Bike World News

Thanks for visiting Bike World News for our coverage of the 2009 Tour de France. It was another big day for France today, with another stage win by a countryman. Italy has to be happy, too. Alberto Contador showed his strength today – what if he had gone sooner?

• Today was the day that everyone expected to see an Astana rider in yellow. It didn’t quite work out that way, though we did get a little more insight into who has the legs to attack in the mountain stages.
• This was the longest stage so far in the race and certainly the most mountainous.
• Alberto Contador looked like the Lance Armstrong of old when he powered away from the peloton in the final kilometers of today’s climb to Andorra-Arcalis. Lance was putting on some power in the final k’s, too, but couldn’t, or didn’t stay on Alberto’s wheel.
• Before the start of the race, Armstrong called it: “If Contador (attacks), I will not go along. I think he will ride a pace that nobody can follow.”
• Brice Feillu (Agritubel) made quite an impression for his French fans today. Between riding off the front with 8 others for most of the race to having the strength left to leave his break companions behind and take the win, he gave the home crowd more to cheer about.
• If you haven’t figured it out, Brice is the younger brother of Romain. Romain was proud of his little brother, saying “I cry. I knew he would win. When I saw they had seven minutes ahead at the foot of Arcalis, I thought he would win. I had confidence in him.”
• Feillu did not do the traditional zip-up of the jersey before crossing the finish line. Was he too tired, or was it is message to team sponsor Agritubel, who is walking away from their sponsorship at the end of the season? Maybe these France-based sponsors should reconsider their choices after yesterday and today. Bouyges Telecom is another company that is leaving the sport.
• Feillu will get to wear the polka-dotted climber’s jersey tomorrow.
• Feillu’s compatriot Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale) was awarded the ‘most combative’ award for today.
• Rinaldo Nocentini, riding for the French team AG2R-La Mondiale, is the first Italian to wear the yellow jersey in nine years. He came across the line 4th, and came in just six seconds ahead in the overall.
• Nocentini moved up 31 places today!
• Columbia-HTC’s Tony Martin is still wearing the white young rider’s jersey and hopes to hold onto it into Paris.
• Martin’s teammate Mark Cavendish has a tenuous grasp on the green sprinter’s jersey. Thor Hushovd is 1 point away…
• They did say he would be closely watched: Lance Armstrong, along with Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloden and Alberto Contador, was visited by the antidpoing inspectors this morning. His last test was, what, two days ago?
• Fabian Cancellara was realistic about his chances today and knew that the stage would end his week in yellow. He says that he is ready to repay the work of his teammates that have been supporting him. He lost touch on today’s final ascent and now sits more than five minutes back.
• Giro rolled out a new, ultralight helmet this morning. Looks like all of their sponsored riders got one.
• Garmin’s Bradley Wiggins is garnering some attention this year. He put on a fairly strong showing in the mountains at the Giro and is a full 7 kg lighter than he was last year. That could make a huge difference. He’s hoping for a top 15 placing in the overall. (He’s sitting 5th after today’s stage)
• Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo) had quite a successful spring as well, but he knows that he is at the Tour to learn and to support Carlos Sastre and Thor Hushovd.
• Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux) is the first non-crash related abandonment of the race. “He was very tired for two days,” said his manager, Franck Pineau.
• Rabobank manager Erik Breukink says that Denis Menchov will be looking for opportunities in the mountains.

Other News:

• Michael Rasmussen hopes to make his professional comeback on July 27th in the Holland’s Kjellerup criterium. He has yet to find a sponsor.
• Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes) still leads the Italian Cup series.
• Czech climber Lubos Pelànek is the newest member of the Amore & Vita – McDonald’s team. He was with the Lampre team last year before getting tied up in the H2O fiasco.
• The Missouri Department of Economic Development wants to eliminate all state funding for the Tour of Missouri. The department needs to cut nearly $10 million from its budget due to the state’s fiscal crisis. Tour of Missouri organizers say the state provides about half of their $3.3 million budget and cuts would be a death blow to the race. (Cyclelicious)

Other Results:

• 32-year-old German Judith Arndt (Columbia), won the sixth stage in the Giro Donne, the Tour of Italy for women.
• Andre Greipel (Team Columbia) took his second win of the race at Friday’s sixth stage of the Tour of Austria. His Columbia teammate Michael Albasini remains the leader.

Tags: 2009 tour de france, 2009 tour de france results, Ag2r, Agritubel, alberto contador, Amore & Vita, andre greipel, Andreas Kloden, bike world news, Bouyges Telecom, Bradley Wiggins, brice feillu, Carlos Sastre, columbia, denis menchov, Fabian Cancellara, garmin, Heinrich Haussler, Judith Arndt, Lance Armstrong, lance armstrong tour de france, Levi Leipheimer, LPR Brakes, Mark Cavendish, michael albasini, michael rasmussen, Rabobank, rinaldo nocentini, Team Columbia, The Tour, Thor Hushovd, tour de france stage 7, Tour of Missouri

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