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| |  Thursday, 26 July, 2001, 16:09 GMT 17:09 UK Baguet ends long wait Pill was well beaten by Baguet in the sprint Belgian Serge Baguet gave the Lotto team a second stage victory of the Tour de France, winning the 17th leg of the three-week marathon. Baguet outsprinted Danish champion Jakob Pill of CSC-Tiscali, who finished second. Italian Massimiliano Lelli of Cofidis was the third of a trio who survived from a 16-man breakaway that left the main pack after just five kilometres. The 31-year-old winner only returned to competition last year after a three-year break because of disappointing results. He finished just 13 seconds clear of the thundering main pack. "I'm really happy, it's quite unbelieveable," said Baguet. He turned professional in 1991, but retired from competition between 1997 and 1999, returning to his profession as a carpenter in his father-in-law's roofing business.
Lance Armstrong remains five minutes clear of nearest rival Jan Ullrich in the race for overall victory. Australian Stuart O'Grady hung on to the green points jersey after the 194km stage from Brive to Montlucon. German Erik Zabel beat him in the sprint for sixth place but this only reduced O'Grady's lead by a single point to 11. The green points jersey for the most consistent stage finisher is the one main competition still undecided. The battle for this competition is now set to go all the way to the final weekend and Sunday's final sprint in Paris. "I told Erik it was my birthday soon and said that if he wanted he could give me a special present," O'Grady joked after the stage. German Gricha Niermann of Rabobank did not start after injuries sustained in a mass fall which forced five riders to abandon on Wednesday. Friday's stage is the last possible threat to Armstrong's overall advantage, a long flat time trial through the central French countryside. The 61km (37.82-mile) individual test against the watch takes place from Montlucon to Saint-Amand-Montrond. | |
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