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| July 9, 2002 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 27,1423 |
Freire outsprints field to win second stage
SAARBRUECKEN (Germany), July 8: Double road world champion Oscar Freire outsprinted the rest of the bunch to win the 181-kilometre second stage of the Tour de France on Monday.
His victory relegated local favourite Erik Zabel to a minor podium place for a second successive day.
Zabel, who was beaten by unheralded Swiss Rubens Bertogliati in Sunday’s first stage, was hoping for a win in Saarbruecken, in his native Germany.
His team mates took over in the last 15 kilometres hoping to lead Zabel, who was 32 on Sunday, to the finish in ideal conditions.
But he was again denied victory, this time by an impressive Freire, who surged to victory over the final stretch to win his first stage win on his first Tour.
Bertogliati retained his leader’s yellow jersey for another day.
“I did not expect to win today because I did not start the Tour in my best form,” said Freire, the 1999 and 2001 world champion.
“But in a sprint anything can happen with a little bit of luck and a lot of motivation,” he added.
Zabel, who has won 10 stages on the Tour, had to be content with third place after being overtaken on the line by Australian Robbie McEwen.
“It was a hard stage and I can only say that Freire and McEwen were better than I was.
“But to finish in my country with the green jersey on my back is not too bad,” he added.
The green jersey awarded to the leader of the points standings has become Zabel’s trademark as he has won it six times in succession.
The German will have another chance in Tuesday’s 174.5-kms third stage from Metz to Reims but he will again have to watch Freire and Mapei team mate Tom Steels of Belgium.
Freire, who nearly lost a foot at the age of two, has been dubbed “van den Freire” as one of the rare sprinters from Spain, a country more famous for its climbers.
Before a predictable final wrap-up, French team Credit Agricole had stolen the show for most of a sunny and dry day.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd led a 140 kms breakaway with Frenchmen Sylvain Chavanel and Stephane Berges.
But the Credit Agricole rider was suddenly hit by cramps and was forced to let his companions go ahead without him.
He was quickly overtaken by the chasing bunch and struggled to finish the stage within the time limit allowed to avoid disqualification.
Hushovd’s team mate Jens Voigt attacked once Chavanel and Berges were brought back, and he remained in front for some 20 kilometres before Zabel’s Telekom team caught him.
Everything looked set for the German to win his 11th stage victory in the Tour.
But Zabel was made to wait once more.—Reuters
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