Petacchi wins stage after evading crash
Winner of six stages in the Giro, Petacchi scored his inaugural Tour win at the expense of other top sprinters, Australian Robbie McEwen and German Erik Zabel.
McEwen and Zabel were the last two winners of the Tour points classification and the Italian can be considered a favourite for the green jersey this season.
Defending champion Lance Armstrong finished in the bunch which were all given the same time as Petacchi.
“I’m glad to confirm my Giro victories with this victory,” said Petacchi at the end of the stage from Montgeron to Meaux.
“I’m not in my best shape but I hope to improve as the race goes on. I want to thank my team for the great job they did to help me,” he added.
But Petacchi’s feat in three hours 44 minutes and 33
seconds was overshadowed by a dreadful pile-up in the bunch 400 metres before the end line.
Spaniard Jose-Enrique Guttierez crashed for no apparent reason as the bunch was speeding to the finish, splitting the main group and causing dozens of riders to fall in turn.
Prologue winner Bradley McGee of Australia was involved in the crash but retained his leader’s yellow jersey.
The FDJeux.com rider even increased his overall lead by finishing second in the first intermediate sprint of the stage after 19km to grab a bonus of two seconds.
He now leads Briton David Millar by four seconds. Armstrong was eighth.
“I’m fine. Nothing’s broken. But I can’t help thinking about my (French team-mate) Jimmy Casper, who was taken to hospital,” McGee said.
Casper was among the most seriously hurt and will probably be the first rider to abandon the Tour.
But American Tyler Hamilton, the CSC team leader, also left the finish area in an ambulance and doctors fear he may have broken his collarbone.
McEwen, the points classification winner last year, recovered his green jersey thanks to his second place but was still disappointed at the finish.
“He’s very quick,” the Australian said about Petacchi.
The first intermediate sprint, after 19km, was a chance for three French cyclists, Andy Flickinger, Christophe Mengin and Walter Beneteau to break away.
The last two were caught 120km later after holding a maximum lead of 8:45 but Flickinger fought on for 10 more kilometres before surrendering.
The last say belonged to the sprinters, who should again be at their best in today’s 204-km second stage from La Ferte-sous-Jouare to Sedan.
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