« Stage 17 underway | Main | Report: Flecha to Rabobank »
July 20, 2005
Savoldelli takes longest stage
After George Hincapie won the Tour's hardest stage, Discovery Channel went out and took the longest stage, as well.
Giro champion Paolo Savoldelli spent the day in a big breakaway, then held the pace as it dropped to 8, then 4 riders. When CSC's Kurt-Asle Arvesen made his move, just outside of the 1k to ride marker, it looked like the winning move, but Savoldelli came back, catching Arvesen and passing him in the final 50 meters of the stage, for his first career Tour stage win.
Back in the field, Alexandre Vinokourov decided he's not content with his GC placing, and blew the field in two at the day's final climb. Only 10 men were able to stay with Vinokourov, dropping Floyd Landis, Cadel Evans, and Christophe Moreau 20 seconds farther down the GC.
Surprisingly, today's stage had no effect whatsoever on the green jersey competition, where Thor Hushovd continues to lead Stuart O'Grady and Robbie McEwen.
Top 10:
1) Paolo Savoldelli, Discovery Channel, in 5:41:19
2) Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC, same time
3) Simon Gerrans, AG2R, at :08
4) Sébastien Hinault, Credit Agricole, at :11
5) Andriy Grivko, Domina Vacanze, at :24
6) Oscar Sevilla, T-Mobile, at :51
7) Bram Tankink, QuickStep, at :51
8) Daniele Righi, Lampre-Caffita, at :53
9) Samuel Dumoulin, AG2R, at 3:14
10) Allan Davis, Liberty Seguros, at 3:14
Team competition update: Savoldelli's gap over Sevilla gives Discovery Channel the overall lead in the team classification: They're up by 37 seconds over T-Mobile, with CSC at 22:04 in 3rd.
Popovych picked up 20 seconds in the white jersey competition by hanging on Vinokourov's late break. Sébastien Hinault takes the red race numbers of the day's most combative rider.
Posted by Frank Steele on July 20, 2005 in Paolo Savoldelli, Stage results, Top Stories | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341bf6df53ef00d83423d41653ef
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Savoldelli takes longest stage:
» Discovery's Savoldelli wins stage; Armstrong in yellow but winless from Biking Bis - Bicycle Touring and More
The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team can put another notch in its collective handlebars with Paolo Savoldelli's win on Wednesday.
The Italian, fresh ... [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 20, 2005 2:20:42 PM
» Salvodelli Wins Another Stage for Discovery from Operation Gadget
I was pleased to see Paolo Salvodelli won Stage 17 for Discovery earlier today in Revel. I had been concerned that Salvodelli wasn't doing well in the Tour since many riders who push themselves to the limit in the Giro... [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 20, 2005 11:50:47 PM
» Salvodelli Wins Another Stage for Discovery from Operation Gadget
I was pleased to see Paolo Salvodelli won Stage 17 for Discovery earlier today in Revel. I had been concerned that Salvodelli wasn't doing well in the Tour since many riders who push themselves to the limit in the Giro... [Read More]
Tracked on Jul 20, 2005 11:52:20 PM
Comments
Actually, Kloden's withdrawal greatly affected T-Mobile on the team classification, although Sevilla got gobs back with all the time he gained.
Posted by: Slow Freddie at Jul 20, 2005 2:50:59 PM
T-Mob, need one say more. What a team in chaos. Jan can't win and takes pride in possible fourth. Vino declares he's out of there. Kloden has to drop out. Maybe they should change their name to T-Zoo. Sad to see so much talent appear to be so disorganized.
Posted by: Trée at Jul 20, 2005 3:49:53 PM
Don't worry about TMO, they will be just fine. All they really needed during this Tour was a calm head in the middle of the storm, perhaps someone like Erik Zabel, who is mature and has the experience necessary over the 3 weeks. Walter Godefroot & Co. just made a major blunder this year; even he's joked about it during the Tour. Some of my favorite lines are from his mouth this Tour.
Truth is, DSC really worked that race today. Bruyneel is really carving his name into the books. It doesn't look like they want to settle for 2nd place in any competition. Maybe they're just angry they can't win the green & polka-dot, too. Has anyone kept track to see if they would have won the old red or combination jerseys by now? (chuckle)
Posted by: jerome at Jul 20, 2005 4:59:23 PM
T-Mobile is a classic example of too many chiefs and not enough indians. Who thought it would be a good idea to put 3 alpha males on one team and expect them to behave?
Posted by: Devans at Jul 20, 2005 11:09:55 PM
Hy;i am from Puerto Rico and this tour is very exiting because the diference in points is very close.i will enjoy if lance win the 7 consecutive tour.i was a cycler and know how important is complete owr gols.
thanks Jose
Posted by: Jose A.Bonilla at Jul 22, 2005 11:41:26 AM