Bike World News

The ninth stage of the 2010 Tour de France – from Morzine-Avoriaz to St-Jean-de-Maurienne is 204.5km of hard climbing and if it wasn’t for next week’s stage with the Col de Tourmalet, would be the “queen” stage of the race. This is the first stage of the 97th Tour that features only two intermediate sprints; they are in Cluses (25.5km) and La Bathie (135.5km). On the menu are five climbs, including the first ‘Hors Category’ col this year – the Col de la Madelaine. Points for the polka-dot jersey were won at the Côte de Châtillon (Cat 4 at 18.5km), Col de la Colombière (Cat 1 at 46km), Col des Aravis (Cat 2 at 71km), Col des Saisies (Cat 1 at 97km) and Col de la Madeleine (‘Hors Category’ at 172.5km).

Cadel Evans started the day with a 20 second lead over Andy Schleck of Saxo Bank, while defending champion Alberto Contador was in third at 1’01″. The race started with 181 riders this morning; Gerrans, Karpets, Kluge and Felline all decided to extend their rest day into the rest of the month. Gerrans was found to have a broken arm after a crash early in Sunday’s eighth stage. As the race rolled out, Markus Eibegger of Footon-Servetto rode briefly before getting off the bike.

As expected, a number of riders took advantage of the downhill start of the race to make an attack and open a gap. In the break were Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’ Epargne), Sandy Casar (FdJ), Cyril Gautier (Bouyges Telecom), Jerome Pineau (Quick Step), Christophe Moreau (Caisse d’Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2R), Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), Rein Taaramae (Cofidis), Anthony Charteau (Bouyges), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Johannes Frohlinger (Milram). Sanchez is the highest placed in the GC, sitting 5’03″ behind Cadel Evans. By km 30, the group of 11 leads the peloton by 3 minutes.

Jerome Pineau’s position in the break will only serve to solidify his hold on the polka dot jersey.

In addition to the peloton, the escapees were being chased a group of nine riders composed of Vinokourov (AST) – Horner and Brajkovic (RSH) – Pauriol (COF) – Verdugo (EUS) – Kern (COF) – Perget (GCE) – Cunego and Spilak (LAM) They were 2’00″ behind Sanchez’s posse and 30″ ahead of the peloton. Catches and counter attacks winnow that group to four: Brajkovic, Paulinho (RSH), Cunego (LAM) and Seeldrayers (QST).

By the 63 km mark, the escapees had a 4 minute lead over the peloton. BMC had five riders at the front of the gruppo surrounding team and race leader Cadel Evans.

At km 123, the gap had opened to 6’15″, making Sanchez the virtual owner of the yellow jersey.

As the escapees started their ascent of the HC Col de la Madeleine, Moreau amped up the pace and the group was able to shed Pineau. Saxo Bank moved to the lead of the peloton and Nicki Sorenson was the pace setter. Right behind him, however, were Hincapie and Santambrogio. Vinokourov, Van den Broeck, Gesink, Leipheimer and Evans could also be seen at the front.

With about 21km left to climb on the Col de la Madeleine, Vinokourov attacked the peloton. There was no reaction from anyone in the peloton. He was no more than 20 seconds off the front of the peloton, with BMC’s Santambrogio setting the pace.

Gutierrez, Moreau, Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne), Cunego (Lampre), Nocentini (Ag2R), Casar (FdJ), Voigt (Saxo Bank), Charteau and Gautier (Bouyges) were still riding at the front, but Nocentini, Taaramae and Pineau were all in no man’s land and were slowly being picked off by vinokourov.

With 48km to, Rinaldo Nocentini was dropped from the lead group and soon found himself 20″ back. Jerome Pineau, however, was able to reconnect.

With 42km remaining, the gap was holding at 5’15″, and Sanchez narrowly held the virtual yellow. Voigt was the latest to drop into no man’s land.

Back in the peloton, Saxo Bank, with Sorenson and Lloyd, were setting the pace before pulling off and letting Fuglsang take a moment in the wind. Cadel Evans had lost Santambrogio and Hincapie and found himself in the unenviable position of riding alone again. The pace has splintered the pack, but one rider who was still near the front and riding strong was Lance Armstrong.

Cadel Evans was faltering and was not able to keep with the lead group. The peloton, now lead by Astana, did not waste any time to take advantage. Alberto Contador was right at the front of the peloton, but so was Andy Schleck. Schleck briefly powered by the Spaniard, only to see Samuel Sanchez pass by. Sanchez could not keep up the pace, however, and quickly dropped back.

Schleck continued to taunt Contador and seemed to be more at ease, riding in the saddle, while Contador was standing and mashing the pedals. Meanwhile, Evans continued to falter at the back.

Schleck and Contador continued to battle and as they caught Gutierrez, Contador got  a bottle handoff from his compatriot (but not teammate). Gutierrez continued to slip by and Schleck and Contador soon caught Jens Voigt. Voigt sat it to pace his leader Schleck as they moved to within 3 minutes of the leaders.

Ivan Basso, Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Lance Armstrong and Alexander Vinokourov continued to solidly chase.

As the leaders crested the summit of the Col de la Madeleine, the gap back to the G.C. contendors was 2’30″. Voigt popped and Contador moved ahead of Andy Schleck. They took the time to zip up their jerseys and put on their sunglasses before making the descent.

It was all downhill from the summit of the Madeleine. As we mentioned in our stage preview, the end of the race may come down to the man that is the boldest descender. They were said to be coming down at 80 km/h. Schleck and Contador were playing a game of cat and mouse now, but Schleck was sure to be in yellow tonight. We were thinking of that line from “American Flyers” – “I’m right beside you, but I’m really 50 seconds ahead of you.”

The leading group of 4 passed under the 10km kite and were now on the valley floor. Schleck, Contador and Moreau were 1’30″ behind, and unlikely to make the catch. Basso, Van Den Broeck, Armstrong and Vinokourov still looked strong. Cadel Evans continued to chase and looked stronger than he did an hour ago.

Just inside the 1 km mark, Schleck and Contador caught the leaders and the race was set to come down to a seven man sprint. It was Sandy Casar that crossed the line first, with Luis Leon Sanchez and Damiano Cunego just behind for a photo finish. The big winner, of course, is Andy Schleck, who moves into the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Brief Results:

Pos	Rider	Bib	Team	Time	Gap
1.	CASAR Sandy	62	FDJ	5h 38′ 10″
2.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	161	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 38′ 10″	+ 00′ 00″
3.	CUNEGO Damiano	201	LAMPRE – FARNESE	5h 38′ 10″	+ 00′ 00″
4.	MOREAU Christophe	166	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 38′ 12″	+ 00′ 02″
5.	CHARTEAU Anthony	153	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	5h 38′ 12″	+ 00′ 02″
6.	CONTADOR Alberto	1	ASTANA	5h 38′ 12″	+ 00′ 02″
7.	SCHLECK Andy	11	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 38′ 12″	+ 00′ 02″
8.	SANCHEZ Samuel	181	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	5h 39′ 02″	+ 00′ 52″
9.	RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin	77	KATUSHA TEAM	5h 40′ 17″	+ 02′ 07″
10.	LEIPHEIMER Levi	25	TEAM RADIOSHACK	5h 40′ 17″	+ 02′ 07″
11.	GESINK Robert	195	RABOBANK	5h 40′ 17″	+ 02′ 07″
12.	VOIGT Jens	19	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 40′ 17″	+ 02′ 07″
13.	MENCHOV Denis	191	RABOBANK	5h 40′ 20″	+ 02′ 10″
14.	DE WEERT Kevin	133	QUICK STEP	5h 41′ 00″	+ 02′ 50″
15.	BASSO Ivan	41	LIQUIGAS-DOIMO	5h 41′ 00″	+ 02′ 50″
16.	PLAZA MOLINA Ruben	168	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 41′ 00″	+ 02′ 50″
17.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	101	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	5h 41′ 00″	+ 02′ 50″
18.	ARMSTRONG Lance	21	TEAM RADIOSHACK	5h 41′ 00″	+ 02′ 50″
19.	KREUZIGER Roman	44	LIQUIGAS-DOIMO	5h 41′ 58″	+ 03′ 48″
20.	VINOKOUROV Alexandre	9	ASTANA	5h 41′ 58″	+ 03′ 48″

General Classification:

Pos	Rider	Bib	Team	Time	Gap
1.	SCHLECK Andy	11	TEAM SAXO BANK	43h 35′ 41″
2.	CONTADOR Alberto	1	ASTANA	43h 36′ 22″	+ 00′ 41″
3.	SANCHEZ Samuel	181	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	43h 38′ 26″	+ 02′ 45″
4.	MENCHOV Denis	191	RABOBANK	43h 38′ 39″	+ 02′ 58″
5.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	101	OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO	43h 39′ 12″	+ 03′ 31″
6.	LEIPHEIMER Levi	25	TEAM RADIOSHACK	43h 39′ 40″	+ 03′ 59″
7.	GESINK Robert	195	RABOBANK	43h 40′ 03″	+ 04′ 22″
8.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	161	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	43h 40′ 22″	+ 04′ 41″
9.	RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin	77	KATUSHA TEAM	43h 40′ 49″	+ 05′ 08″
10.	BASSO Ivan	41	LIQUIGAS-DOIMO	43h 40′ 50″	+ 05′ 09″

Tags: 2010 tour de france, Ag2r, alberto contador, alexander vinokourov, andy schleck, astana, BMC, Bouyges Telecom, cadel evans, Caisse d'Epargne, Cyril Gautier, Damiano Cunego, Ivan Basso, jens voigt, Jerome Pineau, jose ivan gutierrez, Lampre, Lance Armstrong, Milram, Quick Step, rinaldo nocentini, Sandy Casar, Saxo Bank, Stage 9

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