After 27 years, a Vasseur Wins Again

LA CHATRE, France —  France’s Cedric Vasseur equaled his father Alain in winning a stage of the Tour de France, then surpassed him by taking over the leader’s yellow jersey.

The older Vasseur won a stage in 1970. The younger Vasseur made a solo race for more than half of the fifth stage Thursday to take the lead in the overall standings, something his father didn’t do.

Vasseur left the pack after 71 miles of the stage from Chantonnay to La Chatre, 162.5 miles.

“My father taught me cycling is a difficult sport,” Cedric said. “I am a simple man. I don’t want to have a big head about this.”

Cedric Vasseur had more than a 17-minute lead over the pack at one time.

He ended up more than two minutes ahead of a small group of riders, led by Australian Stuart O’Grady. The main pack finished 3:24 back.

That gap enabled Vasseur to gain the overall lead from Mario Cippolini, who now is second, more than two minutes behind. Erik Zabel is third.

Alex Zuelle of Switzerland, the 1995 runner-up, dropped out of the race. Zuelle was more than four minutes behind after four stages.

Zuelle had broken a collarbone during the Tour of Switzerland in June. He was operated on and started the Tour de France with a special brace and screws in the collarbone.

Although he did not fall in any of the crashes that plagued the Tour de France over the first four days, he was the only top rider hindered in all three of them, losing about a minute each time.