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Stage 12
Etxebarria's
victory revenge for ONCE
By Francois Thomazeau
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David Etxebarria of Spain raises his arms
as he crosses the finish line to win the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling
race from St-Galmier to Saint-Flour, central France July 16. Lance Armstrong
of the USA retained his yellow jersey as leader in the overall standings.
cp/Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier REUTERS
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ST FLOUR, France, July 16 -
David Etxebarria's victory in the 12th stage of the Tour de France on
Friday was sweet revenge for the ONCE team, who started the race
despite a row between team director Manolo Saiz and the organisers.
"ONCE badly wanted to
be on the Tour," the 25-year-old Basque said.
"Thanks to my victory
we showed we had every right to be here and I hope we'll finish on the
podium to pay tribute to those who are not here."
Tour organizers at first
barred team director Saiz and ONCE doctor Nicolas Terrados, saying
they had insulted the race last year by fleeing the Tour after a
police raid on their hotel.
The International Cycling
Union (UCI) later overruled the ban and Saiz was reinstated.
But ONCE are without their
French leader Laurent Jalabert, who decided to stay away from an event
in which he has rarely been successful.
"Jalabert has always
been an inspiration for me," Etxebarria said.
"He's always told me I
had the qualities to become a good rider. I had a thought for him
after my victory."
The first Spaniard to win a
Tour stage in two years, Etxebarria said he came on the Tour mostly to
help compatriot Abraham Olano, currently second overall, seven minutes
and 44 seconds behind American Lance Armstrong.
"It's not easy for a
Spaniard to win a stage on the Tour because Spanish teams come mostly
to help their leader and it's rare to have such an opportunity,"
he said.
But the young Basque, who
won the Tour de l'Avenir -- the under-21 Tour -- in 1996, may soon
have other ambitions.
"I might become a Tour
leader the day I've proved I can fight for victory throughout three
weeks," he said.
"For the time being I'm
just a rider who can win stages and classics."
Tour de France 12th stage placings
ST FLOUR, France, July 16 - Placings in the 12th stage of the Tour de France
over 201.5 kms from St Galmier on Friday:
1. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE four hours 53 minutes and 50 seconds
2. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole 25 seconds behind
3. Alberto Elli (Italy) Telekom 33 secs
4. Steve Wolf (Belgium) Cofidis 40
5. Joaquim Castelblanco (Colombia) Kelme 1:11
6. Massimilliano Lelli (Italy) Cofidis 1:18
7. Frederic Bessy (France) Casino 1:24
8. Marc Lotz (Netherlands) Rabobank 1:32
9. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 1:34
10. Didier Rous (France) Festina 1:50
11. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo 3:51
12. Fabrice Gougot (France) Casino 3:53
13. Thierry Gouvenou (France) Big Mat 4:09
14. Laurent Desbiens (France) Cofidis 5:35
15. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom 12:35
16. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto
17. Geert Verheyen (Belgium) Lotto
18. Mario Aerts (Belgium) Lotto
19. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal
20. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco all same time
Overall standings in the Tour de France after 12 stages on Friday:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 56 hours 16 minutes and 53 seconds
2. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE seven minutes and 44 seconds behind
3. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 7:47
4. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco 8:07
5. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 8:53
6. Heulot 9:10
7. Virenque 10:03
8. Pavel Tonkov (Russia) Mapei 10:18
9. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 10:58
10. Giuseppe Guerini (Italy) Telekom 10:59
11. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 11:13
12. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino 12:32
13. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina 12:53
14. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 13:32
15. Etxebarria 15:11
16. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 16:16
17. Aerts 17:31
18. Bo Hamburger (Denmark) Cantina Tollo 17:49
19. Manuel Beltran (Spain) Banesto 18:29
20. Simon 19:04
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