Mayo takes over at Dauphiné

• Photos
• Results

By John Wilcockson

Back in 1999 at the Dauphiné Libéré, on a sun-filled June afternoon of 80-degree weather, Jonathan Vaughters raced up the Giant of Provence, Mont Ventoux, faster than anyone in history. His record time for the 21.6km between the tree-shaded village of Bedoin and the bare, exposed 6263-foot summit was 56:50, an average speed of 22.8 kph.

It was a record that the now-retired Colorado climber expected to be beaten on Thursday, when the weather was almost identical to that of five years ago. There were several factors that backed up Vaughters’s prediction. First, bicycle technology and training methods have progressed markedly over recent years.

Second, the entire Ventoux climb, which averages almost 9 percent for its final 16km, has recently been resurfaced in beautifully smooth tarmac. Third, a three-way battle was expected between Basque climber Iban Mayo of Euskaltel (whom Vaughters tipped to win) and the American’s two former teammates, Lance Armstrong of U.S. Postal and Tyler Hamilton of Phonak.

Before any of these protagonists came into sight from the rocky mountaintop, Vaughters was even more convinced that Mayo would score a prestigious stage victory. “I talked to him before the start, and he said, ‘What should I do?’ I told him, ‘Start really slow and then hit it really hard at the end.’ So if he took my advice, that probably means he’s gonna do a really fast time.”

Other knowledgeable race followers thought that the relentlessly long climb would be a tough proposition for Mayo, because he is not a renowned time trialist, and a solo effort of almost an hour can do strange things to the mind. Would he keep his focus?

What worked in Mayo’s favor though was that he started four minutes behind Armstrong and two behind Hamilton. After the relatively easy opening stretch of 5.7km at 4.2 percent, Armstrong set a then-best time of 10:13. Hamilton came through in 10:20, while the supposed-to-be-going-slow Mayo sped though in10:04.

“I didn’t expect to do the fastest time in that first phase,” said Mayo. “I was riding within myself and just getting a feel for the bike.” For the first time, he was using a brand-new climbing bike from Orbea, the lightest that Mayo has ever ridden.

While Vaughters was chatting at the finish, the three favorites all reached the second time check at Chalet Reynard, after the steepest 10km section of the climb. The splits showed that Armstrong was struggling, because he had fallen back behind two other Spanish climbers: Hamilton’s teammate Oscar Sevilla and Juan Mercado of Quick Step.

Armstrong’s time for that second phase was 29:49, an average speed of 19.72 kph. On that same stretch, Hamilton started to close on his old boss by racing it in 29:01 (20.26 kph). This was a remarkable split by Hamilton because Mayo, the specialist climber, was just one second faster. That meant that the Euskaltel rider went into the final 6km with a 17-second advantage over Hamilton.

Who’d be the fastest over the final phase? Was Hamilton going to put in his traditionally fast finish? Or was Mayo taking the advice of Vaughters and ready to go really hard?

With no television coverage, the media and spectators alike were looking down the bleached mountainside, straining to see if Hamilton could actually catch Armstrong — which would have been a humiliating experience for the defending Dauphiné champion.

At first, that looked to be happening. But the man wearing the green and yellow Phonak colors was not Hamilton, but Spaniard Oscar Pereiro — who had actually been caught and passed by Armstrong.

Hamilton was not far behind though. After Armstrong crossed the summit in 57:49 ( which is actually the fastest by three seconds that the five-time Tour winner has ever climbed Mont Ventoux), we had to wait only 37 seconds before Hamilton cruised across the line in a new record time of 56:26 — 24 seconds faster than Vaughters’s 1999 time.

But Mayo was still riding strong, “not even thinking of holding anything back.” The 26-year-old Spaniard doubled his lead over Hamilton in those final 6km to zip home in a masterly 55:51, an average speed of 23.202 kph. It’s going to be a hard record to beat, just as Vaughters’s was.

In taking the stage and setting a new record, Mayo also wrested the leaders’ jersey from Hamilton’s Phonak teammate Jose Gutierrez.

Meanwhile, Jogi Muller, spokesman for U.S. Postal, said Armstrong is not as determined to win the Dauphiné this year, focusing instead on getting in the best shape possible for the Tour, Muller said.

“If victory falls into place, then sure,” Muller told The Associated Press by telephone. “He’s just not going to kill himself in order to win.”

Photo Gallery

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Results

Time Trial Results
1. Iban Mayo, Euskaltel-Euskad, 55:51.49

2. Tyler Hamilton, Phonak, :35.26

3. Oscar Sevilla, Phonak, 01:03

4. Juan Miguel Mercado, Quick Step-Davitamon, 01:48

5. Lance Armstrong, U.S. Postal Service, 01:57

6. Inigo Landaluze, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 02:22

7. Gutierrez José, Phonak, 02:44

8. Levi Leipheimer, Rabobank, 03:21

9. Michael Rasmussen, Rabobank, 03:33

10. Goubert Stéphane, Ag2R Prevoyance, 03:35

11. Oscar Pereiro, Phonak, 03:55

12. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, 03:59

13. Cyril Dessel, Phonak, 04:03

14. Floyd Landis, U.S. Postal Service, 04:09

15. Azevedo José, U.S. Postal Service, 04:18

16. Christophe Moreau, Crédit Agricole, 04:37

17. Michael Rogers, Quick Step-Davitamon, 04:45

18. Carlos Sastre, CSC, 05:08

19. Sandy Casar, FDJeux.com, 05:29

20. Victor Hugo Pena, U.S. Postal Service, 05:29

21. Iker Camano, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 05:31

22. Robin Jean-Cyril, FDJeux.com, 05:34

23. Pierrick Fedrigo, Crédit Agricole, 05:44

24. Iker Flores, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 05:51

25. LÖvkvist Thomas, FDJeux.com, 06:05

26. Mikel Astarloza, Ag2R Prevoyance, 06:23

27. Yuriy Krivtsov, Ag2R Prevoyance, 06:26

28. Egoi Martinez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 06:42

29. Ivan Basso, CSC, 06:43

30. Thomas Voeckler, Brioches La Boulangere, 06:47

31. Salmon Benoît, Crédit Agricole, 06:49

32. Manuel Beltran, U.S. Postal Service, 06:55

33. George Hincapie, U.S. Postal Service, 07:03

34. Laurent Dufaux, Quick Step-Davitamon, 07:04

35. Inigo Chaurreau, Ag2R Prevoyance, 07:07

36. Manuel Calvente, CSC, 07:10

37. Alexandre Botcharov, Crédit Agricole, 07:23

38. Dmitriy Muravyev, Crédit Agricole, 07:29

39. Ludovic Martin, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 07:37

40. Joseba Albizu, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 07:42

41. Benjamin Noval, U.S. Postal Service, 07:57

42. Nicolas Portal, Ag2R Prevoyance, 07:58

43. Laurent Lefevre, Brioches La Boulangere, 08:00

44. Christophe Le Mevel, Crédit Agricole, 08:14

45. Jaksche Jörg, CSC, 08:34

46. Pecharroman José, Quick Step-Davitamon, 09:03

47. Erik Dekker, Rabobank, 09:11

48. Patrice Halgand, Crédit Agricole, 09:13

49. Inaki Isasi Flores, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 09:15

50. Maryan Hary, Brioches La Boulangere, 09:16

51. Stuart O’Grady, Cofidis, 09:16

52. Bessy Frédéric, Cofidis, 09:22

53. Santos Gonzalez, Phonak, 09:28

54. Richard Virenque, Quick Step-Davitamon, 09:28

55. Viatcheslav Ekimov, U.S. Postal Service, 09:31

56. Christophe Mengin, FDJeux.com, 09:42

57. Pierre Bourquenoud, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 09:46

58. Andrea Peron, CSC, 09:51

59. Anthony Geslin, Brioches La Boulangere, 10:09

60. Nicolas Jalabert, Phonak, 10:26

61. Pineau Jérôme, Brioches La Boulangere, 10:39

62. Janek Tombak, Cofidis, 10:40

63. Gilles Bouvard, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 10:52

64. Nicolas Reynaud, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 10:53

65. Guesdon Frédéric, FDJeux.com, 10:53

66. Nick Nuyens, Quick Step-Davitamon, 11:07

67. Bernhard Eisel, FDJeux.com, 11:07

68. Bert Grabsch, Phonak, 11:08

69. Bram De Groot, Rabobank, 11:24

70. Carlos Dacruz, FDJeux.com, 11:26

71. Kevin De Weert, Rabobank, 11:34

72. Nicki Sorensen, CSC, 11:41

73. Christophe Edaleine, Cofidis, 11:51

74. Eddy Seigneur, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 11:57

75. Franck Renier, Brioches La Boulangere, 12:06

76. David Millar, Cofidis, 12:16

77. Marc Lotz, Rabobank, 12:26

78. Walter Beneteau, Brioches La Boulangere, 12:27

79. Baden Cooke, FDJeux.com, 12:31

80. Christophe Laurent, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 12:39

81. Josu Silloniz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 12:49

82. Michele Bartoli, CSC, 12:54

83. Matthew White, Cofidis, 13:01

84. Pedro Horrillo Munoz, Quick Step-Davitamon, 13:04

85. Thor Hushovd, Crédit Agricole, 13:14

86. Guillaume Auger, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 13:47

87. Andy Flickinger, Ag2R Prevoyance, 13:53

88. Oscar Freire, Rabobank, 14:38

89. Amorison Frédéric, Quick Step-Davitamon, 15:36

90. Nicolas Inaudi, Ag2R Prevoyance, 17:10

91. Karsten Kroon, Rabobank, 17:24

92. Jimmy Casper, Cofidis, 18:10

93. Sylvain Calzati, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 25:05

Overall Standings

1. Iban Mayo, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 16:27:51

2. Tyler Hamilton, Phonak, :36

3. Oscar Sevilla, Phonak, 1:14

4. Lance Armstrong, U.S. Postal Service, 2:00

5. Juan Miguel Mercado, Quick Step-Davitamon, 2:32

6. Gutierrez José, Phonak, 2:36

7. Inigo Landaluze, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2:43

8. Levi Leipheimer, Rabobank, 3:33

9. Michael Rasmussen, Rabobank, 3:47

10. Oscar Pereiro, Phonak, 3:58

11. Cyril Dessel, Phonak, 4:05

12. Goubert Stéphane, Ag2R Prevoyance, 4:17

13. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, 4:25

14. Azevedo José, U.S. Postal Service, 4:46

15. Christophe Moreau, Crédit Agricole, 4:59

16. Floyd Landis, U.S. Postal Service, 4:59

17. Carlos Sastre, CSC, 5:33

18. Iker Camano, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 6:01

19. Sandy Casar, FDJeux.com, 6:02

20. Robin Jean-Cyril, FDJeux.com, 6:37

21. LÖvkvist Thomas, FDJeux.com, 6:39

22. Mikel Astarloza, Ag2R Prevoyance, 6:43

23. Egoi Martinez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 7:12

24. Thomas Voeckler, Brioches La Boulangere, 7:12

25. Laurent Dufaux, Quick Step-Davitamon, 7:24

26. Salmon Benoît, Crédit Agricole, 7:34

27. Manuel Beltran, U.S. Postal Service, 7:56

28. Laurent Lefevre, Brioches La Boulangere, 8:10

29. Alexandre Botcharov, Crédit Agricole, 8:16

30. Inigo Chaurreau, Ag2R Prevoyance, 8:18

31. Ludovic Martin, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 8:26

32. Benjamin Noval, U.S. Postal Service, 8:42

33. Stuart O’Grady, Cofidis, 9:22

34. Santos Gonzalez, Phonak, 9:54

35. Pecharroman José, Quick Step-Davitamon, 10:01

36. Victor Hugo Pena, U.S. Postal Service, 10:03

37. Michael Rogers, Quick Step-Davitamon, 10:05

38. Richard Virenque, Quick Step-Davitamon, 10:14

39. Nicolas Portal, Ag2R Prevoyance, 10:46

40. Andrea Peron, CSC, 11:07

41. Guesdon Frédéric, FDJeux.com, 11:52

42. Pineau Jérôme, Brioches La Boulangere, 12:07

43. Walter Beneteau, Brioches La Boulangere, 13:15

44. Iker Flores, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 13:21

45. Ivan Basso, CSC, 14:36

46. Pierrick Fedrigo, Crédit Agricole, 14:42

47. Yuriy Krivtsov, Ag2R Prevoyance, 15:14

48. Maryan Hary, Brioches La Boulangere, 15:24

49. George Hincapie, U.S. Postal Service, 15:36

50. Manuel Calvente, CSC, 16:41

51. Bessy Frédéric, Cofidis, 17:10

52. Jaksche Jörg, CSC, 17:37

53. Dmitriy Muravyev, Crédit Agricole, 18:01

54. Patrice Halgand, Crédit Agricole, 18:10

55. Anthony Geslin, Brioches La Boulangere, 18:25

56. Nicolas Jalabert, Phonak, 19:55

57. Christophe Mengin, FDJeux.com, 19:58

58. Franck Renier, Brioches La Boulangere, 20:06

59. Gilles Bouvard, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 20:10

60. Christophe Edaleine, Cofidis, 20:32

61. Baden Cooke, FDJeux.com, 21:09

62. Carlos Dacruz, FDJeux.com, 21:28

63. Marc Lotz, Rabobank, 21:39

64. Bert Grabsch, Phonak, 21:58

65. Horrillo Munoz, Quick Step-Davitamon, 21:58

66. Michele Bartoli, CSC, 22:45

67. Christophe Laurent, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 23:01

68. David Millar, Cofidis, 23:37

69. Janek Tombak, Cofidis, 28:18:00

70. Pierre Bourquenoud, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 28:31:00

71. Viatcheslav Ekimov, U.S. Postal Service, 28:35:00

72. Erik Dekker, Rabobank, 29:26:00

73. Joseba Albizu, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 29:57:00

74. Nicki Sorensen, CSC, 30:01:00

75. Bernhard Eisel, FDJeux.com, 30:11:00

76. Kevin De Weert, Rabobank, 30:15:00

77. Christophe Le Mevel, Crédit Agricole, 30:50:00

78. Inaki Isasi Flores, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 31:14:00

79. Bram De Groot, Rabobank, 32:24:00

80. Andy Flickinger, Ag2R Prevoyance, 32:45:00

81. Matthew White, Cofidis, 33:00:00

82. Guillaume Auger, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 33:05:00

83. Nicolas Reynaud, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 34:20:00

84. Eddy Seigneur, R.A.G.T. Semences-MG Rover, 41:18:00

85. Nick Nuyens, Quick Step-Davitamon, 43:11:00

86. Thor Hushovd, Crédit Agricole, 44:41:00

87. Josu Silloniz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 46:32:00