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Stage 1
Kirsipuu
puts Estonia on the map
By Francois Thomazeau
Jaan Kirsipuu of Estonia (C) reacts
after crossing the finish line to win the first stage of the
Tour de France cycling race from Montaigu to Challans, western
France, July 4. At left
is Tom Steels of Belgium and at right Erik Zabel of Germany.
American Lance Amstrong retained his leader's yellow jersey.
cp/Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier
REUTERS |
CHALLANS, France, July 4 - Estonian Jaan Kirsipuu put his country
and region on the cycling map when he won the first stage of the Tour
de France on Sunday.
He became the first rider from a Baltic nation to win a stage on
the Tour, edging out some big sprinting names in the process.
The 30-year-old Casino rider is by no means an unknown face in the
peloton after winning 16 races last year including a stage in the
Vuelta, but most were in minor events.
This time, Kirsipuu hit the big time at the expense of two of the
world's best sprinters, Belgian Tom Steels and German Erik Zabel, the
points standings winner on the Tour for the past two years.
"I've worked hard for years to win a Tour stage but today I
was feeling fine," he said after his win in just under five hours
in the 208-kms stage from Montaigu to Challans.
American Lance Armstrong retained his overall leader's yellow
jersey on Independence day.
"I think I was able to win such a race for the last couple of
years but I had not enough self confidence and before the finishes, I
was afraid," Kirsipuu said.
"The big sprinters were overawing me," he
added.
This time, the Estonian, who fell twice in the Tour last year, was
not fazed. He surged shortly before the last turn and his opponents
could not match him over the last 100 metres.
"In the prologue, I clocked a faster time than other
sprinters. I told myself that it was a sign," said Kirsipuu, who
also took the lead in the points standings.
The Estonian, who became a professional eight years ago with the
Casino team, has often been at his best in the Vendee region where
Challans lies. He won the nearby Cholet classic three times and the
Tour of Vendee twice.
Favourite Mario Cipollini of Italy, arguably the best sprinter in
the bunch with Zabel, was very disappointing, finishing a lacklustre
29th.
The early part of the day, raced in in heavy rain, was marked by a
long breakaway by France's Thierry Gouvenou, who led for 114 kms
before being caught.
Monday's second stage takes the riders 176 kms to St Nazaire.
CHALLANS, France, July 4 - Leading placings
in the first stage of the Tour de France over 208 kms from Montaigu
on Sunday:
1. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) Casino four hours
56 minutes 18 seconds
2. Tom Steels (Belgium) Mapei
3. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom
4. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole
5. Silvio Martinello (Italy) Polti
6. Jimmy Casper (France) La Francaise de Jeux
7. Nicola Minali (Italy) Cantina Tollo
8. George Hincapie (U.S.) U.S. Postal
9. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole
10. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina
11. Carlos da Cruz (France) Big Mat
12. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat
13. Jay Sweet (Australia) Big Mat
14. Moreno di Biase (Italy) Cantina Tollo
15. Sebastien Hinault (France) Credit Agricole
16. Leon van Bon (Netherlands) Rabobank
17. Elio Aggiano (Italy) Vitalicio Seguros
18. Pedro Horillo (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros
19. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Rabobank
20. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo all same time
Leading overall standings:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal five hours
four minutes 20 seconds
2. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto seven seconds behind
3. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 11 secs
4. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina 15
5. Chris Boardman (Britain) Credit Agricole 16
6. Kirsipuu
same time
7. Rik Verbrugghe (Belgium) Lotto 18
8. O'Grady 20
9. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Casino 21
10. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) ONCE
11. Laurent Brochard (France) Festina both same
time
12. Hincapie 22
13. Gilles Maignan (France) Casino 23
14. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE
15. Christian Vandevelde (U.S.) U.S. Postal
16. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco all same
time
17. Steffen Wesemann (Germany) Telekom 24
18. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 26
19. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) U.S. Postal 27
20. Jon Vaughters (U.S.) U.S. Postal same time
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