Oscar PEREIRO SIO

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Fedrigo Earns First Stage Win For Bouygues Telecom

Pierrick Fedrigo earned France a third stage win in the 2006 Tour. He was part of a six-man escape group that was halved because of a spectacular crash at the 141km mark. Rik Verbrugghe and David Canada ended their Tour in an ambulance on the day that Fedrigo outsprinted Commesso to claim the win just three seconds ahead of the peloton.

Stage Details
Four climbs: Cote du Bois-de-Salles (category-three at the 14.0km mark), Col de Peyruergue (category-three at 72.5km), Col de Perty (category-two at 97.0km), Col de la Sentinelle (category-two at 171.0km).
Intermediate sprints: the first in La Bonte (50.0km) and the second in La Plaine (at 160.5km).
Weather conditions: 32 degrees Celsius in the air and 42 degrees at road level at the start in Montelimar.
Number of starters: 160 (no overnight retirements). Official start time: 1.01pm.


The Progress Report

Difficulty Forming Obligatory Early Escape…
The first success escape involved 10 riders and it formed at the top of the Cote du Bois-de-Salles. The riders involved were: Hincapie (DSC), Mazzoleni (TMO), Goubert (A2R), Boogerd (RAB), Ballan, Commesso and Valjavec (LAM), Arroyo (CEI), Rujano (QSI) and Camano (EUS). The peloton was led by the Phonak team from the moment the escape group formed. Hincapie, Mazzoleni, Commesso and Camano insisted with the escape but this quartet was caught at the 31.5km mark. At 33km Kessler, Commesso and Fedrigo attacked. They were chased down by a group including Moreau, Leipheimer, Karpets and Sastre. At the 39km mark, only Martinez, Kessler, Aerts, Commesso and Fedrigo remained up front. The average for the first hour was 46.8km/h. At the first sprint, the points were won by: Aerts. The peloton was 30” behind. At the 52km mark, Verbrugghe (COF) and Canada (SDV) set off in pursuit of the leading quintet. Martinez dropped out of the lead group at the 65km mark.

Six Riders Break Free…
Pereiro came to the front of the peloton and signalled to stop the chase of the escapees. At 67.5km, Kessler, Fedrigo, Commesso, and Aerts led Martinez, Canada and Verbrugghe by 20” and the bunch by 1’20”. Canada and Verbrugghe caught the four stage leaders at 71km. The points of the 2nd climb were claimed by: Commesso, Aerts, Kessler and Fedrigo. Martinez was 2’40” behind at the 72.5km mark and the Caisse d’Epargne-led peloton was at 3’40”. The average speed for the 2nd hour was 40.4km/h. The peloton was 5’00” behind at the 85km mark. Celestino (MRM) abandoned at 80km. First place points at the top of the Col de Perty were won by Canada. The peloton was at 5’37”. On the descent the gap was 5’40” – this was the escape’s maximum gain. Quickstep came forward to assist Caisse d’Epargne with the chase at 105km. The average speed for the third hour was 42.6km/h.

Crash Claims Two Victims!
At 141km, Canada and Verbrugghe lost control of their bikes on a right-hand turn. Kessler crashed into Canada and all three went flying over roadside barriers. Kessler remounted and was caught by the peloton at the 144km mark. The other two were taken to hospital: Canada fractured is right collarbone and Verbrugghe needed x-rays for a suspected fracture of a bone in his leg (the doctors didn’t specify where the break was).

Fedrigo Give Bouygues Telecom First Stage Win!
Commesso, Aerts and Fedrigo led by 3’25” with 35km to go. Liquigas riders were at the head of the peloton (since the 135km mark) with a few Milram riders. With 25km to go, the peloton was 3’15” behind. Commesso led the escape over the 2nd intermediate sprint line; the peloton was at 2’22”. A large number of riders were dropped by the peloton in the final 15km including Boonen, De la Fuente, Casar, Moncoutie… when Commesso attacked 12km from the finish, Aerts was dropped but Fedrigo had the energy to follow. There were plenty of attacks from the peloton the final climb but Boogerd (RAB) led the bunch over the top 35” behind Commesso and Fedrigo.
With 2km to go, the peloton was just 15” behind the leading pair. Vandevelde (CSC) put in a last-minute bid to catch the escapees, attacking with 1,500m to go. Commesso sprinted into the lead with 900m to go but Fedrigo caught him and, with 150m to go raced into the lead to give the Bouyges Telecom team its first Tour stage win.
Vandevelde finish 3” behind while the peloton was at 7”. Pereiro finished 26th in the same time as fourth place, Moreau. The Spanish Caisse d’Epargne rider will wear the yellow jersey in stage 15.

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