Stage 19 Summary

The 153.5km 19th stage of the 2005 Tour de France began at 1.36pm. There were 155 riders a the sign on. At the start of the stage in Puy-de-Dome it was 27 degrees Celsius in the air and 40 degrees at road level. _ The stage featured five categorized climbs: the cat-4 Cote de Gerbaudias (at 23km), the cat-3 Cote de Saint-Eloy-la-Glaciere (at 38.5km), the last cat-2 ascent of the 92nd edition the Col des Pradeaux (at 68km), the cat-4 Cote des Terrasses (at 96km) and the cat-4 Cote de Malaveille (at 107.5km). _ There were two intermediate sprints, the first in Ambert (at 55.5km) and the second in Bellevue-la-Montagne (at 123.5km). _ _ Early Attacks… _ Moos (PHO) attacked in the first kilometer. At 3.5km he was 12” ahead of the peloton. He was caught at the 8km mark. Vicioso (LSW) attacked at 16.5km and was chased down by Righi (LAM). The peloton was led by the FDJ team which refused to allow any escape to succeed. Righi and Vicioso were caught at the 18km mark. Heras (LSW) attacked at the 20.5km mark. He as caught on the first climb. Moreau (CA) and Scholz (GST) attacked on the Cote des Gerbaudias. They claimed the points of the cat-4 rise with a lead of about 10” on the peloton which was led by McGee (FDJ). There was a brief sortie by 18 riders including Ullrich (TMO), Julich (CSC) and Moreau (CA). Not surprisingly, this was chased down. At 30.5km Casar (FDJ) and Guerini (TMO) attacked. They were caught by Pereiro (PHO) at 31.5km. On the 2nd climb Pellizotti attacked the peloton. At the summit the points were won by: Pereiro, Guerini and Casar. Pellizotti was 12” behind. Arvesen (CSC) and Garate (SDV) were 15” behind and the peloton at 40”. The average speed for the 1st hour was 40.7km/h. _ _ Chase Group Forms _ On the descent of the Col de Saint-Eloy-La-Glaciere Pellizotti caught Pereiro’s trio. Garate returned to the peloton but Arvesen was joined by nine others – Azevedo (DSC), Grabsch (PHO), Flecha (FAS), Chavanel (COF), Commesso (LAM), Da Cruz (FDJ), Bertolini (DOM), Weening (RAB) and Portal (A2R) – at the 45km mark. These riders were allowed to gain an advantage as the Discovery Channel team came to the front of the bunch. On the 3rd climb Commesso attacked the chase group. After 62km, Casar, Guerini, Pereiro and Pellizotti lead Commesso by 48”; Azevedo, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Chavanel, Da Cruz, Bertolini, Weening and Portal by 1’00” and the peloton by 3’45”. At the top of the 3rd climb (at 68km) the points were won by: Pereiro, Pellizotti, Guerini, Casar, Weening - at 1’20 and Grabsch. In Weening’s group were: Commesso, Da Cruz, Arvesen and Azevedo. At 1’55” were: Portal, Bertolini, Chavanel and Flecha. The peloton was behind by 3’35” at the top of the 3rd climb. The 10 counter-attackers joined forces at the 72km mark. At the feedzone (77km) Casar’s group led the 10 by 1’40” and the peloton by 4’30”. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 44.1km/h. At the 85km mark, the leaders were 2’10” ahead of 10 and 6’00” ahead of the peloton. _ _ Commesso Attacks, Attacks & Attacks Again… _ On the 4th climb the points were won by Pereiro, Guerini and Pellizotti. Casar was fourth over the Cote des Terrasses. This quartet had a lead of 8’40” on the peloton at the 95km mark. This was the maximum gain of the escape (and the 10 chasers were 2’10” behind). Illes Balears then came to the front of the peloton. The chase group was attacked repeatedly by Commesso after the 4th climb. The points of the Cote de Malaveille (at 107.5km) were won by Pereiro, Casar and Guerini. Chavanel, Arvesen, Grabsch, Flecha, Weening and Azevedo were at 1’45”; Da Cruz, Bertolini and Bertolini were at 1’55”; the peloton was at 7’50”. The points for the 2nd sprint were won by Pereiro, Guerini & Pellizotti. Commesso was in a group of seven riders 1’45” behind the stage leaders. Da Cruz, Bertolini and Portal were at 1’55”. The peloton was at 6’45”. Davitamon and Gerolsteiner led the peloton along with Illes Balears for the final 30km. _ _ Guerini Earns T-Mobile Another Stage Win _ The four stage leaders cooperated from the moment they joined forces around the 31km mark through to the 1,300m from the finish. His was the only attack of the lead group and it was perfectly timed. Pereiro was forced to do most of the work in the lead group and he followed Casar and Pellizotti across the line 10” behind Guerini who earned his second stage victory in the Tour de France (after the stage to Alpe d’Huez in 1999). Pereiro moved from 13th overall to 10th with his fourth place in the 19th stage. _ _ The peloton was led to the line by McEwen (DVL) 4’21” behind Guerini. Lance Armstrong (DSC) finished 56th place 10” behind McEwen’s time. The American will wear the yellow jersey in the time trial of stage 20.