It’s All Smooth Cycling as Riis Nears Victory

Bjarne Riis of Denmark moved closer to winning the Tour de France by keeping his lead through Thursday’s stage, which was won by Dutch rider Bart Voskamp.

With only a flat stage today and the Tour’s second time trial Saturday remaining before the ceremonial spin through Paris on Sunday, Riis all but locked up his victory.

Riis, 32, finished with the main pack of riders, 16 minutes 56 seconds behind Voskamp in the 96-mile stage over the Pyrenees Mountains from Pamplona, Spain.

Five-time defending champion Miguel Indurain, who was hoping for a record sixth consecutive Tour victory, was 15:36 behind Riis.

About 15 riders pulled ahead of the main pack halfway through the course, and Voskamp, 27, outsprinted Germany’s Christian Henn to win his first Tour stage. Italy’s Alberto Elli finished third, 27 seconds behind.

“I stayed on Henn’s tire over the final stretch and I made my sprint and pulled ahead,” said Voskamp, a fourth-year pro.

Riis and the overall leaders didn’t push the pace after two grueling climbing stages through the Pyrenees.

With none of the riders in the breakaway a threat to his lead, Riis rode near the front of the main group as the course wound down to the Atlantic Coast.

During Thursday’s stage, professional photographers boycotted the race after French L’Equipe photographer Patrick Boutroux was knocked off his motorcycle by sports director Alvaro Pino of the Kelme team Wednesday.