Tour of Italy, May 13 at June 4

A later form...

It was believed that Pavel had completely recovered his problems with the knee. However, quite to the contrary "I encounter a problem of coordinations of the movements and my knee as desensitized". Moreover, he misses two more centimetres of muscle fibre! Under these conditions, Pavel shows a shift in his preparation for Giro.

This year, Maurizio Fondriest is quite present and leader of Lampre. On the second stage, a time-trial of 19 km, Pavel places himself in the ten first, then he tries to help Fondriest to seize the pink shirt of Tony Rominger, without success. To Monte Sirino, first stage of mountain, Pavel wastes time and in Dolomites, he cannot follow the best. He is nevertheless 8yh of the general classification. The third week proposes a less difficult course. Moreover, because of snow, the stages of mountain are shortened. Pavel finds the form the last weekend, but it is too late to go up with the general classification. He finishes this Giro 6th ...

Tour of Switzerland, 13 to June 22

Tonkov arrives!

For two seasons, Pavel has reached his peak of form in June, in the stage races which follows Giro. This Tour of Switzerland will prove to him that he from now on became ripe...

This Tour of Switzerland does not become animated before the sixth stage, with the time-trial in coast of 21 km between Appenzell and Schwägalp. At the beginning, Pavel is 9th with 22'' of delay on Alex Zülle. Pavel gives all and finishes the prove exhausted. To the general, he is from now on 3rd with 1'43'' of Zülle. It is at the time of the eighth stage between Zoug and Punt that the Tour of Switzerland will rock and where Tonkov will be affirmed among the big leaders of the group. "It is one of the days when I felt most strong all my career". The stage is long and difficult with the rise of Leinzerheide and especially of Albula (2312 m). Alex Zülle does not react immediately to the various attacks which take place with the foot of Albula. Pavel, which got clear, benefits from it to accelerate and widen the gap, almost in anonymity. "Pavel Tonkov is a man whom one never sees. No the blow of glare at his place. And especially, nothing which can distinguish it. He is based like a chameleon in the colors of the group" (La Tribune de Genève, June 23 1995). "I run with the head, I try to attack at the good time". When Zülle realizes of his error, it is already too late... With the front one, Pavel joined the man of head, Heinz Imboden, and continues his effort as a recluse. He accelerates, and still accelerates, sitted on his machine with a very regular blow of pedal, in an at the same time powerful and fluid style all. Behind, Alex Zülle seems asphyxiated on his bicycle. For the top, Pavel still accelerates to take the yellow jersey with Zülle, which passes with a delay of 1'41'', that is to say with 2" more in his favour. Pavel plunges in the descent, long 10 km, and the gap still widens with his advantage. Exhausted, Zülle does not have any more clearness necessary to fight. Pavel does not take time to enjoy his victory of stage; he does not raise the arms and passes the line at the sprint! 1'52" later, Zülle arrives, that is to say 9" too late! With the allowances, Pavel precedes it from now on of 13" in the general classification. "I had envisaged to win the stage, but I did not think of taking the yellow jersey. Frankly, I did not think of being able to beat Alex Zülle". There remains still an arrival in altitude towards Flumserberg (1220 m) and Zülle tries by 5 times to release Tonkov, without another result to take again 2" to him on the line. "Zülle cut his effort at once to recover afterwards". Pavel wins finally this Tour of Switzerland with 11'' in advance on Zülle, and especially with an awaked ambition. "After this victory, a thing should change. From now on I felt the taste of the victory..."

Tour of France, 1 to July 15

A Tour too late...

"To make a podium at the Tour of France? Not, not yet. I would be already content if I can gain a stage and finish in the ten first".

As usual, the first ten days of plain on the Tour of France are used to eliminate the climber ones from the final victory by pushing back them far with the general classification. In the foot of the Alps, Pavel thus finds 22th with already more 9' of Indurain. Between Le Grand Bornand and La Plagne, Alex Zülle sets out again with the offensive. In the foot of La Plagne, whereas Zülle still counts 4'40" in advance, Pavel Tonkov very justified share with his continuation. This news of course destabilized Zülle ("Not, not him! Not yet him!") Pavel reduces little by little the variation, but Miguel Indurain returns quickly on him. "Indurain in great condition is impossible to follow". And Pavel yields at the end of 300m. Nevertheless, he finishes 3th of the stage and enters the ten first of the general classification. The following day, Pavel pays his effort on the slopes of Alpe d' Huez, by finishing 14th of the stage. However he raises the arm by crossing the line (!), glad to be arrived at the top. The return in plain is difficult. Pavel loses more than 3 minutes on the favourites with Mende, and gives up the following day, patient of the efforts which he made since the beginning of the season. This Tour of France arrives always too late in his season...