47th Four Days of Dunkirk - 2.1

France, May 8-13, 2001

Stage 5 - May 12: Outreau - Boulogne-sur-Mer, 170.5 km

Rous keeps on winning

Didier Rous
Photo: © AFP

'Grimpeur' Didier Rous (Bonjour) has won his third race in as many weeks, taking the fifth stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk in Boulogne-sur-Mer today. Rous beat sprinter Jeroen Blijlevens (Lotto) and Stephane Heulot (Big Mat), with Laurent Jalabert (CSC) and Cedric Vasseur (USPS) taking 4th and 5th respectively. Rous is now the overall leader of the race, with Laurent Jalabert in second and his brother and teammate Nicolas in third.

A group of 7 riders escaped with 50 kilometres to go, containing the Jalaberts, Vasseur, Rous, Heulot, Blijlevens and Spaniard Jaime Hernandez (Festina). The latter refused to work, as he was waiting for his team leader Christophe Moreau, who never arrived.

Cofidis missed the move although Laurent Lefèvre tried to bridge, before the whole team rode for David Millar to close the gap, again unsuccessfully.

Nicolas Jalabert tried his attack with 5 kilometres to go, but was brought back by Heulot on the last climb. The uphill finish suited Rous, who got round Heulot and kept Blijlevens at bay, to take the win and the leader's jersey with two stages to go.

With the time trial in the morning, it is quite possible that Laurent Jalabert may take the overall win, but it remains to be seen whether he is back to his full fitness.

Results

1 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour                      4.10.35  
2 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Lotto - Adecco           
3 Stephane Heulot (Fra) Big Mat-Aubervilliers 93   
4 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-World Online
5 Cedric Vasseur (Fra) US Postal Service    
6 Jaime Javier Hernandez Bertran (Spa) Festina      0.08  
7 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) CSC-World Online           0.11  
8 Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Alessio                    1.06
9 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Francaise des Jeux        1.09
10 Jan Svorada (Cze) Lampre-Daikin
 
General classification after stage 5
 
1 Didier Rous (Fra) Bonjour                      21.49.12  
2 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) CSC-World Online            0.09  
3 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) CSC-World Online            0.21  
4 Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Lotto - Adecco             0.28  
5 Stephane Heulot (Fra) Big Mat-Aubervilliers 93     0.30  
6 Cedric Vasseur (Fra) US Postal Service             0.33  
7 Jaime Javier Hernandez Bertran (Esp) Festina       0.43  
8 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ag2R Prevoyance                0.49
9 Baden Cooke (Aus) Mercury-Viatel                   1.12
10 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole              1.13