94th Tour de France - ProT

Stage 13 - Saturday, July 21: Albi - Albi, 54km

The Tour de France is not yet decided, that much was proven today during the first individual time trial of this Tour in and around the town of Albi.
Alexander Vinokourov showed today that he should not be forgotten when talking about who will be wearing the yellow jersey in Paris. Although he took the descent and curves in the road very carefully because of the rain, he still managed to finish first today in 1.06.34., 1'14" ahead of Cadel Evans (Lotto-Predictor).
Astana had a great today with Andreas Klöden finishing third at 1'39" and Andrej Kashechkin fourth at 1'44".

In the GC, Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) stays in yellow thanks to an unforeseen good ITT, in which he lost 2'55" to Vinokourov. Alexander Vinokourov himself got a spot in the top ten today, now at 5'10" from Rasmussen.

Here's what Vinokourov had to say about today's victory:
«It’s a new Tour that begins for the Astana Cycling Team today! I recover all my sensations. I would like to thank my teammates, my masseur as well as my ostheopathe and the whole staff who all helped me a lot to feel good again. I wish also to thank the numerous public that always encouraged me. The Tour will be over only in Paris. But for sure, the team will attack tomorrow !»

Results

1 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 1.06.35 (48.661 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto 1.14
3 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 1.39
4 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 1.44
5 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.13
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.15
7 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.18
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.37
9 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 2.38
10 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 2.41

General classification

1 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 1.00
3 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel 2.31
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 2.34
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 3.37
6 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana 4.23
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 4.45
8 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 5.02
9 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 5.10
10 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 5.29

Copyright 2003-2006 Kelly Steenlandt