DAY 4
VIRE - PLUMELEC 217km
8th July 1997
Another Crash! Another Victim!
Picture courtesy Nando News
Many riders were complaining to the Tour officials about the condition and
width of the roads being used in this years event after another major crash,
less than 10km from the finish of the stage at Plumlec.
An early brake of 4 saw Francios Simon from GAN, leave his breakaway companions
and take off on a long solo with about 17km to the finish. The huge pack were
reeling him in slowly, with Festina doing the driving. The finish was a after a
long climb which would suit Brochard(Fes).
Just after the 10km banner, a crash in the bunch, near the front again, caused
nearly 2/3 of the field to be delayed!. Luckily Chris avoided the mele and
benefited again over rivals such as Zulle. Tony Rominger fell heavily and broke
his right collar bone putting him out of the Race.
At the finish Cipollini was out of it, but rival for the green jersey Erik Zabel
surged past Vandenbrucke to take the victory. Riis finished third, looming
ominously and Chris came in 15th, staying with the big guns on the climb.
VIRE - PLUMELEC 217km
1. Eric Zabel (Telekom ) 2. Frank Vandenbroucke (Mapei) 3. Bjarne Riis (Telekom) 4. Laurent Jalabert (Once) 5. Davide Rebellin (Les Francais des Jeux)Overall
1. M.Cipollini 16:10:12 2. E.Zabel @ 14 3. CHRIS BOARDMAN 27 4. J.Ullrich 29 5. F.V'broucke 33 6. A.Olano 37 7. L.Jalabert 39 8. P.Lino 52 9. F.Moncassin 55
Current Chris Status!