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Stage 14
Experienced Konyshev wins his fourth
Tour stage
By Francois Thomazeau
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Dimitri Konyshev of Russia reacts as he
crosses the finish line to win the 199 km 14th stage of the Tour
de France cycling race from Castres to Saint-Gaudens, southern France July
18. Gianni Faresin of Italy (R Rear) took the second place. Lance Armstrong of
the USA remains the leader in the overall standings. cp/Photo by Jean-Paul
Pelissier REUTERS
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ST GAUDENS, France, July 18 - Experienced Dimitri Konyshev seized his last
chance of a Tour de France victory when he beat breakaway companion Gianni
Faresin of Italy to win the 199-kms 14th stage from Castres to St Gaudens on
Sunday.
The 33-year-old Russian, who was the first man in action in this last
stage before a rest day, went all the way to score his fourth stage win
in the Tour.
Konyshev, who became the first Russian rider to win a stage in cycling's
showcase race in Pau nine years ago, also won twice in 1991, in
Aix-les-Bains and Paris.
Since then only two Russians, Vyacheslav Ekimov and Yevgeny Berzin, have
won Tour stages, in 1991 and 1996 respectively.
"Since 1991, I've struggled with my form or I was in the wrong team,"
Konyshev said afterwards.
"This year, my leader Marco Pantani is absent and I was able to seize
my chance," he added.
"With the mountains coming after the rest day, this was my last chance
to win a stage."
American Lance Armstrong retained his race leader's yellow jersey on the day of
the 80th anniversary of the garment, first awarded on July 18, 1919, to Frenchman
Eugene Christophe.
On Tuesday, the American will take a 7:44 lead over Spain's Abraham Olano in a
171-kms mountain stage in the Pyrenees between St Gaudens and
Piau-Engaly.
It looks like being the only chance for Armstrong's rivals to try and
make up for lost time.
On Sunday the Texan again took it easy, allowing riders with no chance in the
overall standings to break away.
Konyshev was the first to try his luck with another old fighter, France's
Jacky Durand -- both men had already won three stages in the past.
The two had a maximum lead of three minutes before the 62nd kilometre, when
they were joined by four men, Faresin, fellow-Italians Massimiliano Lelli and
Wladimir Belli as well as German hopeful Steffen Wesemann.
The six joined forces to take a stable lead of up to 14 minutes and retained 13:27
on the finish line over the main bunch.
Not a real sprint specialist, unlike Wesemann, Konyshev decided to attack once
more with 10 kilometres left in the stage and Faresin was the only one to follow.
The Italian launched the sprint from far, but Konyshev easily reacted to
win in four hours 37 minutes and 59 seconds.
The rider from Gorki, who was the first Russian on the podium of a professional
world championship ten years ago -- losing to American Greg LeMond -- prevented Italy from claiming a seventh stage victory
in this Tour.
Faresin was second in the same time and Lelli third four seconds behind.
Durand, who was the only Frenchman to win a stage last year, had to be content
with taking fifth place 51 seconds behind.
France have yet to win a stage in this Tour. Should they fail to do so in
the next week, it would be the first time in the history of the Tour that the
host country will finish the race without a win.
Placings in the 14th stage of Tour de France
ST GAUDENS, France, July 18 - Placings in the 14th stage of the Tour de France
over 199 kms from Castres on Sunday:
1. Dimitri Konyshev (Russia) Mercatone Uno four hours 37 minutes 59 seconds
2. Gianni Faresin (Italy) Mapei same time
3. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy) Cofidis four seconds behind
4. Steffen Wesemann (Germany) Telekom 51 secs
5. Jacky Durand (France) Lotto
6. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Festina all same time
7. Erik Zabel (Germany) Telekom 13:27
8. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole
9. Robbie McEwen (Australia) Rabobank
10. Christophe Capelle (France) Big Mat
11. Gianpaolo Mondini (Italy) Cantina Tollo
12. Fabio Sacchi (Italy) Polti
13. Lars Michaelsen (Denmark) La Francaise de Jeux
14. Ludovic Auger (France) Big Mat
15. Peter Wuyts (Belgium) Lotto
16. Christophe Mengin (France) La Francaise de Jeux
17. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina
18. Claude Lamour (France) Cofidis
19. Alexei Sivakov (Russia) Big Mat
20. Fabien de Waele (Belgium) Lotto all same time
Overall standings in the Tour de France after 14 stages on Sunday:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 67 hours 23 minutes and 28 seconds
2. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE seven minutes and 44 seconds behind
3. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 7:47
4. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco 8:07
5. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 8:53
6. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 9:10
7. Richard Virenque (France) Polti 10:03
8. Pavel Tonkov (Russia) Mapei 10:18
9. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 10:58
10. Giuseppe Guerini (Italy) Telekom 11:07
11. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 11:13
12. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino 12:32
13. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina 12:53
14. Belli 13:26
15. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 13:32
16. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy) Mapei 14:30
17. David Etxebarria (Spain) ONCE 15:19
18. Faresin 15:45
19. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 16:16
20. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Cofidis 17:27
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