CyclingRevealed's First Impressions '05

Stage12 - July 14th, Briançon to Digne-les-Bains, 187 km

Vive la France

July 14th is the most important holiday on the French calendar as the nation celebrates the storming of the Bastille. Any French rider winning the Tour stage on this day becomes a national hero. The happy man this year was David Moncoutie (Cofidis) who rode away from a 13 man break that had been away for most of the day. This was the 31st Bastille Day win at the Tour by a Frenchman. 1903 Tour winner Maurice Garin was the first and Richard Virenque accomplished it in his final Tour last year.

Although certainly not a flat stage with one Category 4, one Category 3 and two Category 2 climbs, it was a stage suited more to the liking of the rouleurs. All 13 riders in the breakaway had spent most of their time traversing the Alps in the autobus. Consequently the breakaway was of little interest to the GC players with the rider's ahead way back in the GC standings.

As Moncoutie set about earning himself the adoration of his French public, two of his former break companions were engaged in their own none too friendly battle. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) and Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) became top candidates for the Green Jersey when Tom Boonen failed to start today suffering from a series of hard crashes. Hushovd just beat O'Grady to the line to gain a psychological edge and to secure the Green Jersey.

Ten and one half minutes after the break the third serious candidate for the Green Jersey, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) took out the bunch sprint. This evening he will not be popular with his teammates as he had them chasing flat out for a long time in order to bring the break back. That failed attempt may have layered a lot of exhaustion on to the team and this will prove critical in McEwen's quest for Green.

With just one modest Category 4 lump to get over, tomorrow's almost flat stage will be another for the habitual passengers of the autobus. However with the battle for Green at full boil Credit Agricole, Davitamon-Lotto and Cofidis will attempt to either get their points man up the road in a break or more likely orchestrate a violent bunch sprint finish.

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