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Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on July 26, 2008
A win at last for Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel8217;s persistence was rewarded on Friday with a first stage victory on the Tour de France.
Sylvain Chavanel8217;s persistence was rewarded on Friday with a first stage victory on the Tour de France. The Frenchman, who had unsuccessfully attacked again and again in this year8217;s race, beat compatriot Jeremy Roy in a sprint finish after the two broke away on the 165.5-km 19th stage from Roanne.
German Gerald Ciolek won the sprint of the bunch to take third place a little more than a minute behind the front two as Spaniard Carlos Sastre retained the overall leader8217;s yellow jersey after spending a quiet day in the peloton.
8220;I was frustrated because I had been trying so hard and every time I had failed,8221; said Chavanel, who is to join the Quick Step team from Cofidis next season. 8220;This year, I have overcome a barrier. It8217;s the best gift I could offer Cofidis.8221;
Chavanel has seven victories under his belt this year, including the Fleche Brabanconne semi-classic and a stage win in the Paris-Nice.
Sastre keeps yellow
The top of the standings remained unchanged with Sastre leading CSC teammate Frank Scheck of Luxembourg by one minute and 24 seconds. Austrian Bernhard Kohl is third 1:33 adrift and Australian Cadel Evans fourth one second further behind. Sastre and Evans are expected to battle it out for overall victory in Saturday8217;s decisive time trial over 53 km.
After a few abortive moves, Roy and Chavanel broke away at 80 kms and never looked back, opening up a five-minute lead over the peloton.
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