Stage 14: Colmar to Besançon (199km)

So fittingly, today, we start with the story of one of my other favourite American riders, George Hincapie.

When I first got really hardcore into the Tour again a few years back, I was watching the dynamics of the US Postal team. I was watching Lance Armstrong decimate the peloton, day after day, with unswerving support from his lieutenant, Hincapie. He's an excellent rider, and a strong, commanding presence on a bike. He's always been remarkably tall for a racer-- he's 6'3"-- so that makes him a little hard to miss, anyway. Once Lance retired and Discovery disbanded, Hincapie moved over to Columbia Highroad, becoming the mentor of the team, sharing his experience with the up-and-coming new riders, including Mark Cavendish. Though an excellent Classics rider, he got his own tour stage win in 2005, crossing the line with his hands on his head and his jaw open, in absolute shock. It was awesome. Lance was thrilled for him. Everyone was thrilled for him.

So I'm glad, today, to find he's in a breakaway that's barreling down the road up to eight minutes ahead of the rest of the field. They've been out there all day, and it's looking great for George, who was only roughly six minutes down in the GC. This could be absolutely huge for him.

And then, 6 miles to the end, it starts to get really good. Serguei Ivanov, the Russian National Champion, riding for Katousha, suddenly attacks, and it's as if this is the sign the rest of the breakaway's been waiting for. One after the other, it seems, they attack, this group of eleven scattering up and down the road. They're in the town, now, and it looks like every resident of the region is out to see them as they race towards the finish line on the other side.

George is back with the largest remaining group, now down to eight. He knows if he can stay with them-- over six and a half minutes ahead of the peloton-- he'll be donning the yellow jersey tonight.

Ivanov is officially gone off the front. 24 seconds back, Albert Timmer of Skil-Shimano and Hayden Roulston of Cervélo are trying desperately to bridge, but they're only a few seconds from the eight behind them-- long shots from the camera shows the group breathing down their necks.

Ivanov, who hasn't looked back once, goes under the Red Kite marking 1km to go. He's riding smoothly, and showing not an ounce of weakness.

Under the kite a moment later, and the chase group has caught the two chasers. But Ivanov himself has no worries. He looks back one time, and sits up, raising his arms and pumping his fists. He crosses himself, sitting back down, exhausted. A few moments later, the cameras will catch him sitting on the curb, head down, panting, his bike beside him. A good day's work.

Now the drama is all in the clock. If the peloton crosses more than 5'40" after the leaders, the Maillot Jaune goes to Hincapie. Not only that, but Thor Hushovd and Mark Cavendish are at the front, eyeing each other. Garmin has brought Tyler Farrar to the front-- could he finally get his first sprint win?

Four minutes. Silence-Lotto has come to the front, pushing the pace. They don't want Hincapie-- a stronger rider on a stronger team-- to get the lead. But now Columbia is playing a hell of a game. They have to get their sprinter to the line for the green jersey, but if they go too fast, they'll lose the yellow.

And it's a battle right down to the line-- is it Hushovd or Cavendish?

Well, actually, it's a commercial.

First back from the commercial, and we don't know who's won the spring, but we know who hasn't won yellow.

I've never heard any rider so bitterly disappointed. It's clear George Hincapie is angry and deeply hurt by the actions of both Astana and Garmin, who spent today pushing the pace. Had they eased up even slightly, he would have had the tour win. I understand that he's just too good of a rider and his team is too strong, but still. Would it have killed them? He's probably not tour winner material-- they could have just....

Well, quick interview with Lance just off the line, and he says his team wanted Hincapie in yellow, but that Garmin was the team pushing the pace, and that it must be something personal between Garmin and Highroad.

Is he right? Well...probably. Maybe. I think there's a lot of Tour politics and chess-playing he's not going to talk about on camera. But I also think there are going to be some very difficult feelings back and forth between some very old friends tonight.

Just checking Lance's Twitter, and almost all of today's entries are about George-- that the Astana plan was to deliver George into Yellow by at least two minutes. Lance says he's also disappointed and angry, but that if anyone's to blame, it's Garmin and AG2R. And honestly, if there are other teams pushing, then forget personal feelings: you can't sit back and let everyone else take off without you. And there's only so much blocking one of the strongest teams in the race can or should do.

But screw all that. There's another piece of news in his feed I didn't know:


http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5inNZ28M2s25FDK4Z1hr4VXY3Mg5g

Woman dies after being hit by police motorcycle during Tour de France
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 hour ago

BESANCON, France — A woman crossing the road during the Tour de France was killed Saturday when she was hit by a police motorcycle escorting riders. Two other fans were injured after the motorcycle skidded into them.
The early-afternoon accident happened in Wittelsheim in eastern France during the 14th stage, a 199-kilometre route from Colmar to Besancon, the Interior Ministry said.
Tour organizers identified the victim as a 61-year-old woman and said race medical teams treated her immediately before emergency staffers arrived.
After she was struck 37 kilometres into the stage, the motorcycle skidded into two other fans, organizers said. A 36-year-old complained of neck pain, and a 61-year-old broke a leg. They were taken to the hospital and identified only by age.
Lt. Col. Thierry Renard said by phone the motorcycle driver was a member of the Republican Guard and was unable to avoid the woman.
Deadly accidents are rare on the Tour de France. One boy was killed in 2000 and another in 2002 after being hit by sponsors' vehicles. Tour organizers then reduced the numbers of sponsor vehicles allowed on the course.
Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux expressed condolences to the victim's family. Hortefeux also ordered a police inquiry and reminded spectators to take all precautions.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Puts it all into perspective, doesn't it?