- News>
- Others
Ullrich poses threat to Armstrong`s record bid
Gaillac, July 19: Jan Ullrich emerged as the rider capable of denying race leader Lance Armstrong a record-equalling fifth Tour de France victory when he crushed the American in a 47 km time trial on Friday (July 18).
Gaillac, July 19: Jan Ullrich emerged as the rider capable of denying race leader Lance Armstrong a record-equalling fifth Tour de France victory when he crushed the American in a 47 km time trial on Friday (July 18).
Ullrich, the 1997 champion, had not won a Tour time trial since 1998 but produced an astonishing 12th stage ride of 58 minutes 32 seconds, slashing Armstrong's lead over him from 2:10 to just 34 seconds as he swept into second place. Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov was third on the day, two minutes six seconds off the pace. He dropped to third in the overall standings, 51 seconds behind Armstrong. The loss was all the more significant for the Texan as he had called the sprint between Gaillac and Cap Decouverte "the most important time trial in my whole career". But Armstrong was outclassed and outpaced by the Bianchi team leader, who had missed last year's Tour because of a knee injury and a doping ban.
A winner six years ago, Ullrich has been a Tour runner-up four times -- in 1996, 1998 and behind Armstrong in 2000 and 2001.
The rider from Rostock has never had it so good since 1998, when he won both time trials on the Tour before losing overall to Italian climber Marco Pantani.
Given the margin of his fifth Tour time trial victory, the German will now be favourite to add a sixth in the 49 km sprint between Pornic and Nantes on the penultimate day, July 26.
Ullrich could secure his second Tour victory that day, should he beat Armstrong in the same commanding fashion -- and assuming he can stay the pace in the days ahead.
As expected, the classic duel between Armstrong and Ullrich which had been the highlight of the 2000 and 2001 Tours, started all over again in the furnace of southwestern France.
After 13 km, the best two time trial specialists in the world had clocked exactly the same time of 16:26, while other contenders such as Vinokourov, Briton David Millar and American Tyler Hamilton had to just limit the damage.
By contrast, climbers like Spaniards Iban Mayo or Francisco Mancebo were left five minutes adrift and will now struggle to make up the lost time in the Pyrenees.
Leading placings in Friday's 12th stage of the Tour de France cycle race, a 47 km time trial from Gaillac to Cap Decouverte: 1. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi 58 minutes 32 seconds 2. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal Service 1 minute 36 seconds behind 3. Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Team Telekom 2:06 4. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) Euskatel 2:40 5. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) Team CSC 2:43 6. Uwe Peschel (Germany) Gerolsteiner 3:26 7. David Millar (Britain) Cofidis 3:55 8. Inigo Chaurreau (Spain) AG2R 4:01 9. David Plaza (Spain) Team Bianchi 4:37 10. Santiago Botero (Colombia) Team Telekom 5:00 11. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com same time 12. Iban Mayo (Spain) Euskatel 5:03 13. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner 5:06 14. Denis Menchov (Russia) iBanesto.com 5:15 15. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary) Quick Step 5:25 16. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole 5:27 17. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) ONCE 5:32 18. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 5:52 19. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy) Cofidis 5:59 20. Ivan Basso (Italy) Fasso Bortolo 6:00
Leading overall (yellow jersey) standings 1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 50:16:45 2. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi 34 seconds behind 3. Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Team Telekom 51 4. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) Team CSC 2:59 5. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) Euskatel 4:29 6. Iban Mayo (Spain) Euskatel same time 7. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com 5:01 8. Ivan Basso (Italy) Fassa Bortolo 6:49 9. Denis Menchov (Russia) iBanesto.com 7:24 10. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole 7:55
Bureau Report
Ullrich, the 1997 champion, had not won a Tour time trial since 1998 but produced an astonishing 12th stage ride of 58 minutes 32 seconds, slashing Armstrong's lead over him from 2:10 to just 34 seconds as he swept into second place. Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov was third on the day, two minutes six seconds off the pace. He dropped to third in the overall standings, 51 seconds behind Armstrong. The loss was all the more significant for the Texan as he had called the sprint between Gaillac and Cap Decouverte "the most important time trial in my whole career". But Armstrong was outclassed and outpaced by the Bianchi team leader, who had missed last year's Tour because of a knee injury and a doping ban.
A winner six years ago, Ullrich has been a Tour runner-up four times -- in 1996, 1998 and behind Armstrong in 2000 and 2001.
The rider from Rostock has never had it so good since 1998, when he won both time trials on the Tour before losing overall to Italian climber Marco Pantani.
Given the margin of his fifth Tour time trial victory, the German will now be favourite to add a sixth in the 49 km sprint between Pornic and Nantes on the penultimate day, July 26.
Ullrich could secure his second Tour victory that day, should he beat Armstrong in the same commanding fashion -- and assuming he can stay the pace in the days ahead.
As expected, the classic duel between Armstrong and Ullrich which had been the highlight of the 2000 and 2001 Tours, started all over again in the furnace of southwestern France.
After 13 km, the best two time trial specialists in the world had clocked exactly the same time of 16:26, while other contenders such as Vinokourov, Briton David Millar and American Tyler Hamilton had to just limit the damage.
By contrast, climbers like Spaniards Iban Mayo or Francisco Mancebo were left five minutes adrift and will now struggle to make up the lost time in the Pyrenees.
Leading placings in Friday's 12th stage of the Tour de France cycle race, a 47 km time trial from Gaillac to Cap Decouverte: 1. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi 58 minutes 32 seconds 2. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal Service 1 minute 36 seconds behind 3. Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Team Telekom 2:06 4. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) Euskatel 2:40 5. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) Team CSC 2:43 6. Uwe Peschel (Germany) Gerolsteiner 3:26 7. David Millar (Britain) Cofidis 3:55 8. Inigo Chaurreau (Spain) AG2R 4:01 9. David Plaza (Spain) Team Bianchi 4:37 10. Santiago Botero (Colombia) Team Telekom 5:00 11. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com same time 12. Iban Mayo (Spain) Euskatel 5:03 13. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner 5:06 14. Denis Menchov (Russia) iBanesto.com 5:15 15. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hungary) Quick Step 5:25 16. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole 5:27 17. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) ONCE 5:32 18. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 5:52 19. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy) Cofidis 5:59 20. Ivan Basso (Italy) Fasso Bortolo 6:00
Leading overall (yellow jersey) standings 1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 50:16:45 2. Jan Ullrich (Germany) Team Bianchi 34 seconds behind 3. Alexander Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) Team Telekom 51 4. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) Team CSC 2:59 5. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain) Euskatel 4:29 6. Iban Mayo (Spain) Euskatel same time 7. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) iBanesto.com 5:01 8. Ivan Basso (Italy) Fassa Bortolo 6:49 9. Denis Menchov (Russia) iBanesto.com 7:24 10. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole 7:55
Bureau Report