| |
| Saturday, March 13th, 2004 |
| Stage 7 - Dignes-les-Bains > Cannes - 185,5 km |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
| Vinokourov, Act II |
| |
 Alexandre Vinokourov pulls off a remarkable finale, winning his second stage this year in the Paris-Nice and riding in his own home region. Jorg Jaksche keeps the yellow and white jersey, despite the CSC Team's spate of withdrawals, while Rebellin takes back the green. |
| |
 |
 |
Voeckler made a bid
As has happened at the outset of all stages since the Chaville start, the first kilometres were very lively. At kilometre 18, the Frenchman Thomas Voeckler made a bid to break away from the peloton, but was caught up by a small band of seven riders who managed to tuck in on the Côte de la Bégude-Blanche climb. They included Kessler, Basso, Moncoutié, Serrano, Landaluze and Dekker.
Jaksche's initiatives
In the first bonus sprint at Puimoison, Hincapie, Vandenbroucke and Jaksche picked up a few extra seconds. The yellow and white jersey, whose progress in the general classification leaves little safety margin, made his own attempt to attack at kilometre 60 but was constantly marked by his chaser, Davide Rebellin.
 And then there were three
Among the leading adventurers of the day, the weeding-out process took place on the Col d'Ayen climb. Three of them broke away, clearing the summit in the order: Landaluze-Dekker-Moncoutié. Jaksche, slightly ahead of the peloton, followed 10 seconds behind. When the next difficulty cropped up, at kilometre 70.5, the three escapees – gleaning mountain classification points in the order Dekker-Moncoutié-Landaluze – now had a 1'35” lead on the pack.
Withdrawals en masse
 The flight continued for the three breakaways, clearing the Côte de Jabron with a 2'50” lead over the peloton. Their maximum gap was at kilometre 110, after getting in fresh supplies. But the names of Richard Virenque, Anthony Geslin and Thomas Voeckler were added to the long list of those who'd dropped out in the course of the day. The game was also up for Cyril Dessel, Matthew White, Raivis Belohvosciks, Jakob Piil, Michele Bartoli, Christophe Edaleine and Thomas Ziegler.
T-Mobile riders put in the legwork
The threesome continued to lead the stage long enough to pick up climber classification points at Col de Saint-Arnoux (Dekker-Moncoutié-Landaluze), then at Bourigaille, in the same order. But the gap with the peloton closed under pressure from riders in the T-Mobile Team, then Fassa Bortolo and Jaksche's CSC Team.
Sanchez believed he could do it
The link-up came shortly after the last intermediate sprint, and then the attacks gathered pace on the last climb of the day. One by one, Zulle, Vandenbroucke and then Sanchez formed the vanguard, though none of them opened a decisive gap. All the same, the Spaniard Euskaltel was most successful, riding alone for more than ten kilometres.
Rebellin really wears green
Once the peloton had formed up again, Vinokourov's break-out three kilometres from the finish put a stop to all speculation. Already victorious at Rasteau, the double-titleholder pulled ahead despite a frontal wind that tried to bedevil the 15-second lead he managed to keep to the end. Davide Rebellin, who wore the green jersey without being top in the points classification, took over the lead ahead of Jaksche, who stays in yellow and white. |
| |
 |
|
Alexandre Vinokourov (stage winner)
 Does this second stage victory make you regret not being able to defend your title in the general classification?
No. Most of all, I'm very happy to win here. The general classification was not my priority this time round. At the start of the week, the whole team decided to work for Santiago Botero, but since he fell ill we've changed our plans. As for me, I'd decided to take it fairly easy yesterday to get some rest after the previous day and save my strength for today. I'm delighted, because it all worked out really well.
Yet again, you were impressive in the stage finale...
It's true that there was very strong frontal wind, so I had to be sturdy. But I was confident that I was in good shape and I was riding a course I'm very familiar with. I knew exactly how to pace myself. It's a lovely victory, because it's as if I was winning on home ground.
After these two victories, what stage of preparation do you think you've reached?
When I began the race, I didn't really know where I was. But each day my form improved. I didn't really want to force myself too hard this week, but I now realise I'm in great shape. So that augurs well for my forthcoming date, next week at Milan-San Remo. |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| |
 |
| Stage winner: |
VINOKOUROV Alexandre |
 (yellow / white jersey) |
JAKSCHE Jorg |
 (green / white jersey) |
REBELLIN Davide |
 (red polka dotted jersey) |
OSA Aitor |
 (blue / white jersey) |
ROGERS Michael |
 (red dossard) |
|
|
| |
| Riders list | Time schedule |
| |
 |
| Stage |
|
|
| |
| Overall |
|
|
| |
 |
| 1 |
Sunday, March 7th |
13,2 km |
| Chaville > Issy-les-Moulineaux / Vanves |
| 2 |
Monday, March 8th |
166,5 km |
| Chaville > Montargis |
| 3 |
Tuesday, March 9th |
229 km |
| La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin > Roanne |
| 4 |
Wednesday, March 10th |
179 km |
| Roanne > Le Puy-en-Velay |
| 5 |
Thursday, March 11th |
215 km |
| Le Puy-en-Velay > Rasteau |
| 6 |
Friday, March 12th |
173,5 km |
| Rasteau > Gap |
| 7 |
Saturday, March 13th |
185,5 km |
| Digne-les-Bains > Cannes |
| 8 |
Sunday, March 14th |
144 km |
| Nice > Nice |
| Total |
1 305,7 km |
|
|
|
