Moncoutié happy with medical progress

By Jean-François Quénet in Digne-les-Bains

David Moncoutié couldn't help but remember that stage five of the Dauphiné, finishing in Digne-les-Bains, is the place where he won his second stage of the Tour de France on Bastille Day in 2005. He remembers breaking clear of the front group in the Col de Corobin, the same where Toni Colom and Alexandre Vinokourov formed a winning duo today.

"It brings back good memories," Moncoutié said from his home in Toulouse where he's recovering from the injuries he sustained in an accident during stage 4 of the Tour of Romandie this year on May 4. He broke his left femur and stayed at the hospital for one week. "I'm going much better now. If everything goes well, I'll be able to walk without crutches on July 10."

His 2007 season is over, but Moncoutié, 31, still wonders what his future should be. He hasn't decided yet if he'll continue racing. He has endured many crashes during his career since he turned pro with Cofidis in 1997.