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Up Against Armstrong in France
The Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team completed Paris-Camembert alongside the
resurgent Lance Armstrong and his US Postal squad. Armstrong took second
behind top Frenchman Didier Rous, while the McCartney boys showed strongly
throughout.
The semi-classic from l'Ile de France into Normandy is a race with a great
history, with Tour de France champions like Laurent Fignon and Bernard
Hinault amongst the winners' hall of fame. In charge of the team for the
Easter races is Chris Lillywhite, himself a finisher here when Fignon won
back in 1988.
"The first 100kms are tricky, because of the risk of crosswinds," said Chris.
"The roads are good, but if it splits in the wind and you're in the wrong
group, you're in trouble. As for the second half of the race, that goes up
and down some tiny roads on massive hills - no fun at all. The Camembert area
is not unlike the Cotswolds, similar sort of roads."
The start was like a Brits reunion, with other ex-pats David Millar, Roger
Hammond and Jeremy Hunt chewing the fat with Matt Stephens. Ciaran Power met
up with his Irish Tonnisteiner compatriot Morgan Fox, and then they were
away. The crosswinds did indeed cause problems, but not for the McCartneys,
who enjoyed the luxury of a comfortable ride thanks to Matt Stephens driving
an early break. He stayed away in two separate moves for a total of around
70kms, and then the race approached the circuits and the accompanying hills.
Dave McKenzie attacked hard on the first long ascent, cresting the summit to
take the climber's points alongside a Basque rider from Euskatel. There was a
huge crowd lining the slopes, including a Union Jack and some fans who had
made the trip across "La Manche" to see the boys in action. By now Millar and
Hammond were already in trouble at the rear, and many other riders had
climbed off long before the circuits had even been reached. McKenzie was
caught shortly after the feed station, and immediately the move which was to
provide the winner went clear.
Matt Stephens and Maurizio de Pasquale were still in behind the break for
Linda McCartney, but it was Bonjour's Didier Rous who soloed away on the
ridiculously steep last climb to win alone, with the Tour de France champion
Lance Armstrong coming through to take second and announce his intentions to
the world.
Report by John Deering
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