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[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 7 results

July 8: STAGE 7 - Le Mans  Châteauroux 218 km

Cavendish wins stage 7 of the 2011 Tour de France

Stage 7 Results:

1. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, in 5h 38′ 53″
2. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Isd, at s.t.
3. André Greipel, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at s.t.
4. Romain Feillu, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at s.t.
5. William Bonnet, Fdj, at s.t.
7. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
14. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at s.t.
16. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
17. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
18. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
20. Mark Renshaw, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
22. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at s.t.
26. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
30. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, at s.t.
31. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
32. Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana, at s.t.
33. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at s.t.
39. Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
41. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at s.t.
45. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at s.t.
52. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at s.t.
54. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at s.t.
92. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:22
93. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:53
95. David Zabriskie, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 02:13
97. Danny Pate, HTC-Highroad, at 02:44
127. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 03:06
157. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 03:06
172. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 03:06
182. Yaroslav Popovych, Team RadioShack, at 06:38
190. Christopher Horner, Team RadioShack, at 12:41

GC Standings:

1. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 28h 29′ 27″
2. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 00:01
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:04
4. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:08
5. Andréas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, at 00:10
7. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:12
8. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 00:13
10. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:20
11. Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana, at 00:32
12. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 00:33
15. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 01:03
21. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 01:15
23. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 01:29
24. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 01:42
26. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 01:57
50. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 04:29
55. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 05:16
59. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 06:06
71. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 06:57
79. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 08:33
96. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 09:55
130. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 14:23
142. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 16:12
145. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 16:47
148. Yaroslav Popovych, Team Radioshack, at 17:14
166. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 21:43
173. David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 26:44
190. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 49:29

Next Stage: July 9: STAGE 8 - Aigurande  Super-Besse Sancy 189 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo

Green:   Jose Joaquin Rojas, Movistar Team, with 167 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 156 points
Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, with 150 points

 Polka Dot:    Johnny Hoogerland, Vacansoleil-Dcm, with 4 points
Anthony Roux, Fdj, with 3 points
Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, with 2 points

 White:           Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 28h 29′ 47″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:53
Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, at 02:17

Teams:       Team Garmin-Cervelo, in 84h 39′ 01″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:04
Team RadioShack, at 00:10

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)


Stage 7  Review:

Cavendish wins stage 7 of the 2011 Tour de France

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 8th 2011 12:05 PM UTC — Updated Jul 8th 2011 3:49 PM UTC
 

Cavendish had a successful return to the scene of his first Tour stage win. AFP Photo

Mark Cavendish won Friday’s marathon 218-kilometer stage 7 from Le Mans to Châteauroux at the 2011 Tour de France, the last sprinter’s stage before the race enters the Massif Central this weekend.

It was the HTC-Highroad rider’s 17th Tour stage win and came in the same city where he won his first Tour stage, in 2008.

Several GC contenders, including RadioShack’s Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer, were caught out by a large crash and lost time. Horner was the day’s last finisher, 12:41 behind Cavendish; Leipheimer lost 3:06. Team Sky’s GC hope Bradley Wiggins left the race with a collarbone break from that crash.

Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) finished in the lead group to retain his jersey, with a one-second advantage over BMC’s Cadel Evans.

After the race, Cavendish praised his teammates at length, and talked about how proud he was “to be able to share the Tour de France with them.”

“With 15km to go, they went super hard. They just went until they couldn’t go any more.”
Cavendish said his team’s well-drilled discipline doesn’t come through practice, “because we don’t practice.”

“It’s discipline through trust, through knowing each other, working together, not saying a thing. I’m super lucky I can share the experience with these guys. I don’t have to do anything. They delivered me with to 150 meters to go. Yeah it’s their job, but there’s a passion behind it. There always has been.

That’s what makes me so proud.”

Long, flat, wet and windy

Friday’s stage was one of the flattest of this Tour and a field sprint was all but guaranteed. There were no categorized climbs. Oddly, the day’s intermediate sprint came late on the stage, with just 25km remaining. Early rain gave way to partly sunny conditions later in the day.

The requisite early breakaway

Almost from Kilometer Zero, a four-man break formed off the front. The best placed of the four was FdJ’s Gianni Meersman, who started the day in 56th, 3:22 behind Hushovd. His teammate Mickael Delage also joined in, along with Sau-Sijasun’s Yannick Talabardon and Euskadi-Euskaltel’s Pablo Urtasun Perez.

The four had almost a five-minute gap just 12 kilometers into the race, and 6:25 by the 25km mark.
Garmin-Cervelo led the peloton at a stately pace on this long day, keeping the break’s gap manageable, trimming it to under four minutes with 60km to go. The day was too much for Quick Step’s Tom Boonen, however, who climbed into a team car and departed due to the lingering effects of his stage 5 crash.

Crash

As the pace picked up approaching the intermediate sprint a crash brought down about 20 riders, including Wiggins, who left the race with a suspected broken collarbone. Alexander Vinokourov, Tyler Farrar and Chris Horner were among those who went down but continued.
 
The peloton had broke into two big groups separated by over a minute, with Levi Leipheimer, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Geraint Thomas and Ryder Hesjedal among those stuck in the chase group a minute and a half back, desperate to regain contact before the end. Horner was even farther back. Hushovd and most of the major sprinters were in the front chase group, which was soon closing on the four leaders under pressure from Leopard-Trek and then HTC on the front.

The four-man break was finally caught with 12km to go.
HTC took firm control of the front into the final kilometers, with Petacchi sitting behind Cavendish and Hushovd and teammate Julian Dean hovering just behind. The HTC train would not be denied, however, and Cavendish started an early sprint and held off Petacchi and Greipel at the line.

Horner was at least two minutes behind the diminished peloton, which HTC was driving toward the intermediate sprint line.

Delage grabbed the first-place intermediate points. In the peloton, HTC put on a show of force to ensure Cavendish grabbed the field sprint for fifth place. Movistar’s Rojas was just behind him, gaining the point he needed to pass Philippe Gilbert for the points competition lead.

Up next

Saturday’s stage 8 heads into the hilly terrain of the Massif Central with a summit finish at Super-Besse. The finale is preceded by the Cat. 2 Col de la Croix St. Robert (6.2km at a 6.2-percent average grade), followed by 19km of winding back roads before the last climb begins in the town of Besse.

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 8 results

July 9: STAGE 8 - Aigurande  Super-Besse Sancy 189 km

Rui Da Costa wins stage 8 as Thor Hushovd holds lead in 2011 Tour de France

Stage 8 Results:

1. Faria Da Costa Rui Alberto, Movistar Team, 4h 36′ 46″
2. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 00:12
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 00:15
4. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 00:15
5. Peter Velits, Htc – Highroad, at 00:15
8. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 00:15
9. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:15
10. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:15
13. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:15
14. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 00:15
15. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:15
16. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:15
17. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:15
20. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 00:15
26. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:26
30. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 00:29
33. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 00:29
42. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 00:50
56. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:23
89. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 05:36
100. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 09:38
117. Yaroslav Popovych, Team Radioshack, at 13:06
134. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 19:59
136. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 19:59
141. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 19:59
165. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 19:59
170. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 19:59
176. David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 19:59
188. Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at 28:48

GC Standings:

1. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, 33h 06′ 28″
2. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 00:01
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:04
4. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 00:10
5. Jakob Fuglsang, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:12
6. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:12
7. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 00:13
9. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:19
10. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 00:30
11. Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana, at 00:32
13. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 01:03
17. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:28
18. Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, at 01:29
19. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 01:29
20. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 01:42
21. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 01:57
22. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 01:57
23. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 02:04
42. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 04:43
102. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 23:46
113. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 25:50
119. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 26:41
123. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 28:17
130. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 29:39
133. Yaroslav Popovych, Team Radioshack, at 30:05
159. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 35:56
171. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 41:27
175. David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 46:28
188. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 1:09:13

Next Stage: July 10:  STAGE 9 - Issoire  Saint-Flour 208 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo

Green:   Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 187 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 172 points
Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 153 points

 Polka Dot: Tejay Van Garderen, Htc – Highroad, at 5 points
Costa Rui Alberto Faria Da, Movistar Team, at 5 points
Johnny Hoogerland, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at 4 points

 White:           Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, 33h 07′ 56″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:59
Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, at 01:20

Teams:       Team Garmin – Cervelo, 98h 30′ 04″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:04
Team Radioshack, at 00:35

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)


Stage 8  Review:

Rui Da Costa wins stage 8 as Thor Hushovd holds lead in 2011 Tour de France

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 9th 2011 11:13 AM UTC — Updated Jul 9th 2011 4:59 PM UTC

Rui Da Costa wins stage 8. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Rui Da Costa (Movistar) won the eighth stage of the 2011 Tour de France by a whisker, just ahead of classics star Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and BMC captain Cadel Evans.

The 24-year-old Portuguese was the sole survivor of a daylong break that included American Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) and the first Category 2 climb of this year’s Tour, the 6.2km Col de la Croix Saint-Robert.

As the escape came apart on the final ascent to Super-Besse Sancy Astana’s Alexander Vinokourov shot out of the bunch, hoping to steal both stage win and the maillot jaune, but it was not to be — he was swallowed up in the final meters, and Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) held onto his yellow jersey by one second over Evans.

“I’ve been happy with my Tour de France so far … so if I’d lost the jersey it wouldn’t have been a big problem,” said Hushovd. ”Of course, when I heard my name I was happy.”

And Evans? He didn’t seem disappointed to still be sitting second.

“I didn’t get the jersey but for us it’s not a problem right now. As I keep saying, there’s a long way to go to Paris,” Evans said.

A tough day in the saddle

The 189km race from Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy took the 2011 Tour de France into the Massif Central, a hilly region in central and southern France with a distinct geology that includes the largest concentration of extinct volcanoes in the world.

The day brought more bad news for RadioShack — Chris Horner did not start after crashing heavily and losing a dozen minutes. The Tour of California champ managed to finish stage 7 despite suffering a concussion, a broken nose and heavy bruising to one calf.

Stage 8 began with relatively flat terrain for the first 60 or so kilometers. Then the road gradually turned upward, starting with the Category 4 Côte d’Évaux-les-Bains, a 1.7km climb that averaged 6.2 percent and summited at 65.5km.

Next up was the Cat. 4 Côte du Rocher des Trois Tourtes, a 1.3km climb that averaged just 4.6 percent and peaked at 119.5km.

Third on the day was the main event, the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert, averaging 6.2 percent and topping out at 164km.

The final 25km covered rolling terrain before tackling the finale, a 1.5km, 7.6 percent climb to the finish at Super-Besse Sancy.

The break du jour


Tejay Van Garderen (left) made it into the day's break. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Nine riders moved off the front just 8km into the stage:

43. Da Costa, at 4:02
44. Cyril Gautier, Team Europcar, at 4:04
52. Alexandr Kolobnev, Katusha, at 4:51
68. Julien El Fares, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 6:40
78. Van Garderen, at 8:06
143. Christophe Riblon, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 16:42
147. Romain Zingle, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 17:06
176. Xabier Zandio, Sky, at 28:48
187. Addy Engels, Quick Step, at 35:05

The escapees had a minute at 23km and two at 30km, with Evans’ BMC squad doing the work at the front of the bunch, race leader Hushovd having announced that Garmin-Cervélo was through defending the yellow jersey. At 43km the gap was over three minutes and growing.

El Fares took the KOM point atop the Cat. 4. Côte d’Évaux-les-Bains and the break had a five-minute advantage, putting Da Costa into the virtual yellow jersey. Riblon took top points at the intermediate sprint, and as the weather began to deteriorate the gap remained just over five minutes.

The chase begins

With 70km remaining the BMC-led bunch was gradually upping the tempo — the break’s advantage was down a minute as Kolobnev took top honors atop the Côte du Rochert des Trois Tourtes.

Astana lent a couple of riders to the pursuit, clearly thinking of Vinokourov (11th overall at 0:32), and with 50km to race the break was clinging to four minutes’ advantage with the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert just up the road.

It was all BMC and Astana at the front with 45km remaining and the gap down to 3:45. The peloton was in one long line on the twisting, turning roads leading to the big climb of the day.

Garmin-Cervélo moved forward, too, perhaps thinking about shifting the jersey from Hushovd to David Millar (fourth at 0:08), and the break’s advantage fell further, to 2:30 with 37km remaining.

Omega Pharma-Lotto took the front as the road tilted downward, though the finale seemed too difficult even for strongman Gilbert (12th at 0:33).

On the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert

The escapees held less than two minutes’ advantage as they began the ascent of the day’s big obstacle, the summit 6.2km up the road.

Van Garderen had a go and the break started coming apart — Zingle was the first man ejected, but not the last; Engles, El Fares and Riblon were shelled, too.

Behind, Astana’s Paolo Tiralongo attacked out of the bunch. No threat for the overall, sitting 177th at 28:48, he was setting himself up to provide assistance to team leader Vinokourov when he made his move. Mountains leader Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM) had a dig as well, marked by Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky). But all the GC men were holding their fire.


Alexander Vinokourov tried to get the stage win and the yellow jersey, but fell short in the finale. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Ahead, Van Garderen was setting a brisk tempo with Da Costa and Gautier slotted in behind him. Then Gautier popped, leaving just two men up front.

Da Costa took the front with 1km to the summit. And then Vino’ laid down a powerful attack as the grade leveled out a bit, racing away from the other GC men.

Van Garderen took top honors at the summit, sprinting away from Da Costa, as Vino’ roared up to a quintet including Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Hoogerland, Flecha and his teammate Tiralongo.

Down the other side

Riblon and Gautier fought back to Da Costa and Van Garderen on the descent with just under 20km to race, as Tiralongo set the pace for Vino’, with Flecha in tow. Zandio linked up and it was two Astanas and two Skys in the hunt.

BMC was leading the yellow-jersey group at 90 seconds behind the lead foursome, which had a minute on the Vino’ group.

Riblon tried to go it alone with 15km to go, but Van Garderen brought him back. The HTC rider countered, and then Riblon went once more. Gautier had a dig, then Da Costa, and Van Garderen again.

Then the rain started with 8km to race. The leading quartet was back together — for the moment, anyway — and the Vino’ group was stuck in no-man’s land between break and bunch.

Gautier attacked at the base of the finishing climb, and Riblon instantly went backward. Van Garderen and Da Costa closed the gap. Then the Portuguese jumped and Van Garderen chased, with Riblon finally spent.

Vino’ was 25 seconds back and closing with Flecha on his wheel.

Da Costa goes it alone

With 5km to go Da Costa was clinging to a small lead over Van Garderen, who was looking a bit baked. A greatly reduced break was a minute behind.

Vino’ shed Flecha and closed in on —and passed — the fading Van Garderen as Da Costa ground upward through the rain. With 3km to go he was just 19 seconds behind the lone leader.

Da Costa was looking over his shoulder as Vinokourov soldiered grimly on. In the final kilometer bunch, chase and leader could see each other.


Philippe Gilbert attacks, missing the stage win but taking the green jersey. Photo: Graham Watson |
www.grahamwatson.com

Gilbert, defending champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) and Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) moved forward — and then Gilbert attacked. Contador had a tentative dig, and then Damiano Cunego (Lampre) shot away.

Then Evans made a move of his own and the other GC men had to follow. The bunch swarmed Vinokourov, who would finish 22nd on the day, but Da Costa hung on for the stage win.

“It was a very hard stage, but I’m really happy to have taken this win,” said Da Costa, who had feared being caught by Vinokourov as the Kazakh continued his bid for the win and the yellow jersey.

“When I saw the gap to Vinokourov in the final kilometer I thought it would be difficult for me but I paced myself well.”

Gilbert crossed second at 12 seconds back, collecting the green jersey for his troubles, with Evans leading the GC favorites across in third, three seconds later.

And while Van Garderen may have fallen short of a stage win — after all his hard work he finished 66th on the day, 2:12 behind Da Costa — he was able to console himself by taking the combativity prize and slipping into the polka-dot jersey of the Tour’s top climber.


Van Garderen picked up the polka-dot jersey for his hard work in the hills. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

“I think I paid for my aggression a little early on,” he said. “I just lacked a little bit there at the end.”
Contador, who finished eighth on the day and remains 1:41 behind Evans, said he felt strong on the climb and didn’t expect any fireworks in the GC battle until the first of three consecutive stages in the

Pyrenees next week.

“I felt really good going up the climb, I managed to follow Gilbert,” said the three-time champion and recent Giro d’Italia winner.

“But what counts most for me is to know I’ve got good legs. If there is any battle to come, I don’t think it will start till the Pyrenees.”

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 9 results

July 10:  STAGE 9 - Issoire  Saint-Flour 208 km

Thomas Voeckler takes lead in 2011 Tour de France as Luis-Leon Sanchez wins stage 9

Stage 9 Results:

1. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Rabobank Cycling Team, 5h 27′ 09″
2. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 00:05
3. Sandy Casar, Fdj, at 00:13
4. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 03:59
5. Peter Velits, Htc – Highroad, at 03:59
6. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 03:59
7. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 03:59
8. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 03:59
9. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 03:59
12. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 03:59
13. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 03:59
14. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 03:59
18. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 04:07
21. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 04:07
23. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 04:07
24. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 04:07
34. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:30
39. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 04:35
58. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 05:50
80. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 06:47
81. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 06:47
82. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 06:47
83. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 06:47
94. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 12:50
102. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 12:50
148. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 21:11
154. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 21:11
159. Brian Vandborg, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 21:11

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, 38h 35′ 11″
2. Luis-leon Sanchez, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:49
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:26
4. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:29
5. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:37
6. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 02:38
8. Andréas Klöden, Team Radioshack, at 02:43
9. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 02:55
11. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:36
15. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 04:01
16. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:07
17. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:22
19. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:53
20. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 05:01
22. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 05:05
24. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 05:13
28. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 05:32
36. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 07:16
52. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 14:53
94. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 28:59
99. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 33:30
110. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 37:57
116. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 40:55
131. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 45:42
143. Yaroslav Popovych, Team Radioshack, at 49:42
157. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 55:33
158. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 56:08
169. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 1:01:04
180. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 1:28:50

Next Stage: July 11: Rest Day 1, then July 12: STAGE 10 - Aurillac  Carmaux 158 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 217 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 172 points
Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 153 points

 Polka Dot: Johnny Hoogerland, Vacansoleil-Dcm, with 22 points
Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, with 16 points
Tejay Van Garderen, Htc – Highroad, with 5 points

 White:           Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, 38h 39′ 12″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 0:51
Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, at 01:20

Teams:       Team Europcar, 115h 03′ 31″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:32
Team Radioshack, at 01:02

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)
Stage 9 - Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm
Stage 9 - Pavel Brutt, Katusha Team
Stage 9 - Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana
Stage 9 - David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo
Stage 9 - Manuel Garate Juan, Rabobank Cycling Team
Stage 9 - Frederik Willems, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Broeck Jurgen Van Den, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel – Euskadi

Stage 9 Review:

Thomas Voeckler takes lead in 2011 Tour de France as Luis-Leon Sanchez wins stage 9

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 10th 2011 11:58 AM UTC — Updated Jul 10th 2011 6:40 PM UTC


Alexander Vinokourov shot off the road on a descent and out of the Tour. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Crashes once again played a decisive role in stage 9 of the 2011 Tour de France on Sunday.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) drove the remnants of the day’s breakaway to the line, taking the yellow leader’s jersey from Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo) as Luis-Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) won the stage ahead of the former French national champion and Sandy Casar (FdJ).

But the real story of the stage took place long before the finish line. First, a massive pileup on a wet descent that sent riders flying into the woods at roadside took out Alexander Vinokourov (Astana), Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Cervélo) and Omega Pharma-Lotto teammates Jurgen Van den Broucke and Frederik Willems.

Vinokourov had to be carried from the ravine, apparently with a broken femur. Garmin boss Jonathan Vaughters said Zabriskie broke a wrist. For Van den Broucke it was a shoulder blade, a collarbone for Willems. All four abandoned the Tour.

RadioShack’s Andreas Klöden, BMC captain Cadel Evans and Garmin’s David Millar and Christian Vande Velde also hit the deck, but remounted and rejoined the race, though Millar required a visit to the medical car.

Then a reckless bit of driving saw a Euro Media car sideswipe two members of the day’s five-man breakaway — Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) — knocking the former to the tarmac and blasting the latter through a barbed-wire fence.


Johnny Hoogerland was in the break until a France Television car knocked him out of it, and through a barbed-wire fence. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Both men remounted and continued, but their time in the escape du jour was over — after getting patched up by a medical moto Flecha soldiered on for a while, but a bloodied Hoogerland quickly slipped back to the bunch and out the back for a lonely 22km ride to the finish.

He would cross in 139th place, 16:44 down — but in time to collect a fresh polka-dot jersey before heading to the hospital. A man must have his priorities.

Going up

The hilly, twisting 208km race from Issoire to Saint-Flour featured eight rated climbs — three Category 2, three Cat. 3s and two Cat. 4s.

• The Category 3 Côte de Massiac , a 3.4km climb averaging 6.2 percent and summiting at 43.5km.
• The Cat. 2 Col du Pas de Peyrol Le Puy Mary (1589 m), a 7.7km climb averaging 6.2 percent and summitting at 99.5km.
• The Cat. 2 Col du Perthus (1309m), a 4.4 m climb averaging 7.9 percent and summiting at 116km.
• The Cat. 3 Col de Cère (1294m), a 2.9km climb averaging 6.3 percent and summiting at 127.5km.
• The Cat. 3 Côte de la Chevade , a 3km climb averaging 7.9 percent and summiting at 139.5km.
• The Cat. 2 Col de Prat de Bouc Plomb du Cantal (1392m), a 8km climb averaging 6.1 percent and summiting at 154km.
• The Cat. 4 Côte du Château d’Alleuze , a 2km climb averaging 4.9 percent and summiting at 193km.
• And finally, the Cat. 4 Montée des Orgues , a 1.6km climb averaging 6.1 percent and summiting at the finish, at 208km.

And going down

Crashes and injuries sent more riders skidding out of the Tour — Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank) did not start, thanks to lingering injuries from a crash on stage 5, and Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel), Pavel Brutt (Katusha) and Wouter Poels of Vacansoleil abandoned in midstage.

Txurruka was one of several riders to crash early in the stage and pulled out after just over an hour of racing. Brutt, the Russian national champion, soon followed, while Poels, a 23-year-old who was making his Tour debut, quit after an hour of racing.

One rider who was very much in the race was the perpetually active Voeckler, who slipped away at the first KOM. Rabobank’s Laurens Ten Dam and Flecha bridged, though Ten Dam couldn’t stick; Next to link up were Hoogerland, Casar, Sanchez and Niki Terpstra (Quick Step), and at 53km the break led the bunch by 55 seconds.

At 64km the break had nearly four minutes’ advantage, and that’s the way it would stay for a while. Terpstra dropped out of the break, leaving a quintet up the road.


Dave Zabriskie broke a wrist while Frederik Willems snapped a collarbone in a crash on stage 9. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) crashed at 84km after getting tangled up with Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) and had to switch bikes. And then there was a real disaster — a huge crash on a wet, 70-kph descent at 102km took out Vinokourov, Willems, Van den Broeck, Zabriskie, Vande Velde, Klöden, Evans and several others.

After some discussion among green jersey Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), yellow jersey Hushovd and Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek), the yellow-jersey group moderated its pace to give those slowed by the spill to catch back on — in the process giving the break a chance to take time.

With 76km to race the gap was all the way out to 7:20, and Voeckler (19th at 1:29 behind Hushovd) was the virtual leader on the road by quite a margin. The former French national champion wore yellow for a long stretch during the 2004 Tour and clearly was hoping to do so again.

An end to the truce

With 70km to go the break’s advantage was dwindling, to five and a half minutes, with Omega Pharma on the front and Leopard-Trek on their wheels. Liquigas-Cannondale was hovering near the front, too.
Voeckler flatted and took a rear wheel, but made it safely back to the break with 5km to climb on the Cat. 2 Col de Prat de Bouc Plomb du Cantal. The rain was a distant memory; it was getting hot out there as Omega Pharma’s Jurgen Roelandts and Jelle Vanendert drove the bunch forward, trimming the break’s lead to 4:35.

With 40km to race the break was holding on to nearly five minutes and there seemed to be no real urgency back in the bunch. Hoogerland was solidly back in the mountains jersey, while Voeckler was focused on the yellow.

The disaster struck again — this time in the form of a French TV car that sideswiped Flecha and Hoogerland, taking both men down and leaving a trio out front — Voeckler, Casar and Sanchez.

Flecha was quickly back up and riding, albeit something the worse for wear, but Hoogerland somersaulted over a barbed-wire fence and took longer to get rolling again, sporting a large bandage on his left leg and getting some assistance from a medical moto. He fell back to the bunch and straight out the back, and Flecha likewise went backward shortly thereafter.

“The biggest disappointment of this moment is that we don’t have the jersey, and I think we deserved it,” said Vacansoleil team director Michel Cornelisse. ”It’s good that tomorrow is a rest day, but Johnny knows that he is going to defend his jersey, so for sure he is going on the attack again.

“He is bleeding a lot. He needs a few stitches. The crash happened at 60k an hour, it was unbelievable.” After Hoogerland crashed through the barbed wire, then got himself untangled, Cornelisse added, “His pants were completely off. He was completely naked.”

An insurmountable lead

With 20km remaining the leading trio was 4:23 ahead of the yellow-jersey group , now led by Garmin. They still had four minutes of that as they hit the bottom of the Cat. 4 Côte du Château d’Alleuze, and it was looking as though there would be a new race leader at day’s end.

Behind, Gilbert had a mechanical — he took a spare bike and began racing back to the bunch, led by Garmin’s Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde. The chase was making no headway, and 12km from the line the Voeckler group still held some four minutes’ advantage.

And then the Garmin gang simply threw in the towel, and none of the other teams stepped up to take their place. The stage winner and the race leader would come from the trio up the road.


Thomas Voeckler leads the escape. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

The break hit the base of the final climb with nearly five minutes on the yellow-jersey group, Voeckler at the front, Casar on his wheel and Sanchez third. Behind, Leopard-Trek finally came forward and went to work.

Too late. Sanchez shot away for the victory and Voeckler took second — along with the yellow jersey.
“I didn’t want to have any regrets on the Tour this year, but I have to say I didn’t expect to be pulling on the yellow jersey again,” said Voeckler.

“I really didn’t think I’d have it a second time in my career. In 2004, people said that the peloton let me take the yellow jersey. Today I went out and went for it.”

As for Sanchez, who was collecting his first victory of the season for Rabobank, he was happy to have taken some vengeance on Casar.

“Last year Casar beat me in a two-up sprint (at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne) but that time it was my fault because I hadn’t checked out the finish,” he said. “This time I did my homework. I knew the finale and
it suited me well.”

The GC bunch followed more than four minutes later, led home by the green jersey. Hushovd crossed nearly seven minutes down, to cheers from the crowd, finally ending a spirited defense of the yellow jersey.

[cyclist]

Rest Day 1:


Race Leader Thomas Voeckler poses withL'Equipe on Monday

[cyclist]

From PEZCycling:

Tour de PEZ: Ed's Take On The First Week
Monday, July 11, 2011  11:02:26 AM PT
 
by Edmond Hood


Monday 06:25, the Easyjet punishment flight from Edinburgh to Stansted; 'good morning,' I say to the lady in the next seat as I struggle into my pen. She scowls and stares even more intently at her magazine; 'finding the real me' is the headline - I could assist with that. But she's probably bound for some soul searing meeting in a stuffy London office. But that's not for Martin and I; it's Tour time and PEZ has let me loose for two weeks on the world's biggest bike race.
 


Thank you, Richard - thanks too Gordan and Valerie for great observations and pictures from the first week.
 
'The first week' - even Viktor couldn't say it was boring.
 
Stage 1 Passage du Gois-Mont des Alouttes: Phillippe Gilbert reminds me a lot of Venetian ex-world pro road champion, Moreno Argentin.
 
An Ardennes king and very hard to beat in an uphill finale.
 

Gilbert was in a class unto himself in the finale of Stage 1.
 
As is always the case in le Tour, the combination of a huge bunch, technical parcours and the fact that a pro team derives 60% of its year's media exposure from this one race mixes the ideal cocktail for 'les chutes' - it's not often you see Alberto Contador losing a minute and more on stage one.
 
However, the stage one crashes would seem common or garden by the end of the week.
 
Stage 2 Les Essarts TTT: Garmin at last broke their Tour 'duck' with Norwegian world champion making up for a spring campaign which didn't match his expectations and donning the world's most famous jersey.
 
It took just 24 minutes to lift the 'curse of the rainbow jersey;' but in those 24 minutes his equipe covered 23 kilometres - that's quick.
 

Garmin finally got their first Tour stage win in Stage 2. A happy day all around.
 
Not a disastrous day for Alberto, but not a great one either as another 20-odd seconds slid away from the Spaniard.
 
And for the 'what ifs' file - 'what if HTC's Bernie Eisel hadn't fallen on the first corner . . . .
 
Stage 3 Olonne sur Mer-Redon: Viktor isn't a man for riders from the New World - 'there were none of them in Gent, when I was there in the 70's and that Greg Lemond . . . .
 
But he's cool with Garmin's Tyler Farrar, any man who makes his home in grey old Gent instead of trendy Tuscany or Girona scores highly with Vik.
 

Win number two for the Argyle boys came just one day after their first.
 
With a beautiful lead out from pilot fish extra ordinaire, Julian Dean and world champion Thor Hushovd it was going to take warp drive to get round the big guy from Washington state.
 
From no wins to two wins in two days; JV was almost lost for words - almost, that is.
 
Stage 4 Lorient-Mur de Bretagne: This one had 'Phil Gilbert' writ large on it - but Cadel Evans (BMC) hadn't checked out that part of the script and it was the extremely sharp looking Aussie who pipped Contador at the top of the much vaunted Mur de Bretagne.
 

Alberto Contador raised his arms on the line...
 

...But it was Cadel Evans raising his arms on the podium a few minutes later.
 
Vik reckons that he, Dave and I went over it in the 1976 Roscoff to Lorient amateur classic - but I should add that we were all in the sag wagon at the time.
 
Stage 5 Carhaix-Cap Frehel: He can be rude, inappropriate, disrespectful and controversial all within a couple of sentences - but on his day, he's the fastest man on the planet and can dig deeper than anyone else.
 

Cav gets his win. The floodgates have been opened.
 
Perhaps Eurosport's David Harmon summed it up best; 'it's between Gilbert and Hushovd - but Cavendish has come from nowhere !'
 
Stages 6 Dinan-Lisieux: Despite all the 'bigging up' we've heard about Edvald Boasson Hagen - 'the new Eddy Merckx' being the most outlandish claim, this win was long overdue.
 
Gent-Wevelgem in 2009 was his last 'biggie;' but it was a beautifully taken win - albeit Geraint Thomas's lead out was perfect - Matt Goss and Thor Hushovd are serious scalps.
 

Boasson Hagen was impeccable to take his and his Sky team's first stage win at Le Tour.
 
But if Sky were 'all for Bradley' would they really be burning up watts like this?
 
Stage 7 Le Mans-Chateauroux: If Cav came from nowhere on stage 5, the minute the HTC bullet train was hitched on to the front of the peloton with ten minutes to go in stage 7, you knew there was only going to be one winner.
 
If Ale Jet can out jump him by that vital split second then the big Italian can sometimes get the verdict - as happened in the Giro.
 

#2 for Cav. How many will he take in 2011?
 
But that's easier said than done - maybe if Feillu used all his speed to go forward rather than sideways, he'd be the one . . .
 
And the wisdom of Sky hedging their bets with all that early work for a stage win was vindicated when Bradley Wiggins was left sad and stunned beside the road with a snapped collar bone.
 
Stage 8 Aigurande-Super Besse: And praise for another North American, Tejay van Garderen (HTC) for his efforts in the break.
 

Everyone assumed Thor would lose Yellow on Super-Besse...he didn't.
 
If the lanky ex-Rabobank Continental man hadn't been quite so nervous and just a little less generous with his efforts, Movistars's young Portuguese, Rui Costa might not have been hogging the podium kisses.
 
Chris Horner was another podium possible whose Tour ended today with a broken nose and concussion.
 

Hoogerland's injuries were unbelievable.
 
Stage 9 Issoire-Saint Flour: Today it was Omega Pharma who were proved right in burning up the team to grab early headlines for Gilbert.
 
If it had been 'all for Jurgen' then it would have been wasted as big Van den Broeck came down hard to break his shoulder in the same mess that saw Astana's Vino break his femur.
 

Vinokourov suffered what could possibly be the crash that ends his career. He was planning on retiring at the end of the season - his broken femur means the end of the season. End of career?
 
Horror crashes were the order of the day as a French TV car veered into Sky breakaway rider Juan Antonio Flecha - Vacansoleil's Johny Hoogerland rode into Flecha and was catapulted into a barbed wire fence.
 
The wounds looked like something from a bad Rambo movie and it was a not surprisingly tearful Hoogerland who pulled on the polka dot jersey at the end; minutes down and dripping with blood.
 

Voeckler. What can you say? Incredible.
 
'I landed on the fence and I looked at my legs and thought, "is this what cycling is about?"
 
If it wasn't a happy ending for Johny, it was for his Europcar breakaway companion Thomas Voeckler - who despite losing the stage to Rabobank's Luis Leon Sanchez - was filled with joy as he pulled on the maillot jaune.
 
And that's how it stands - Voeckler leads overall from Sanchez by 1:49.
 

The likes of Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador, and Cadel Evans are set for real battle starting on Thursday.
 
A sparkling Cadel Evans is third at 2:26 with the Schlecks close behind and Alberto still needing to find those stage one crash lost seconds.
 
It's the rest day today, we still have to fly from London to Rodez, pick up the hire car . . . .
 
. . . but that's all boring stuff; we'll be in the trenches tomorrow - and trying our best not to bore you.
 

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 10 results

 July 12: STAGE 10 - Aurillac  Carmaux 158 km

Greipel denies Cavendish, wins stage 10 of the 2011 Tour de France

Stage 10 Results:

1. André Greipel, Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 3h 31′ 21″
2. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
3. Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, at s.t.
4. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
5. Romain Feillu, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at s.t.
14. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at s.t.
24. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at s.t.
31. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at s.t.
34. Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
35. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
36. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at s.t.
38. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
39. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
43. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at s.t.
45. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
46. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at s.t.
62. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, at s.t.
63. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at s.t.
64. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at s.t.
70. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at s.t.
71. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
77. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at s.t.
78. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Highroad, at s.t.
87. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 05:33
99. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 05:33
102. Mark Renshaw, HTC-Highroad, at 05:33
125. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Isd, at 05:59
137. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 05:59
142. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 05:59
152. Danny Pate, HTC-Highroad, at 05:59
177. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 07:00
178. Marcus Burghardt, BMC Racing Team, at 07:00

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 42h 06′ 32
2. Luis-leon Sanchez, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:49
3. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at 02:26
4. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:29
5. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:37
6. Tony Martin, HTC-Highroad, at 02:38
8. Andréas KlÖden, Team RadioShack, at 02:43
9. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 02:55
11. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:36
15. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 04:01
16. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:07
17. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 04:22
19. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 04:53
22. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 05:05
24. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 05:13
28. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 05:32
36. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 07:16
48. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 14:53
50. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Highroad, at 15:16
52. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 15:32
81. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 28:59
104. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 39:03
111. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Isd, at 43:56
114. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at 45:42
117. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 46:28
155. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:01:32
157. Danny Pate, HTC-Highroad, at 1:02:07
166. Mark Renshaw, HTC-Highroad, at 1:06:37
178. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 1:35:50

Next Stage: July 13: STAGE 11 - Blaye-les-Mines  Lavaur 167.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 226 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 209 points
Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, with 197 points

 Polka Dot: Johnny Hoogerland, Vacansoleil-Dcm, with 22 points
Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, with 17 points
Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Highroad, with 5 points

 White:           Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 42h 10′ 33″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:51
Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, at 01:20

Teams:       Team Europcar, in 125h 37′ 34″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:32
Team RadioShack, at 01:02

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)
Stage 9 - Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm
Stage 9 - Pavel Brutt, Katusha Team
Stage 9 - Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana
Stage 9 - David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo
Stage 9 - Manuel Garate Juan, Rabobank Cycling Team
Stage 9 - Frederik Willems, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Broeck Jurgen Van Den, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel – Euskadi
Stage 10 - Kolobnev Alexander, Katusha Team, non-starter
Stage 10 - Popovych Yaroslav, Team RadioShack, non-starter


Stage 10 Review:

Greipel denies Cavendish, wins stage 10 of the 2011 Tour de France

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 12th 2011 11:14 AM UTC — Updated Jul 12th 2011 1:33 PM UTC


Andre Greipel's out kicked Cavendish for his first Tour stage win. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) denied Mark Cavendish a third stage win in this Tour de France, winning Tuesday’s stage 10, a 58-kilometer race from Aurillac to Carmaux, the first of two stages through the Cévennes as the race heads toward the Pyrenees.

Race leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) finished in the front group and retained his jersey.
“It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for all year. I’ve worked really hard all year and I want to say thanks to everyone who has supported me and kept behind me,” said Greipel.

Greipel added: “He (Cavendish) is probably the best sprinter on the Tour de France, so to beat him is pretty special.

“We’re big rivals, and I hope we get a chance to contest another stage win.”

Hills, but no mountains

The route featured four categorized ascents — two cat. 3 and two cat. 4. The day started out sunny, although a short hail storm pelted the start area just before the neutral start.

An early crash took down several well-known riders, including Fabian Cancellara, Levi Leipheimer,
Robert Gesink and Christian Vande Velde, but none appeared to be seriously hurt.

Soon after, six riders escaped and built up a substantial lead. The best placed was Cofidis’ Julien El Fares, who was in 53rd at 15:06. The other break members: Rémy Di Gregorio (Astana), Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM), Arthur Vichot (Fdj), Sébastien Minard (Ag2r) and Anthony Delaplace (Saur-Sojasun).

At the intermediate sprint, Vichot grabbed the first points. Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) won the field sprint for seventh and his teammate Mark Renshaw was eight, ahead of green jersey contenders Jose Rojas and Philippe Gilbert, reducing their points harvests.

Europcar drove the pace at the front to protect Voeckler’s lead, and the gap to the six-man break maxed out at about four minutes.

In the final 50k, BMC and HTC took over the chase duties and trimmed the gap to to 1:30 with 42km to go.

The break was sucked back on the final climb, the Cat. 4 Côte de Mirandol-Bourgnounac, where Omega Lotto drove the pace in hopes of shedding Cavendish, Farrar and Petacchi. Philippe Gilbert himself drove the pace at the front while Voeckler also looked strong; Gilbert, Voeckler, Dries Devenyns, Tony Martin and Tony Gallopin got a gap coming over the summit and built out an 11-second gap. Voeckler drove the pace, while Martin, mindful of Cavendish trying to regain contact, declined to take a pull.

Gilbert was the last survivor of the late breakaway, as Leopard-Trek led the chase to draw them back.

Then it was game on for a field sprint for those who had survived the late hills. Prominent at the front was Cavendish, who came into the final 800 meters in second position behind Liquigas’ Daniel Oss.

Cav came around with 250 meters, opening the door for Greipel to wait for the final 40 meters to pull beside and, with a bike throw, take the win by a wheel. Rojas was third and Hushovd fourth.

Up next

Wednesday’s stage 11 is a sprinter’s stage through the hilly Tarn-et-Garonne area. The finish in Lavaur is on a wide, straight road after a long downhill run, perfect for the big sprinters and their teams to set up.

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 11 results

July 13: STAGE 11 - Blaye-les-Mines  Lavaur 167.5 km

Mark Cavendish wins stage 11 of the 2011 Tour de France, takes over green jersey

Stage 11 Results:

1. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, in 3h 46′ 07″
2. André Greipel, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at s.t
3. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
4. Denis Galimzyanov, Katusha Team, at s.t.
5. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t.
18. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at s.t.
26. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
28. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at s.t.
29. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
35. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
36. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at s.t.
44. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at s.t.
46. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
47. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at s.t.
49. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
50. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at s.t.
55. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at s.t.
66. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at s.t.
75. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at s.t.
77. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
80. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
81. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at s.t.
82. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at s.t.
86. Andréas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, at s.t.
96. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at s.t.
122. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
126. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at s.t.
177. Vladimir Isaichev, Katusha Team, at 11:47

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 45h 52′ 39″
2. Luis-leon Sanchez, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:49
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:26
4. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:29
5. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:37
6. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 02:38
8. Andréas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, at 02:43
9. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 02:55
11. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:36
15. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 04:01
16. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:07
17. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:22
19. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:53
20. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 05:01
22. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 05:05
24. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 05:13
28. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 05:32
35. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 07:16
48. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 14:53
77. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 28:59
100. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 39:03
108. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 43:56
110. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 45:42
112. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 46:28
150. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:01:32
161. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 1:06:37
163. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 1:07:50
177. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 1:35:50

Next Stage: July 14: STAGE 12 - Cugnaux  Luz-Ardiden 211 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 251 point
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 235 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 231 point

 Polka Dot: Johnny Hoogerland, Vacansoleil-Dcm, with 22 points
Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, with 17 points
Tejay Van Garderen, Htc – Highroad, with 5 points

 White:        Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, in 45h 56′ 40″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:51
Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, at 01:20

Teams:       Team Europcar, in 136h 55′ 55″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:32
Team Radioshack, at 01:02

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)
Stage 9 - Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm
Stage 9 - Pavel Brutt, Katusha Team
Stage 9 - Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana
Stage 9 - David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo
Stage 9 - Manuel Garate Juan, Rabobank Cycling Team
Stage 9 - Frederik Willems, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Broeck Jurgen Van Den, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel – Euskadi
Stage 10 - Kolobnev Alexander, Katusha Team, non-starter
Stage 10 - Popovych Yaroslav, Team RadioShack, non-starter
Stage 11 - John Gadret, Ag2r


Stage 11 Review:

Mark Cavendish wins stage 11 of the 2011 Tour de France, takes over green jersey

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 13th 2011 11:04 AM UTC — Updated Jul 13th 2011 2:17 PM UTC


Cavendish makes it 18 stage wins at the Tour de France. Photo: Graham Watson

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) won Wednesday’s stage 11 of the 2011 Tour de France, a 168km sprinters’ stage that concluded in Lavaur, the final stage before the Tour enters the Pyrenees on Thursday.

It was the third stage win of this Tour for the Manxman and the 18th career Tour stage. Tuesday’s stage winner Andre Greipel was second and American Tyler Farrar was third.

Race leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) finished in the lead group to retain his yellow jersey.

Cavendish’s stage win put him in the green jersey as the points leader.

“It’s incredible to have the green jersey, it’s the most beautiful jersey in the world,” said Cavendish.”It’s everything I wanted when I came here this year.”

Voeckler will wear the jersey at the start Thursday, but is not optimistic about keeping it after what should be a thrilling 211km of racing.

“It was quite a stressful day but we kept the yellow jersey so it finished well,” said Voeckler. ”If we lose the yellow jersey tomorrow then we’ll do so knowing that we gave it everything. But to be honest, I fully expect to lose it tomorrow.”

Sprinter’s finale

The stage 11 route included two categorized climbs, the cat. 3 Cote de Tonnac and the cat. 4 Cote de Puylaurens. However, the route’s long, wide, straight descent into Lavaur marked it as a stage for the sprinters and their leadout trains.

After a rainy start, it took 17km before a break formed that was palatable to the big teams. The best-placed rider in the six-man group was Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Ruben Perez, who started the day in 83rd place, at 30:41. The other escapees: Tristan Valentin (Cofidis); Mickaël Delage (Fdj); Lars Boom (Rabobank); Andriy Grivko (Astana); and Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun).

The rain got heavier mid-way through the race. The peloton allowed the break a gap of little more than four minutes.

The breakaway did not contest the intermediate sprint, which was won by Delage. Mark Cavendish grabbed the seventh place points after a field sprint.

The catch and the run-in

Garmin and HTC-Highroad began the chase in earnest approaching the Côte de Puylaurens, and trimmed the lead down to under. Up front, former world cyclocross champion Boom was taking some monster pulls, but the gap was down to 1.5 minutes at the top of the climb.

As the rain poured down, the chase stalled somewhat, to the benefit of the breakaway, which still had a 50-second lead with 15k to go. HTC, Sky and Garmin knuckled down to haul the group back.

As the pack closed to within 15 seconds with 5k to go, Boom launched a powerful attack and held off the pack for another 3k.

Garmin, HTC and Sky battled to control the front in the final 2k, but there was no holding back Cavendish, who came off of Renshaw’s wheel for the stage win and the green jersey. Out-kicking Tuesday’s winner Greipel and Farrar was especially gratifiying.

“I have to thank my teammates for the work they did today, even the guys who are in the top ten overall gave it 100 percent and that shows what a great team we are.”

Cavendish said Greipel’s sprint Tuesday was one of the “most technically perfect” he had seen.

“It was technically perfect,” he said. “But at dinner last night I spoke with the team and said to them I planned to go out and win tomorrow (Wednesday), it’s as simple as that.”

As for Greipel, he also was satisfied with his sprint, especially, he claimed, after Frenchman Romain Feillu tried to barge his lead-out man Jurgen Roelandts off the road.

“There was a big problem with Feillu. He deliberately tried to put Roelandts off the road,” said the German.

“That’s why it was such a long sprint, and also dangerous. But I’m happy with my second place today.”

Up next

Thursday’s stage 12 is the first foray into the Pyrenees. The 211km (131 mile) stage concludes with three huge climbs, the 10km Cat. 1 Hourquette d’Ancizan as a warm-up; the familiar 17km hors-cat (above-category) Tourmalet; and the 13km hors-cat finale to the mountaintop finish at Luz-Ardiden.
“I’m happy that these nervous kinds of stages are over and that we can now hit the mountains,” Andy Schleck said. “It’s a sense of relief to change to the small ring. We’re in our terrain now.”


The stage 12 profile: not one for the sprinters

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 12 results

July 14: STAGE 12 - Cugnaux  Luz-Ardiden 211 km

Sanchez wins first stage in the Pyrenees, as Contador fades in the final kilometers.

Stage 12 Results:

1. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, in 6h 01′ 15″
2. Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 00;07
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:10
4. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 00:30
5. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 00:30
6. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:30
8. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 00:43
9. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 00:50
11. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 01:03
14. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 01:25
24. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 03:19
35. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 04:57
44. Andréas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, at 08:26
48. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 09:03
53. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 10:20
69. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 17:28
70. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 17:28
77. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 17:44
92. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 21:21
107. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 33:05
121. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 33:05
137. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 33:05
142. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 33:05
148. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 33:05
153. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 33:05
171. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 33:05
175. Borut Bozic, Vacansoleil-Dcm, at 33:05

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 51h 54′ 44″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, in 01:49
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:06
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:17
5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:16
7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:00
8. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 04:11
9. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:35
12. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 05:24
17. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 07:51
22. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 09:12
24. Andréas KlÖden, Team Radioshack, at 10:19
25. Geraint Thomas, Sky Procycling, at 10:21
26. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 10:51
34. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 14:23
38. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 18:39
39. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 20:55
49. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 31:31
59. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 37:28
60. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 37:47
70. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 45:37
96. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 59:34
117. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 1:16:11
118. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 1:17:57
120. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:18:43
154. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:33:47
175. Vincent Jerome, Team Europcar, at 2:08:05

Next Stage: July 15: STAGE 13 - Pau  Lourdes 152.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 260 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 242 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 234 points

 Polka Dot: Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, with 40 points
Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 32 points
Jérémy Roy, Fdj, with 24 points

 White:        Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, in 52h 00′ 34″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:37
Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 02:05

Teams:       Team Leopard-Trek, in 155h 09′ 18″
Team Europcar, at 01:05
Ag2r La Mondiale, at 02:21

 Lanterne Rouge:   Vincent Jerome

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)
Stage 9 - Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm
Stage 9 - Pavel Brutt, Katusha Team
Stage 9 - Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana
Stage 9 - David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo
Stage 9 - Manuel Garate Juan, Rabobank Cycling Team
Stage 9 - Frederik Willems, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Broeck Jurgen Van Den, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel – Euskadi
Stage 10 - Kolobnev Alexander, Katusha Team, non-starter
Stage 10 - Popovych Yaroslav, Team RadioShack, non-starter
Stage 11 - John Gadret, Ag2r
Stage 12 - (fra) Feillu Romain, Vacansoleil-Dcm, non-starter
Stage 12 - (rus) Galimzyanov Denis, Katusha Team, outside time limit

Stage 12 Review:

Sanchez wins first stage in the Pyrenees, as Contador fades in the final kilometers.

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 14th 2011 11:36 AM UTC — Updated Jul 14th 2011 3:43 PM UTC

 
After slipping away on the Tourmalet descent, Sanchez was brilliant on the final climb.

Sammy Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) won the first mountain stage of the 2011 Tour de France on Thursday, on a day when a view of the top of general classification finally became clear.

Frank Schleck easily pulled away from the top contenders in the final 3k of the 211km ride from Cugnaux
to Luz Ardiden. Schleck took third on the stage, while rivals Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso chased strongly and Andy Schleck followed the pair.

Most shockingly, Alberto Contador looked weak and came unglued from that elite chase group in the
final 2 kilometers, losing 13 seconds to Andy Schleck, Basso and Evans.

The Spaniard, however, played down the deficit.

“I was trying just to be vigilant throughout the final climb. I saw the two brothers speaking between themselves so I knew one of them was going to attack,” said Contador.

“Finally it was Frank who went, he must have been the stronger of the two.
“But I’m still satisfied with the first high mountain stage.”

Andy Schleck was more than satisfied.

“It was a perfect day for us. It was a first test, and not the last,” said the Luxemburger.

“Obviously today wasn’t decisive but we showed our strengths. Contador isn’t unbeatable, he lost more time today.”

Voeckler outlasted many top climbers to come in just 50 seconds behind Sanchez; he now leads Frank Schleck by 1:50.

“The favorites never attacked seriously,” Voeckler said. “Every time somebody tried, it would all come back together and then the tempo slowed, so that allowed me to stay in touch,” said Voeckler.

“I said yesterday I would lose the yellow jersey and I really thought that would happen. But I also said I would give it my best to keep it.”

The early break

Sky’s Geraint Thomas was the surprisingly well-placed rider who managed to infiltrate the day’s early breakaway. In 31st and 5:51 back on GC, the Welshman was joined by José Ivan Gutierrez (Movistar), Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel – Euskadi), Laurent Mangel (Saur-Sojasun), Blel Kadri (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Jérémy Roy (Fdj).

Gutierrez lost contact on the first major climb, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, but the remaining five topped out with nearly a six-minute gap ahead of the Europcar-led peloton. Over the summit, Thomas struggled on the descent, locking up his rear wheel and going off the road into the grass twice.

In the main pack, Chavanel and Hoogerland attacked in an unsuccessful attempt to bridge to the leaders. Voeckler locked up a wheel on the first tight turn of the descent, bouncing off a car without much apparent injury. The big victim, however, was RadioShack’s Kloden, who came down harder on his right shoulder, but continued.

The Tourmalet

After his troubles on the previous descent, Geraint Thomas was a determined man on the Tourmalet, dropping his remaining breakaway companions and going it alone for the second half of the foggy climb, with Roy valiantly trying to catch him before the summit. Roy finally made contact a kilometer from the top and took the KOM points and a cash prize.


Sky's Thomas Geraint was an animator all day, but couldn't hold-off the chase on the final climb.

Under pressure from Leopard-Trek’s Jens Voigt, the elite group of GC riders was whittled down to about 25 riders by halfway up the Tourmalet. Missing were Christian Vande Velde, Tejay Van Garderen, Robert Gesink and Tony Martin. Ryder Hesjedal lost contact near the summit. The Schlecks, Contador, Voeckler, Evans, Tom Danielson, Levi Leipheimer and Gilbert were all there.

About 5km from the top, Andy Schleck suffered a front flat. He got a quick wheel change and his team reduced its efforts at the front briefly (while Rabobank’s Laurens Ten Dam rode off the front of the pack) until Schleck regained contact. Then Voigt took over the front again and led Voeckler over the summit three minutes behind Roy and Thomas.

On to Luz-Ardiden

On the descent, Gilbert and Sammy Sanchez joined Ten Dam and hit the base of the final climb with a 20-second gap. As the climb steepened, Gilbert and Ten Dam lost contact but Sanchez and Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) caught and dropped Thomas and Roy. The pair looked fresh and traded paces steadily and built a gap of over a minute ahead of the yellow jersey group.

Voeckler and his team took over the front at the base, as the lead group dwindled to nine or 10 riders.

In the final 3k, it was the Schlecks, Cunego, Contador, Evans, Voeckler and Basso and Basso’s teammate Sylvester Szmyd. After at least four attacks, Frank Schleck finally got free. Evans and Basso took up the chase, with Andy Schleck, Cunego and Contador following and Voeckler finally losing contact — his impressive teammate Pierre Rolland helped keep him moving. Leipheimer and Danielson were close behind.

Frank Schleck quickly closed on Sanchez and Vanendert, coming within sight in the last 500 meters. Sanchez, however, would not be denied and powered the final 300 meters to take 7 seconds out of Vanendert.

Basso and Evans looked strong as they took up the chase, but could not close on Schleck. Contador, however, never took the front and came unglued in the last kilometer.

Sanchez said he had been targeting the stage.

“I really wanted this stage, I was determined,” said Sanchez, who gestured wildly as he crossed the finish line.

“I lost a lot of time in the first week, so this has helped me make amends.”

Sanchez’ ride earned him the KOM jersey and brought him back into the top 10; he’s now eighth at 4:11 behind Voeckler.

Up next

Friday’s stage 13 is 153km (95 miles) from Pau to Lourdes. It’s a mountain stage to be sure, but the easiest of the three days in the Pyrenees. The route crosses the hors categorie Col d’Aubisque, with only the long descent and 13km of flat separating the summit from the finish in Lourdes. With the GC picture somewhat clarified after stage 12, Friday is a day for a breakaway before Saturday’s more difficult stage.

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 13 results

July 15: STAGE 13 - Pau  Lourdes 152.5 km

Hushovd wins stage 13 of the 2011 Tour de France

Stage 13 Results:

1. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 3h 47′ 36″
2. David Moncoutie, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:10
3. Jérémy Roy, Fdj, at 00:26
4. Lars Bak, Htc – Highroad, at 05:00
5. Jérôme Pineau, Quick Step Cycling Team, at 05:02
8. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 05:16
10. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 06:48
17. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 07:37
19. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 07:37
24. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 07:37
25. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 07:37
27. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 07:37
37. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 07:37
38. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 07:37
41. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 07:37
42. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 07:37
49. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 07:37
50. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 07:37
52. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 07:37
54. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 07:37
57. David Loosli, Lampre – Isd, at 07:37
58. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 07:37
75. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 07:52
92. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 07:52
96. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 08:03
129. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 22:08
131. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 22:08
144. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 22:08
147. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 22:08
169. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 22:08
170. Julian Dean, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 22:08


GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 55h 49′ 57″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:49
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:06
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:17
5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:16
7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:00
8. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 04:11
9. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 04:35
10. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 04:35
17. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 07:51
23. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 09:12
25. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 10:51
32. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 14:23
37. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 18:54
38. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 21:10
48. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 29:51
49. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 31:31
59. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 38:13
66. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 45:37
83. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 59:34
102. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 1:13:50
131. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 1:32:28
134. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:33:14
155. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:48:18
165. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 1:53:23
166. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 1:54:36
170. Andrey Amador, Movistar Team, at 2:14:45

Next Stage: July 16: STAGE 14 - Saint-Gaudens  Plateau de Beille 168.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 264 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 251 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 240 points

 Polka Dot: Jérémy Roy, Fdj, with 45 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, with 40 points
Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 34 points

 White:        Arnold Jeannesson, Fdj, in 55h 55′ 47″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:37
Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 02:05

Teams:       Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 166h 54′ 52″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:05
Team Europcar, at 01:25

 Lanterne Rouge:  Andrey Amador

Withdrawals:

Stage 4 – Jurgen Van De Walle (bel), Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 5 - Kern Christophe (fra)-Team Europcar
Stage 5 - Brajkovic Janez (slo) Team RadioShack
Stage 6 - Kiryienka Vasil, Movistar Team, outside time limit
Stage 6 - Velasco Ivan, Euskaltel – Euskadi, non-starter
Stage 7 - Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
Stage 7 - Bradley Wiggins (Sky)
Stage 7 - Rémi Pauriol (FdJ)
Stage 8 - Benat Intxausti (Movistar Team)
Stage 8 - Christopher Horner (Team Radioshack)
Stage 9 - Wouter Poels, Vacansoleil-Dcm
Stage 9 - Pavel Brutt, Katusha Team
Stage 9 - Alexandre Vinokourov, Pro Team Astana
Stage 9 - David Zabriskie, Team Garmin – Cervelo
Stage 9 - Manuel Garate Juan, Rabobank Cycling Team
Stage 9 - Frederik Willems, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Broeck Jurgen Van Den, Omega Pharma – Lotto
Stage 9 - Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel – Euskadi
Stage 10 - Kolobnev Alexander, Katusha Team, non-starter
Stage 10 - Popovych Yaroslav, Team RadioShack, non-starter
Stage 11 - John Gadret, Ag2r
Stage 12 - (fra) Feillu Romain, Vacansoleil-Dcm, non-starter
Stage 12 - (rus) Galimzyanov Denis, Katusha Team, outside time limit
Stage 13 - Isaichev Vladimir, Katusha Team, withdrawal
Stage 13 - Steegmans Gert, Quick Step Cycling Team, non-starter
Stage 13 - KlÖden Andréas, Team Radioshack, withdrawal
Stage 13 - Boom Lars, Rabobank Cycling Team, withdrawal

Stage 13 Review:

Hushovd wins stage 13 of the 2011 Tour de France

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 15th 2011 11:21 AM UTC — Updated Jul 15th 2011 3:33 PM UTC


Hushovd scored a dramatic solo win after dropping Moncoutie and Roy in the final kilometers. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

World champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) won Friday’s 13th stage of the 2011 Tour de France in solo breakaway after outracing the remaining members of an early breakaway.

Hushovd dropped Jeremy Roy and David Moncoutie in the final 3km for the win.

It was the 33-year-old Hushovd’s ninth career Tour stage win; he is the first world champion to take a stage since Spain’s Oscar Freire in 2002.

“I felt really emotional coming over the finish line because I didn’t imagine I could attack and climb over the Aubisque and then win on my own with the rainbow jersey,” said Hushovd.

“It’s the most beautiful stage I’ve won on the Tour de France, for sure.”

The yellow jersey group containing most of the GC favorites finished 7:37 behind Hushovd; Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) will wear the yellow jersey for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday.

Early (and late) breakaway

Roy had initiated an early break that eventually involved 10 riders, including Hushovd. The other break members: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), David Moncoutie (Cofidis), Vladimir Gusev (Katusha), Dmitriy Fofonov, (Astana), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre), Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank ), Lars Bak (HTC), Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step).

The group hit the d’Aubisque with a six-minute gap and Hushovd charged into the climb looking to get a head start on the ascent. Moncoutie and Roy led the chase while the other break members faded. Roy and Moncoutie passed Hushovd. Roy came over the top of the huge, foggy climb 45 seconds ahead of Moncoutie and two minutes ahead of Hushovd.

Moncoutie and Hushovd came together on the descent, but had their hands full chasing Roy, a noted descender.

When the descent flattened out for the 13km flat to the finish, Moncoutie could not pull through to help Hushovd and it became an individual pursuit between Roy and Hushovd. Hushovd pulled Moncoutie to within 10 seconds of Roy with 4k to go, then dropped Moncoutie to finally catch and blow past Roy with 2.2km to go.

From there Hushovd looked fresh as he wound through the twisty roads of Lourdes for a remarkable solo win by the world champion.

Roy was distraught at the finish.

“It’s too hard to take. I think I will have a lot of trouble digesting this,” said Roy, who picked up the consolation of the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey.

“I had great legs on the climb, unfortunately I got caught on the descent. I’m not a big champion, so I do what I can with what I’ve got.”

Asked whether the polka dot jersey was a consolation, Roy replied: “The polka dot jersey wasn’t even in my plans, but a stage win was.

“I didn’t miss it by much but all that matters is victory.”

Up next


2011 Tour de France stage 14 profile

Saturday’s stage 14 is the toughest day in the Pyrenees, with six major climbs, almost 16,000 feet (4,800 meters) of elevation gain and a finish atop the 16km-long Plateau de Beille that has several 10-percent pitches in its opening half.

Voeckler said he expects to lose the yellow jersey.

“The team have worked really hard helping me in recent days, so I expect fatigue to kick in at some point,” said the former French champion.

“It was already hard to keep it on Luz Ardiden, but it will be even harder on the way to Plateau de Beille.”

[Lynch]

"Plateau de Beille" does not sound like fun!