Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7 and final
| CHRIS BOARDMAN, the world hour record holder, won the 5.1km prologue
stage of the Criterium du Dauphine here on Sunday and declared that his
season was starting now. The 28-year-old Boardman, also the world pursuit champion, won in a time of 5 minutes 50.12 seconds beating the world time-trial champion Alex Zulle of Switzerland, returning after a six week absence, and Russian Viacheslav Ekimov by three seconds. Boardman said that his season hadn't really got going yet because he was more interested in covering the mountain stages for this year's Tour de France, which starts on July 5. "I have come here to do well in this race and today's course was ideal for me. Up till now I haven't really raced very much as I've been researching this year's mountain stages for the Tour and it appears that there are less than last year," Boardman said. The biggest loser of the day was Frenchman Richard Virenque, three times King of the Mountains in the Tour de France, who lost 28 seconds. (Reuters.) |
Prologue in Grenoble, 5 km: 1. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan 5.50 (52,43 km/h) 2. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 0.03 3. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal + 0.03 4. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis + 0.05 5. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.06 6. Jose-Vicente Garcia (Spa) Banesto + 0.06 7. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank + 0.07 8. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal + 0.08 9. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina + 0.08 10. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 0.11 11. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 0.12 12. Aitor Garmendia (Spa) Once + 0.12 13. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino + 0.13 14. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 0.13 15. Francis Moreau(Fra) Cofidis + 0.14 16. Bobby Julich (Usa) Cofidis + 0.15 17. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once + 0.15 18. Gordon Kenneway (Gbr) Casino + 0.15 19. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal + 0.15 20. Francisque Teyssier (Fra) Gan + 0.16
| DJAMOLIDINE Abdujaporov won the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphine,
a 167km stretch from Grenoble to Villeurbanne Monday. Britain's Chris Boardman, winner of Sunday's prologue, retained the leader's yellow jersey. Abdujaporov saw off Italy's Giovanni Lombardi and Frederic Moncassin of France in a furious sprint finish which saw him spectacularly negotiate at high speed a dangerous bend just 200 metres from the finishing line. In the run up to the bend he had been fourth. Frenchman Thierry Bourguignon had launched a first escape attempt after 74km and had established a lead of almost four minutes before he was eventually reined in by Boardman's chasing Gan teammates. Abdujaporov, who said he had wanted to ride in a tough event to prepare him for next month's Tour de France, said of his hair-raising finish: "In the sprint I came out of the bend in the lead -- I didn't stop to ask any questions." Boardman said that Bouguignon's escape "suited us fine," adding his Gan teammates had done a good day's work. "This sort of stage helps us to sort out our collective teamwork before the Tour," he explained. (Reuters) |
Stage 1, Grenoble-Villeurbanne, 167 km: 1. Djamolidine Abdujaparov (Uzb) Lotto 4.21.47 2. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Telekom 3. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Gan 4. Gordon Fraser (Can) Mutuelle 5. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis 6. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 7. Stephane Barthe (Fra) Casino 8. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal 9. Jans Koerts (Ned) Rabobank 10. Damien Nazon (Fra) FDJ 11. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino 12. Laurent Pillon (Fra) Mutuelle 13. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat 14. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina 15. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Banesto 16. Gilles Talmant (Fra) Big Mat 17. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 18. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan 19. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Rabobank 20. Niki Aebersold (Sch) Post Swiss all s.t. Overall: 1. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan 4.27.37 2. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 0.03 3. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 4. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis both s.t. 5. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.06 6. Jose Vicente Garcia (Spa) Banesto + 0.07 7. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank s.t. 8. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal + 0.08 9. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina s.t. 10. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 0.11.
VJATJESLAV Ekimov won Tuesday's hilly second stage of the Dauphine
Libere as race leader Chris Boardman of Britain plunged to 32nd place..
*** X-RAYS revealed Tuesday that reigning world time-trial champion Alex
Zülle had not suffered broken ribs following his fall in the Criterium
du Dauphine. |
Stage 2, Champagne-au-Mont d'Or - Le Puy-en-Velay, 216 km: 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 6.13.22 2. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino 3. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina 4. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina 5. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina 6. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 7. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino 8. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ 9. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 10. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Banesto all s.t. Overall: 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 10.35.02 2. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 0.10 3. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.13 4. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina + 0.15 5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 0.18 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 0.19 7. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 0.20 8. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal + 0.22 9. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino + 0.24 10. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 0.25.
| UZBEK Djamolidine Abdujaparov won an eventful mass sprint to record
his second stage win in the Dauphine Libere cycle race on Wednesday. Abdujaparov, who had claimed Monday's first stage to Villeurbanne, was the fastest again after the day's 208-km ride from Le Puy, beating Italian Giovanni Lombardi and Frenchman Damien Nazon. After the finish, Frenchman Frederic Moncassin was expelled from the race after punching German Rolf Aldag, whom he accused of illegally blocking him. The stage brought no major changes to the overall standings with Russia's Vjatjeslav Ekimov retaining the lead, 12 seconds ahead of Swiss Alex Zülle with Spaniard Abraham Olano a further three seconds back in third. Thursday's fourth stage is a 45-km individual time trial around Bedarrides, in the Vaucluse region. |
Stage 3, Le Puy-en-Velay - Beaumes-de-Venise, 208 km: 1. Djamolidine Abdujaparov (Uzb) Lotto 5.28.08 2. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita) Telekom 3. Damien Nazon (Fra) FDJ 4. Philippe Gaumont (Fra) Cofidis 5. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal 6. Gordon Fraser (Can) Mutuelle 7. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 8. Frederic Moncassin (Fra) Gan 9. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina 10. Jans Koerts (Ned) Rabobank all s.t. Overall: 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 16.03.08 2. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 0.12 3. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.15 4. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina + 0.17 5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 0.20 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 0.20 7. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 0.22 8. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal + 0.24 9. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino + 0.26 10. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 0.27 11. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 0.29 12. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto + 0.29 13. Andrei Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto + 0.29 14. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina + 0.30 15. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 0.31 16. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ + 0.32 17. Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Casino + 0.33 18. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina + 0.33 19. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Lotto + 0.33 20. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 0.34.
| VJATJESLAV EKIMOV took a big step towards winning the Dauphine Libere
with victory in the fourth stage 45-km time trial on Thursday as Briton
Chris Boardman struggled with stomach and gear problems. Only Spaniard Abraham Olano, second in the time trial some 34 seconds behind Ekimov and now 49 seconds behind the Russian overall, is still within realistic striking distance. Third-placed Swiss Roland Meier, on the other hand, is another minute adrift of Ekimov, who must now fend off the challenge of Olano on the Alpine ascents before the race ends in Chambery on Sunday. "The big mountains ahead do not frighten me too much,'' Ekimov said. "I remember that in '94, when I finished 18th in the Tour de France, I managed to keep up with the strong men most of the time.'' Time trial specialist Boardman, who led after Monday's first stage following his victory in the prologue in Grenoble on Sunday, was troubled by an upset stomach and a gear problem and finished in fifth place, 66 seconds behind Ekimov. "It's the first time I've had this kind of (gear) problem and twice in the same time trial is too much,'' Boardman said. "On top of that, I felt like throwing up.'' Alex Zülle, hurt in a fall on Tuesday, and Richard Virenque, fell well behind with disappointing performances in the time trial. Zülle is now more than three minutes behind, while Virenque, third in the last Tour de France, dropped five minutes and languishes in 35th place overall. "I'm not managing to find the right rhythm, but the Tour de France is in four weeks' time and the high mountains in seven. I have time,'' Virenque said. (Reuter) |
Stage 4, ITT in Bédarrides, 45 km: 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 53.02 (50,901 km/h 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.33 3. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 1.26 4. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 1.27 5. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan + 2.00 6. Pascal Lance (Fra) Big Mat + 2.00 7. Gilles Maigan (Fra) Mutuelle + 2.10 8. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino + 2.10 9. José Vicente García (Spa) Banesto + 2.19 10. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Lotus + 2.31 11. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 2.36 12. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 2.40 13. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan + 2.40 14. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 2.42 15. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 2.46 16. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal + 2.49 17. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 2.53 18. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ + 2.54 19. Alberto Leanizbarrutia (Spa) Once + 2.56 20. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Rabobank + 3.00 Overall: . 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 16.56.10 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.49 3. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 1.49 4. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 1.57 5. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan + 2.49 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 2.51 7. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 2.57 8. Alex Zülle (Sch) Once + 2.59 9. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 3.07 10. Arturas Kasputis (Lit) Casino + 3.10.
| JENS HEPPNER, one of the unsung heroes of the Telekom team, claimed
the limelight here on Friday as he won the fifth stage of the Criterium
du Dauphine -- Vjatjeslav Ekimov of Russia kept the overall leader's yellow
jersey. Heppner made his move 20km from the finish as he opened up a 50-second lead over Spain's Javier Pascual on the Corobin climb. Prior to then the two riders had vied for the lead after escaping the pack, which finally came in more than a minute off the pace. "It's nice as I don't often have the chance to win even a stage as the team leaders rely on me to do the donkey work," the 32-year-old Heppner said. The German's joy was in stark contrast to that of French star Richard Virenque, winner of the King of the Mountains jersey in the last three Tour de France's, who is 36th overall almost seven minutes behind Ekimov. "I have never been as out of form as this in June and it is imperative that I rediscover it. I am not depressed but I know that it will take me more than a day to get back into top shape," Virenque said. The 28-year-old Virenque finished more than a minute behind the peloton along with Englishman Chris Boardman, the early overall leader. Boardman, who lost teammate Frederic Moncassin two days ago when he was expelled from the race for headbutting Rolf Aldag, faces a tough day in the mountains on Saturday whereas for Virenque it presents the perfect opportunity to cycle back into form as they limber up for the Tour de France which begins on July 5. (Reuter) |
Stage 5, Cavaillon - Digne-les-Bains, 169 km: 1. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 4.06.17 (42,09 km/h) 2. Javier Pascual (Spa) Kelme + 0.50 3. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 1.14 4. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) Gan 5. Eric Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 6. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom 7. Gerard Rue (Fra) Gan 8. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan 9. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 10. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 11. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) Once 12. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino 13. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom 14. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 15. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ all s.t. Overall: 1. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 21.03.41 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.49 3. Roland Meier (Sch) Post Swiss + 1.49 4. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 1.57 5. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 2.51 6. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 2.57 7. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 3.07 8. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 3.17 9. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 3.24 10. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal + 3.25 11. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ + 3.26 12. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan + 3.49 13. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina + 3.53 14. Miguel Angel Pena (Spa) Banesto + 3.57 15. Andrei Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto + 3.58 16. Eric Dekker (Ned) Rabobank + 4.05 17. Stephane Heulot (Fra) Gan + 4.09 18. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan + 4.10 --- 20. Gerard Rué (Fra) Gan + 4.48.
ABRAHAM OLANO took overall leadership in the Dauphine Libere from Russian
Vjatjeslav Ekimov when he won the sixth stage on Saturday. *** CHRIS BOARDMAN has pulled out of the Criterium du Dauphine here on Saturday,
complaining of an intestinal ailment. |
Stage 6, Digne-les-Bains - Briançon, 187 km: 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 5.07.27 2. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 0.01 3. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal + 0.05 4. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 0.09 5. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto + 0.57 6. Miguel Angel Pena (Spa) Banesto + 1.00 7. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto + 1.37 8. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 1.41 9. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 2.20 10. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan + 2.21 11. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino + 2.24 12. Andrea Peron (Ita) FDJ + 2.25 13. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 2.32 14. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Big Mat-Auber + 2.50 15. Andrei Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto + 2.52 16. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal + 4.10 17. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom + 4.10 18. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 4.10 19. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino + 4.19 20. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Lotto + 4.23 Overall: 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 26.11.57 2. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom + 1.09 3. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 2.17 4. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal + 2.51 5. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal + 3.21 6. Miguel Angel Pena (Spa) Banesto + 4.08 7. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 4.16 8. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 4.34 9. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 4.48 10. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto + 4.53 --- 16. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto + 8.19 19. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Big Mat-Auber + 9.45.
| UDO BÖLTS of Germany stole the Dauphine Libere cycling race from
under the nose of Abraham Olano, who was poised to give Spain their third
success in a row on Sunday. As Olano, looking to follow up Miguel Indurain's 1995 and 1996 victories, suffered from a string of problems in the last hour, Bölts made up a deficit of one minute and nine seconds to beat the overnight leader into second place by 12 seconds. "This was unexpected for me,'' the 31-year-old German of the Telekom team said at the finish line. Bur his team manager Rudy Pevenage was quick to point out that Tour de France title holder Bjarne Riis was still the team leader. "Riis is the number one, Jan Ullrich is the first reserve and I'm going to work for them,'' Pevenage said referring to the Tour de France next month. Andrei Teteriuk of Kazakhstan won the mountainous seventh and final stage over 182 kms from Briancon to Chambery. Italy's Davide Rebellin was second and Frenchman Francois Simon third. Bölts finished fifth and Olano 10th. Bölts, who also won the best climber title, attacked Olano on the Col de Porte climb two-thirds of the way into the race. On the descent, Olano and France's Richard Virenque fell but were soon on their bicycles again. Then Olano had a puncture 30 kms from the finish and had to change bikes, only to discover a pedal problem. By then Bolts had bettered the Spaniard's overall time. In the final downhill sprint into Chambery, Olano recovered several seconds but not enough to regain the lead. Bölts, German champion in 1990 and 1995 and winner of the San Sebastian classic last year, will be taking part in his sixth Tour de France in July. |
Stage 7, Briançon-Chambery, 182 km: 1. Andrei Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 4.36.09 2. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ + 0.43 3. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan 4. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal 5. Udo Bölts (Ger) Telekom all s.t. 6. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 1.35 7. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank s.t. 8. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom + 1.37 9. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina + 1.39 10. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 2.05 11. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina + 2.09 12. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal + 3.34 13. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino + 4.02 14. Andrea Peron (Ita) FDJ 15. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once 16. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank all s.t. 17. Gilles Maignan (Fra) Mutuelle + 6.46 18. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis s.t. 19. Javier Pascual (Spa) Kelme + 6.47 20. Frederic Bessy (Fra) Casino s.t. Final overall: 1. Udo Bölts (Ger), Telekom, 30.49.58 2. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto + 0.13 3. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal + 1.42 4. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank + 2.00 5. Andrei Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto + 4.09 6. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan + 4.12 7. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina + 4.17 8. Vjatjeslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal + 5.03 9. Mikel Zarrabeitia (Spa) Once + 6.26 10. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto + 7.58 11. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis + 9.42 12. Davide Rebellin (Ita) FDJ + 10.44 13. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino + 10.49 14. Andrea Peron (Ita) FDJ + 10.59 15. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal + 11.23 16. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom + 11.32 17. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina + 12.35 18. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Banesto + 13.19 19. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom + 14.54 20. Gerard Rué (Fra) Gan + 15.40 21. Miguel Arroyo (Mex) Big Mat-Auber + 16.22 22. Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Gan + 16.25 23. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino + 17.02 24. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Rabobank + 17.41 25. Jean-Philippe Dojwa (Fra) Mutuelle + 18.58 26. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom + 20.55 27. Gordon Kenneway (Gbr) Casino + 20.58 28. Pascal Ferville (Fra) Casino + 20.59 29. Joona Laukka (Fin) Festina + 27.09 30. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank + 28.13 32. Laurent Brochard (Fra) Festina + 29.36 36. Laurent Dufaux (Sch) Festina + 33.36 38. Michel Lafis (Swe) Telekom + 34.52 41. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank + 38.39 43. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank + 44.01 49. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto + 50.16 51. Thomas Fleischer (Ger) Lotto + 52.01.
JUNE 8-15, STAGES: Prologue: ITT in Grenoble, 5,1 km. |