| July 16, 2006 GAP, France (AP) -- Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo won stage 14 of the Tour de France on Sunday, while Spain's Oscar Pereiro kept the overall lead. Fedrigo, of the Bouygues Telecom team, beat Italy's Salvatore Commesso at the line. Pereiro and American Floyd Landis, who is second overall, both finished in a group together, 7 seconds behind the winner. Pereiro's lead over Landis remained at 1 minute and 29 seconds, with Frenchman Cyril Dessel third, 1:37 behind. The 112-mile course ran from Montelimar to Gap, in the foothills of the Alps, and the riders cycled under a scorching sun. The hilly stage was marked by a spectacular crash involving David Canada and Rik Verbrugghe. Verbrugghe, a Belgian rider for Cofidis, and Canada, a Spaniard with Saunier Duval, were taken to a hospital after crashing on a descent about 25 miles from the finish. The Tour's doctor, Gerard Porte, said that Canada injured his right collarbone and that Verbrugghe hurt a leg. Fedrigo's stage win was the first at this Tour for the Bouygues team. Team CSC rider Christian Vandevelde was third, 3 seconds behind Fedrigo and Commesso, who rides with Lampre and finished in the same time. Monday is the three-week race's second and last rest day before the Alps, which start Tuesday. Those mountains and the final time trial on Saturday are expected to decide the outcome of the race. |
