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[cyclist]

"Plateau de Beille" does not sound like fun!

Plateau de Beille is not going to be an easy stage and many of the remaining cyclists will be hurting big time. 

And just for laughs, the TDF still has the Alps to add some more 'fun' stages.

Of course, the 'fun' stages can make the Tour be epic.

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 14 results

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

Jelle Vanendert wins stage 14 of the 2011 Tour de France; Thomas Voeckler defends lead

Stage 14 Results:

1. Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, in 5h 13’ 25”
2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 00:21
3. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:46
4. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 00:48
5. Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 00:48
6. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 00:48
7. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 00:48
8. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:48
11. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 00:48
13. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 01:59
37. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 07:31
39. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 09:45
63. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 14:59
64. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 14:59
71. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 17:03
75. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 17:03
77. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 17:37
82. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 22:57
89. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 23:44
129. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, at 26:45
142. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 26:45
149. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 26:45
160. Mark Renshaw, Htc – Highroad, at 26:45
163. Danny Pate, Htc – Highroad, at 26:54
164. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 26:54
170. Andrey Amador, Movistar Team, at 27:35


GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 61h 04′ 10″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:49
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:06
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:15
5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:16
6. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 03:44
7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:00
9. Tom Danielson, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 05:46
20. Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 12:06
23. Vladimir Karpets, Katusha Team, at 15:11
25. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 16:48
29. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 21:06
32. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 23:43
35. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 27:06
42. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 35:21
53. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 45:42
58. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 55:02
60. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 55:48
65. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:01:52
88. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:21:43
131. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:56:10
136. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 1:58:34
158. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 2:14:15
170. Andrey Amador, Movistar Team, at 2:41:32

Next Stage: July 17: STAGE 15 - Limoux  Montpellier 192.5 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: Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 74 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 72 points
Jérémy Roy, Fdj, at 45 points

 White:        Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, 61h 12′ 05″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:07
Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, at 01:25

Teams:       Team Leopard-Trek, in 182h 46’ 31”
Team Europcar, at 00:06
AG2R La Mondiale, at 02:32

 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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit

Stage 14 Review:

Jelle Vanendert wins stage 14 of the 2011 Tour de France; Thomas Voeckler defends lead

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 16th 2011 11:34 AM UTC — Updated Jul 16th 2011 3:55 PM UTC


Jelle Vanendert celebrates his victory in stage 14. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) won the mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France and took over the polka-dot jersey on Saturday as Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) mounted a surprising, spirited and successful defense of his yellow jersey.

Vanendert and Voeckler were part of an elite group of favorites testing each other on the final climb of the day, the hors catégorie Plateau de Beille. As Leopard-Trek teammates Andy and Fränk Schleck took turns attacking the group, with Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) getting in his licks and BMC’s Cadel Evans shutting down everything that moved, Vanendert shot off the front and chased down Sandy Casar (Fdj), who had ridden away alone in hopes of collecting a first French stage win in this year’s Tour.

It was not to be — Vanendert overhauled him and rode on for the victory as the GC riders danced and feinted behind. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) escaped the group to take second, while Andy Schleck launched one final attack to land on the lowest step of the podium, collecting two seconds’ advantage in the process.

Defending champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) played defense on the stage, never attacking but doggedly hanging on as the others took their digs.

“I didn’t feel great,” he conceded. “But as each day passes I’m feeling better.”

And the man who was wearing the yellow jersey was hanging on, too — much to his astonishment.

“I don’t really know what to say. I’m really surprised,” said Voeckler. “I didn’t expect to still have the jersey today.”

BMC’s Cadel Evans, fourth on the day and third overall, expects him to keep it a while longer.

“I think he’s going to go a few more days at least,” said Evans. “As long as they (Europcar) don’t have it on the Champs-Élysées.”

The climbs du jour

The day dawned warm and sunny for the 168.5km race from Saint-Gaudens to Plateau de Beille, which served up six rated climbs for nearly 16,000 feet of climbing, including the hors catégorie climb to the finish.

It marked the fifth time that the Plateau de Beille has been the scene of a Tour de France stage finish.

Each time it’s been used — in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2007 — the day’s winner also went on to win that year’s Tour.

● The Category 2 Col de Portet-d’Aspet (1,069 meters), 4.3km, 9.7 percent, summited at km 26.5.
● The Category 1 Col de la Core (1,395m), 14.1km, 5.7 percent, summited at km 62.5.
● The Category 2 Col de Latrape (1,110m), 5.6km, 7.2 percent, summited at km 94.
● The Category 1 Col d’Agnes (1,570m), 10km, 8.2 percent, summited at km 109.
● The Category 3 Port de Lers (1,517m), 3.8km, 5.5 percent, summited at km 118.
● And finally, the Plateau de Beille (1,780m), 15.8km hors catégorie climb, 7.9 percent, summited at 168.5km.

The break du jour

21. Sandy Casar, Fdj, at 08:47
36. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Rabobank, at 18:42
45. Linus Gerdemann, Leopard-Trek, at 23:33
50. Julien El Fares, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 32:29
51. Rémy Di Gregorio, Astana, at 32:43
54. Maxime Bouet, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 34:11
58. Anthony Charteau, Europcar, at 38:03
59. David Millar, Garmin-Cervélo, at 38:13
65. Xabier Zandio, Sky, at 45:10
66. Jens Voigt, Leopard-Trek, at 45:37
71. Christophe Riblon, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 52:22
76. Bauke Mollema, Rabobank, at 55:20
81. Sylvain Chavanel, Quick Step, at 58:44
88. Marco Marcato, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:03:33
94. Kristjan Koren, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:08:48
96. Arthur Vichot, Fdj, at 1:09:11
97. Gorka Izagirre Insausti, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:09:11
99. Egor Silin, Katusha, at 1:11:00
106. Manuel Quinziato, BMC Racing Team, at 1:19:11
132. Mickaël Delage, Fdj, at 1:32:39

The race was aggressive from the gun, and a big break went early, just 8km into the day’s labors. Leopard-Trek put Jens Voigt and Linus Gerdemann into the escape with an eye toward helping the Schleck brothers later in the stage.

Seven riders were chasing that big group: 40. Jérôme Pineau, Quick Step, at 22:01; 74. Adriano Malori, Lampre-ISD, at 53:23; 82. Ruben Perez Moreno, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 59:16; 85. José Ivan Gutierrez, Movistar, at 1:00:38; 86. Alberto Costa Rui, Movistar, at 1:02:32, 129. Francisco Ventoso, Movistar, at 1:29:56; and 135. Maxim Iglinskiy, Astana, at 1:33:28.

At 20km the break had 1:55 over the chase and four minutes over the bunch.

The chase shed Ventoso, Iglinsky and Gutierrez, who eventually drifted back to the peloton, and caught the break at 46km, leaving a 24-rider break out front with 5:46 over the bunch at the lower slopes of the Col de la Core.

El Fares, Casar and Millar tried a dig out of the break, and with 87km to go the trio had more than a minute on their erstwhile companions, as the Europcar-led bunch noodled along at more than seven minutes back.

Leopard-Trek takes over

As the trio’s advantage approached two minutes Riblon launched an attempt to bridge. Behind, Leopard-Trek replaced Europcar at the head of the chase and riders started going backward, among them polka-dot jersey Jérémy Roy and Friday’s stage winner, world champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervélo).

Riblon joined the lead trio and Millar faded out of it. Voigt rode up to the leaders as well, and with 60km remaining there were 11 riders at the front of the race, climbing the Col d’Agnes —Voigt and Gerdemann (Leopard); Izagirre Insausti (Euskaltel); Di Gregorio (Astana); Riblon (Ag2r); Zandio (Sky); Casar (Fdj); Silin (Katusha); El Fares (Cofidis); Charteau (Europcar); and Chavanel (Quick Step) — with men scattered about between them and the bunch at 7:15 down.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), who burned a lot of matches in Friday’s stage hunting green-jersey points, slipped off the back of the yellow-jersey group as Leopard’s Stuart O’Grady pounded out a tough cadence, with Fabian Cancellara on his wheel. Nicholas Roche (Ag2r) was also in difficulty and losing the wheel.

Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) overcooked a corner on the descent of the Agnes, went over the bars and took a header into the weeds. Word was that he broke his nose in the crash — nevertheless, he remounted and continued.

Euskaltel on the attack

Up front, Euskaltel’s Izagirre Insausti decided to go it alone on the Port de Lers as the Leopard-led chase began closing in, to within five minutes with 51km to go. Gilbert, meanwhile, fought his way back to the bunch.

Izagirre Insausti went over the top alone with about a minute in hand over the original break with the yellow-jersey group at 5:20. On the descent, Voigt overcooked his own corner and shot straight off the road and down a grassy slope. He clambered back out, got a wheel and soldiered on, only to hit the deck again further on down the road as the front wheel slipped out from under him in a right-hander.

With 34km to go Izagirre Insausti led the chase by just over a minute with the yellow-jersey group at 5:15. The chasers began attacking each other in the valley leading to the final obstacle of the day — the 15.8km, hors catégorie Plateau de Beille. Millar had latched back on, and promptly had a dig, to no particular effect, but the upped pace saw the chase finally swallow up Izagirre Insausti with 24km to race.

Chavanel was next to go — he clearly wanted company, but didn’t get it, and so carried on alone.

Behind, the Leopards had closed the gap to just over three minutes.

Perez Moreno and LL Sanchez finally decided to join Chavanel up front, with a few kilometers to go before the final ascent. A five-man chase formed up just behind, with the remainder of the escape raising the white flag and waiting for the peloton.

The trio sat up briefly to let the five chasers catch on, and then Perez Moreno attacked going into the base of the climb, taking a slight lead.

Up the Plateau de Beille

Leopard’s Jakob Fuglsang and then Maxime Monfort led the bunch onto the climb, two minutes behind Perez Moreno. HTC-Highroad’s Tony Martin instantly went backward, as did Rabobank’s Robert Gesink, but yellow jersey Voeckler was hanging tough.

Voight was next to take over the pace-making. Cadel Evans (BMC) was lurking nearby, as were HTC’s Peter Velits, Lampre’s Damiano Cunego and the Schlecks. Christian Vande Velde and Tom Danielson (Garmin) were there, too, as was Roche, who had managed to get back on.

Casar and Riblon were now at the head of affairs, and soon Casar was alone, 1:45 ahead of the yellow-jersey group.

Carlos Barredo (Rabobank) and Rui Costa (Movistar) moved ahead of the chase as Roche once again slipped off the back with 13km to go.

Attack of the Schlecks


Andy Schleck attacked frequently in the finale, to little effect. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

Vande Velde was setting pace with Danielson on his wheel and Voeckler sitting third as the Schlecks marked Contador. And then Andy Schleck jumped, with Contador on his wheel.

Vande Velde and Saxo Bank’s Daniel Navarro were immediately shelled, but Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Evans and Voeckler hung tight.

Casar hit 10km to go with 1:23 over the chase, now led by Europcar’s Pierre Rolland. And then Andy Schleck attacked again, with Vanendert oon his wheel. Evans, Basso and Voeckler followed, but Contador was late to make an effort and took a moment to latch back on.

Andy Schleck attacked again, Voeckler followed, and Evans chased, dragging the rest along with him.
Fränk Schleck had a go next, with Evans on his wheel and Basso third. Contador was there, with Voeckler.

Rolland took the front to set pace for Voeckler. Ahead, Casar clung to a 47-second lead with 7km to race.

Andy Schleck went again, and Contador followed. Once again Evans dragged the others up to him — among them Voeckler and Vanendert, who then rode straight past them, making his own bid for the stage win.

The yellow jersey took the front next, looking round to gauge the strength and size of the group. Ahead, Vanendert had caught Casar and shot past, the finish just 6km up the road.

Basso took the front next as a cease-fire of sorts was declared, the yellow-jersey group down to 10 or so. Cunego was briefly distanced, but Voeckler hung tough, and the chase was within 28 seconds of Vanendert with 5km to race.

Basso tried a little dig in a corner, but Voeckler and Evans were right on him. He accelerated again, to no real effect, barring the departure of Cunego once again.

Sanchez rolls away

Then Samuel Sanchez attacked, followed by Andy Schleck, and Voeckler chased with Evans and Contador. Sanchez went again and this time took a gap — Voeckler was looking around for help, and Evans once again took up the chase.

Andy Schleck then took the front, Voeckler on his wheel, as Sanchez rode away.


Evans had a dig in the finale. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

With 3km to go the favorites remained together, with Basso setting the pace — and then he rode away. After a moment, Voeckler followed, and then Evans attacked. Andy Schleck was on him, followed by Voeckler, Contador, Basso and Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r).

Vanendert hit the final kilometer with 54 seconds’ advantage over the seven-man chase, with Sanchez at 24 seconds. He sailed across the line alone, grinning, both fists in the air.

“I came to this Tour in great condition,” said Vanendert, who took the lead in the mountains competition by two points over Samuel Sanchez. “I was very strong in the spring classics and then I took a break, with a training camp in Italy and later the Dauphine. The team supported me and I am in my best shape now.

“The other GC rivals were watching each other, so that opened up a window for me. There were a lot of attacks early, I decided to wait until we were higher on the climb before making my move.”

Sanchez hung on for second and Andy Schleck launched a final attack — he crossed third, ahead of Evans, collecting only a couple seconds over the others for his troubles.

Race leader Voeckler was delighted at having been able to stick with the favorites to the finish.

“I was able to follow, but I was really suffering — but that was the same for everyone,” he said. “The objective today was to keep the yellow jersey. I expected to lose some time today and I thought it would be a question of seconds. I never thought that I would be able to stay with the favorites.

“The scenario in the final climb was perfect for me — the GC were attacking each other, very short accelerations. I was happy about that because I was able to come back each time.”

Some schmack from the Schlecks

There will be other accelerations once the race hits the Alps, warned Andy Schleck.

 â€œWe gave it a good try but we didn’t drop anybody, except for the two seconds I gained at the end,” he said. ”The climb wasn’t selective enough. Once we get to the Alps that’s when we will make a difference.”

Older brother Fränk, meanwhile, had a little dig at Contador and Evans, criticizing the pair for what he clearly perceived was a lack of aggression.

“We tried several times. The only one who was a little bit interested was Ivan Basso,” he said. “All the others just looked at each other. Me and my brother and Basso, we tried to actually race.”

Evans immediately struck back.

“Everyone says no one attacks, but you have to consider also the wind, and the closeness of the racing,” he said.

“The Schleck brothers are there, they ride all day, they’ve got the yellow jersey to gain and they look at me to pull for them? I feel like saying, ‘Hang on a second, I’m not here to tow you to Paris.’ ”

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 15 results

July 17: STAGE 15 - Limoux  Montpellier 192.5 km

Mark Cavendish wins stage 15 of the 2011 Tour de France

Stage 15 Results:

1. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, 4h 20′ 24″
2. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, s.t.
3. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – Isd, s.t.
4. Daniel Oss, Liquigas-Cannondale, s.t.
5. Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, s.t.
22. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, s.t.
29. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, s.t.
33. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, s.t.
34. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, s.t.
41. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, s.t.
43. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, s.t.
48. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, s.t.
51. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, s.t.
71. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, s.t.
80. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, s.t.
94. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, s.t.
107. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, s.t.
117. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:23
119. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:28
140. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:19
170. Pablo Urtasun Perez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 06:10


GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, 65h 24′ 34″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:14
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:06
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:15
5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:16
6. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 03:44
7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:00
25. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 16:48
29. Christian Vande Velde, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 21:06
53. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 45:42
58. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 55:30
59. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 55:48
67. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:04:11
86. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:21:43
130. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:56:33
156. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 2:14:15
170. Andrey Amador, Movistar Team, at 2:43:07

Next Stage: Rest Day 2, then July 19: STAGE 16 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux  Gap 162.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 319 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 282 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 248 points

 Polka Dot: Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 74 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 72 points
Jérémy Roy, Fdj, at 45 points

 White:        Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, 65h 32′ 29″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:07
Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, at 01:25

Teams:       Team Leopard-Trek, in 195h 47’ 43”
Team Europcar, at 00:06
AG2R La Mondiale, at 02:32

 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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit

Stage 15 Review:

Mark Cavendish wins stage 15 of the 2011 Tour de France

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 17th 2011 11:29 AM UTC — Updated Jul 17th 2011 1:37 PM UTC


Mark Cavendish claims his fourth win in this year's Tour. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Omega Pharma-Lotto strongman Philippe Gilbert tried to steal a march on the sprinters on Sunday, but HTC-Highroad would not be denied, and Mark Cavendish kicked to yet another victory in stage 15 of the Tour de France.

The green jersey once again gave the credit to his team for delivering him to the stage win ahead of Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD).

“I always say I can’t let the guys down when they ride like that,” said Cavendish after collecting his fourth win in the 2011 Tour and his 19th career victory in the race. “The reason my guys ride is because they have confidence in me. It was incredible.”

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar, meanwhile, was happy to spend a relatively uneventful day in the yellow jersey after battling to hang with the GC favorites on Saturday’s stage.

“Today the beginning of the race was not as hard as we expected. But all day long we had to be very careful because of the wind, the roundabouts,” he said.

The 192.5km leg from Limoux to Montpellier was a transition stage, bringing the Tour from the Pyrenees toward the Alps with only minimal time and distance devoted to transfers in advance of Monday’s second rest day.

It was a mostly flat route, entirely within the Languedoc-Roussillon region, that took the peloton slightly northeast and near the Mediterranean coast for a finish in Montpellier.

There was only one rated climb, the Category 4 Côte de Villespassans, a 2.2km ascent that averaged 4.6 percent and summited at 82km. The day’s lone intermediate sprint came at 146.5km in Montbazin.

Chilly day, hot start


The men in the break. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

The day dawned chilly and cloudy in Limoux, with strong winds south of town, but relatively calm at the start. Once again a break went early, just 2km into the stage, and it must have satisfied all the players because it had four minutes at the 20km mark.

120. Mickaël Delage, Fdj, at 1:48:54
138. Niki Terpstra, Quick Step, at 1:59:15
145. Anthony Delaplace, Saur-Sojasun, at 2:05:38
156. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 2:13:15
163. Mikhail Ignatyev, Katusha, at 2:18:45

Europcar controlled the bunch for a bit until HTC sent a few riders forward to keep an eye on things for green jersey Cavendish. At 36km they had trimmed the gap to three minutes, perhaps with the itermediate sprint in mind.

Winds split the bunch into echelons, but the leash remained constant for some kilometers, hovering around the three-minute mark. It went back out to 4:05 as the break neared the top of the Côte de Villespassans, but soon started falling again.

Europcar yields chase to HTC

With 98km to go the gap was 2:42. Europcar was lending a hand, but race leader Voeckler called off his dogs, knowing he would need their help more in the Alps than in a sprinters’ stage.

With 64km to go the break’s advantage was two minutes and falling, but the break would not be caught before the intermediate sprint. Delage took top honors ahead of Dumoulin and Delaplace, while behind Cavendish got the best of Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) and Gilbert.

Twenty kilometers from the line the break was down to two riders with less than a minute’s advantage — Ignatyev and Terpstra. Behind, Leopard-Trek came forward briefly to keep the Schleck brothers protected in the mad dash to the line.

The chase gobbled up Delage, Delaplace and Dumoulin, but Ignatyev and Terpstra drove on, 38 seconds ahead of the peloton with 15km remaining. It would not be enough, not with Tony Martin driving the chase for HTC.

Terpstra glanced over one shoulder at the charging bunch and kept on going as Ignatyev sat up 6km from the line. He held an advantage of 13 seconds with 4km to go.

But like his fellow breakaways, he too would be caught short of the line. Garmin-Cervélo came to the front and that was it for Terpstra.

Gilbert has a go


Thomas Voeckler spent an uneventful day in yellow ahead of the Tour's second rest day and a stint in the Alps. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

Then, just as the catch came, Gilbert attacked with FdJ’s Anthony Roux and Thomas De Ghent (Vacansoleil) on his wheel.

Cavendish’s teammate Matt Goss said Gilbert, who won stage 1 to take the yellow jersey and has been a threat for Cavendish throughout, had to be brought to heel.

“Gilbert went, and you’ve got to worry,” said Goss. “You see how strong and how good he is. We certainly had to make sure we got him back.”

It was a long way out — Gilbert had 2.4km to go — and it wouldn’t work. The Belgian national champion eased off the gas as Lampre moved forward for Petacchi while Sky stepped up for Edvald Boasson Hagen and Ben Swift.

But in the end, it was HTC that delivered Cavendish to another victory. With just over 200 meters to race Cavendish emerged from the wheel of lead-out man Mark Renshaw and drove hard for the finish, where that that green jersey would soon be sitting a little more securely on his shoulders. Farrar took second with Petacchi third.

“I don’t think there’s been one of my 19 wins that I’ve done alone, and that just shows the commitment those guys have towards me and I’m incredibly lucky for that,” said Cavendish.

“I crossed the finish line first but it’s not just me. I did 200 meters today in a 200 km stage. The team rode and delivered me to the line. I’m incredibly proud to be associated with them.”

As for Farrar, he said that he and the rest of the peloton were looking forward to Monday’s rest day.

“I really wanted the win today but unfortunately it just didn’t turn out,” he said. “I think we’re all ready for the rest day tomorrow and we will look forward to next week and another try on the Champs.”

[cyclist]

A little something for Rest Day #2:

Exclusive book excerpt: 1986: The Alpe’s Greatest Duel, from The Tour is Won on the Alpe.

By VeloNews.com

Published Jul 18th 2011 9:42 AM UTC — Updated Jul 18th 2011 10:45 AM UTC

 
The Tour is Won on L'Alpe

Editor’s note: Excerpted with permission from: The Tour Is Won on the Alpe by Jean-Paul Vespini, translated by David V. Herlihy. The book is available from VeloPress. The 2011 Tour de France will climb Alpe d’Huez on Friday’s stage 19.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

1986: The Alpe’s Greatest Duel

The 1985 Tour featured a memorable milestone: Greg LeMond took his first Tour stage win at Lac de Vassivière, beating his teammate and race leader Bernard Hinault in the 45-kilometer time trial the day before the race finish on the Champs-Élysées. Hinault claimed his fifth Tour, of course, but that same day he announced to Jean-Paul Brouchon of Miroir du Cyclisme that the following year he would serve strictly as LeMond’s lieutenant. “I’ll stir things up to help Greg win, and I’ll have fun doing it,” Hinault declared. “That’s a promise!”

LeMond’s position as future team leader was consecrated in the contract he signed with La Vie Claire team owner Bernard Tapie in 1985, a magnificent $1 million over three years. The deal symbolized not only the hoped-for future of Tapie’s team but also the future of professional cycling. LeMond was the first cyclist ever to earn such a sum, and his astonishing salary reset expectations within the peloton.

For the first time, cyclists could look forward to parity with the stars of other vaunted pro team sports such as soccer, baseball, and American football. LeMond, the American, brought a new sensibility to the quintessentially European sport of cycling, and his contract announcement would agitate the peloton for many years to come. Moreover, LeMond was, without a doubt, the anointed winner for 1986. Hinault had repeated the announcement several times since the finale of the ’85 Tour: “LeMond will be my successor.”

Hinault’s intentions seemed sincere. At the conclusion of the ’85 Tour, in a post-race meeting with the press moderated by the French author and journalist Jacques Chancel, the Badger was asked, “Next year will be your sixth victory?”

“No, no, that’s it,” he replied.

The Tour is won on L’Alpe

“What do you mean?” asked a surprised Chancel. “As six-time winner, you’d better Anquetil and Merckx.”

Hinault smiled, amused by Chancel’s insistence. In a voice tight with emotion, he murmured, “You need to share the experience you’ve gained. Greg will need me next year.”

“That’s too easy,” retorted Chancel, turning to his numerous guests, happy to put the Badger on the spot. “That way, if he loses, he will have called it ahead of time.”

Team boss Tapie, who had been chuckling up to that point, interrupted the flow of the interview and said, tapping his finger, “That’s not Hinault’s style. If he says at the start that it’s Greg who will win, then that means Greg will be leader next year.”

Promises, promises.

Curiously, a year later, Hinault’s declarations had been forgotten. LeMond, though soundly beaten at the Giro d’Italia in May by Roberto Visentini, showed up at the start of the Tour with one thing on his mind.

But for the cycling press, interest lay elsewhere.

LeMond Forgotten

A legendary rivalry was on everyone’s minds at the start of the 1986 Tour in the western Parisian suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, but it was not a competition between Hinault and LeMond. Observers were looking forward to the epic duel that had divided France into two camps, one for Hinault and the other for Le Professeur, Laurent Fignon.

“On my left, Bernard Hinault, wearing the jersey of La Vie Claire, the team he had chosen after his divorce from Cyrille Guimard and team Renault. On my right, Laurent Fignon, wearing the jersey of Système U, the team he had chosen after his departure from Renault, along with . . . Cyrille Guimard.”

That was how the battle of the titans was announced on the front page of the special issue Tour de Vélo in July 1986. There was not a word about LeMond. Miroir du Cyclisme ran a similar commentary under the headline “Hinault-Fignon: Legend and Glory.” The American was once again forgotten. Miroir focused its attention on the French duel, in conjunction with a series of photos titled “Hand-to-Hand,” featuring historic sepia photos evoking the battles between Anquetil and Poulidor, Merckx and Thévenet.

Hinault and Fignon? Until then it had been a duel interrupted, suspended—nothing but a dream. Fignon had won the 1984 Tour, handily beating Hinault, who had been recovering from his knee operation.

Hinault had won the following year, but Fignon had been absent, recovering from an operation on his Achilles tendon. The rematch that had been highly anticipated since the end of 1984 had not yet materialized, so everyone hoped to see it in 1986. Even the latest addition to the canon of cycling publications, Cyclisme Internationale, asked the question on the cover of its fourth issue, which featured a photograph of Hinault in yellow: “On his way to a sixth victory?” Again, not a word about LeMond.

Strangely, everyone—or almost everyone—had forgotten Hinault’s public promise at the end of the 1985 Tour to LeMond, who had played the role of perfect teammate: “Next year, I’ll be at your service!” A seemingly clairvoyant Maurice Vidal wrote, “Do you really believe that? I still believe Hinault is sincere.

Life is based on intentions but sometimes changes course. To such an extent that what will happen between the two racers (and their boss) is just another uncertainty.”

What a perfect assessment of reality! It was the terrible year of Chernobyl and the year of French governmental “cohabitation.”1 It was also the year of the difficult cohabitation of Hinault and LeMond within the La Vie Claire team over the course of this explosive Tour, the last for the Badger, who was more determined than ever to show that he was still a force to be reckoned with.

Hinault got things started in the time trial stage at Nantes (61.5 kilometers [38 miles]), affirming himself the stronger of the leaders by finishing 44 seconds faster than runner-up LeMond. Then Hinault wreaked havoc in the first Pyrenean stage from Bayonne to Pau. He broke away with Pedro Delgado (who would win the stage) on the Col de Marie-Blanque, pulling on the yellow jersey later that day with a lead in the overall standings of over 5 minutes to the second-place LeMond, who struggled as soon as things heated up. It was beginning to look as though the Badger had his sixth Tour in the bag.

Fignon’s poor form completely changed the face of the Tour. Trailing by 12:43 and running a fever, he abandoned the race in Pau. With the great French rivalry put off, probably forever, everyone now spoke of nothing but Hinault’s promise to LeMond in 1985. It was a good way to rekindle interest in a Tour that seemed over before it had really gotten started, thanks to an Hinault who was proving elusive in more ways than one. “Just try to take back 5 minutes from Hinault!” he exulted.

Continued in next post...

[cyclist]

The Badger’s Fatal Error


LeMond and Hinault on L'Alpe d'Huez in the 1986 Tour

The next day, however, Hinault committed a critical error in a Tour he certainly could have won when he attacked once again, this time alone, on the descent of the Tourmalet. What guts — what panache! But it was a crazy breakaway, considering he had the leader’s jersey on his shoulders. This was a move a la Merckx: the yellow jersey, breaking away on his own in the Pyrénées, along the road to Luchon.

Though generally a savvy tactician, the Badger inexplicably attacked a long way from the finish and was caught before the final climb to Superbagnères. At the front, two Americans took the Tour by force as if taking the baton: LeMond, assisted by teammate Andy Hampsten, led the dance. By the end of the day, LeMond was within 40 seconds of Hinault.

All that effort had gotten the Frenchman nowhere in his quest for a sixth victory. In the caravan, everyone wanted to know what Hinault was thinking. He explained his conduct nonchalantly: “If I had succeeded in reaching Superbagnères, I would have won the Tour and everyone would have lavished praise on me. If I failed, I knew that Greg was behind me ready to counterattack and that I was tiring his adversaries. It was sound strategy.” Unbelievable: Hinault was claiming to have transformed himself into a super-domestique for LeMond.

No one, or almost no one, believed in the promise anymore, especially since Hinault had not hesitated to attack from the beginning of the Tour. Not even in transitional stages like Nîmes-Gap, where once again he had surprised LeMond, who had reprimanded him with angry gestures after catching up in a chase group.

In any event, the Badger lost the yellow jersey the next day during the unprecedented stage in sun and dust from Gap to Col du Granon, with a mountaintop finish at 2,400 meters (7,875 feet). The stage was marked by dramatic setbacks, most notably those of Joël Pellier, who fell victim to hypoglycemia, and Hinault, who suffered from a hematoma on his calf. LeMond thus became the first American to pull on the yellow jersey, which he would wear for the first time in the stage that led to Alpe d’Huez. The route promised to be long and difficult, heated by both sun and passion.

Some didn’t accept Hinault’s relegation to second fiddle, perceived to be the fault of an opportunistic American who had only found his form in the month of July. Hinault himself may have agreed with this assessment, as he decided to make things difficult for LeMond over the course of this legendary stage.

It would be a decisive stage with regard to overall victory (Hinault was in third place, down only 2:47 on the American), one in which the Swiss Urs Zimmermann (in second place overall, 2:24 behind LeMond) hoped to play a big role. He would be a tough adversary, having already won the Critérium International and the Dauphiné Libéré earlier in the season.

On the descent of the Galibier, Hinault attacked. Only two men were able to follow: the Canadian Steve Bauer (Hinault’s teammate) and the Spaniard Pello Ruiz-Cabestany. All along the interminable plunge toward Valloire (almost 20 kilometers [12.4 miles]), Hinault gave it his all—without LeMond, who was stuck farther back. The American began to realize that he could lose the Tour at any moment when he saw the Badger continue his charge up the Col du Télégraphe, before the Croix de Fer and the final climb up Alpe d’Huez.

Dejected, LeMond consulted his directeur sportif, Paul Koechli, and finally launched his own attack, a last-chance pursuit race. He devoured the slopes of the Télégraphe with no thought of the risk and was able to catch Hinault on the outskirts of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. He had just saved his Tour.

Who could still believe that Hinault had not truly gone for it between the summit of Galibier and the valley leading to the initial slopes of the Croix de Fer? And the main event at Alpe d’Huez was soon to come. Sporting the multicolored combination jersey (a short-lived innovation from the Tour organizers awarded from 1985 to 1989 to the best-placed rider in the combined time, points, climbing, and intermediary sprint classifications), Hinault set the rhythm from the start, ensuring the pace, with LeMond, the fragile and troubled wearer of the yellow jersey, by his side. In the furnace of the Alpe, Hinault’s name, shouted by his tens of thousands of rabid supporters, rang in LeMond’s ears. Over the deafening roar, LeMond confessed, “I’m afraid of the crowds,” and pushed the Badger forward to lead.

The sea of fans amassed along the wall of L’Oisans left them only a narrow opening through which to scale the asphyxiating slope, one behind the other.

Meanwhile, their adversaries followed in the distance, with Zimmermann the most dangerous. At more than 3 minutes back, he was chasing in a group that had counterattacked. He would finish third, 5:15 back. Old Joop Zoetemelk would finish 14:21 back, Charly Mottet and Stephen Roche 15 minutes back, and Robert Millar, wearing the polka-dot jersey (which Hinault would take by the end of the Tour), 19 minutes back. Lucho Herrera, who went over the Galibier in the lead, faltered badly, went backward, and finished 26 minutes back!

Amidst the tumult of the Alpe, between the Breton flags fluttering like proud standards, the colors of La Vie Claire painted on the road, and the cries of “Hinault, Hinault” as they passed, Hinault and LeMond, the two leaders, made their way up the climb.

The closely followed duel suddenly ceased, right before the eyes of crazed fans, when the Badger transformed himself into a locomotive, protecting the American to whom he would “hand” his first Tour de France at the top. Not once did Hinault let the American take the lead. Nor did LeMond seek to take it.

A few meters before the finish, LeMond clapped Hinault on the shoulder to thank him. As the Italian journalist Tony Lo Schiavo wrote in Bici Sport, “Over the last meters, they joined hands. You would have thought it was a sign of affection. But it wasn’t that. In reality, the clasping of hands masked a secret agreement: Hinault promised not to attack LeMond, and the American thanked him by letting him take the stage.”

“I Could Have Taken 5 Minutes out of Him”

The real story of what had happened on that climb, if it hadn’t come to a head on Alpe d’Huez, broke a short time later in the form of shattering declarations. Today they shed light on the battle for that Tour and offer perspective on the duel at the Alpe.

The first to draw was the American, who vented his anger in an interview with the French journalist Henri Haget, declaring, “Hinault is not the man I knew at the start of my career. He’s obsessed with winning his sixth Tour, as if he’s forgotten that, without me, he never would have won his fifth. I gave him the 1985 Tour. He should remember that, but instead he’s created a terrible environment. The worst was the finish at L’Alpe d’Huez, when we crossed the line hand in hand. It was all a big show. I let myself get played like a novice. I had the yellow jersey, and at the foot of the climb, Hinault swore to me that it was all over, that he wouldn’t attack me again on the way to Paris. He knew that I could drop him at the first turn, but he asked me to let him lead on the climb to win the stage.

I could have taken 5 minutes out of him by the top. I shouldn’t have had any qualms about doing so.” The embittered Badger responded much later, in his memoirs.4 He wrote, “It wasn’t my fault if LeMond didn’t understand how I was conducting my race. I did what I did to benefit him, and him alone. I had told him that I would help him, give him a hand in winning the race. At Alpe d’Huez, I could have buried him. I think I could have put a lot of time on him that day, if I had thrown down the gauntlet. At no point was I trying to beat him. After Alpe d’Huez, I only waged a small psychological war to see exactly what he was made of.”

The big show had been nothing but a facade. In fact, the two teammates had only pretended to bury the hatchet for the sole purpose of preserving the brand image of team La Vie Claire, by order of the boss, Tapie, who in a later interview with L’Équipe remembered, “The first great moment of my career in sports was not my soccer team’s victory over Milan but rather Hinault and LeMond at Alpe d’Huez. It wasn’t winning that Tour; it was the stage victory. The morning before, they were at each other’s throats. I took my plane that evening and, after arriving, spent from two to four o’clock in the morning with them. Hours later, I watched them arrive at the summit of the Alpe together. It was more wonderful than any other experience.” Hinault, who ended his career that year, as he had always said he would, confided later, “I had fun at that Tour!”

What a masterful exit. Imagine Bernard Hinault, who would finish second in the 1986 Tour, 2:45 behind the new American top rider, Greg LeMond, announcing at L’Alpe d’Huez, “Today was my last day of competition.” He did so as the grand winner of the world’s most prestigious mountain stage. For lack of a more theatrical exit, the Badger climbed the last great col of his career at almost 2,000 meters (6,562 feet). In retrospect, his conduct was that of a pugnacious former champion, with the victory high atop the Alpe compensating for the absence of a final victory in Paris. That was why everyone — in France, at least — thought the 1986 Tour also belonged to him, in some small way.

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 16 results

 July 19: STAGE 16 - Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux  Gap 162.5 km

Hushovd wins stage 16 of the 2011 Tour de France, as Evans and Contador open gap on the Schlecks

Stage 16 Results:

1. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 3h 31′ 38″
2. Boasson Hagen Edvald, Sky Procycling, at s.t.
3. Ryder Hesjedal, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 00:02
4. Tony Martin, Htc – Highroad, at 00:38
5. Mikhail Ignatyev, Katusha Team, at 00:52
11. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 04:23
12. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:26
13. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 04:26
15. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 04:44
18. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 04:44
22. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 04:44
30. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 05:17
36. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 05:32
42. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 06:18
43. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 06:48
62. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 07:26
68. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 08:08
72. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 08:08
76. Robert Gesink, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 09:12
105. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 14:02
151. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 15:25
170. Julian Dean, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 16:47

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 69h 00′ 56″
2. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 01:45
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:49
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 03:03
5. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 03:26
6. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 03:42
7. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:49
26. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 20:12
50. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 48:24
53. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 51:04
60. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:04:48
65. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:07:35
122. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:59:57
124. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 2:00:38
158. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 2:24:56
170. Andrey Amador, Movistar Team, at 2:53:29

Next Stage:  July 20: STAGE 17 - Gap  Pinerolo 179 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 319 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 285 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 250 points

 Polka Dot: Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 74 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 72 points
Jérémy Roy, Fdj, at 45 points

 White:        Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 69h 08′ 51″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 01:07
Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, at 01:58

Teams:       Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 206h 31′ 24″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 7:01
Team Europcar, at 08:14

 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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit

Stage 16 Review:

Hushovd wins stage 16 of the 2011 Tour de France, as Evans and Contador open gap on the Schlecks
By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 19th 2011 10:59 AM UTC — Updated Jul 19th 2011 4:51 PM UTC


Contador attacked several times on the Col, but could not get away from Evans and Sanchez. AFP Photo

Garmin-Cervelo’s world champion Thor Hushovd on Tuesday won his second individual stage of the 2011 Tour de France, a cold, rainy, 162.5km race from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap.

The day’s big winner, however, was Cadel Evans (BMC), who broke away from the yellow jersey group on the final climb with Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) and Sammy Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), and finished ahead of the two Spaniards after attacking on the wet descent to Gap. Evans moved into second on the GC and increased his gap ahead of Andy and Frank Schleck (Leopard-Trek) as the race heads into the Alps Wednesday.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) finished less than a half minute behind Evans and Contador to retain his leader’s jersey, while Andy Schleck and Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) lost more than a minute to their top GC rivals. Frank Schleck finished at the same time as Voeckler.

The stage win battle

Hesjedal, Hushovd and Boasson Hagen emerged out of a 10-man breakaway that had built up an early six-minute lead before exploding on the Col de Manse, a cat. 2 ascent that topped out just 11 twisty, wet kilometers from the finish. Hesjedal led over the summit, with teammate Hushovd marking Boasson Hagen. The three hit the dry roads of the flats together, and in the final 2km the two teammates were able to sandwich the Sky rider, with Hushovd in third. The big Norwegian jumped with 300 meters to go and outlasted Boasson Hagen as Hesjedal celebrated his team’s fourth stage win.

Yellow jersey war

The fight for yellow got serious on the Col de Manse.

Evans’ BMC squad took control of the front of the peloton on the first kilometers of the big climb, but Contador surprised the GC favorites with a sharp attack where the slope steepened on a left-hand turn. He was quickly marked by Evans, the Schlecks, Voeckler and Sammy Sanchez. The six were soon joined by another 15 riders and Contador’s teammates Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez took over the pace setting, while Garmin’s Tom Danielson took a brief foray off the front.

With barely more than a kilometer from the top, Contador attacked again. This time Voeckler and the Schlecks were unable to follow, but Sanchez and Evans were all over him. Evans, looking fresh and focused, took the front as the three opened the gap ahead of the Voeckler/Schleck group. Contador, as well, continued to push the pace with some accelerations, but was unable to drop the other two.

The threesome came over the top about 37 seconds ahead of the Schleck/Voeckler group and Evans attacked the descent, hitting the flats with ten seconds on the two Spaniards and powering to a three-second gap ahead of Contador and Sanchez.

Voeckler later said everyone was surprised by Contador’s attack on what was billed as a transition stage between the Pyrenees and the Alps.

“It really surprised me he (Contador) attacked like that,” said the Frenchman. “Everyone was expecting him to wait for the big mountain passes in the Alps but he went for it on the Col de Manse.

 â€œI wasn’t the only one who couldn’t follow, the other guys behind me were all grimacing too. The problem is, when Contador attacks it is usually pretty effective.”

Frank Schleck credited Contador’s team director. Bjarnne Riis, for taking advantage of the Schlecks’ dislike of wet weather and tricky descents.

“We didn’t expect him (Contador) or any of the other big favorites to do that. Bjarne knows we don’t like bad weather and that the descent would be quite tricky for us,” said Frank.

“Hats off to them. But it’s not a tragedy. We will stay focused on what we have to do and we’re looking forward to three days in the mountains.”

Riis said Contador had to attack to close his gap to the Schlecks and Evans.

“Alberto said he felt good and when he has good legs he has to try to close the gap,” said the Dane.
“We said this morning we have to attack if possible.”

Up next

Stage 17 is first of three stages in the Alps. The route heads into Italy via the Cat. 1 climb to Sestriere, but the real action won’t take place until the brutal Cat. 2 Colle Pra Martino. On a narrow, very twisting back road, this 6.7km climb averages 6.2 percent, but it has a 12-percent section just before a summit that’s only 7km from the line in Pinerolo. The 3km-long, switchback descent averages a vertiginous 15 percent and that’s where the stage can be won and lost.


2011 Tour de France stage 17 profile

Race notes

It took nearly 50km for the break to form. Garmin team director Jonathan Vaughters said it took determination — and patience — to get two team riders into the group.”I kept saying to the guys, ‘Keep trying, keep trying!’ They were frustrated. They said, ‘F-ck man, we’ve been trying to get in the breakaway for 50 or 60km,’ and I said, ‘No, just keep trying, keep trying. It’s going to work, it’s going to work,’ and then boom.”

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 17 results

 July 20: STAGE 17 - Gap  Pinerolo 179 km

Boasson Hagen wins stage 17 of the 2011 Tour de France, Voeckler retains jersey

Stage 17 Results:

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky Procycling, in 4h 18′ 00″
2. Bauke Mollema, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:40
3. Sandy Casar, Fdj, at 00:50
4. Julien El Fares, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:50
5. Sylvain Chavanel, Quick Step Cycling Team, at 00:50
17. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 04:26
19. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 04:26
20. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at 04:26
22. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:26
24. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 04:26
28. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 04:53
31. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 04:53
46. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 06:26
55. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 08:51
61. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 12:36
116. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 14:15
123. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 14:15
138. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 14:15
141. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 14:15
165. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 14:15
166. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at 14:15
169. Alberto Costa Rui, Movistar Team, at 20:38


GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 73h 23′ 49″
2. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at 1:18
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:22
4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 02:36
5. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 02:59
6. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 03:15
8. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:49
31. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 29:34
49. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 56:07
55. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:00:26
62. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:11:33
65. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:14:10
83. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:32:39
121. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 2:09:19
123. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at 2:10:00
156. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 2:34:18
168. Fabio Sabatini, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:53:02

Next Stage:  July 21: STAGE 18 - Pinerolo  Galibier Serre-Chevalier200.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 320 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 285 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 250 points

 Polka Dot: Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 74 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 72 points
Jérémy Roy, Fdj, at 45 points

 White:        Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, in 73h 31′ 25″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:59
Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, at 02:27

Teams:       Team Garmin-Cervelo, in 219h 41′ 46″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 5:27
Ag2r La Mondiale, at 08:04

 Lanterne Rouge:  Fabio Sabatini

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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit
Stage 17 - Paolo Tiralongo, Astana, withdrawal

Stage 17 Review:

Boasson Hagen wins stage 17 of the 2011 Tour de France, Voeckler retains jersey

By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 20th 2011 11:08 AM UTC — Updated Jul 20th 2011 6:25 PM UTC
 

On the heels of a disappointing second-place finish on Tuesday, Boasson Hagen came right back and won on Wednesday.

Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen won his second stage of the 2011 Tour de France on Wednesday, improving on his second place of the day before and giving Norway two stage wins in a row and its fourth stage of this Tour.

Alberto Contador rode aggressively again, attacking on the final climb and the technical finish descent.

But in the end, the defending champion finished in the same time as his GC rivals the Schleck brothers, Cadel Evans and Sammy Sanchez.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) lost 27 seconds of his lead to the Contador-Schleck-Evans group, finishing with Ivan Basso and Tom Danielson. The Frenchman, however, was able to retain his yellow jersey.

He lost all the time not on the climb but on the final descent.

“Mountain biking is not my speciality!” said Voeckler, who had at least three near-crashes on the descent.

“If I’d taken fewer risks I would have finished with Evans and the others. But (losing) 27 seconds is not too bad, it could have cost me a (broken) collarbone.”

The stage-win battle

It was a battle between breakaway colleagues Sylvain Chavanel and Boasson Hagen on the ascent of the day’s final climb, the category 2 Côte de Pramartino. The two traded places at the front with a series of probing attacks. Near the top, Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) came up to the two and Boasson Hagen was first over the top, followed by Hivert.

Hivert, however, had an adventurous descent, crashing once and another time overcooking a left-hand turn and diverting into a parking lot.

Meanwhile Boasson Hagen was having an excellent descent and hit the flats alone for a final kilometer of time trialing to his second stage win of this Tour, a step up over his second place behind Thor Hushovd on Tuesday.

The GC war

Basso’s Liquigas-Cannondale mates took the front of the yellow jersey group on the opening slopes of the final climb, with Voeckler, Contador and Evans alert near the front on the narrow, shaded road.
The yellow jersey group hit the climb more than five minutes behind the Boasson Hagen/Chavanel breakaway.

Contador threw in the first, very sharp attack on the steeps, but he was marked immediately by Andy Schleck and a remarkable Voeckler. Schleck pulled aside Contador and gave him a look as the two rode side-by-side for a few meters before Voeckler’s team took the front again.

After another attack by Contador, again marked by Andy Schleck and Voeckler, Frank Schleck took the front and the aggression softened for another kilometer. The front group was whittled down to an elite cadre of about 10 riders.

Contador attacked the descent with abandon, joined by Sanchez. But the Schlecks and Evans were able to latch on to the pair in the final kilometer to finish together.

Voeckler had a less successful descent, nearly losing it twice and diverting into the same parking area as Hivert.

Up next

Thursday’s stage 18 heads back into France over the hors categorie Col Agnel, which at 9,002 feet (2,744 meters) is the highest mountain pass this year. The peloton will split dramatically here before a sharp descent, and this should herald multiple attacks on the following Col d’Izoard (almost 15km at 7.1 percent). Another technical downhill ends in Briançon, where the race covers a dozen kilometers in the valley before the 23km-long haul to the finish on top of the Col du Galibier.

“Tomorrow’s stage will be decisive,” Andy Schleck said. “I hope it’s not going to be a case of everyone watching each other until we get to the final climb (Galibier),” said the Luxembourger.

“It’s 210 kilometers long and we go up over 2500 meters (8,200 feet elevation) twice. It’s going to be the stage of the Tour.”

Asked to name his top rivals, Schleck said, “I think that Cadel is very strong and Alberto was really strong yesterday, although that was in rainy and cold conditions.

“(Samuel) Sanchez, Alberto and Cadel.”


2011 Tour de France stage 18 profile

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 18 results

July 21: STAGE 18 - Pinerolo  Galibier Serre-Chevalier200.5 km

Gutsy Andy Schleck soloes for 60k, takes stage win and positions for Tour win

Stage 18 Results:

1. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, in 6h 07′ 56″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 2:07
3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 02:15
4. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 02:18
5. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 02:21
15. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 03:50
61. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 31:17
63. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 31:17
64. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 31:17
72. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 31:17
96. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 35:40
97. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 35:40
118. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 35:40
124. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 35:40
155. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 35:40
168. Marcel Sieberg, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 35:40

GC Standings:

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, in 79h 34′ 06″
2. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 0:15
3. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 01:08
4. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team, at 01:12
5. Damiano Cunego, Lampre – Isd, at 03:46
6. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 03:46
7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 04:44
8. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 05:20
33. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 55:42
34. Levi Leipheimer, Team Radioshack, at 58:30
52. George Hincapie, Bmc Racing Team, at 1:25:03
60. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:33:45
63. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:40:29
70. David Millar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 1:47:29
86. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 2:01:35
123. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 2:42:38
125. Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, at 2:43:19
156. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin – Cervelo, at 3:07:37
168. Fabio Sabatini, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 3:26:21

Next Stage:  July 22: STAGE 19 - Modane Valfréjus  Alpe-d’Huez 109.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

Green:   Mark Cavendish, Htc – Highroad, with 300 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 285 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, with 230 points

 Polka Dot: Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 74 points
Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 72 points
Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, with 70 points

 White:        Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, in 79h 43′ 42″
Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, at 33
Rigoberto Uran, Sky Procycling, at 03:10

Teams:       Team Garmin – Cervelo, in 238h 16′ 08″
Ag2r La Mondiale, at 10:30
Team Leopard-Trek, at 11:06

 Lanterne Rouge:  Fabio Sabatini

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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit
Stage 17 - Paolo Tiralongo, Astana, withdrawal
Stage 18 - Bertagnolli, Leonardo, Lampre – Isd, withdrawal

Stage 18 Review:

Gutsy Andy Schleck soloes for 60k, takes stage win and positions for Tour win
By VeloNews.com

Published Jul 21st 2011 11:48 AM UTC — Updated Jul 21st 2011 2:41 PM UTC
 

2011 Tour de France, stage 18: Andy Schleck AFP PHOTO / NATHALIE MAGNIEZ

Andy Schleck rode the stage of his life on Thursday, with a dramatic 60km-plus solo breakaway that put the Leopard-Trek rider into position to win the 2011 Tour de France.

Schleck took the stage win while Europcar’s Thomas Voeckler gutted out the final climb to retain his overall lead by just 15 seconds heading into the final day in the Alps on Friday and the critical individual time trial Saturday.

Cadel Evans (BMC) showed impressive strength to trim Schleck’s lead on the final climb, but Alberto Contador lost contact with the GC leaders in the finale, seeing his chances for a repeat win at the Tour come to an end.

“I don’t want to finish fourth in Paris, and I said to myself, ‘I’m going to risk everything, it’ll work or it’ll fail,’” Schleck said at the finish.

“That’s the way I am, I’m not afraid of losing. And if my legs were hurting out in front I knew the others would be hurting to catch me up.”

He added: “I’ve won the stage, I’m into second overall, perhaps tomorrow it’ll be the yellow jersey. I wanted to take the jersey but Thomas (Voeckler) surprised everyone, it’s great for cycling.”

Brutal course

The day offered a brutal 200.5-kilometer race from Pinerolo to the Galibier Serre-Chevalier, at 2,645 meters the highest mountain-top finish in Tour history. On the way the route passed over two other hors categorie climbs, the Col Agnel and the d’Izoard.

The early break – caching resources

A large breakaway formed before the day’s intermediate sprint. The group’s best-placed rider was Nicolas Roche (Ag2r), 21st at 14:06. More notably, the break contained two Leopard-Trek riders, Maxime Monfort and Joost Posthuma, and two BMC riders, Marcus Burghardt and American Brent Bookwalter. When the break dissolved later in the race, the four were able to offer their GC leaders an assist as they came up to them.

“We had a very precise plan today,” Andy Schleck said after the stage. “In the morning briefing we said we would send two riders in the breakaway. We wanted one good rouleur and one good climber in the break. On the Col d’Izoard, I would attack. In cycling you make a lot of plans, but a lot of times there are factors in play that you cannot control. Today, the plan worked out perfectly.”

The Col Agnel

Leopard-Trek’s Stuart O’Grady and Jens Voigt set a brutal pace up the first climb, shedding the non-climbers and bringing the breakaway’s gap down from near 6 minutes back to under 5 minutes at the summit. RadioShack’s Levi Leipheimer joined a group of eight that summited a half minute ahead of the yellow jersey group.

The Col d’Izoard — Schleck’s surprise move


Evans did the bulk of the chase work for the final 15k. AFP Photo

Leipheimer’s group — as well as a foray by Philippe Gilbert — was absorbed before the start of the d’Izoard, where Voigt put the hammer down on the lower slopes, setting the stage for Schleck’s attack. The Luxembourger quickly settled into a steady pace, slowly increasing his gap while the GC leaders looked to each other to take up the chase.

Up front, Astana’s Maxim Iglinsky attacked the breakaway and went off alone.
Schleck built a minute’s lead on the ascent before catching his teammate Posthuma, who paced his leader as long as he could. Schleck then went on his own again and went over the summit with about 2:18 gap ahead of the yellow jersey group, which was being led by Contador’s teammates.

The descent and journey to the Galibier

Schleck caught Monfort early on the d’Izoard descent and railed the fast downhill, following Monfort’s lines and using every inch of the road.

On the descent and leading into the headwind transition to the base of the Galibier, Schleck and Monfort sucked up members of the early breakaway: Roche, Dries Devenyns (Quick Step) and Egor Silin (Katusha). Monfort and Schleck did the bulk of the labor as their gap passed three and a half minutes ahead of the yellow jersey group.

The Schleck group caught Iglinsky before the final climb started, and their gap grew to 3:46 hitting the 20km-to-go kite. Schleck was the Tour leader on the road by a good margin.

Behind, the yellow jersey group was near 35 riders, indicating that the chase had not yet begun in earnest and the GC leaders were regrouping their teammates and allies before the assault on the final climb. Contador and Sanchez had a long conversation at the rear of the group and Contador took what appeared to be a voluntary bike swap to a preferred machine for the finale.

The Col de Lautaret into the Galibier

Three kilometers up the Col de Lautaret, the less-steep ascent that leads into the Galibier, Monfort lost contact and Schleck did all the pace setting, with Roche and Iglinksy the last survivors on his wheel.

With 15km to go, the yellow jersey group was still losing ground as Schleck’s gap approached four minutes.

Schleck, with dark sunglasses on, looked steady, breathing deeply and setting a slightly lower cadence than his usual style as he led a suffering Roche and Iglinsky up the valley.


Schleck moved into second and scored his team's first stage win of this Tour. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL PAVANI

Finally with 14km to go, Evans and Contador took up the chase, with Frank Schleck in third position.

Oddly, Contador suddenly pulled off and faded back into the pack, leaving a frustrated Evans alone on the front. The Australian looked in vain for help from Voeckler and Basso’s teammates.

After a couple kilometers of confusion, where Andy Schleck’s gap increased to over four minutes, Contador reappeared at the front and the chase group pace quickened.

At the 10k to go kite, Roche lost contact with Schleck and Iglinsky.

The final 10k

As Schleck turned right onto the steeper grades of the Galibier proper, he finally shed Iglinsky and removed his shades for the final assault on the fan-crowded road. Behind, Evans shouldered the full burden of the chase, often riding out of the saddle into the headwind, with a long line of followers on his wheel.

Evans reduced the gap to 3:30 with 9k to go. Sammy Sanchez surprisingly came unglued, but Voeckler was stuck to Evans’ wheel.

At 3k to go, Evans continued to ride the front of an elite group that was trimmed down to himself, Voeckler, Frank Schleck, Contador, Basso, Cunego and Voeckler’s teammate Peirre Rolland.

Inside the final 3k, Contador lost contact with the Evans group and faded quickly back down the slope.

Schleck struggled in the final 2k, his shoulders slumping and his pedal stroke growing ragged, but he made it across the line with a pumping fist for one of the most dramatic stage wins and GC rides in recent history.

Evans kept on the pressure, pulling Voeckler inside his time gap. In the final 500 meters, Frank Schleck finally emerged to grab second behind his brother. Voeckler, gritting his teeth, struggled across the line alone to barely retain his jersey.

Evans, third across the line, limited the damage — Andy Schleck now leads him by 57 seconds on GC, a deficit the Australian should be able to close in Saturday’s time trial. That means if Schleck wants to enter the weekend with comfortable gap — and finally take the jersey from Voeckler — he will need to attack on Friday’s Alpe d’Huez stage.

Evans team manager Jim Ochowiz said, “This race is not over. Tomorrow’s another day.”

He added: “It was a hard day, an epic stage and one that everyone expected. It wasn’t a big surprise that Andy attacked. What was a surprise was the gap he made during the day.”

Up next


2011 Tour de France stage 19 profile

Friday’s stage 19 concludes with the crowd-favorite l’Alpe d’Huez. It’s less than 110km (just 68 miles) but there’s barely a kilometer of flat roads between Modane and the spectacular summit finish. After a short downhill from the start, the peloton will tackle the more difficult side of the Galibier via the Col du Télégraphe, a total ascent of 28.6km with an average 7-percent grade.

Race notes

Mark Cavendish was one of a group of 80 riders to incur a penalty for crossing the line after the 35 minute, 40 second cut off time behind Schleck. The HTC-Highroad rider was penalized 20 points but held onto the green points jersey.

Contador finished more than a minute and a half behind Evans and later said his knee pain returned on the stage. “Victory is impossible now,” he said. “In the last 10 km I was going through a really bad phase, but it was a difficult day from the start.

“When I got dropped all I could think about was trying to finish.”

After the stage Contador was given medicine for his knee pain, which he hopes will abate by the third and final day in the mountains on Friday.

“I’m not used to the kind of situation I was in today. Now I have to get rest, recover and look ahead to tomorrow.

[cyclist]

A TDF extra from PEZcycling on L'Alpe d'Huez:

Tour de PEZ: A Close Up Look At L'Alpe d'Huez
Thursday, July 21, 2011 11:19:43 AM PT

by Edmond Hood

      Roadside St.18: There are still 24 hours to go until le Tour attacks l'Alpe for the 27th time; tomorrow it will be impossible to go back down the climb to take it all in, so we thought we'd give you the PEZ Tour of some of the famous 21 hairpins before it goes totally insane.


Le Tour first visited l'Alpe in 1952 when Fausto Coppi won, hairpin 21 belongs to the campionissimo (he shares it with Lance, who won here in '01 and against the watch in '04); but it was 24 years before the race returned, with Joop Zoetemelk winning the stage in 1976.


Fausto Coppi.


Fausto Coppi shares Switchback #21 with Lance Armstrong, who has two wins to his names on Alpe d'Huez.

The area has come to depend on le Tour for a much needed summer cash injection, the local restaurant and bar owners wait anxiously for the race route to be unveiled each November - most will only open in July if the Tour is in town.




The sacred, profane and commercial all sit cheek by jowl in this high altitude town.




The hairpins are numbered from 21 down to one at the top ; Hennie Kuiper ('77 and '78) and Frank Schleck ('06) share number 18 - and this is where the magnificent views across the valley begin to open out.




The winner here in 1979 was Portuguese legend Joaquim Agostinho; he always reckoned bike racing was easy after the times he spent sleeping in the jungle as a conscript in the Portuguese army during the nation's colonial wars in Africa.

A memorial to the great man - who died after a collision with a dog whilst leading the Tour of the Algarve in 1984 - sits further up the hill.



Winnen.

Hairpin 15 belongs to twice winner here, Peter Winnen of Holland ('81 and '83), it should have been three but in 1982 his DS made him change to his super light time trial bike at the bottom of l'Alpe, the rhythm was gone and he finished fifth from five behind Beat Breu of Switzerland.


Beat Breu.

The Dutchman spent two hours walking around l'Alpe d'Huez with his soigneur (PEZ friend, Kris) that evening; Kris explained that the anger had to be put to good use - Winnen went out next day and won at Morzine.



At this point we caught up with Skil pros training on the hill, Albert Timmer explained that they have a training camp at the top; the Pro Continental riders gobbled up amateur climbers by the score.

And the guys from Koksijde were there getting an early advert for the world cyclo-cross champs 2012.


Beat Breu that 1982 winner at the expense of Winnen was one of the pioneers of light weight bikes, on his mountain special he would have the handle bars chopped short and dispense with handlebar tape, all to save a few grammes.

As well as an ace climber he was a cyclo-cross rider and motor paced rider at world level - and the last I heard, he was a club comedian.




It's thirsty work on the mountain, the Germans have their beer neatly stacked whilst wine boxes lay around like spent shell cases after a battle.

And in case you wonder how they keep the beer cool - they bring a compressor for the fridge.



As the hairpins count down, the views become ever more spectacular - as the standard of accommodation begins to slide.






At the Bugno hairpin - he won twice here '90 and '91 - things get seriously crazy; this is 'Dutch corner.'

L'Alpe d'Huez used to be known as the 'Dutch Mountain' with Zoetemelk, Kuiper, Winnen, Rooks '88 and Theunisse '89 all winning here; the tradition of partying on the mountain continues, even if the winning doesn't.

Carola Groeneveld used to race for Rabobank Ladies but is now working for Shimano, she explained that you really have to be on the mountain on Saturday if you're serious about partying and want the best spot.

She requests 'Schatje magik je foto' from the deejay and the crowd goes mad - time to go.




Up, close to where the cable car soars across the road is the Hampsten hairpin; John and I were there in 1992 and I can still remember the slim American his eyes fixed on the road ahead, slicing through the maddest of crowds on his way to glory.




And we were there for Pantani's 1995 win (he won in '97 too), on the lowest of gears, the sweat glistening on his shaved head as he spun through the village and up towards that famous finish straight.



By now you can see the top and the views out across the valley are stunning.



Hairpin number one belongs to '99 winner Italian, Giuseppe Guerini, who was felled by a fan near the spot; he remounted to win and would later accept the fan's apology.


The one kilometre to go mark is just inside where the built up area starts, but it's a technical last 1,000 metres to the uphill finish line.


We'll be at PEZ's Alpine HQ overnight and tomorrow we'll try our best to take you with us to this most famous of all the Alpine climbs.

After the surprises on the Galibier today, perhaps it's too much to expect more of the same on l'Alpe but in this Tour, anything is possible.


 

[cyclist]

2011 Tour de France stage 19 results

July 22: STAGE 19 - Modane Valfréjus  Alpe-d’Huez 109.5 km

Schleck dons yellow; Rolland scores France’s first stage win of this Tour

Stage 19 Results:

1. Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, in 3h 13′ 25″
2. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:14
3. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 00:23
4. Peter Velits, HTC-Highroad, at 00:57
5. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at 00:57
8. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:57
9. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:57
15. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 02:06
16. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 02:06
20. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 03:22
64. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 13:55
70. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 16:06
77. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 17:40
98. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at 25:27
152. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 25:27
154. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 25:27
167. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 25:27

GC Standings:

1. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, in 82h 48′ 43″
2. Frank Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, at 00:53
3. Cadel Evans, BMC Racing Team, at 00:57
4. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar, at 02:10
5. Damiano Cunego, Lampre-Isd, at 03:31
6. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard, at 03:55
7. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 04:22
8. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 04:40
32. Levi Leipheimer, Team RadioShack, at 59:24
36. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:10:36
54. George Hincapie, BMC Racing Team, at 1:41:31
63. Jens Voigt, Team Leopard-Trek, at 1:52:23
68. Thor Hushovd, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:58:00
76. David Millar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 2:11:44
78. Stuart O’grady, Team Leopard-Trek, at 2:14:18
126. Fabian Cancellara, Team Leopard-Trek, at 3:06:53
128. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, at 3:07:34
142. Harley Goss Matthew, HTC-Highroad, at 3:17:48
158. Tyler Farrar, Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 3:31:52
167. Fabio Sabatini, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 3:50:36

Next Stage:  July 23: STAGE 20 - Grenoble  Grenoble 42.5 km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek

Green:   Mark Cavendish, HTC-Highroad, with 280 points
Joaquin Rojas Jose, Movistar Team, with 265 points
Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 230 points


 Polka Dot: Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, with 108 points
Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek, with 98 points
Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, with 74 points

 White:        Pierre Rolland, Team Europcar, in 82h 57′ 40″
Rein Taaramae, Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:33
Jérôme Coppel, Saur-Sojasun, at 07:52

Teams:       Team Garmin-Cervelo, in 248h 02′ 15″
Ag2r La Mondiale, at 11:58″
Team Leopard-Trek, at 12:57

 Lanterne Rouge:  Fabio Sabatini

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 14 – Bonnet William, FDJ outside time limit
Stage 17 - Paolo Tiralongo, Astana, withdrawal
Stage 18 - Bertagnolli, Leonardo, Lampre – Isd, withdrawal
Stage 19 - Bjorn Leukemans, Vacansoleil-Dcm, outside time limit

Stage 19 Review:

Schleck dons yellow; Rolland scores France’s first stage win of this Tour
By VeloNews.com
Published Jul 22nd 2011 12:02 PM UTC — Updated Jul 22nd 2011 1:22 PM UTC


Frank Schleck leads Andy and Evans on Alpe d'Huez. Photo: Graham Watson | grahamwatson.com

France finally scored a stage win in this Tour as Europcar’s young Pierre Rolland won atop l’Alpe d’Huez, grabbing the white jersey for best young rider on the day his teammate Thomas Voeckler finally gave up the yellow jersey.


A day after cracking on the final climb and publicly ceding any chance of winning the 2011 Tour de France, Alberto Contador went on the attack early Friday, putting Cadel Evans in a tough spot. The Spaniard’s bid for a stage win finally faded on the Alpe, where he finished third and only gained a handful of seconds on Evans and Andy Schleck.

Schleck took over the jersey from Voeckler and enters Saturday’s critical final time trial with a 57-second gap ahead of Evans. Contador is sixth at nearly four minutes behind Schleck.

“The yellow jersey gives you wings and I hope that is the case tomorrow,” Schleck said at the finish.

Resurgent Contador

After his teammate Chris Anker Sorensen softened up the group with a hard attack, Contador attacked on the first of the day’s three climbs, the Col du Telegraph. He was quickly joined by Thursday’s winner, Andy Schleck, yellow jersey Voeckler and Evans.

Voeckler, however, was unable to stay with the Schleck/Contador combine and, after getting dropped himself, Evans suffered a mechanical that forced him to take a bike swap.

Evans, often without allies, had to chase over the Telegraph and the Galibier and down the long descent and leadup to the Tour’s final climb, the Alpe d’Huez.

With some help from Garmin’s Ryder Hesjedal, Evans finally rejoined the Schleck-Contador group 15km from the base of the Alpe.

The final climb of the Tour

After Evans made contact, the pace of the front group slowed and Voeckler and others rejoined so that a group of about 30 riders hit the Alpe together.

As the group relaxed, Rolland took a flyer and was joined by Hesjedal; the GC favorites were indifferent to the move.

On the opening switchbacks, Evans was the first GC favorite to go on the attack, and he was soon countered by Contador, who disappeared around the corner and soon caught and passed Hesjedal and Rolland. Evans and Andy Schleck took up the chase. Voeckler faded quickly, making Schleck the leader on the road once again.

Evans settled into to marking Schleck, who eased off and allowed his brother, Cunego, Sanchez, Velits, Hesjedal and others to rejoin. Voeckler, however, was struggling more than two minutes behind.

Contador weakens

Rolland and Sanchez attacked the Evans-Schleck group, and slowly inched up to Contador, who weakened in the final 4k.

The pair caught Contador with 2.5km to go and Rolland tried to ride straight past Contador, who fought to hold his wheel. Rolland finally broke free, leaving frequent allies Sanchez and Contador to work together to try and catch the Frenchman. Contador soon let Sanchez go it alone, settling for a third on the stage.

Behind, Evans sensed some weakness in Schleck and attacked repeatedly in the final three kilometers. He couldn’t shake the Luxembourger, but finished with him, Velits, Cunego and Frank Schleck.

Up next



Saturday’s stage 20 is this year’s only individual time trial, a hilly 42.5km circuit in Grenoble. The same
route was used in the Critérium du Dauphiné earlier this year, when HTC-Highroad’s Tony Martin won the stage in 55:28.

The Tour concludes Sunday with the race into Paris.