Wednesday, July 06, 2005
TdF Stage 5
AUSSIE ROBBIE McEWEN GETS HIS STAGE WIN. He is the defending Green Jersey (sprinting) champion of the Tour de France. He was supposed to be the top contender for this year's Maillot Vert. He was supposed to have won a stage sooner. But he got caught behind another rider at the line in Stage 2. And he was penalized for apparently head-butting fellow Australian Stuart O'Grady at the finish line in Stage 3 (McEwen contends O'Grady was holding him back with his elbow). But today there was no denying Robbie McEwen a stage victory. He nosed ahead of Green Jersey wearer Tom Boonen for the win. Radar clocked McEwen at 63 km/h at the line--traveling slightly uphill! That's over 39 miles per hour, folks (and after over 113 miles of riding at over 25 mph)! Try riding 39 mph on a flat surface sometime. My fastest--albeit wind-assisted--speed on a flat surface: 32 mph.
LOOK OUT FOR GEORGE TOMORROW! There is no change in the General Classification (overall race leadership) standings. Lance Armstrong still wears the Yellow Jersey. Tomorrow is another flat stage. Watch for American George Hincapie to try a breakway either tomorrow or Friday (Friday's stage may be more suited for big George); the Discovery Channel team leadership has reportedly given him the green light to try to capture the Yellow Jersey for a few days...his reward for seven years of hard work in service to Lance Armstrong.
ZABRISKIE UPDATE. American David Zabriskie, who crashed spectacularly--however else you describe or define it! (see earlier comments)--almost within site of the finish line line in Tuesday's Team Time Trial, was declared fit to ride today; he has bruised ribs and his skinned up badly, but no broken bones or internal injuries. He finished today's stage in the peloton and maintains his position in 9th place, 1'26" behind Armstrong. I am remembering that Tyler Hamilton broke a collarbone in the early stages of the '03 Tour and came back to win one stage on a breakaway and finish just off the podium in Paris. Might Zabriskie survive the next week or so and shine again in the second individual time trial?
LOOK OUT FOR GEORGE TOMORROW! There is no change in the General Classification (overall race leadership) standings. Lance Armstrong still wears the Yellow Jersey. Tomorrow is another flat stage. Watch for American George Hincapie to try a breakway either tomorrow or Friday (Friday's stage may be more suited for big George); the Discovery Channel team leadership has reportedly given him the green light to try to capture the Yellow Jersey for a few days...his reward for seven years of hard work in service to Lance Armstrong.
ZABRISKIE UPDATE. American David Zabriskie, who crashed spectacularly--however else you describe or define it! (see earlier comments)--almost within site of the finish line line in Tuesday's Team Time Trial, was declared fit to ride today; he has bruised ribs and his skinned up badly, but no broken bones or internal injuries. He finished today's stage in the peloton and maintains his position in 9th place, 1'26" behind Armstrong. I am remembering that Tyler Hamilton broke a collarbone in the early stages of the '03 Tour and came back to win one stage on a breakaway and finish just off the podium in Paris. Might Zabriskie survive the next week or so and shine again in the second individual time trial?
# posted by John Franklin Hay @ 8:19 AM 
