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July 06, 2005
More on the yellow jersey disruption
MSNBC.com | Lance starts in blue, but switches after start
Apparently, it was Jean-Marie Leblanc (the top of the food chain for race officials, he's the race director) who stopped the race and ordered Lance Armstrong into the Tour leader's yellow jersey during the neutral start today:
“There was no problem, just a little confusion in the beginning, having not started in the jersey,” Armstrong said. “I didn’t feel that it was right to start in the jersey.”Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc got strict about the rule book, which states that the overall race leader “must wear” the yellow jersey.
“There was no negotiation,” Armstrong said. “Jean-Marie said: ‘You don’t start in the jersey, and you don’t start tomorrow.’ So I said ‘OK.’ ”
Posted by Frank Steele on July 6, 2005 in About the Tour, Lance Armstrong | Permalink
Comments
Let's see... threatening the winner of the last six tours with a ban for a harmless gesture made while respecting the traditions of the sport. That's really lame, Leblanc.
Posted by: Dusty at Jul 6, 2005 3:06:20 PM
I dunno that I'd call it lame - Armstong made his point and Leblanc ensured that the Yellow Jersey sponsors got their money's worth. Seems reasonable to me.
Posted by: VinoVelo at Jul 6, 2005 5:07:31 PM
People are fighting to wear the yellow jersey once in their cycling career.. the only one who can afford to be tired of it is Lance Amstrong, and for a good reason this time. But being obliged to wear it to protect sponsor's money is really lame. The yellow jersey should be put on with pride, not for commercial ends, this just defeats all the spirit behind it.
Posted by: bavardus at Jul 6, 2005 5:50:52 PM
