Podenzana was part of a break of 28 that went clear after only six of the day’s 176 kilometers. With no major threats to the top overall placings, the large group was given its head, but on the cote de Jouhan le Patre, after 38 kilometers, six riders went clear of the group. Podenzana; ONCE’s Neil Stephens, riding strongly in spite of a cracked rib; MG’s Michele Bartoli, who has attacked ceaselessly since the race left the Alps; TVM’s Peter van Petegem, Francis Lemarchand of GAN, and Guiseppe Guerini of Polti made up the decisive break.
Although Motorola’s Laurent Madouas valiantly gave chase, the sextet soon increased their lead, opening a gap on the peloton of 9:30 by the feed zone at Salviac, 70 kilometers from the finish. But Refin, inspired by team leader Abdujaparov’s win yesterday, moved to the front of the field and gave chase, bringing the lead down to a more respectable level. Van Petegem, meanwhile, was not impressing his companions by refusing to take his turn at the front of the break, presumably in the vain and somewhat ludicrous hope that his chasing teammate Jesper Skibby might somehow cross the gap. Thirty-three kilometers from Villeneuve, the group led by six minutes and Van Petegem finally took his turn at the front of the escape. Then, just eight kilometers from the finish, Podenzana took his chance, opening a gap of 200 meters or so. Behind the Italian, Bartoli and then Van Petegem and Stephens tried to jump away in pursuit but the Australian’s hopes were dashed when he fell on a roundabout, as his tubular tire rolled off his rear rim in the baking afternoon heat.
The hesitation in the pursuit following Stephen’s fall gave the initiative back to the Italian, and though Guerini tried, Podenzana was clear to take the biggest stage race win of his career. With most of the big favorites happy once again to save their energy for Tuesday and Wednesday’s two mountain stages, to Hautacam and Pamplona, respectively, Denmark’s Bjarne Riis spent another untroubled day in the Tour’s yellow jersey of leadership. Surely his slender 56-second lead on Abraham Olano could expect to be attacked tomorrow or on the mountainous road to Pamplona? "Probably," replied Riis, with his typical cool as he wiped the sweat from his face beyond the line. "But I’m very confident in myself and the team so I’m expecting to race well tomorrow and Wednesday. I feel like I’m in the form of my life."
*Motorola’s George Hincapie failed to start stage 15 after cutting his right side badly following a heavy fall on a descent, caused by a puncture, during yesterday’s stage to Tulle. Hincapie’s teammate, Frankie Andreu, thus became the sole remaining American still racing in this year’s Tour.
RESULTS
1. Massimo Podenzana (It), Carrera 176 km in 3:54:52
2. Guiseppe Guerini (It), Polti at 0:37
3. Peter van Petegem (Belg), TVM 0:50
4. Michele Bartoli (It), MG/Technogym s.t.
5. Francois Lemarchand (Fr), GAN 1:16
6. Neil Stephens (Aus), ONCE 1:41
7. Frederic Moncassin (Fr), GAN 5:38
8. Fabio Baldato (It), MG/Technogym
9. Erik Zabel (Ger), Telekom
10. Andrea Ferrigato (It), Roslotto all s.t.
Non starters: George Hincapie (USA), Motorola
Abandons: Laurent Genty (Fr), Aubervilliers
General classification: No change
Points classification: Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom
Mountains classification: Richard Virenque (Fr) Festina