Vinokourov claims Paris-Nice stage
CANNES, France -- Kazahkstan's Alexander Vinokourov, Paris-Nice winner for the last two years, clinched his second win of the 2004 race with a fine solo effort in Saturday's seventh stage.
The 30 year-old T-Mobile rider broke away 6km from the finish of the 185.5-km stage from Dignes-les-Bains to Cannes to finish 18 seconds ahead of Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen.
Jens Voigt won the main sprint 21 seconds behind the stage winner.
German Joerg Jaksche of the CSC team retained the yellow jersey he claimed on the first day after winning the 13.2-km time trial.
"I think Jaksche is going to win," Vinokourov said on the the finishing line. "This year, I was not aiming at the overall victory.
"I just wanted to win a stage in memory of my friend Andrei Kivilev who died after a crash during last year's race. I did it on Thursday but I also discovered that I wasn't in such bad form and I decided to have another go today."
Sunday's last stage will be raced over a 144km circuit around the town of Nice.
Meanwhile, reigning World Cup champion Paolo Bettini of Italy won the 173km fourth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race between Isernia and Paglietta, claiming the overall lead from Spaniard Oscar Freire.
