Another “fairly flat” stage as the Tour de France continues to roll in an eastern direction, todays stage was another ball buster with speeds reaching near 60 k per hour as the Teams like Quick-Step and Davitamon-Lotto word to try to get the pack together which would allow their super star sprinters to go for the win.
Today’s stage was 199 kilometres in length and finished in Nancy France just days before the tour will head into Germany. Early in the day there was the usual breakaway that functioned as a launching pad for Chrisophe Mengin who attacked the breakaway as it began to loose focus over the small climb (which did offer points for the king of the mountain jersey) Mengin understanding that every second counted with the peleton closing the gap went off the front and nearly rode away with the win.
Unfortunately he crashed on the last corner of the day possibly just 300 to 400 meters away from the line due to rain and a sharp corner. Alexandre Vinokourov also launched his own attack just 2k from the finish and closed the gap to Mengin, he was lucky enough to keep his bike upright as he navigated the corner where Mengin went down.
Vinokourov was able to take second place which was an important move for the T-Mobile rider which bumped he time 12 seconds closer to GC rider Lance Armstrong.
Hats off to Vinokourov for attacking …. if you want to win the tour
you must gain time “somewhere”. Possibly let Yan in on this small
bit of knowledge.
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