| 07/24/2001 | Racing News for 7/24/01+TOUR DE FRANCE (STAGE 14: TARBES - LUZ ARDIDEN)
STAGE 14: Most of Jean-Marie Leblanc's more controversial selections for the wildcard spots in this year's tour have somehow managed to make the tour chief look, so far, like a very smart man indeed. Jacky Durand flew the FDJ colors on a classic,long breakway in stage 1 while teammate Sven Montgomery has been in the top 20 throughout most of the race. Laurent Roux (Jean Delatour) has been in the fight for the polka-dot jersey thoroughout the race, while his main rival for the price, Laurent Jalabert has kept the colors of his new team, CSC- Tiscali, prominently in the headlines. Over at the Bonjour camp, they've had quite a tour as they are now poised to have two riders in the Top 12 after holding the maillot jaune for several days.
Today, another one of Leblanc's selections came good and fulfilled the promise demonstrated over the last couple of years in races such as the Dauphine Libere. The Euskatel Team's payoff for days of aggressive riding payed dividends today. They will not go home empty-handed. Today, near their Basque stomping grounds, Roberto Laiseka won the climb up to Luz Ardiden. With about 20 kms to go the summit, Laiseka slipped the yellow jersey group and took the price in the last climbing stage of the 2001 Tour de France. Behind Laiseka, Vladimir Belli came in with a fine second place, after a long, difficult tour for the Fassa Bortolo squad.
The strong men of the tour stayed together for most of the day, as Ullrich's attacks seemed to lack the fury they had over the last few days. Strategy still seemed to be in play, as the German sent teammates up the road on early attacks. At the end, only Armstrong had a teammate, Roberto Heras, and the three riders rode away from
the balance of the race. At the finish line, Armstrong did not contest the sprint for third place, choosing instead to watch Ullrich cross the line, as the German took over second place overall. Ullrich stretched his hand back to Armstrong, at the finish line, in a gesture that seemed to indicate he now understood his fate, again.
STAGE 14: RESULTS (Tarbes - Luz Ardiden) 141 km
1. LAISEKA, Roberto (SPA/ESK) 4h:24:30
2. BELLI, Vladimir (ITA/FAS) at 00:54
3. ULLRICH, Jan (GER/TEL) at 01:08
4. ARMSTRONG, Lance (USA/USP) at 01:08
5. HERAS, Roberto (SPA/USP) at 01:29
6. BELOKI, Joseba(ESP/ONC) at 01:39
7. SEVILLA, Oscar(ESP/KEL) at 01:39
8. ROUS, Didier (FRA/BJR) at 02:01
9. KIVILEV, Andrei(KAZ/COF) at 02:27
10.GLEZ, GALDEANO,I (ESP/ONC) at 02:30
G.C. AFTER STAGE 14
1. ARMSTRONG, Lance (USA/USP)62h 15.04
2. ULLRICH, Jan (GER/TEL) at 05:05
3. KIVILEV, Andrei(KAZ/COF) at 05:13
4. BELOKI, Joseba (SPA/ONC) at 06:33
5. SIMON, Francois(FRA/BJR) at 10:54
6. GLEZ GALDEANO,I (ESP/ONC) at 12:04
7. SEVILLA, Oscar(SPA/KEL) at 13:55
8. BOTERO, Santiago (COL/KEL) at 17:49
9. SERRANO, Marcos(ESP/ONC) at 19:20
10.GARZELLI, Stefano(ITA/MAP) at 19:45
18.JALABERT, Laurent (FRA/CSC)at 42:04
20.MERCKX, Axel (BEL/DOM) at 44:45
30.JULICH, Bobby (USA/CA) at1.00:05
52.O'GRADY, Stuart (AUS/CA) at1.28:06
GREEN JERSEY: STUART O'GRADY
POLKA DOT: LAURENT JALABERT
YOUNG RIDER: OSCAR SEVILLA
COMBATIVITY: LAURENT JALABERTwww.infociclismo.com
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