Stage 11: Bagneres-de-Bigorre – Revel
Erik Dekker of Rabobank took his second stage win in the 2000 Tour de France today in Revel, outsprinting his day-long fellow breakaway Santiago Botero (Kelme). Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong enjoyed his first day in the ‘maillot jaune’, in the wake of his stunning performance in the Pyrenees.
“I suffered a lot in the Pyrenees,” said Dekker, who has now been in breakaway moves for 600 kilometres since the race left Futuroscope. “I attack a lot because I want to get into breakaways and win stages.”
“Today was another hard day, but I just went for it,” said the Rabobank rider. “It’s a question of confidence and form, and at the moment I have both.”
Dekker’s second stage win in four days came after a day-long breakaway, which moved away on the third category Cote de Mauvezin, after only 15 kilometres.
29 year old Dekker was quickly followed by Botero and with the main field clearly intent on recovering after the Pyrenees, the pair sped well clear to build a substantial lead.
Dekker, silver medallist at the Barcelona Olympics, has taken his  time reaching maturity. “I waited eight years to win my first stage in the Tour de France,” he said. “It took a long while, but it’s better late than never.”
David Millar of Cofidis broke clear of the chasing peloton on the final ascent, with six other riders, including the leader of the best rider under-25 classification, Francisco Mancebo, of Spain.
“It was an opportunistic move,” Millar said. “I felt terrible for 200 kilometres, but I decided to attack at the end, because everybody else looked worse.”
“I think the young rider competition is now down to me and Mancebo. We’re watching each other closely. I’m feeling good but he is the stronger climber, and I don’t think that I’ll be able to make up 15 minutes on him in the final time trial.”
“Yesterday was hard,” Millar said of the finish at Hautacam, “but I was happy with the way I rode and with my result. But I’m nervous about what’s to come in the Alps. The Ventoux stage isn’t so bad, but the stage to Briancon will be tough and the next day to Courchevel will be hell.”
Results & overall standings:
1. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 5hr 05min 47sec, 2. Santiago Botero (Col) s.t., 3. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) at 4min 51sec, 4. David Millar (Gbr) s.t., 5. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) s.t., 6. Alexnder Vinokurov (Kaz), 7. David Etxebarria (Spa), 8. Mario Aerts (Bel), 9. Michele Bartoli (Ita), 10. Erik Zabel (Ger) 5:05, 11. Geert Verheyen (Bel) s.t., 12. Nico Mattan (Bel), 13. Francois Simon (Fra), 14. Michael Blaudzun (Den), 15. Fred Rodriguez (USA), 16. Christophe Moreau (Fra), 17. Fabrice Gougot (Fra), 18. Richard Virenque (Fra), 19. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel), 20. Bobby Julich (USA) s.t., 23. Jan Ullrich (Ger), 24. Lance Armstrong (USA), 26. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) all same time
  
General Classification:
1. Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal 44hr 35min 22sec, 2. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom at 4min 14sec, 3. Christophe Moreau (Fra) Festina 5:10, 4. Marc Wauters (Bel) 5:18, 5. Peter Luttenberger (Aut) 5:21, 6. Joseba Beloki (Spa) 5:23, 7. Manuel Beltran (Spa) 5:44, 8. Javier Ochoa (Spa) 6:13, 9. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) 6:21, 10. Angel Casero (Spa) 6:55, 11. Richard Virenque (Fra) 6:59, 12. Michele Bartoli (Ita) 7:09, 13. Abraham Olano (Spa) 7:15, 14. Alex Zulle (Swi) 7:22, 15. Roberto Heras (Spa) 7:33, 16. Michael Boogerd (Ned) 7:33, 17. Fernando Escartin (Spa) 7:34, 18. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) 8:01, 19. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) 8:07, 20. Daniele Nardello (Ita) 8:48, 21. Nico Mattan (Bel) 9:51, 22. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) 9:52, 23. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa) 10:19, 24. Marco Pantani (Ita) 10:34, 25. Marcos Serrano (Spa) 11:32, 26. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) 11:39, 27. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) 11:41, 28. David Etxebarria (Spa) 11:51, 29. Tyler Hamilton (USA) 12:13, 30. Santiago Botero (Col) 12:15, 31. David Millar (Gbr) 12:20