2003-07-26
	Lastras inspired to Tour victory on

ST MAIXENT-L'ECOLE, France, July 25 (Reuters) - Spaniard Pablo Lastras's victory in the 18th stage of the Tour de France was even sweeter because it came on the birthday of his mother, who died four months ago.

The Ibanesto.com rider pointed to the sky after winning the sprint to the line at the end of the 203.5-km stage in St Maixent-l'Ecole on Friday.

"It's really a special day for me as it would have been my mother's birthday today. She died four months ago," he said.

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Asked whether his mother was behind him when he outsprinted Frenchman Carlos Da Cruz to win, Lastras said: "I think so. In the last metres, yes for sure."

Lastras became the latest stage winner of this year's Tour to be inspired by the memory of a loved one.

Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov said after taking the ninth stage that his friend and compatriot Andrei Kivilev, killed in a crash in the Paris-Nice race, was giving him the strength to win this season.

Riders from French team Brioches La Boulangere explained early in the Tour that they were riding in memory of their deceased team mate Fabrice Salanson, who was found dead in his hotel room before the start of the Tour of Germany.

Lastras's win allowed him to join a limited group of riders to have won stages on the three big Tours, the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta (Tour of Spain).

"I also won a stage in the Tour of Portugal and Portuguese like to say that there are the three big Tours and the really big one, theirs," Lastras said.

"This is very special of course because it is the centenary of the Tour and my mother's birthday. But as a rider, the most important win was the one on the Giro, because it was the first.

"The Vuelta victory was also a big one because it was in my country," he added.

Lastras put his stage wins in the most prestigious races on the cycling calendar down to his all-round ability.

"I like to say that I'm an all-rounder because I'm good at nothing in particular," he said.

Lastras was the second Ibanesto.com rider to win a stage on this Tour after Juan Antonio Flecha while two of their team mates are in the top 11 overall.

He hoped the team's good showing would help them find a new sponsor as Spanish bank Banesto is quitting at the end of the season.

"We're like a family and I hope we can continue as such under a new name," he said.


Updated on Friday, Jul 25, 2003 1:43 pm EDT