Tour de France News Extra for July 19, 2004 Edited by Jeff Jones Post-stage 14 quotes There were 10 men in the winning break during stage 14 from Carcassonne to Nimes, but only one of them could win: Aitor Gonzalez (Fassa Bortolo), who launched the decisive attack with 7 km to go to the finish. Although Christophe Mengin (FDJeux.com) tried to tow the rest up to Gonzalez, he couldn't finish off the job and the Spaniard was gone. Mengin and Nicolas Jalabert ended up escaping their companions to fight it out for second, with Jalabert winning the two up sprint. Pierrick Fedrigo (CA) finished fourth at 29 seconds, meaning that the three French riders in the break were all in the top four without coming away with the big prize. Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak, 2nd) Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) Photo ©: Sirotti "It wasn't for lack of trying but I rode too hard in the break. It's a pity, because I would have liked to dedicate the victory to our leader Tyler Hamilton who had abandoned the day before. His departure had increased our motivation." Pierrick Fédrigo (CA, 4th) "In the final kilometres, I tried to attack, like the others in the break. Unfortunately Nicolas Jalabert came back with guys on his wheel. For once, the French did not work against each other: Instead we let the Spaniards work, because they were in the majority, but we shouldn't have because one of them got away. Unfortunately for us. Now, I hope to advantage of the rest day." Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile, 21st) "This day went perfectly, especially after the break went. I will appreciate the rest day. I am ready to confront the Alps and, if all is well, I'll show good things." Launch Armstrong (USPS, 39th) "The race was very active during the first two first hours. But, as soon as the break formed, it calmed down. We controlled it well behind without having the least problem." Source: L'Equipe Pevenage at odds with T-Mobile Jan Ullrich's personal mentor Rudy Pevenage is not happy with the situation between Jan and the T-Mobile team. After Ullrich lost significant quantities of time to Armstrong in the Pyrenees over the last three days, Pevenage was annoyed. At the finish in Plateau de Beille, "There was no-one there for Jan," Pevenage told DPA. "It will be hard for a miracle to happen, Lourdes is already behind us." Assocorridori vs. ASO The Italian rider association (Assocorridori) together with Francesco Moser has criticised the Tour de France organisers ASO for being "arrogant and overbearing" after preventing Danilo Di Luca, Martin Hvastija and Stefano Casagranda from competing in the race. The Assocorridori said in a statement that, "With the recent position taken in the Zanini and Padrnos cases, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has certified the arrogance and overbearing nature of the direction of the Tour de France, which has used illegal means against certain riders to unjustly exclude them from the race. We would like to let Mr. Leblanc know that the athletes will no longer accept being treated like simple tools in the service of the business of the Tour: In future, the riders will know to take the opportunity to protest." Previous News     Next News (All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2004)

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