CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '05

Stage 11 - Courchevel to Briançon, 173 km

Coeur de Lion

Throughout his career Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) has demonstrated his courage and insatiable desire to win. He is a true lion heart (Coeur de lion) as befits an elite athlete of his standing. Yesterday he was vanquished, as were most of the favorites, on the stage up to Courchevel. Today, while most of the bunch seemed to be cowering behind the Discovery team in the manner of the lion in the Wizard of Oz, Vinokourov roared into action.

On the ‘hors categorie (HC)' climb of the Col de la Madeleine Vino slipped out of the bunch with a group of other notables. In particular Mancebo, Heras, Pereiro, Botero and Horner. This was a surprising sight but as they rode away from the peloton we could at last see what much vaunted riders like Heras had been hiding. It turned out nothing, as he and everyone except Vino, Pereiro and Botero forged ahead.

The three of them got to the Category 1 Col du Telegraphe alone and then continued on to this year's highest ascent, the legendary HC Col du Galibier. As they gained nearly 4 minutes, the Discovery boys were implementing a program of containment. They still have a long way to go to Paris and it is smart strategy to harbor their strength and focus on limiting time gains made by others.

On the Telegraphe Pereiro was dropped and on the Galibier Botero lost Vino's wheel twice. However Botero was the better descender and on the long road down to Briancon the two reconnected. Lion heart Vino however made the decisive pounce for the line to complete a memorable ride.

The winning margin was 1'15" over the Yellow Jersey group, but on GC Botero is climbed to 3'48" back with Vino nearly 5minutes behind the race leader. Sadly former race leader Jens Voight (who himself is a true Coeur de Lion) was eliminated today no doubt exhausted from his exploits of a few stages ago.

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