July 15, 2002 (Lorient, France) – This Tour de France is certainly shaping
up to be the closest in recent years. Today’s stage was predicted by most
to be the one Lance Armstrong was to regain some of the time he lost in his
crash a few days ago, and take the TT victory. Instead, Armstrong took
second. This is the first time since 1999 that he has lost a Tour Time
trial. Furthermore, the yellow jersey, Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano
(ONCE-Eroski), rode a superb race, almost matching Armstrong to lose only 8
seconds to the USPS leader. Columbian Santiago Botero (Kelme-Costa Blanca)
took the stage, his first Tour TT win. The other American favourites, Tyler
Hamliton (CSC/Tiscali) and Levi Leipheimer (Rabobank) had mixed results.
Hamilton finished a strong 12th, but lost almost 2 mintues to Boterio.
Leipheimer finished a solid 19th, but lost 2:35.
French hope Laurent Jalabert (CSC/Tiscali) was riding a superb race until a
flat disrupted his rhythm. He finished 43rd, 3:33 off the pace.
Stage 9: Lanester – Lorient – ITT, 52 km
1. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme/Costa Blanca 1.02.19 (50.08 km/h)
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service 0.11
3. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo 0.18
4. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) ONCE/Eroski 0.19
5. Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei/Quick Step 0.25
6. Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre Daikin
7. David Millar (GBr) Cofidis 0.50
8. Dario Frigo (Ita) Tacconi Sport 1.34
9. Andrea Peron (Ita) CSC/Tiscali
10. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE/Eroski 1.38
11. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service 1.41
12. Tyler Hamilton (USA) CSC/Tiscali 1.56
13. Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank 2.08
14. Toni Tauler (Spa) Kelme-Costa Blanca 2.14
15. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service 2.21
16. Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Lampre Daikin
17. Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank 2.23
18. Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (Col) US Postal Service 2.34
19. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank 2.35
20. JosÈ Azevedo (Por) ONCE-Eroski 2.36
Overall:
1. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 33.21.23
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service 0.26
3. Joseba Beloki (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 1.23
4. Serguei Gontchar (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo 1.35
5. Santiago Botero (Col) Kelme-Costa Blanca 1.55
6. Andrea Peron (Ita) CSC-Tiscali 2.08
7. David Millar (GBr) Cofidis 2.11
8. Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre Daikin 2.22
9. Tyler Hamilton (USA) CSC-Tiscali 2.30
10. JosÈ Azevedo (Por) ONCE-Eroski 2.45
11. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal Service 2.48
12. J—rg Jaksche (Ger) ONCE-Eroski 2.49
13. Marcos A.Serrano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 2.59
14. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 3.07
15. Floyd Landis (USA) US Postal Service 3.15
16. Isidro Nozal (Spa) ONCE-Eroski 3.37
17. Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 4.05
18. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-Tiscali 4.18
19. Nicki S¯rensen (Den) CSC-Tiscali 4.23
20. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) iBanesto.com 4.23