivilev, 32nd at more than 6 minutes behind Armstrong. He is a good climber, but not a good time trialist.
1. Lance Astrong (USA) 2. Jens Ullrich (Ger) 1.00 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 1.35 4. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) 2.03 5. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 2.24 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 2.31 7. Santiago Botero (Col) 2.43 8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 3.00 9. Sven Montgomery (Swi) 3.07 10. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 3.08
General classification:
1. Francois Simon (Fra) 2. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 11.01 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 13.07 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 16.17 5. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 16.41 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 18.21 7. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 19.05 8. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 19.31 9. Santiago Botero (Col) 21.35 10. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 21.48
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 136 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 90
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Roux (Fra) 127 2. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 106 3. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 92
Stage 12: Perpignan to Aix-les-Thermes[?]:
After stage 11 there was a rest day, although the amount of rest the riders actually did get was diminished by the fact that they had to make a long transportation. Stage 12 was the first of three stages in the Pyrenees. In the first stages of the race, Italian Paolo Bettini was the great attacker. In groups in a pair with Stuart O'Grady and finally alone, he was ahead for a long time. In the final climb, however, he was caught by two other riders who were better climbers: Spain's David Etxebarria and Colombia's Felix Cardenas. By then, the Tour was already over for Christophe Moreau: He suffered what was probably a case of food poisoning, and abandoned.
Behind the three riders, Armstrong, Ullrich and Kivilev had escaped from the group of favorites. When Ullrich attacked, Kivilev also was unable to follow. At the front, Etxebarria made a few attempts, which dropped Bettini but not Cardenas. When Cardenas himself attacked, Etxebarria was unable to follow. Armstrong and Ullrich were joined by Roberto Laiseka, who soon left the two favourites behind and started chasing Cardenas. Beloki tried to reach the Armstrong-Ullrich duo, but failed. Armstrong managed to get away from Ullrich, but he could not overtake Laiseka and Cardenas any more. Simon lost another 4 minutes to Armstrong, who now has come to within half a minute of Kivilev.
1. Felix Rafael Cardenas (Col) 2. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) 0.13 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 0.15 4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 0.38 5. David Etxebarria (Spa) 0.59 6. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 1.01 7. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 1.35 9. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 10. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)
General classification:
1. Francois Simon (Fra) 2. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 8.42 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 9.10 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 13.14 5. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 13.15 6. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 16.28 7. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 16.40 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 19.06 9. Didier Rous (Fra) 22.55 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 22.58
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 140 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 90
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Roux (Fra) 157 2. Lance Armstrong (USA) 113 3. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 110
Stage 13 (Foix[?] to Saint-Lary-Soulan[?]):
A group of nine attacked early. On the first climb, Laurent Roux took the points, strengthening his position, then Laurent Jalabert attacked, and started a long solo. Behind him, the group got smaller and smaller, in the end only Alexandre Vinokourov and Steve Vermaut remained.
Jan Ullrich attacked on the Peyresourde, and escaped together with Lance Armstrong and Ullrich's team mate Ken Livingston, who had escaped earlier. However, during the descent he mis-judged a curve, and ended up off the road. Luckily, both bicycle and rider had no severe damage, and Ullrich quickly was able to ride again. Armstrong had not mis-used Ullrich's problems to attack, and Ullrich rejoined a group with Armstrong, Beloki and a few others. By now, all original escapers but Jalabert had been caught back, between Jaja and the group-Armstrong/Ullrich, there was only Stefano Garzelli left.
Jalabert, understandably tired of his long solo on a very difficult stage, was in problems during the final climb. Armstrong had chosen this climb for yet another attack. First his team mate Rubiera led the group, then Heras took over. Only Armstrong and Ullrich were able to follow. Heras himself had to drop off too later, and Armstrong managed to ride away from Ullrich. Jalabert's long solo was not rewarded with a stage win, Armstrong and five others took him over. However, it did bring him both the mountains jersey and the first place in the most combatative rider classification. He would keep both to the finish in Paris.
Armstrong dedicated his win to Fabio Casartelli, his (then) team mate, who died after a fall on the Portet d'Aspet, this stage's first climb, in the Tour de France of 1995. Apart from the stage, he also took over the first place in the general classification. Kivilev and Simon still hang on, in second and third place.
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 1.00 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 1.46 4. Roberto Heras (Spa) 5. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 2.29 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 2.52 7. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 3.12 8. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 3.15 9. Inigo Chaureau (Spa) 3.25 10. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 4.02
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 3.54 3. Francois Simon (Fra) 4.31 4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 5.13 5. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 6.02 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 10.42 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 13.24 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 15.00 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 17.23 10. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 17.26
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 140 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 96
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Laurent Roux (Fra) 195 3. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 171
Stage 14 (Tarbes[?] to Luz Ardiden[?]):
The last mountain stage of this Tour de France. At the first climb, a group of 10 riders was ahead, but at the second climb, the Tourmalet[?], the highest point of this year's Tour (2115 meters), Sven Montgomery and Mario Aerts lost everyone but David Moncoutié and Bobby Julich, with the latter not looking good either. Julich did indeed drop off, as did Montgomery during the descent. The other two were caught back by Wladimir Belli, who attacked on the final climb to Luz Ardiden, hoping to win the stage in a solo.
However, the group with Armstrong, Ullrich and the other favourites was only one minute behind, and from this group Bruno Laiseka attacked, and passed the remaining escapers one by one, finally passing Belli and getting ready for the win 5 km before the finish. Armstrong again ordered Heras to turn up the speed, and again Armstrong and Ullrich were the only ones who were able to follow. When Heras also had to drop off, Ullrich attacked, but Armstrong did not break, and together the two went to the finish, hand-in-hand. Ullrich took the second place in the general classification, Beloki still has to gain 1'20" on Kivilev in the time trial to gain third place.
1. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) 2. Wladimir Belli (Ita) 0.54 3. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 1.08 4. Lance Armstrong (USA) 5. Roberto Heras (Spa) 1.29 6. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 1.39 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 8. Didier Rous (Fra) 2.01 9. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 2.27 10. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 2.30
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 5.05 3. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 5.13 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 6.33 5. Francois Simon (Fra) 10.54 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 12.04 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 13.55 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 17.49 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 19.20 10. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 19.45
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 140 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 109
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195
After the second resting day, and this time without a move, the last tour week started. Expected were some breaks to keep getting away, and a mass spurt in the last stage and maybe once or twice more. For the general classification, only the time trial (stage 18) seems important.
Stage 15 fits nicely in this pattern, but with a small twist. After a wild start, with many attacks, a group of 25 riders got away, and at the finish had 15 minutes over the peloton. In the final stages, attacks happened in this group too, and Italian Marco Pinotti managed to get away. However, Belgian Rik Verbrugghe did the same, and after a long chase managed to reach Pinotti - not really unexpectedly, as Verbrugghe is known to be a good time trialist. The rest of the group would finish just a few seconds after the two. The spurt was easily won by Verbrugghe, Pinotti simply having not enough energy already in the last kilometers.
The little twist is that one of the riders in the group ahead was Michael Boogerd, who managed to climb from 16th to 8th place in the general classification, thus causing some change in the top 10 after all. The Kelme team of Santiago Botero tried to diminish the group's lead, so as to keep their leader in front of Boogerd in the general classification, but to no avail. Still, Boogerd was not satisfied. He would gladly have given his top-ten position for the stage win. Even less satisfied was Alessandro Petacchi, who easily won the spurt of the group, but realised that he had missed his chance of a stage win.
1. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel)
2. Marco Pinotti (Ita)
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 0.06
4. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)
5. Nico Mattan (Bel)
6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra)
7. Michael Boogerd (Ned)
8. Franck Bouyer (Fra)
9. Marco Serpellini (Ita)
10. Daniele Nardello (Ita)
(peloton at 15.07)
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 5.05 3. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 5.13 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 6.33 5. Francois Simon (Fra) 10.54 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 12.04 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 13.55 8. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 16.15 9. Santiago Botero (Col) 17.49 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 19.20
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 140 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 127 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 109
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195
Stage 16 (Castelsarrasin[?] to Sarran[?]):
The stage went like the last one: Many attacks at the start, resulting in a group getting away and staying away. This team the group was smaller, just seven riders, but again someone escaped from the group around 25 km before the end. It was German attacker Jens Voigt; Australian time trialist Bradley McGee was the only one who was able to follow. In the uphill finish, McGee was not able to follow Voigt, who thus got a well-deserved stage win. In the peloton, a crash unfortunately forced several riders to resign.
1. Jens Voigt (Ger) 2. Bradley McGee (Aus) 0.05 3. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) 1.59 4. Nicki Sorensen (Den) 5. Luis Perez (Spa) 2.55 6. Stephane Heulot (Fra) 3.44 7. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) 6.39 8. Erik Zabel (Ger) 25.45 9. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 10. Damien Nazon (Fra)
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 5.05 3. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 5.13 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 6.33 5. Francois Simon (Fra) 10.54 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 12.04 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 13.55 8. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 16.15 9. Santiago Botero (Col) 18.12 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 19.20
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 157 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 145 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 119
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195
Stage 17 (Brive-la-Gaillarde[?] to Montluçon[?]):
Early on a group of 16 riders escaped. When US Postal gave up chasing, their lead rapidly grew, but then the Bonjour team of Damien Nazon decided to lead the chase, and some other teams with sprinters (in particular Telekom) joined in. This caused the gap to become less again. Up front, Lelli attacked, and Baguet and Piil joined in. The rest of the group was caught by the peloton. Lelli, suffering from cramps, stopped working at the front, but the riders managed to stay ahead nevertheless. Baguet won the sprint.
1. Serge Baguet (Bel) 2. Jacob Piil (Den) 3. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) 0.05 4. Jan Svorada (Cze) 0.13 5. Damien Nazon (Fra) 6. Erik Zabel (Ger) 7. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 8. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 9. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 10. Christophe Capelle (Fra)
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 5.05 3. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 5.13 4. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 6.33 5. Francois Simon (Fra) 10.54 6. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 12.04 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 13.55 8. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 16.15 9. Santiago Botero (Col) 18.12 10. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 19.20
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 176 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 165 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 130
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195
Stage 18 (Montluçon[?] to Saint Amand Montrond[?]):
The last stage that is supposed to be important for the final standings is an individual time trial. Armstrong, starting last because he is first in the general classification, shows once again his great form in this year's Tour, and gets his fourth stage, over 1 minute faster than number 2, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (although he is known as a good time trialist, still a slight surprise, as Ullrich is also a good time trialist and clearly the second-best in this Tour). Kivilev rode an excellent time trial given his weakness on this specialisation, finishing 18th, but it was not enough to avoid losing third place to Beloki. Perhaps the greatest surprise of this stage was the fourth place of Frenchman Didier Rous.
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) 1.24 3. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 1.39 4. Didier Rous (Fra) 2.25 5. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 6. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 2.32 7. Bobby Julich (USA) 2.37 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 2.43 9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 2.57 10. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spa) 3.01
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 6.44 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 9.05 4. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 9.53 5. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 13.28 6. Francois Simon (Fra) 17.22 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 18.30 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 20.55 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 21.45 10. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 22.38
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 176 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 165 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 134
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195
Stage 19 (Orleans to Evry[?]): Probably the least exciting stage of this year's Tour, stage 19 had no major escapes (Jens Voigt attacking more to help team mate Stuart O'Grady by avoiding too many points going to Erik Zabel), and ended in a mass sprint. Deutsche Telekom had worked hard to keep the group together, and was rewarded with Zabel's second stage win. O'Grady, finishing second, did remain ahead of Zabel in the points classification, but the difference is only 2 points now.
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 3. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) 4. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 5. Jan Svorada (Cze) 6. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 7. Damien Nazon (Fra) 8. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) 9. Christophe Capelle (Fra) 10. Jimmy Casper (Fra)
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 6.44 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 9.05 4. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 9.53 5. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 13.28 6. Francois Simon (Fra) 17.22 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 18.30 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 20.55 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 21.45 10. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 22.38
Points classification:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 212 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 210 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 149
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Laurent Roux (Fra) 200
Stage 20 (Corbeil Essones[?] to Paris): As traditional, the last stage went to the Champs Elysees in Paris, and as traditionally a number of attackers was unable to stay away from a peloton led by the groups of the sprinters. Although Française des Jeux had been working hard for Jimmy Casper, it was Jan Svorada who found himself well ahead about 200 meters from the finish. None of the other sprinters had a chance to overtake him. Erik Zabel was second, and had amassed enough points to take the green jersey from Stuart O'Grady. Zabel now has won the points classification for the sixth year in row. No one else has succeeded in winning the classification six times.
1. Jan Svorada (Cze) 2. Erik Zabel (Ger) 3. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 4. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 5. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 6. Damien Nazon (Fra) 7. Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) 8. Jimmy Casper (Fra) 9. Max van Heeswijk (Ned) 10. Christophe Capelle (Fra)
General classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 6.44 3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 9.05 4. Andrei Kivilev (Kaz) 9.53 5. Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) 13.28 6. Francois Simon (Fra) 17.22 7. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 18.30 8. Santiago Botero (Col) 20.55 9. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 21.45 10. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 22.38 11. Didier Rous (Fra) 24.22 12. Inigo Chaureau (Spa) 28.09 13. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) 28.33 14. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 29.00 15. Roberto Heras (Spa) 30.44 16. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 33.55 17. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) 41.15 18. Bobby Julich (USA) 48.04 19. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 50.06 20. Carlos Sastre (Spa) 50.20
Points classification:
1. Erik Zabel (Ger) 252 2. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) 244 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) 169 4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 148 5. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) 141 6. Lance Armstrong (USA) 134 7. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 127 8. Jan Svorada (Cze) 124 9. Christophe Capelle (Fra) 114 10. Francois Simon (Fra) 108
Mountains classification:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 257 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) 211 3. Laurent Roux (Fra) 200 4. Lance Armstrong (USA) 195 5. Stefano Garzelli (Ita) 164 6. Roberto Laiseka (Spa) 147 7. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 145 8. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 134 9. Patrice Halgand (Fra) 123 10. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 120
Best young rider:
1. Oscar Sevilla (Spa) 2. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) 10.03 3. Jorg Jaksche (Ger) 47.32 4. Denis Mentchov (Rus) 1.13.20 5. Marco Pinotti (Ita) 1.15.59
Combativity:
1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 94 2. Laurent Roux (Fra) 55 3. Jens Voigt (Ger) 45 4. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) 44 5. Paolo Bettini (Ita) 36 6. Jacky Durand (Fra) 36 7. Bradley McGee (Aus) 32 8. David Etxebarria (Spa) 30 9. Laurent Brochard (Fra) 28 10. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) 23
Teams (with the top-3 riders of each team):
1. Kelme-Costa Blanca Oscar Sevilla Santiago Botero J.E. Gutierrez 2. ONCE-Eroski 4.59 Joseba Beloki Igor Gonzalez De G. Marcos Serrano 3. Team Deutsche Telekom 41.06 Jan Ullrich Alexandre Vinokourov Andreas Kloden 4. Bonjour 41.49 Francois Simon Didier Rous Walter Beneteau 5. Rabobank 51.53 Michael Boogerd Geert Verheyen M. den Bakker 6. US Postal Service 54.51 Lance Armstrong Roberto Heras J.L. Rubiera 7. Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone 1.20.41 Andrei Kivilev Daniel Atienza Daivd Moncoutie 8. iBanesto.com 1.22.24 Francisco Mancebo Thomas Brozyna J.P. Rodriguez 9. Festina 1.45.33 Luis Perez Felix Garcia-Casas Sven Teutenberg 10. Jean Delatour 1.49.18 Laurent Brochard Stephane Goubert Laurent Roux
- See also : Tour de France
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