Joy for Frigo as he sprints to success

DARIO FRIGO may have been the happiest man in Cluses last night after claiming the 17th stage of the Tour de France, but Santiago Botero also had reason to smile.

Frigo prevailed in a three-way sprint involving Belgian Mario Aerts and Italy’s Giuseppe Guerini to win the 142 kilometre run from Aime to Cluses in a time of four hours, two minutes and 27 seconds.

The Tacconi Sport rider, placed 23rd after today’s win, surged past Aerts with just a couple of hundred metres to go, narrowly avoided a spectator’s camera overhanging the security fence, and cruised over the line.

The three riders dominated the stage having led since before the second climb of the day, the Col des Saisies which is 70km from the start.

Botero’s satisfaction stems from improving his chances of a podium finish in Paris on Sunday by moving from seventh to fourth in the overall classification after coming home in 11th on the final stage in the Alps.

The swashbuckling Colombian remains 10 mins 59 secs behind Lance Armstrong, who retains the yellow jersey, but is now just 3 mins 35 secs behind the third-placed Raimondas Rumsas.

Armstrong, without imposing himself in the way he can, came in 24th today in the main peloton, 4:36 behind Frigo.

His lead in the general classification remains at 5:06 as he came home alongside second-placed Spaniard Joseba Beloki.

Frigo’s victory comes at the end of a trying period for the Italian during which he was sacked by the Fasso Bortolo team after banned substances were found in his room last June during the Giro D’Italia.

‘‘It has been a difficult time, but I am delighted to have put that behind me with victory today,’’ Frigo said. ‘‘It was a tricky stage, but obviously it went well for me.

‘‘I was intent on improving my overall classification so the best way to do that is to win a stage. I think my season is going okay.

“I have won one or two important races since the beginning of March and I have had good results, but this is the best of them.’’