Briancon, France – Alexandre Vinokourov won today’s second Alpine stage of the Tour de France with a solo ascent over the race’s highest climb, and Lance Armstrong’s overall lead remained unchanged.
The win in the 11th stage was Vinokourov’s second in five Tours.
His first was in 2003.
The T-Mobile rider rebounded from a disastrous ride Tuesday on the first Alpine stage, when Armstrong surged ahead of the Kazakh rider and other main rivals to retake the overall lead.
Vinokourov took the lead on the famed Col du Galibier, the last of three ascents on the 107.5-mile route from the ski station of Courchevel. The Galibier is the highest climb on this year’s Tour at 8,677 feet.
Santiago Botero of Colombia was second over the pass, 40 seconds slower than Vinokourov. But the Phonak rider caught Vinokourov on the descent toward Briancon, and they raced to the finish, where Vinokourov beat Botero in a sprint.
Armstrong scaled the Galibier more than two minutes behind Vinokourov in a group of about 20 riders. But he reeled in some of the deficit with a speedy descent, finishing 1:15 behind Vinokourov in sixth place.
Armstrong’s overall lead over second-place Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark remained at 38 seconds. French rider Christophe Moreau moved to third overall, 2:34 behind the six-time champion.
Vinokourov was considered one of Armstrong’s main challengers when the three-week Tour started July 2. But he slipped back to 16th place, a whopping 6:32 behind Armstrong, with his poor climbing Tuesday.
Vinokourov picked up a time bonus for winning today’s stage, and cut his deficit to Armstrong to 4:47. That places him 12th overall.
Vinokourov said he set out today determined to make his mark.
“I kept my spirits. I said to myself ‘I am still going to attack,”‘ he said. “I said ‘I have nothing to lose.”‘ He said Monday’s rest day may have contributed to his difficulties the next day on the first Alpine stage.
“I think the rest day broke my rhythm a little bit,” he said.
