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Dave's Dogmatic Dribbles
By Dave Osborne
Jul 9, 2004, 16:01
Tour de France - Stage 6
I’ve bonked! Can’t think of anything to say. Can’t think of anything to write. Hold on a sec while I have a beer and a Clif Bar. Ahh, that’s better!
Maybe I’m more bummed than bonked because Super Mario has once again abandoned the Tour. He said his injury from the Giro was aggravated and it became infected. Just so nobody can argue over who’s the better sprinter, Petacchi also didn’t start today. The injuries from his crash yesterday took their toll. I remember all the ranting from the television commentators from last year saying Petacchi was the next Cipollini. Guess what, they were right. He, also, can’t finish a Tour! Seriously though, it is unfortunate for both of them to leave as I think there eventually would have been an opportunity for the two of them to have a sprint showdown.
I didn’t see it but I heard Robbie McEwen had his straps from his bib shorts over his jersey. Hmmm…guess he took more than a pee break!
Speaking of breaks, six racers surged ahead from the peloton about 20 k in the race and held it until the last couple of kilometers. I always cheer for the break but they got gobbled up.
Tom Boonen takes the win ahead of O'Grady and Zabel. It's an easy game for the sprinters now that Cipollini and Petacchi are no longer in the race. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.
The youngster Boonen outsprints O’Grady and Zabel for his first ever stage win. Good job Tom. The rest of the peloton crashed again exactly at the 1 K mark. The rule is if you are at one K to go and there is a crash, those in the crash will get the same time as the finishers in the group they were with. So, Lance, Tyler, and Jan will get the same time. Most of the riders appear to be ok and this was the second fall for Lance today. Voeckler keeps the yellow jersey.
Tyler Hamilton was involved in a big crash at the end of today's stage and crossed the finish line by help of his supportive team mates. All the guys here at Roadcycling.com wish him a speedy recovery. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti.
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