Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan was the victor today as the centenary Tour de France provided another day of thrills and spills with Spain`s much-fancied Joseba Beloki eliminated after injuring himself in a fall close to the finish.
Beloki, last year`s runner-up and arguably the biggest danger to Tour leader Lance Armstrong, had to be taken to hospital after his freak fall a little more than four kilometres from the line.
Cradling his bloodied elbow and also apparently nursing an injured hip he wept in the arms of his team entourage as he was helped into the ambulance. Armstrong, who had shadowed his arch-rival closely all day, narrowly avoided being caught up in the fall as 29-year-old Beloki's bike seemed to slip from under him after a puncture.
31-year-old Armstrong, bidding for a record-equalling fifth Tour win, Armstrong retains the race leader`s yellow jersey by 21 seconds from Vinokourov who came in 36 seconds ahead of his pursuers after the 184.5km ride to Gap from Bourg d`Oisans including some more tough Alpine ascents.
Vinokourov savoured his win on the day, saying: "It was my best race and I am very pleased with this success in my fourth Tour. I did not know what was happening behind me".
Filed by Barry J Whyte
