Cycling: Millar timing just right as yellow fever intensifies
Scotland's David Millar rolls down the ramp to start the individual time trial in the fourth stage of the Tour de France at Cholet yesterday
SCOTLAND'S David Millar produced one of the best rides of his career in the fourth stage of the Tour de France yesterday, a 29.5km time trial in Cholet.
Millar, who now glories in riding 'clean' after his two-year ban for using EPO ended in 2006, finished third behind Germany's Stefan Schumacher and Kim Kirchen, of Luxembourg.
His performance set up a fascinating duel for the leader's yellow jersey over the coming days before the climbers and overall title contenders take over in the mountains. Among those, Australia's Cadel Evans had most to celebrate with a rock-solid fourth place.
Kirchen and Millar, second and third overall, are 12 sec behind Schumacher, with Evans a further nine seconds back and Fabian Cancellara, fifth yesterday, 33 sec behind. In this most unpredictable of Tours, one hesitates to suggest that today's fifth stage from Cholet to Chateauroux looks like a bunch finish and sprinters' fest, with little potential for overall gains, but tomorrow's mixed-terrain stage in the Massif Central has the makings of a classic.
Millar, 31 -- but looking fitter than ever, will have genuine hopes of securing the yellow jersey. He was the last British rider to wear it -- in 2000 when he won the Prologue in Paris.
Struggled
Overnight leader Romain Feillu, who took the yellow jersey after his breakaway stage win on Monday, struggled badly despite the support of the home crowd and finished nearly five minutes behind Schumacher.
The overall race leader, however, was realistic about his chances for final victory.
"I don't want to win the Tour. I came here hoping to win a stage and take the yellow jersey. I achieved both goals in a single stage. Now everything that comes next is bonus," Schumacher said. "I'm sure my Gerolsteiner team-mates can help me keep the jersey tomorrow but in the sixth stage to Super-Besse, it'll be very difficult with strong riders like Kirchen so close to me," he said.
His victory was good news for the German team he joined in 2006 as their manager Hans-Michael Holczer announced before the Tour their current sponsor would leave at the end of the season.
"It's good news for the team. There is so much potential in the team that I cannot believe it won't go on next season," said Schumacher, who did not rule out leaving it himself if offers came from other outfits.
Schumacher's relationship with Holczer has sometimes been a stormy one and like many other German riders, the 27-year-old Tour leader has had his share of controversy.
Last year, soon after the world championships in Stuttgart, Schumacher was arrested for drunk driving and tests revealed traces of amphetamines in his blood.
"We had a serious talk before I allowed him back. It harmed the image of the team, especially as it took place 10 days after the worlds," said Holczer.
Schumacher himself admitted he was "not proud" of himself. "I'm a public figure, I should set an example and I was stupid."
Cadel Evans, one of the race's hot favourites, underlined his credentials by taking fourth place 27 seconds off the German's pace. "So far, so good," said the Silence-Lotto rider, fourth overall "I am first in the favourites' standings."
The shy Australian, who is flanked by a bodyguard on the Tour and is rarely available for reporters at his team's bus before the stages, cannot hide any more. "For the overall standing, it was a first important rendez-vous," he said.
Evans now has a one-minute and six-second lead over Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who cannot compete with him in the time trials although the Caisse d'Epargne rider has improved in the discipline.
"Every second I can take from him is good to take," said Evans, who has been perfectly protected by his team mates in the first three stages.
Meanwhile, Colombian Juan Mauricio Soler, who won last year's polka dot jersey as the best climber, was declared fit to continue despite breaking a small bone in his right wrist, his Barloworld team manager said.
"He can race but we will not force him," Claudio Corti said. Soler injured his wrists and arm in a crash during the first stage of the three-week race. Dane Nicki Sorensen, who crashed badly during the third stage from St Malo to Nantes on Monday, was also declared fit to continue. (© Daily Telegraph, London).
- Brendan Gallagher in Cholet
