The fireworks were suppose to come in the third week of the 96th Tour de France, with the mountain top finish in Verbier, the medieval torturous trip to La Grand Bornand, a decisive ITT in Annecy, and the topper, the mystical Mont Ventoux.But the fireworks came a day early in the form of five seconds that are bound to go down in Tour de France lore.
The day belonged to Serguei Ivanov (Katusha), whose timely and definitive counter attack in the final kilometers of Stage 14 left his breakaway companions gasping and grasping for air. The 34-year-old Russian National Champion and winner of this year's Amstel Gold would solo to victory in front of Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) and Hayden Roulston (Cervelo Test Team).
The win provided a ray of light to Katusha, which has seemed somewhat lost in this Tour without Robbie McEwen.
Stage 14 Results
1. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha
2. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
3. Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervelo TestTeam
Five Seconds From Glory, Hincapie Gutted
George Hincapie (Team Columbia-HTC) has been a stalwart of the professional peloton for over a decade, turning professional in 1994 and racing in his 14th Tour de France. His career has been filled with memorable victories, but also heartbreaking losses. As such, the 36-year-old is a sentimental figure both inside and outside the peloton.
Yesterday's stage from Vittel to Colmar was especially gut wrenching to watch as "Big George" did everything in his power to claim the second maillot jaune of his 15 year professional career, only to have the honor taken away from him in a most dishonorable way.
Involved in a twelve man break for the better part of the day, Hincapie drove and prodded his fellow escapees in an effort to earn himself the yellow leader's jersey. In the virtual clubhouse, Hincapie stood the leader.
But behind the break a series of circumstances played out that at days end had Hincapie lashing out at some of his former teammates, and questioning others.
"I am just extremely disappointed...I don’t know why Astana was riding behind; it’s highly insulting to me."
For over an hour, Hincapie's former US Postal/Discovery teammates, now with Astana, set the pacing making at the front of the peloton. The gap to the Hincapie led break increased to over seven (7) minutes during that time, but it was never allowed to climb over that marker.
As expected, the gap eventually came down as a result of AG2R La Mondiale's efforts to keep their leader, Rinaldo Nocentini, in yellow. But with a sizable distance to cover and another hard effort in front of them, Nocentini's men had finally run out of gas, slowing their pace and looking back at the peloton for some one, any one, to help their efforts.
To AG2R's rescue came Garmin-Slipstream.
Well chronicled rivals to their American based counterpart, Columbia-HTC, the orders had gone out and several Garmin-Slipstream riders amassed up front and helped AG2R pull back just enough time to retain the maillot jaune and keep it off Hincapie's shoulders, by a scant 5 seconds.
The aftermath of the situation was a scene more reminiscent of a Congressional hearing, littered with denials, excuses, and rhetoric, than of a bicycle race.
Because of the sentimental character that George Hincapie strikes, it is all too easy to over dramatized the situation that played out over 200km, as Matty White, Hincapie's former teammate and current Garmin-Slipstream race director stated to Velonews,
"It is unfortunate, but it’s my opinion we wouldn’t even be talking about it if it wasn’t George. If it was another rider, or another team or even someone else at Columbia. But we’re talking about it because George is American and he’s friends with the guys in team. But this was just the unfortunate consequence of guys riding at the front."It is after all just a bicycle race, and these are more than typical occurrences, right?
Perhaps the most telling piece of what truly transpired may have come from one of the quietest and understated guys in the peloton. In four simple words sent out on Twitter, David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream) substantiated what most of us were ready to leave to conjecture,
"Pawns In Their Game..."
Now Featuring - A Few Good Men
Starring As: Pfc. William T. Santiago - George Hincapie; Pfc. Louden Downey - David Zabriskie; Lt. Jonathan Kendrick - Matty White; Col. Nathan R. Jessup - Jonathan Vaughters
General Classification After Stage 14
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC
3. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
4. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
5. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux
6. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
7. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
9. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
There was no change to the leader's jerseys classifications.
Jersey Leader's After Stage 14
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTCNext: Stage 15 - Pontarlier to Verbier (207.5 km)
The main course of 96th Tour de France is about to be served. Which of the contenders will go on the attack...will Astana's team leadership get sorted out...will an unknown quantity become a revelation?
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