/ 19 July 2007

SA’s Hunter makes history in France

South African Robert Hunter of the Barloworld team won a wind-battered 11th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday after 182km of drama-filled racing between Marseille and Montpellier.

The 30-year-old won a sprint finish just ahead of Swiss Fabian Cancellara and Brazilian Murilo Fischer to claim his, South Africa’s and his continent’s first-ever win in the race.

”I don’t think I could be any happier,” said Hunter, who came round the bend at the 245m marker and began his drive to the finish line almost immediately.

”It’s a massive victory for me, and for South Africa.”

”It was a very difficult stage, there was a lot of wind. It was not easy to win in such a crazy finish,” said Hunter.

”It is very important to me to win a stage on the Tour de France. I am speechless.”

Barloworld, who were invited to compete in the race by Tour organisers, clinched their second stage win following Colombia’s Juan Mauricio Soler’s in Briancon on Tuesday.

Belgian Tom Boonen did not compete in the final sprint after being delayed by a massive crash about 800m from the line.

France’s Christophe Moreau, who was sixth overall and aiming for a podium in Paris, finished more than three minutes behind the winner after being caught by a sudden burst of acceleration from the Astana team at the front of the peloton, 70km from the finish.

The French champion dropped to 12th in the overall standings, six minutes and 31 seconds adrift of Dane Michael Rasmussen of the Rabobank team, who retained the yellow jersey.

German Erik Zabel and Norway’s Thor Hushovd were also left behind and did not take part in the final sprint.

The day’s breakaway ended 38km from the line after the Astana and Quick Step teams upped the pace and rode at breakneck speed.

A Reuters car carrying photographers caught fire 110km after the start, causing a 1km diversion to the course.

”It happened 20 minutes before the riders’ arrival at point of the accident,” organisers’ spokesperson Philippe Sudres said.

No one was hurt in the incident. — AFP, Reuters