Friburg, Germany, July 20 2000 – In the region of a million German cycling fans lined
the road to Fribourg, just south of the Black Forest today to see Salvatore Commesso
of Saeco win the 28th stage of the Tour de France – a 246.5km ride from Lausanne
to the 11th century German town – edging out Alexandre Vinokourov of Telekom in a
sprint for the line.

The 25-year-old Italian crossed the line in 6hr 8min 15sec after seeing off all comers
in this, the longest stage of the entire event.

The only consolation for the survivors was that they entered the day’s stage with
the gruelling mountain stages well and truly behind them.

Defending champion Lance Armstrong retained the leader’s yellow jersey after ambling
home some 15min adrift, snugly ensconced in the peloton.

Kazakhstan’s Vinokourov and Commesso were 2min ahead of the pack over the final 6km
with Jean-Cyril Robin of Bonjour, Credit Agricole’s Jens Voigt and Jacky Durand of
Lotto chasing.

Commesso, a former Italian national champion and winner of the 13th stage of the
Tour last year, won by just a handful of centimetres in a mad dash for the finish
after both he and Vinokourov stopped on the final sharp turn to avoid leading the
final sprint.

In the end the Italian’s late surge from second brought him the day’s honours as
large crowds rushed to the roadside to see the riders home after the race crossed
from Switzerland into Germany in the most picturesque of settings.

"Let’s hope I can provide more of the same," laughed the Naples-born former
junior European champion breathlessly afterwards.

Both Commesso and Vinokourov were in it for the long haul as they headed up a 242.5km
escape just 4km out of Lausanne.

Commesso’s win at Albi last year followed a similarly long escape.

The two frontrunners started their final push some 40km out to leave Voigt, Durand
and Robin in their slipstream.

Commesso’s win followed one of the longest escapes in Tour history.

The record remains with Frenchman Albert Bourlon, who in 1947 held onto the lead
for 253km from Carcassonne to Luchon.

Results & overall standings:

Results:

1. Salvatore Commesso (Ita/SAE), 246.5 km in 6 h 08:15.

(average speed: 40.16 km/h)

2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kzk/TEL) at 00:00.

3. Jacky Durand (Fra/LOT) 01:05.

4. Jens Voigt (Ger/C.A) 01:16.

5. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra/BJT) 01:16.

6. Nicolay Bo Larsen (Den/MCJ) 15:35.

7. Servais Knaven (Hol/FAR) 15:35.

8. Thierry Marichal (Bel/LOT) 15:35.

9. Olivier Perraudeau (Fra/BJT) 15:35.

10. Bo Hamburger (Den/MCJ) 15:37.

11. Robbie McEwen (Aus/FAR) 15:40.

12. Erik Zabel (Ger/TEL) 15:40.

13. Stefano Zanini (Ita/MAP) 15:40.

14. Emmanuel Magnien (Fra/FDJ) 15:40.

15. Romans Vainsteins (Lat/VIN) 15:40.

16. Glenn Magnusson (Swe/FAR) 15:40.

17. Pascal Chanteur (Fra/AG2) 15:40.

18. Nico Mattan (Bel/COF) 15:40.

19. Fred Rodriguez (USA/MAP) 15:40.

20. Sebastien Hinault (Fra/C.A) 15:40.

21. Massimiliano Mori (Ita/SAE) 15:40.

22. Serge Baguet (Bel/LOT) 15:40.

23. Francois Simon (Fra/BJT) 15:40.

24. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel/LOT) 15:40.

25. Marco Velo (Ita/MER) 15:40.

26. Orlando Rodrigues (Por/BAN) 15:40.

27. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra/AG2) 15:40.

28. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus/USP) 15:40.

29. Damien Nazon (Fra/BJT) 15:40.

30. Massimo Apollonio (Ita/VIN) 15:40.

General Classification:

1. Lance Armstrong (USA/USP) 82 h 01:18.

2. Jan Ullrich (Ger/TEL) at 05:37.

3. Joseba Beloki (Spa/FES) 06:38.

4. Roberto Heras (Spa/KEL) 06:43.

5. Richard Virenque (Fra/PLT) 07:36.

6. Christophe Moreau (Fra/FES) 08:22.

7. Santiago Botero (Col/KEL) 10:19.

8. Fernando Escartin (Spa/KEL) 11:35.

9. Francisco Mancebo (Spa/BAN) 13:07.

10. Manuel Beltran (Spa/MAP) 13:08.

11. Pascal Herve (Fra/PLT) 13:50.

12. Daniele Nardello (Ita/MAP) 14:28.

13. Javier Ochoa (Spa/KEL) 15:47.

14. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kzk/TEL) 24:18.

15. Felix Garcia Casas (Spa/FES) 25:48.

16. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel/LOT) 26:30.

17. Roberto Conti (Ita/VIN) 29:22.

18. Michael Boogerd (Hol/RAB) 30:22.

19. Guido Trentin (Ita/VIN) 31:41.

20. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa/BAN) 34:06.

21. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra/BJT) 34:47.

22. Geert Verheyen (Bel/LOT) 37:17.

23. Peter Luttenberger (Aust/ONC) 41:30.

24. Nico Mattan (Bel/COF) 45:27.

25. Grischa Niermann (All/RAB) 46:15.

26. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita/TEL) 51:13.

27. Tyler Hamilton (USA/USP) 53:29.

28. Daniel Atienza (Spa/SAE) 54:13.

29. Mario Aerts (Bel/LOT) 57:29.

30. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita/COF) 1h00:24.

Selected:

39. Abraham Olano (Spa/ONC) 1h15:09.

49. Bobby Julich (USA/C.A) 1h37:40.

57. Laurent Jalabert (Fra/ONC) 1h52:17.

64. David Millar (GBR/COF) 2h09:07.