Key moments

Bennati Wins While Contador Turns White Into Yellow

An escape group of eight riders scampered clear at the five kilometer mark and cooperated all the way to the final climb on a transitional stage. A series of quick surges in the final 20km split the lead group until only four remained in contention for victory. Daniele Bennati easily disposed of Markus Fothen, Martin Elmgiger and Jens Voigt in the final sprint to give his Lampre team its first victory at the Tour in six years. Meanwhile, Alberto Contador turned will swap the white jersey of leader of the youth classification for yellow as he inherits the lead of the general classification a day after Michael Rasmussen was withdrawn from the Tour de France while in the overall lead.

The 188.5km 17th stage of the 2007 Tour de France, from Pau to Castelsarrasin, began at 1.00pm. There were 142 riders at the sign-on with the most notable omission that of the dual stage winner of leader of general classification Michael Rasmussen (RAB). The Dane was withdrawn from the race and dismissed by his team late in the evening of 25 July. “An incorrect notification of one’s whereabouts is a flagrant violation of UCI regulations and unacceptable,” read the team’s official statement. There was no yellow jersey in the peloton. The seven remaining members of the Cofidis team also abandoned after the announcement of a positive doping control of Cristian Moreni for testosterone after the 11th stage. The Italian didn’t ask for the B-sample.
The race included six hills with points on offer for the polka-dot jersey, they were: the cat-3 cote de Baleix (at 23km) followed by five cat-4 ascents – the cote de Villecomtal (54km), cote de Mielan (59.5km), cote de Ste-Dode-aux-Croix (63.5km), cote de Theux (72.5km) and cote de la Montagnere (169.5km). The intermediate sprints were in Rabastens-de-Bigorre (44.5km) and Solomiac (146.5km).

Caisse Squad Leads The Chase For 100km
Florencio (BTL) attacked the moment the stage started but was caught soon afterwards. At 5km, eight men escaped. They were: Voigt (CSC), Elmiger (A2R), Bennati (LAM), Righi (LAM), Fothen (GST), Quinziato (LIQ), Tosatto (QSI) and Millar (SDV). At the first climb, the bunch was at 1’10”. Bouygues Telecom led the peloton’s pursuit. The average for the first hour was 47.3km/h. Caisse d’Epargne came to the front of the peloton after the first sprint and didn’t allow the escape to gain much momentum. The lead was just 2’20” at the 19km mark and by the 2nd climb, it was reduced to 1’30”. Caisse d’Epargne insisted with its pursuit until the 105km mark when the escapees were only 2’55” ahead; five kilometres later the advantage had grown to 4’20”; at 121km – 6’30”; at 135 – 7’30”. Denis Menchov (RAB) abandoned just after the feed zone. The average speed for the third hour was 43.1km/h. Discovery Channel took over the chasing duties after Caisse d’Epargne stopped their effort.

Bennati Claims His Maiden Tour Win & Contador Takes Replaces White With Yellow…
The attacks in the lead group were started by Elmiger at the base of the final ascent. Then Voigt surged followed by Fothen; this flurry of action eliminated Righi and Quinziato from the lead group. The next to drop were Millar and Tosatto. With 10km to go, Elminger, Voigt, Bennati and Fothen led Millar and Tosatto by 1’00” and the other two by 1’50”. There were a few surges in the final five kilometres but the four passed under the ‘flamme rouge’ together. Fothen launched an attack down the right of the road with 200m to go but was caught by Bennati who easily won the sprint ahead of the young German. It was is Bennati’s first victory in the Tour de France and Lampre’s first since Svorada won in Paris at the end of the 2001 edition.
Tom Boonen led the peloton home 9’37” behind Bennati. Alberto Contador finished 20th in the stage (at 9’39”); he will wear the yellow jersey in stage 18.

Top of the page

Daniele Bennati – “I knew I had good legs…”

The stages that separate the mountains from the final time trial generally conclude with an escape group contesting the victory. Daniele Bennati is best known as a sprint specialist but he rode a tactically clever race, netting his maiden victory in the Tour de France.

“I knew that in the third week that there is rarely a chance of the peloton arriving at the finish for a sprint finish and so I had to take my chances and try to get in an escape group. Right from the start this morning I knew that I had good legs. The first 90 kilometers were very difficult and we were at our limit and the peloton refused to give us much of an advantage. Notheless everyone worked well together in the breakaway and after about 100 kilometers things settled down a little.
“After that I was afraid that a small group wouldn’t go to the finish with a sprint because the others knew that I was strong and that I had a good chance of winning in a sprint. Then I had to watch out for everybody and be sure that no attack would surprise me. The sprint wasn’t particularly fast when compared with a bunch kick but after 180km in an escape I was pleased to be able to find the energy. I realized again that I had good legs.”

Tom Boonen – “I’ve started to dare to dream…”

After three tough stages in the Pyrenees, the focus returned to the green jersey. Tom Boonen has a commanding lead in the points classification but today he had to get motivated to sprint for ninth place… this isn’t easy to do for a rider who admits that he’s grown rather used to winning.

“I am starting to consider being on the podium in Paris. I was there in 2005 when I won the stage on the Champs-Elysees so I know a little bit what it feels like but to end the Tour with the green jersey is something special. I’ve started to dare to dream about it happening but there are still a few challenging days ahead and I hope everything goes fine.
“I’m doing everything I need to do to conserve my lead in the points classification. Psychologically the others are a little bit behind because they don’t have many chances anymore and that’s the hardest thing about the Tour; you have to sprint for every point and, for a sprinters who’s used to winning a lot, to then start sprinting for ninth place it’s not easy.
“I’ll be happy to go home on Sunday night. I don’t want to stay in Paris; I want to go home and sleep in my bed, it’s been a long Tour.”

Johan Bruyneel – “I was very surprised…”

The manager of Alberto Contador’s team understands what it takes to win the Tour de France and, with only a few days remaining in the 2007 edition, Johan Bruyneel once again has a rider from his squad in the yellow jersey. His young Spanish recruit leads Cadel Evans in the general classification by 1’53” after 17 stages and Bruyneel believes that should be enough for Contador to take the victory.

“It’s not the way that we had hoped to take the yellow jersey. The team tried everything it could in the Pyrenees; the riders attacked and Rasmussen showed that he was stronger on the road but all of a sudden we’re in the position as leaders of the Tour.
“I was very surprised when I heard of the decision to withdraw Rasmussen and I wasn’t happy at all. That’s not the way you want things to happen.
“Every single case is different but there were many elements surrounding Rabobank’s decision and a lot of pressure. At a certain moment you have to make a decision and I think they held up to the criticism as long as possible but it’s a hard call to make. If you’re leading the biggest race in the world and then forfeit it… it’s a brave decision.
“I think [Alberto’s lead] should be enough. Cadel is probably a better time trial specialist but it’s at the end of the race and I think 1’53” should be enough.”

Jens Voigt – “I like to keep trying…”

One of the Germans in the escape en route to Castelsarrasin has won stages twice before at the Tour after being in a breakaway but it wasn’t to be Jens Voigt’s day. He finished fourth in the sprint of four riders that contested the victory but was voted the most aggressive rider.

“This is my 10th Tour de France and I have probably been in about 50 breakaways and only twice have I won but if you never try, you never win so I like to keep trying. I’m 35 and things are not getting easier at my age… no, but seriously, I tried what I could and maybe my rivals were watching me a little more closely or the circumstances were just not right. I tried with the same tactics that I usually use because it’s the safest thing: I like to arrive at the line by myself because then you cannot lose the sprint. Other riders train hard also and others are good cyclists but they know me and they watch me.”

Alberto Contador – “I hope the time that I have on Evans is enough…”

He was in complete control of the youth classification and has won a stage already this year but the withdrawal of Michael Rasmussen overnight meant Alberto Contador inherits the ‘maillot jaune’. The white jersey was replaced by yellow after a hot, fast transitional stage that featured a rapid chase of eight escapees by the Caisse d’Epargne squad but the young Spaniard who now leads the Tour de France is already thinking about the time trial on the penultimate day.

“It’s a normal situation: when the yellow jersey quits the race, the man in second overall moves up the rankings into first. This is a bit of a surprise for me but leading the Tour de France is a consequence of what has happened. I tried my best yesterday to get the jersey in the toughest stage of the race but failed to do so because [Rasmussen] was just so strong but those are the circumstances.
“Now I just want to go back to the hotel as quickly as possible and get some rest because tomorrow is going to be a very long stage.
“Today, only the last section of the stage was relatively calm. My team worked well for me but the first part was extremely fast. The opening 80km were ridden at an extremely rapid and impressive pace but luckily this dropped towards the end.
“I hope the time that I have on Cadel Evans is enough but he’s a very strong rider and he’s already managed some very good time trials. It’ll be a long 50km flat time trial and I’ll do my best just to maintain the gap.”

Top of the page