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Stage 18
Mondini
gives Italy seventh Tour stage win
By
Francois Thomazeau
Italian Gianpaolo Mondini celebrates as
he wins the 187km 18th stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Jonzac to
Futuroscope July 23. Lance Armstrong of the USA retains his Yellow jersey.
jna/Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier REUTERS
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FUTUROSCOPE, France, July 23
- Gianpaolo Mondini gave Italy their seventh stage victory in the Tour
de France on Friday, virtually ending the host country's hopes of
winning a stage this year.
The Cantina-Tollo rider, who
took part in the Tour only because another Italian team -- Vini
Caldirola -- were excluded after their leader was suspended for
failing a blood test, seized his opportunity three kilometres from the
finish.
Mondini parted company with
his 12 breakaway companions to win in four hours 17 minutes and 43
seconds.
"I'd like to dedicate
this victory to my fiancée, who has been very patient since I've been
away for 40 days," said Mondini, who turned 27 a week ago.
Lance Armstrong of the
United States easily retained his race leader's yellow jersey after
finishing within the main bunch, 3:07 behind Mondini.
Armstrong will also be the
favorite to win his third time trial in Saturday's 57 kms test around
the Futuroscope theme park near the western town of Poitiers.
The last rider to win all
three time trials in the Tour was five-times race winner Miguel
Indurain of Spain in 1992.
Winner of the Tour of Sweden
two years ago and of the Santander Classic last year, the towering
Mondini was a virtual unknown before this 187-kms 18th stage from
Jonzac to the Futuroscope theme park.
France, who have won at
least one stage in every Tour since 1926, had great hopes of a first
victory in this flat and sunny ride with five home riders among the 13
in the decisive breakaway.
The leading group took shape
in one of the rare climbs of the day, the Pamproux hill 55 kms before
the finish, and rapidly took a lead of over two minutes over the
following pack.
French champion Francois
Simon, La Francaise des Jeux's leader Jean-Cyril Robin, veteran
Thierry Bourguignon, Claude Lamour and Frederic Bessy joined forces to
lead a compatriot to victory but Mondini took the French guard by
surprise.
He attacked while Bessy was
throwing a bottle in a ditch, quickly took a hundred yards lead and
never looked back.
"I knew Bessy was tired
and I tried my luck. I kept my eyes on the meter and I was never under
50 kph," he said.
Robin had to be content with
second place while Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov was third, also three
seconds behind.
French hopes will be very
slim in Saturday's time trial even though Christophe Moreau can hope
to challenge the best.
The home country's chances
in the last stage to Paris on Sunday are also very slim since
sprinters like Belgian Tom Steels or German Erik Zabel should again
have the final word.
In Friday's stage, which
started with a demonstration by angry brandy makers, Zabel took a big
step toward winning his fourth consecutive points standings green
jersey as his leading rival, Australian Stuart O'Grady, crashed again.
Tour de France 18th stage placings/overall standings
FUTUROSCOPE, France, July 23 - Leading placings in the 18th stage of the Tour
de France over 184.5 kms from Jonzac on Friday:
1. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo 4 hours 17 minutes 43 seconds
2. Jean-Cyril Robin (France) La Francaise de Jeux 3 seconds behind
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Casino
4. Mariano Piccoli (Italy) Lampre
5. Claude Lamour (France) Cofidis
6. Francois Simon (France) Credit Agricole
7. Stefano Garzelli (Italy) Mercatone Uno
8. Jorg Jaksche (Germany) Telekom
9. Elio Aggiano (Italy) Vitalicio Seguros
10. Thierry Bourguignon (France) Big Mat
11. Cesar Solaun (Spain) Banesto
12. Vicente Garcia-Acosta (Spain) Banesto all same time
13. Frederic Bessy (France) Casino 14
14. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Rabobank 3:07
15. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom
16. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole
17. Carlos da Cruz (France) Big Mat
18. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat
19. Jaime Hernandez (Spain) Festina
20. Ludovic Auger (France) Big Mat all same time
Leading overall standings:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 86 hours 46 minutes 20 seconds
2. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 6 minutes 15 seconds behind
3. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 7:28
4. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco 10:30
5. Richard Virenque (France) Polti 11:40
6. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 13:27
7. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 13:34
8. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 14:29
9. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Festina 15:14
10. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 18:35
11. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE 19:31
12. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 20:17
13. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino 22:55
14. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Cofidis 23:37
15. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 24:15
16. Tyler Hamilton (France) U.S. Postal 25:24
17. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy) Mapei 26:03
18. Carlos Contreras (Colombia) Kelme 26:46
19. Alberto Elli (Italy) Telekom 28:06
20. George Totschnig (Austria) Telekom 31:58
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