The rolling wounded: Vino, Klöden soldier on
Yellow-jersey contender Alexandre Vinokourov will continue the Tour de France despite enduring a painful day in the saddle, his team manager said Friday.
However, Astana team manager Marc Biver admitted that Vino’ and his injured co-leader Andreas Klöden will suffer in the Alps this weekend.
Both riders were injured in separate spills on Thursday's crash-marred fifth stage, Klöden sustaining a hairline fracture to his tailbone and Vinokourov receiving 30 stitches to cuts on his knees.
The pair finished Friday's sixth stage, although Klöden hobbled into the team bus afterwards having spent the day trying to stop his right foot from becoming numb.
Vinokourov looked in better health, despite riding the mainly flat 199.5km stage with bandages on both knees and one arm.
The Kazakh, who finished third overall in 2003, said: "My knees were hurting me a lot. The more the race went on, the more I got tired.
"The good news is that I got to the finish line thanks to my team, which helped me a lot. Now, I'll take it day by day. Tomorrow I'll be at the start."
Biver said it is too early to say whether either rider, or both, would succumb to the difficulties ahead, namely trying to race for two tough days in the Alps.
The Swiss appears pessimistic over Klöden's condition, but affirmed that Vinokourov, despite lacking power in his pedal stroke as a result of his injured knee, would battle till the end.
"He's had problems, mainly with getting power on the pedals," said Biver.
"The stage was relatively calm, fortunately for us because otherwise it would have been a different story. But despite that, we're not jumping around in optimism."
Asked if Vinokourov would start Saturday's seventh stage, he added: "Of course he will start. He's never talked about pulling out. He will do whatever it takes to stay in the Tour. If he has to die on the bike, he will."
As for Klöden, Biver seemed less optimistic.
"He had a bad day, and was in a lot of pain. He had a bandage on the sciatic nerve," said Biver. "His right foot is going to sleep. He can't put a lot of pressure on it, and so the pedals."
Klöden said: "As it was for Vino’, it was a tough day for me, but I'm satisfied I finished the stage, and had a lot of help from my teammates.
"I'll be at the start tomorrow, but I'm making no forecasts for the coming days."
Recuperation and massage will be vital for both, but Biver knows their rivals will be keeping a close eye on the pair's progress in the mountains.
"We can't even begin to think about going on the attack. It's just not possible. The other teams are not going to wait for us, but that's normal - it's just part of the race," said Biver. "They're going to try and take advantage of our situation, which is normal as a race strategy.
"We have to hold on till Sunday, and not just hold on but try and limit the damage as much as possible. I'm sure we can do that, but if the gaps get too big then it will change the whole race for us, and our subsequent strategy."
"They're going to suffer, but everyone's going to suffer. Morally we'll take a blow as well, because it's already tough enough when you are fully fit.
"But sometimes even if the head wants to go on, if the body doesn't there's not a lot you can do."
Most Recent Articles
- Columbia's Tony Martin will face a mountain battle to retain his white jersey
- Arcalis will answer many questions
- John Wilcockson: A change of pace for the Tour
- Near their European base, the Garmin-Slipstream men go on the attack
- A Casey B. Gibson Gallery - Into Barcelona
- Hushovd win gives Cervélo a boost
- Menchov's woes continue
- Columbia's Michael Rogers has no broken bones, will start Friday, his team says.
