1997 Tour de France
Monday, July 7: Live updates from Stage 2
VIRE, France
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| 262km |
12:52 p.m. (local time):
The peloton is riding slowly at the beginning of the Tour’s second stage, 262 kms (152 miles), the longest of the three-week Tour de France. The pace is slow as the peloton is riding together through the rolling farm country of the Normandy region of northern France. The first hour the speed was 34.2 kmh (20.52 mph), and 36.1 kmh (21.66 mph) the second hour.
1:05 p.m. (local time):
The peloton has passed the 75km mark and Rabobank’s Erik Dekker and Batik’s Gianluca Pierobon attacked, but were quickly reeled in by the peloton.
1:45 p.m. (local time):
The slow pace continues, with the peloton riding together passing the 100km mark.
1:59 p.m. (local time):
Race leader Mario Cipollini won the stage’s second points sprint at the 109km mark. Gan’s Frederic Moncassin was second and Mercatone’s Mario Traversoni was third.
2:11 p.m (local time):
Four riders have pulled away from the peloton, putting 30 seconds in front of the main group of riders.
2:16 p.m. (local time):
Saeco is powering the peloton at the 126km mark, reeling in the break, trimming its lead to 20 seconds. The racers are approaching the feed zone at the 133km mark.
2:35 p.m. (local time):
The peloton has reeled in all but Big Mat Thierry Gouvenou, who’s ahead 15 seconds.
2:54 p.m. (local time):
The peloton is picking up speed, racking up 47.1 kph (28.26 mph). The average speed over the stage is up to 38.7 kph (23.22 mph).
3:06 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou is pulling ahead of the peloton despite the fast speeds. The Frenchman is three minutes ahead of the peloton at the 159km mark.
3:09 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou is expanding his break to 3:40 at the 164km mark.
3:21 p.m. (local time):
Saeco is back at the front of the peloton, working to reel in Gouvenou, who’s lead is topping four minutes with more than 80 kms to go.
3:31 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou’s lead is up to 4:12.
3:52 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou remains ahead of the peloton by 3:40, but Saeco is putting the hammer down to reel him in and protect Mario Cipollini’s yellow jersey. The peloton is 67 kms from the finish.
4:11 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou’s lead is down to 3:10.
4:17 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou’s lead is down to 2:25.
4:20 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou is working up the first climb of the day, the category-four Cote de Saint-Marc-d’Oiully. He is trying in vain to win. The Big Mat rider is from this region of France and wants to win in front of the local fans. Big Mat’s Ludovic Auger also is attacking on the col.
4:26 p.m. (local time):
ONCE’s Alex Zulle and Batik’s Giuseppe Tartaggia are also pulling out on the small col, moving 54 seconds ahead of the peloton with 50 kms to go.
4:29 p.m. (local time):
Gouvenou has been caught by Zulle and Tartaggia and the three are working together ahead of the peloton.
4:34 p.m. (local time):
Zulle’s attack is off, reeled back in by the peloton.
4:36 p.m. (local time):
Cofidis’s Cyril Saugrain attacked as well, but he too was brought back in.
4:40 p.m. (local time):
MG’s Fabiano Fontanelli has pulled off the front at the 234km mark. Gouvenou, who made a break earlier in the stage, has fallen off the back, complaining of cramps.
4:48 p.m. (local time):
Saeco and Mapei are motoring at the front of the peloton, setting up another showdown between Mario Cipollini and Tom Steels. Fontanelli is just 18 seconds ahead of the peloton.
4:50 p.m. (local time):
With 25 kms to go, Fontanelli is reeled in. Going off the front is ONCE’s Laurent Jalabert, Rabobank’s Erik Breukink, and Big Mat’s Gilles Maignan. Jalabert, only 28 seconds off the lead, can take the yellow jersey if the attack holds.
4:54 p.m. (local time):
Telekom is powering at the front of the peloton with 20 kms to go.
5:02 (local time):
Their attack losing momentum, Jalabert and Breukink are just 13 seconds ahead of the peloton.
5:04 p.m. (local time):
Jalabert’s group is reeled in with 15 kms to go.
5:05 p.m. (local time):
Casino’s Pascal Chanteur makes a solo break.
5:10 p.m. (local time):
Telekom and Saeco are setting the pace as Chanteur is reeled back in on the downhill descent into the finish at Vire. It’s 10 kms to go to the finish. Saeco’s Paolo Fornaciari went down hard in a solo spill, scraping himself badly on the road.
5:14 p.m (local time):
It’s the final charge to the finish, less than 5 kms to go.
5:17 p.m. (local time):
Cipo is king! Looking like he was blocked out, Cipo attacked from the far left of the course, overpowering Telekom’s Erik Zabel in a superior show of strength. Cipollini wins his second straight stage and keeps the yellow jersey. 1. Cipollini, 2. Zabel, 3. Blijlevens, 4. Moncassin.
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