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Stagiaire Season Begins

7/29/2010

Taylor Phinney's transition from the track to the road culminates with his RadioShack apprenticeship

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Stagiaire Season Begins

As the second half of the road racing season begins, a number of top teams have begun to unveil the young talents that will join the pro ranks. Stagiaires, as they're known, typically receive the invitation to race selected events in the hope of proving themselves and picking up a full pro contract for the coming season.

RadioShack Hires Three

The highest profile recruit to Team RadioShack is Taylor Phinney, who himself made his intentions known in recent months. Phinney has ridden for the Trek-Livestrong development team and with the upcoming Tour of Denmark will make his true debut in the pro ranks with RadioShack. Phinney is a two-time winner of the U23 Paris-Roubaix classic, as well as multiple world titles on the track and a variety of stage and other race wins.

Joining Phinney will be two young men from New Zealand: Clinton Avery and Jesse Sergent. All three will don the RadioShack colors for the first time in Denmark beginning August 4th.

"All three riders are classy young riders; they have a lot of potential," commented team manager Johan Bruyneel. "We believe in them and are hoping this works out and can lead to something permanent next year."

"So far none of the three riders has a guaranteed place in our 2011 team but this is already a step forward in their development as a pro-rider," Bruyneel noted.

Cole House to BMC

American Cole House will finish out the 2010 season with the BMC Racing Team, beginning with the Tour de l'Ain stage race in France (August 10-14). The Wisconsin native will be given a chance to adjust to the demands of the pro peloton and gain valuable racing experience.

"It's a good experience for him and for him to see where we is and what we can expect in the future," directeur sportif John Lelangue said. "The most important thing is for him to get experience on this level."

Intercontinental Flavor for Cervélo TestTeam

Alexander Wetterhall from Sweden and Daniel Teklehaymanot from Eritrea will join Cervélo TestTeam as stagiaires. The 24-year-old Wetterhall, from southern Sweden, started his career as a mountain biker before moving to road cycling in 2008. In his first year on the road he became Swedish national champion in the individual time trial. This year he earned overall victory in the Irish tour FDB Insurance Rás and a stage victory in the Ringerike Grand Prix. Wetterhall will join the team next week in the Tour of Denmark.

In addition to Wetterhall, Cervélo TestTeam will welcome another international rider into its ranks. Teklehaymanot, a 21-year-old athlete from Eritrea, is one of the most promising African riders. In 2008 he won his first national title in the road race and also claimed victory in the individual U23 time trial at the African Championships. A year later he took two stage victories at the Tour of Eritrea and finished 6th overall in the Tour de l’Avenir.

His first appearance in the Cervélo TestTeam colors is planned for the one-day race Chateauroux Classic de l’Indre Trophée Fenioux in France at the end of August.

Can Carlos Barredo make it two in a row at the Clasica San Sebastian?

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Quick Step for San Sebastian: Barredo Defends, Chavanel Out

Carlos Barredo will lead the Quick Step team at this weekend's return to classics racing, hoping to defend his 2009 title at the Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian in Spain. Barredo showed good form in the Tour de France, missing out on stage wins but riding aggressively and figuring in a number of breakaways.

Meanwhile, Quick Step's Tour star Sylvain Chavanel has been forced to sit out San Sebastian on Saturday due to an infected toe.

"I had this problem in the last days of the Tour," said Chavanel, who won two stages on this year's Tour and wore the yellow jersey on two separate occasions. "The foot swelled up and I can't compete in a high level race like the Clasica."

"The team and I have agreed that I shouldn’t participate in the Spanish classic so I don’t risk compromising the season finals," Chavanel added.

Team manager Johan Bruyneel is still smarting over his Vuelta snub

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

RadioShack Adjusts Schedule After Vuelta Snub

After a surprising exclusion from the invitation list to the Vuelta a España, Team RadioShack has re-calibrated its racing schedule for August and September. The team will field riders in the Tour du Poitou-Charentes (August 24-27), Classic de l’Indre (August 29), Grand Prix Jef Scherens/Leuven (September 5), Memorial Van Steenbergen/Aartselaar (September 8), Paris-Brussels (September 11), Grand Prix Fourmies (September 11), Grand Prix de Wallonie (September 15), Koolskamp (September 17) and the Grand Prix Isbergues (September 19).

"All of these one-day races are part of the replacement program we had to put in place after we were told we’re not welcome in this year’s Tour of Spain," Johan Bruyneel explained.

"I hope that our victory in the team classification in the Tour de France may be an answer to the organizers of the Vuelta," he added.

That detail may be of little consequence given that Tour de France organizer ASO is now a part owner of the Vuelta. With Lance Armstrong, Bruyneel, and other former US Postal Service riders facing federal doping investigation in the United Stats, speculation is strong that the lack of a Vuelta invitation was in effect the snub ASO couldn't easily apply to the Tour.

"It feels bitter. The best Team in the World’s hardest race not being invited to participate at the Vuelta," Bruyneel continued.

"'Other teams offered us better options on a sporting level,' they said to us. We disagree."

Wiggins to Tour of Britain

Team Sky will line up for its home Tour with Bradley Wiggins leading the lineup for the Tour of Britain in September. The six-man roster will also include recent Tour de Wallonnie winner Russell Downing, Steve Cummings, and British national road race champion Geraint Thomas. Matthew Hayman and Greg Henderson round out the roster.

"We're delighted to have Team Sky riding The Tour of Britain this year, particularly with such a strong line-up that shows they mean business for The Tour," commented Technical Director Mick Bennett.

"I’m sure fans in Wales will be particularly excited to see Geraint Thomas riding Stage Three into Swansea, while I know from meetings and events in Newham just how excited residents and in particular local children are at the prospect of our three Olympians racing on their streets in September."

"I know Bradley can expect a lot of support during the final stage, in what is of course London’s Olympic and Paralympic Borough."

Contador Says Adios To Astana

7/28/2010

Alberto Contador takes 3. The tour de France champion is leaving Astana, but for now keeping his options open for 2011.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will leave Astana at the end of this season after he rejected the team’s offer to extend his contract, the Spaniard’s spokesman announced on Wednesday. Contador “wants to have time to calmly explore all the possibilities available to him during the coming season and no option has so far been excluded,” Jacinto Vidarte said in a statement.

During his three seasons with Astana, the 27-year-old Contador won a Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta title as well as two of his three Tour de France titles.

Contador, the winner in 2007 and 2009, pulled on his third Tour de France yellow jersey on Sunday after the 20^th and final stage of cycling’s premier event. The win makes Contador is the ninth cyclist to win the Tour de France at least three times.

The word on the street has it that no matter where he goes, the Spaniard will remain tied to Specialized which makes a possible Saxo Bank connection possible since the Riis team is soon to lose the Schleck brothers.

Alessandro Petacchi on the Champs-Elysees triumphant in the green jersey.

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Petacchi Stays Mum on Doping Investigation

Tour de France sprint king Alessandro Petacchi will not be commenting on an investigation into alleged doping practices, his lawyer said Wednesday.

During the Tour earlier this month it was revealed that Pettacchi had been summoned by the public prosecutor in Padova to answer questions regarding the use of banned substances.

The Italian was allowed to continue competing in the Tour, though, and subsequently went on to claim the sprinters’ green jersey. However his lawyer Virginio Angelini said the Lampre rider has agreed not to say anything.

“We had a meeting yesterday, he wanted to talk but I decided on a strategy of not responding,” said Angelini, who dismissed the accusations against his client as “too general.”

The Italian ANSA news agency, quoting informed sources, previously alleged that two banned substances were found at the 36-year-old’s home - PFC (Perfluorocarbon), an alternative to the banned blood booster EPO, and human serum albumin.

The affair is said to centre on two former teammates as well as two other amateur riders.

Petacchi, one of the most successful sprinters of his generation, was suspended for a year after the 2007 Tour of Italy for testing positive for excessive levels of the asthma drug salbutamol.

Tom Danielson in the Tour de Suisse. Danielson will be among the starters in the 2010 Tour de Polonge on Agugst 1.

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Tom Danielson among starters at Tour de Pologne

Everything’s ready for the Tour de Pologne which kicks off Sunday with a 175.1 km first stage from Sochaczew to Warsaw. There are 23 teams lining up for the start of the race with seven stages on August 1-7, 2010. The 1256.5 km race finishes in Krakow.

There are 18 Pro Tour teams: AG2R la Mondiale, Astana, Caisse d’Epargne, Euskaltel Euskadi, Footon-Servetto, Francaise des Jeux, Garmin-Transitions, Lampre-Farnese Vini, Liquigas Doimo, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Rabobank, Sky Professional Cycling Team, Team HTC-Columbia, Team Katusha, Team Milram, Team Radioshack, Team Saxo Bank. These teams will be joined by the following 5 squads invited by the organisers: Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, Cervelo Test Team, BMC Racing Team, Skil-Shimano and Polska BGZ.

Registered racers include 2008 World Champion Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing) who won the last edition of the Tour de Pologne. Team Astana will feature Spain’s Oscar Pereiro, who won the Tour de France in 2006; for the sprints they’ll have Australian Allan Davis, who’s already familiar with the roads in Poland. There are a lot of fast riders in the group with Germany’s Andre Greipel (Htc-Columbia), Italians Danilo Napolitano (Katusha), Daniele Bennati and Jacopo Guarnieri (Liquigas-Doimo), Angelo Furlan and Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Belgians Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) and Geert Steegmans (Radioshak), Brazilian Murilo Fischer (Garmin Transitions), Argentina’s Josè Haedo and Australian Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank), Graeme Brown (Rabobank), from New Zealand Gregory Handerson (Team Sky) and German Robert Forster.

Other stars who’ll be coming out include: Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), six days in the yellow jersey in the 2009 Tour de France; Belgian Champion and winner of two Ronde Van Vlaanderen races Stijn Devolder and the American climber Tom Danielson (Garmin Transitions).

Among the interesting young riders there is Italian Fabio Felline (Footon Servetto), b. 1990, fresh off his experience at the Grande Boucle, Slovaks Martin and Peter Velits (Htc-Columbia) and Peter Segan (Liquigas Doimo).

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Live From Lake Como: What's next for Italy's latest comeback kid?

7/28/2010

Five years ago, in 2005, Italy's Ivan Basso was nearly unstoppable, had it not been for stomach problems and Lance Armstrong, he would have won the two biggest stage races: the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.

In May, he led the Giro d'Italia, but an intestinal virus during the race's stage over the Stelvio saw him lose chunks of time. He fought back, though, and won two consecutive stages. He recovered amazingly well and went on to finish second overall at the Tour de France behind Lance Armstrong.

That year he nearly took the yellow jersey from Armstrong with attack after attack on the Ax 3 Domaines. Armstrong and Jan Ullrich, though, clawed their way back, but then, Basso and Armstrong rode away.

It was a different story this year. Basso, now riding for team Liquigas, was unable to recover from his winning effort at the Giro d'Italia and paid at the Tour de France. He finished 32nd overall, 59 minutes back from Alberto Contador.

On the very same Ax 3 Domaines, he lost nearly two minutes to the favorites.

Basso had been the favorite to win the Tour de France after Armstrong first retired in 2005, but his blood stored in the Madrid offices of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes changed his career.

Fuentes' offices were raided during the Giro d'Italia in May 2006 as part of a doping investigation called Operación Puerto. Basso went on to win that Giro by an amazing nine-plus minutes, while he ignored accusations that he was "Birillo" in Fuentes' files.

The investigators caught him, though, and helped issue Basso a two-year suspension. Basso quietly changed over that time and has since aligned himself with a respected cycling trainer, Aldo Sassi.

Sassi advised Basso's training ahead of his Giro d'Italia win this year, but saw Basso run out of power for the Tour de France. Essentially, he looked as if he was more human.

"I gave it my all and I think that you could appreciate my fighting spirit. At least, I gave it all I had. It's not an embarrassment to lose with honour after I won the Giro d'Italia. The best guys in the world are here fighting for a 10th place," Basso told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I am not going bad, but not well. I lack that 20 per cent with respect to the Giro, and that is the difference between the favorites and me now. When the race explodes, I am not able to follow the top eight to nine riders. I don't drop like a bomb, but float off the back."

Basso had just finished the stage Ax 3 Domaines and sat 10th overall with half of the race still to cover.

It went from bad to worse. In the Pyrenees, he suffered a fever ahead of one of the key stages and nearly abandoned, losing 28 minutes.

"I don't like to abandon," Basso said. "The Tour is a race to honor to the very end."

He made it to the end, but nowhere near his second place of 2005 or third in 2006.

What went wrong? Basso won the Giro d'Italia. He was unable to recover from one of the hardest races in recent years in time for the Tour de France, and that may be because he no longer has blood stored in Madrid.

If Basso wants to win the Tour de France in the future he will need to skip the Giro d'Italia as Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck did.

"He will have to decide with the team," said Sassi. "Certainly, aiming for the Tour de France is very different than trying to win any other race. You have to say, though, Basso was not what he was at the Giro d'Italia. The same goes for the team; it was super at the Giro, but not at same level for the Tour."

Still, at 32 Basso has at least two more years to prefect his training as before the Tour he renewed with team Liquigas.

Frank Schleck Back for Criterium

7/27/2010

Franck Schleck is back on the bike after crashing out of the Tour de France

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Frank Schleck Back for Criterium

Frank Schleck, the older brother of Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck, confirmed Tuesday that he will return to competition at this week's Luxembourg Criterium. Schleck was forced out of the Tour de France after breaking his collarbone on the third stage, a fall which he believes also prevented his brother from taking the title from Alberto Contador.

Luxemburger Andy Schleck finished runner-up for the second straight year behind the Spaniard.

"It took me two to three days to accept," Frank Schleck told Le Quotidien. "I think if I'd been there I could have won the Tour. If the two of us had been there we could have proceeded like last year. We would each have taken turns to attack and Contador would have had to let either Andy or me go."

"We'll be back, to work on the time-trial, train, give everything, and I believe in our future," he insisted. "Andy and I can win the Tour."

Schleck added that in addition to Thursday's criterium he hopes to race in the Tour of Denmark and the Vuelta, in which his brother will also compete.

Two stages and two days in yellow helped Chavanel lead the Quick Step charge

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Lefevere's Tour Expectations Exceeded

Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere d himself more than satisfied with his team's performances at the Tour de France. With two stage wins, two days in the yellow jersey, and contention for the polka dot jersey, the team gained itself plenty of exposure despite losing sprinter Tom Boonen from the original roster due to injury.

Sylvain Chavanel was the man of the Tour's first week with the team's two stage wins and separate stints in yellow, aided by his friend and compatriot Jérôme Pineau who held the jersey of best climber for much of the Tour. Chavanel was also rewarded with the Tour's overall most aggressive rider prize, which pleased Lefevere considerably.

"Sylvain’s award is a prize for an excellent Tour," Lefevere said. "In the first days of the race Chavanel and Pineau gave performances that made them authentic leaders of the entire group. Our Tour has exceeded our own expectations."

Quick Step finished in seventh position in the team standings, spurred on by the attacking riding of Carlos Barredo and consistent finishes from young Belgian Kevin De Weert.

"We knew De Weert was a good racer and he’s finally showing his worth," Lefevere added. "He’s made a lot of sacrifices to make it to this level, working a lot on his weight and on climbs. His results are his reward."

"The rest of the crew stepped up to the situation too," he noted. "Some breaks, like Barredo’s in Pau, could have been luckier. We are really satisfied of our team and we look forward for other good performances."

Team Sky has achieved results this season but road a forgettable Tour de France

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Doubts Over Brailsford's Double Program

United Kingdom Sport performance director Peter Keen is concerned his counterpart at British Cycling, Dave Brailsford, has taken a big risk trying to oversee a Tour de France team while still being in charge of the country's Olympic program. Keen, Brailsford's predecessor, said running a professional cycling team alongside an Olympic track squad is not something he would have attempted.

"The stakes are higher," Keen told the Guardian. "It's about people and their ability to work across another dimension. I think Dave would concede it's an experiment."

Three members of the Team Sky team managed by Brailsford that competed at the Tour de France were British: three-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins, Steve Cummings and Geraint Thomas. But asked if there was a worry Team Sky meant Brailsford would be devoting less time to a British track team that won eight golds at the Beijing Olympics, Keen replied, "yes, there is."

"But there's a counter-argument that the very talented and driven people there need new challenges to refresh them and the Tour provides that," he added. "But it is a big risk. Dave knows I wouldn't have done the same thing. I'm a more conservative planner than Dave. He's well aware of the risks and my views on it."

"Time will tell."

Armstrong Court Documents Subpoenaed

Federal investigators probing cheating in pro cycling have subpoenaed material from a 2004 case in which a US firm attempted to prove Lance Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs. Jeffrey Tillotson, a lawyer for SCA Promotions Inc, said his company would send the documents to federal investigators in Los Angeles.

Armstrong has vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs and his lawyers routinely say Armstrong has undergone close to 300 drug tests in his career and never failed one.

Included in the documents are depositions from Armstrong's former wife, outspoken former American Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and former US teammates of Armstrong. The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday first reported the subpoena.

SCA was seeking to avoid paying the seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong a five million dollar performance bonus. The case ended with SCA shelling out 7.5 million dollars to Armstrong.

Two Extend with Skil-Shimano

The management of the Skil-Shimano professional cycling team renewed the contracts of both Mitchell Docker and Koen de Kort. The 23-year-old Australian Mitchell Docker is currently in his second season at Skil-Shimano, after excelling frequently in international U23 races. He confirmed his considerable talent in the Delta Tour and the Route du Sud, among others, by winning a stage in each.

Dutchman Koen de Kort, 27, has continued to mature and put in notable performances in the spring classics, including Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Ghent-Wevelgem.

Lobato Banned

Spanish rider Ruben Lobato has been banned for two years for doping by his national federation based on irregular readings on his biological passport, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Tuesday.

Lobato was one of the first five riders to be charged with doping based on biological passport readings in June 2009 along with compatriots Igor Astarloa and Riccardo Serrano, and Italians Pietro Caucchioli and Francesco de Bonis.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 20

7/26/2010

The jerseys of the 2010 Tour de France. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) wearing white for the best rider under 25; Anthony Charteau (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) in the polka dots for the best climber; Alberto Contador (Astana) in yellow for the overall; Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) in green for the best sprinter.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) gettinhis number re-pinned while riding in Stage 20 of the 2010 Tour de France. The team arrived on the start wearing black "LiveStrong" kits which were in violation of the UCI code. The peloton were made to wait while RadioShack team changed back into the approved kits. Lance's number was blowing around in the wind and had to be re-pinned. The black kits with the number "28" were a tribute to the estimated 28 million people living with cancer. The team, who won the team classification, wore the black kits on the podium in Paris.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Alberto Contador (Astana) play sprinting games on the final stage of the 2010 Tour de France. The two attacked and chased, smiling and laughing.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) in green with Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) in Stage 20 of the 2010 Tour de France. While Petacchi wins the prize for most consistent, Cav is clearly the fastest man on two wheels.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Team Astana with yellow jersey Alberto Contador toasting with the traditional celebratory champagne on the way to Paris in Stage 20 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Contador Tops World Rankings

7/26/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Alberto Contador of Team Astana is the world’s top-ranked rider following his victory in the Tour de France. Previous number one Cadel Evans of Team BMC has dropped to third. Katusha’s Joaquin Rodriguez has climbed a spot from third to second thanks to his strong showing at the Tour as well.

The big mover in the standings was Andy Schleck. The Saxo Bank rider leapt 51 places and is now ranked sixth thanks to his second place finish. Other notable movers include Sammy Sanchez who saw his stock rise, jumping from 28th to eighth and Dennis Menchov, now ranked 13th after previously lying 38th.

Lance Armstrong actually dropped one spot, to 42nd. Chris Horner remains the top-ranked American rider and rose another spot, to 11th.

Despite rampant criticism over the winter that its team would be unable to support Alberto Contador, Astana is the world’s top-ranked team and leads Bjarne Riis’ Saxo Bank formation by nearly 100 points. Katusha has slipped a spot to third while Liquigas-Doimo lies fourth, just ahead of Omega Pharma-Lotto. HTC-Columbia remains the top-ranked American team, slipping from fifth to seventh despite multiple stage wins by Mark Cavendish.

Spain remains the world superpower in cycling with 1528 points—nearly double that of second place Italy. Belgium lies third just seven scant points behind. Australia is fourth while the United States is a solid fifth. Despite several stage wins in its home tour, France is only 11th in the world, behind even Kazakhstan.

UCI individual world rankings
   1. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST)           482 points
   2. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT)          398
   3. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC)                390
   4. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO)           304
   5. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE)          283
   6. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX)               258
   7. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/SAX)          250
   8. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS)             233
   9. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB)              225
10. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ/AST)       223

Selected others
14. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ)                 206
16. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM)             195
20. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/LAM)        163
42. Lance Armstrong (USA/RSH)             85

Team rankings
   1. Astana (KAZ)             884 points
   2. Saxo Bank (DEN)          788
   3. Katusha (RUS)            709
   4. Liquigas (ITA)           634
   5. Omega Pharma (BEL)       621
   6. Rabobank (NED)           605
   7. HTC-Columbia (USA)       595
   8. RadioShack (USA)         562
   9. BMC (USA)                553
10. Caisse d'Epargne (ESP)   506

Nation rankings
   1. Spain                1528 points
   2. Italy                856
   3. Belgium              849
   4. Australia            723
   5. United States        568
   6. Russia               423
   7. Luxembourg           398
   8. Switzerland          355
   9. Germany              343
10. Kazakhstan           340

UCI officials didn't care for the Radio Shack team showing up in an unusual kit.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Radio Shack Upsets Tour Officials With Unusual Kit
Lance Armstrong’s latest bid to highlight his foundation’s work to rid the world of cancer was kept in check by International Cycling Union (UCI) officials on Sunday.

Seven-time champion Armstrong and his teammates showed up for the 20th and final stage wearing black outfits emblazoned with the number 28. RadioShack's team colors are red and grey.

After turning up wearing black for the 20th and final stage from Longjumeau to the Champs Elysees in Paris, the rest of the peloton had to wait while they were forced to change back to red and grey.

Race jury president Franceso Cenere told French TV: "It is forbidden to change jersey in a stage race without an authorisation from the UCI.

"They had to change jersey otherwise they would have been excluded from the race."

The number 28 is a reference to the 28 million people Armstrong's Livestrong foundation estimates are living with cancer.

The American famously battled cancer in 1998 returned to racing and won the Tour seven times consecutively.

In recent years his Livestrong foundation has been involved in raising awareness, and funds, in a bid to beat the disease.

Armstrong decided to try again after the stage, when he and his team turned up at the podium to receive their prize for dominating the teams' classification wearing black.

"In the end, I think the fact we had to change the jerseys (before the stage) gave us some publicity," Armstrong told France Televisions.

However, The UCI is likely to levy fines against the team and its riders after Johan Bruyneel wrote on Twitter: “Ok people! Now it’s official! To be a race commissar you don’t need brains but only know the rules! Their motto: ‘c’est le reglement!’” The UCI has announced any fines will be donated to Swiss cancer charity Ligue suisse contre le cancer.

However, the UCI have called Bruyneel’s comments “utterly unacceptable.” He is to be called before a disciplinary commission.

Contador revels in his Tour de France victory.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Spanish Press Sing Contador’s Praises With Tour Victory
"King of the Tour," wrote the online edition of sports daily AS below a photo of the cyclist wearing the leader's yellow jersey. The headline is typical of what the Spanish press has to say about Alberto Contador’s victory yesterday in the Tour de France, his third victory in the event.

"Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador has won his third Tour de France with a meagre lead of 39 seconds over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg of Saxo Bank," it said.

"Contador scores a triplet in Paris," wrote the online edition of rival sports daily Marca on its main page.

"Alberto Contador already has his third tour under his belt and is nearing the five managed by Miguel Indurain," it added.

Contador's win, following victories in 2007 and last year, took Spain's tally to 13 wins in 97 editions of the Tour de France.

"Contador once again reigns in Paris," wrote the online edition of daily El Mundo.

"This is one of the greatest Spanish sportsmen of all time," it added.

"Contador wins his third Tour of France," wrote top-selling daily El Pais.

Devolder in action during the Tour of Flanders.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Devolder Vacansoleil-Bound
Quick Step rider Stijn Devolder has confirmed that he is leaving the team at the end of the season and will join the Pro Continental team Vacansoleil.

Devolder indicated negotiations with the team didn’t take long. He told Het Laatste Nieuws, “They give me a good feeling.”

Devolder had a falling out with team director Patrick Lefevre who believed that the rider focused on the Tour of Flanders to the detriment of the rest of the season. Devolder went on to win the Tour of Belgium.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 19

7/25/2010

The French Cofidis rider Remi Pauriol with team car in tow during Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Is Levi praying that finish line is right around the corner? Levi Leipheimer (RadioShack) pounds it out in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Current British National Time Trial Champion Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) in his Union Jack helmet and matching Pinarello.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The lonely road of a Champion. Alberto Contador (Astana) pushes his body and mind to the absolute limit in hopes of keeping himself in yellow. No team mates to help in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

A multitude of uncontrollable emotions swept over Alberto Contador (Astana) as he stepped on the podium after narrowly edging out Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) for yellow in Stage 19 in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Bob Roll's Tour Finale From Paris

7/25/2010

Today’s stage was totally predictable, but no less thrilling. Cavendish's acceleration was so fantabulous to watch and unvanquishable it was the purest definition of beauty! Mark’s key to success is that he refuses to expend any extra energy before the finish. He doesn’t socialize, he doesn’t go for field sprints, for Cav it’s 100% on getting the job done at the finish and that’s what he remains focused on from the moment that he gets on his bike in the morning. Of course you can discount his physiology…when he decides to go he engages all of his fast-twitch muscles and it’s just an explosion of speed.

As for Alberto, well, he was tested mightily, but he came into the Tour as the best rider in the world and that’s the way he leaves the Tour. I think it is a disappointment that he won his third Tour without winning a single stage. That’s something you don’t like to see happen, but I think with the way things turned out this year Contador feels lucky enough just to stand on top of the podium. I think there might be some turmoil coming up with his relations with Astana so we’ll see about 2011, but I hope he keeps it all bueno.

I think Chris Horner should come home and be nominated the Secretary of Defense because he finally raced for himself on the Tourmalet and defended the aspirations of America in the Tour. A top ten for Horner in the Tour is awesome. He had been flicked form the Tour for a few years so I wouldn’t be surprised if he was wishing he was just a few years younger so he could use that finish for a jump in his career.

One troubling thing to see was no American riders contesting for the white jersey. There are definitely a few good kids coming up through the ranks, but there years away from being in contention for the white jersey. With Hincapie, Levi and Horner all over 35 years old, right now I’d say Tyler Farrar is America’s best hope for Stars-n-Stripes glory in the Euro peloton.

It will be interesting to see what Radio Shack does next year without Lance. They have Taylor Phinney coming up who they’ll unleash on the cobbles next year, Levi and Horner, yeah, they’re old, but they’ll hang around. I don’t think they’ll go for some big name addition, they’ll get somebody they can nurture, but then, you never know for sure with Johan.

They never told me to bring a dark blue suit so I just brought the same gray suit from last year. I’m like Ringo at the Beatles’ “Let It Be” session, gotta be different!

My best moment of the Tour? Making it to Paris in one piece. It was only a lead foot and a crazed mind that got us through the 680k drive that started at 8:00 pm last night. And then, running a red light before I arc’d it around a corner only to see the Arc de Triomphe staring right at me. As far as the race itself goes? I’d say it was when Cav scored his first win because after he got that out of the way, we all knew it was on for the rest of the Tour.
One take-away lesson from the Tour that applies equally to all is that you simply can’t boggle with the boogie man (the supreme ego). It’s stung a lot of riders throughout history and it will continue to do so in the future.

What’s next for the Blobinator? I’ll be taking a few days off here in the City of Lights, before heading back to Durango. Take a week with some fresh mountain air there and then I’ll be hanging out at the Tour of Utah and then hopefully Levi’s Gran Fondo in October.

That’s it for now Tour fans. Hope you liked my scribbles, I know you loved the racing and all I can say is stay tuned for more life in the Tour. It may be a whole year away, but we’ll be back here again next year…ride as much as you can until then.

Tour de France Stage 20: Cavendish Dishes It Out In Paris

7/25/2010

Take 5: Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) wins his 5th stage in the 2010 Tour de France, and back to back win on the Champs-Elysees.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The unbeatable, unstoppable Mark Cavendish grabbed his 5th stage win in the 2010 Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees Sunday. Cavendish became the first rider to win back to back years the on Champs-Elysees in the final stage of the Tour.

The 102 kilometer 20th and final stage of the Tour meandered from Longjumeau to Paris, ending with 8 laps around Paris through the Place de la Concorde and down the famous boulevard, the Champs-Elysees.

Recovery Spin to Paris
The peloton took a leisurely spin through the French countryside and the Southern outskirts of Paris, as is the custom on the final stage of the Tour. The traditional Champagne was served to third time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and his Astana team as the team managers congratulated from their cars.

Ironic Mechanical
As the peloton meandered, Contador and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) made a show for the cameras attacking each other, sprinting and giving each other taunting looks. Ironically, during this game, Schleck's chain fell off again as it did in Stage 15 when he lost 39 seconds to Contador. Schleck was forced to drop back to the team car and make a bike change. No time was lost in the overall this time around everyone slowed down.

Let the Racing Begin
Once the peloton arrived in Paris the racing began. A 12-man breakaway which included Lance Armstrong formed with 35 kilometers remaining and they managed to collaborate well on the eight laps of the Champs-Elysees to keep their lead at a steady 20 seconds.

With 12 kilometers to go the lead dropped to 16 seconds, and with the lack of faith in their ability to go all the way came the first attack off the front from German Christian Knees of Milram. That left seven riders in front, but three kilometres further on Armstrong's bid to close his 17-year acquaintance with the race in style was dashed when he was dropped.

A leading trio of Knees, Dutch veteran Karsten Kroon and Dane Nicki Sorensen began the last lap with a 14 second lead on the peloton and 7 kilometers to race. That lasted until Lampre took control of the race and ensured the sprinters would have their day. Cavendish simply sped by the others to take his 15th stage win in his Tour de France career.

"It's one of the most beautiful feelings in the world, winning on the Champs Elysees," said Cavendish, who comes from the Isle of Man. "I didn't have the best start to the race but once we got that first stage win we went on a roll.

"It's a roller coaster of emotions racing the Tour de France. For me it's the most beautiful event in the world."

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) came across the line in second and retained the green jersey, with Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) in third and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) in 7th.

The Final Jerseys
Contador won his third Tour de France and the coveted yellow jersey. "I had some tough moments on this year's race, as much from a mental as physical point of view," said Contador, who has now won five Grand Tours after his Tour of Spain and Tour of Italy wins in 2008. "I think that managing to cope during those days was the reason I won the Tour. I suffered a lot to get this result. Words don't explain what it means to me."

Andy Schleck took his third white jersey of the young rider competition and Anthony Charteau (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) won the polka dots of the climbers. Petacchi won the green jersey of the sprinters. Team RadioShack took the team prize giving Lance Armstrong his final opportunity to stand on the podium in Paris as a competitor in the Tour de France.

Stage 20 Results:
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Columbia
2. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Transitions
4. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma- Lotto
5. Oscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
6. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Milram
7. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam
8. Matti Breschel (DEN) Saxo Bank
9. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha
10. Daniel Oss (ITA) Liquigas

Overall Final Results for the 2010 Tour de France:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 91 hours 58 minutes and 48 seconds
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 39"
3. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobnk at 2'01"
4. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 3'40"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 6'54"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 9'31"
7. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 10'15"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 11'37"
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas at 11'54"
10. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at 12'02"

Bob Roll's Tour Report: On The Road To Paris

7/25/2010

It was a tough day getting to Paris, I blew through one of the auto pay tolls and then got busted for speeding by a camera. I think I broke every possible electronic traffic law I could, but kept throbbing on the gas pedal. It’s a seven hour drive to Paris, but I’m trying to do it in five. Right now I’m 13 minutes off from beating the estimated time of arrival by one and a half hours. In the drive from Tourmalet to Bordeaux I took an hour of the estimated time and at that point I was satisfied.

Unfortunately, France’s version of Johnny Law caught up with me and I got a ticket. The guy seemed so disappointed in me. He was obviously upset that I would go beyond the conventions of staying at the legal speed limit. I offered him a pastry and he took it – can you imagine a cop back in the States accepting a donut from you if you got pulled over?! The problem is that I’m still warping and I don’t think there are enough French pastries in France to take care of all the Gendarmes that I might run into! For our first night in Paris it looks like it’s gonna be sandwiches on the freeway – ah, the romance of the Tour.

As for the TT, I think Andy Schleck was once again the rider of the day. He’s never come that close to Alberto in a time trial before. I mean he practically paralyzed himself to get that time and after wards he looked like Eddy Merckx did after he the hour record. But, unfortunately for the rest of the riders, that’s how deep Fabian Cancellara goes for every TT! I thunk if Andy had started the TT in yellow he would've taken it to Paris, but it was just not meant to be and young Andy's dream of the top spot in Paris will have to wait another year.

Schleck Accepts Defeat- This Time

7/24/2010

Andy Schleck will win the white jersey in the 2010 Tour de France. Next year, he plans to wear yellow.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Andy Schleck has promised to return to the Tour de France next year and finally overtake Alberto Contador as yellow jersey champion.

Luxembourg all-rounder Schleck will go into Sunday’s 20th and final stage with a 39sec deficit to Contador after starting the penultimate stage time trial eight seconds behind. Schleck lost nearly two minutes (1:45) to Contador in the final time trial of last year’s race when he eventually finished runner-up at 4min 11sec adrift. But the 25-year-old showed he has reduced his deficit to the Spaniard in the all-important discipline, in which he ceded only 31seconds on Saturday.

As Contador savours an impending third Tour victory, adding to 2008 triumphs in the Tour of Spain and Giro d’Italia, the 25-year-old Luxemburger is already making plans for 2011.“I’ve always said I’ve progressed (in the time trial) but to beat Alberto is not easy. I gave it my all, and I just couldn’t beat him,” said Schleck, who was more than Contador’s equal in the mountain stages. “I’ve won two stages here, so for that I’m happy. I will come back next year to win. He is not unbeatable.”

Schleck took the yellow jersey from Australia’s Cadel Evans, also a two-time runner-up, on stage nine to Morzine-Avoriaz, the first stage in the high mountains.

However Contador reduced an eventual 41sec deficit to the Luxemburger on stage 12 to Mende, when he attacked on the steep ‘Jalabert’ climb to cut the gap to just 31seconds. In what was arguably one of the key moments of the race, Contador regained command when he countered a Schleck attack seconds before the Luxemburger’s chain came off his gears. Contador raced ahead, eventually finishing 39 seconds ahead of Schleck to leave him in second overall at eight seconds.

The gap did not change in the stages that followed, leaving Schleck with the obligation of attacking Contador on the final stage in the mountains. On Thursday’s stage 17 to the Col du Tourmalet, Schleck could not shake Contador off his tail as he raced through the rain and fog to claim his second stage success of this year’s race.

It all came down to the final time trial, an exercise in which Schleck is said to have made improvements in the past year. And despite reducing his virtual deficit to two seconds in the early stages, Contador came into his own in the second half of the race to increase his lead over the Luxemburger.

“I rode the first 40 kilometers as fast as I could and so I think I lost most of my time in the final kilometers,” added Schleck. “I always said I would give it everything till the end.” Schleck admitted his only regret was his prologue performance in Rotterdam. As Contador limited his time losses by finishing in sixth and 27 seconds behind Fabian Cancellara, Schleck finished in 122nd place at 1:09 behind his Swiss teammate.

“The Tour last three weeks, and you have to be good every day,” added Schleck. “In the mountains I think we were about the same level. I messed up the prologue. In the Tour, it’s the final result that counts and he’s beaten me by 39 seconds.”

Alberto Contador in a very forward position onhis way to securing the 2010 Tour de France yellow jersey.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Contador Candid about his Performance
Alberto Contador admitted to being pushed to his absolute limits on his way to virtually securing a third yellow jersey triumph on the Tour de France Sunday.

“This year there were times when I wasn’t exactly on top form, today included. The race this year was particularly hard,” said Contador, who came close to losing his yellow jersey to Andy Schleck in Saturday’s final time trial.

Spain’s two-time champion went into the penultimate stage time trial with only an eight-second lead on key rival Andy Schleck. And there was drama right to the wire as Schleck threatened to close his deficit early on before he ran out of juice and Contador came into his own in the latter half of the flat 52km-long course.
In 2009 Contador beat Swiss Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara by three seconds in the final time trial to claim the stage, and rubber-stamp his second yellow jersey triumph. And despite finishing only 35th, at 5 minutes 43 seconds behind a victorious Cancellara here Saturday, it was enough to keep Schleck at 31seconds adrift and heading for a second successive runner-up place.

Contador will now go into Sunday’s final stage to Paris, which is not usually contended by the yellow jersey rivals, with a 39 second lead on the Luxemburger. Ironically, it is the exact figure Schleck lost to Contador on stage 15 when the Spaniard counter-attacked him moments before he suffered an untimely mechanical problem with his gears.

Contador admitted he feared for his yellow jersey throughout the 19th stage race against the clock. “To be honest, I got some information that said I was five seconds behind Andy, and I started to panic,” added the Spaniard. “I started to think, ‘Oh my God, this is it, it’s over’. And I stayed that way until the finish line really.”

With Schleck pushing him so close, Contador knows he is in for a battle in the future. But the Spaniard attempted to put that in perspective by claiming he was not as good as he should have been. “I know Andy well, and he’s a great rider. He’s going to be a major rival for a long time,” said Contador. “But I think this year I wasn’t exactly at my best. Things eventually went well for me today but last night, for example, I didn’t sleep well and I also had a stomach ache.”

Contador also began the race with a cold, which forced him out of the Spanish time trial championships, and from then on it was about managing the dozens of little details that go into fighting for the race’s yellow jersey. “A few days before the Tour I was on antibiotics, and I think this affected my form for the first week,” he added. “From a mental point of view it was very complicated. I had to stay focused all the time, especially on the climbing stages.

“Our team perhaps wasn’t the strongest but we really supported each other. If you think about the efforts I had to make and the riders I had to follow on the climbs.... this was the real key to my victory.”

As well as his climbing and time trialing skills, Contador is also known for his ability to recuperate—a crucial ingredient in long stage races. However it appears the other key to the 27-year-old Spaniard’s win was his ability to handle the pressure, both from rivals and from within. “I think it’s the dream of any rider when you’re small and you start cycling and you get on your bike,” he added.

“From that moment you want to win the Tour. It’s the most beautiful race in the world but what goes with that is permanent tension and pressure. “You feel the pressure from outside and from within yourself. You can’t imagine how relieved I am.”

Lance Armstrong on his LiveStrong themed time trial bike in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France. Lance must go on, in spite of Landis.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Landis Continues Defamation
Disgraced cyclist Floyd Landis says he witnessed first hand former American teammate Lance Armstrong using performance enhancing drugs, including receiving transfusions for blood doping. Speaking on an episode of the American news magazine show, ABC’s ‘Nightline’ on Friday, Landis reiterated his sweeping allegations against Armstrong.

“Rather than go into the entire detail of every single time I have seen it yes, I saw Lance Armstrong using drugs.” Landis vehemently denied doping for years until finally admitting to using performance enhancing drug this spring.

Landis told Nightline. “If I am taking on Lance Armstrong then that should be evidence that there is a problem with the system, because I am saying it—a bunch of people did it.

“Look. At some point people have to tell their kids that Santa Claus isn’t real. I hate to be the guy to do it, but it’s just not real.” Asked during the 90 minute interview if he ever saw Armstrong receiving transfusions? Landis answered, “Yes.” When asked if he saw Armstrong transfuse more than once, Landis answered, “Yes, multiple times.” Armstrong won a record seven Tour de France titles and is racing now in what he says will be his final Tour.

Armstrong has denied the doping allegations. A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to several members of the now-defunct Armstrong-led US Postal Service team. Landis says he witnessed widespread cheating among the US Postal team members during his stint from 2002-04.

“Lance Armstrong handed me some testosterone patches,” Landis said. “It’s just a little patch that you put on your skin. It is not like it’s a—I mean, a blood transfusion is a bit more dramatic. It is a large needle. And it’s blood. But a patch that delivers testosterone. A trans-dermal patch.”

Armstrong has hired a criminal defense lawyer to represent him against a federal probe looking into allegations of possible doping violations. Armstrong’s lawyer Tim Herman told ABC that his client has undergone about 300 drug tests in his cycling career and has never failed one. “I know (Armstrong) to be an athlete that comes along once every couple of generations,” Herman said. “He is extremely focused. He’s gifted physically in ways that are very unique and he is disciplined, dedicated. He’s the hardest working athlete I’ve ever been around. But he is also extremely devoted and committed to his cancer work.”

The federal investigation was sparked by earlier accusations from Landis in a series of e-mails sent to cycling and doping officials earlier this year. Former Armstrong teammate Tyler Hamilton was issued a subpoena on Friday to appear before the grand jury. Hamilton’s lawyer said they would co-operate with the grand jury.

Landis is competing as an independent at Cascade Cycling Classic this week in Oregon.

Ribiero Slapped with 2 Year Ban
Portuguese racer Nuno Ribeiro, winner of last year’s Tour of Portugal, has been handed a two-year ban after testing positive for EPO-Cera during a race, his country’s cycling federation said Saturday. Ribeiro, 33, had been suspended temporarily by the International Cycling Union from September of last year following the result of an August 3 test. Ribeiro is therefore stripped of his ‘Volta’ title with Spain’s David Blanco now handed a third Volta a Portugal title following wins in 2006 and 2008.
Similar bans have also been handed to Ribeiro’s Spanish teammates in the Liberty Seguros team, Hector Guerra and Isidro Nozal. Blanco will be out for another crown in this year’s race, which starts on August 4 at Viseu.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 18

7/24/2010

The breakaway in Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

2010 Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso has a pre race chat with yellow jersey Alberto Contador in Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton flies by a cathedral in Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

3-time World Champion Oscar Freire (Rabobank) of Spain won the green jersey of the sprinters in 2008. In Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France, he finished a stellar 5th in the sprint. In 2010, Freire also won the Milan - San Remo.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

As Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) wins the stage. Behind him on the left, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) looks for the green jersey of Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) to confirm his grasp on that competition. On the right, Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) takes third in Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 19: Fabian Fabulous from Bordeaux to Pauillac

7/24/2010

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) takes his second win of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Current Olympic and World time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) put his stamp on the 2010 Tour de France today with his win in the 52 kilometer individual time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac.

The World's Best Time Trialist, Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), also known as Spartacus, shows off his World Champion stripes and Olympic Gold Medal helmet in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

For Swiss rider Cancellara, who finished the stage in 1 hour 56 seconds, it was his second stage win of this year's Tour as he won the Prologue in Rotterdam on the opening day of the race. "Today I really wanted to win but I am also very tired. It was a long day for me and a very long three weeks," he said. "But I'm happy, that's for sure. I've added another win to my big list.

"Thankfully there's only 100 kilometers 'til Paris, and then it's over. It was nice to get this win in such a nice place. I think tonight we will sit down and celebrate with a nice big bottle of wine."

It was the German Tony Martin of HTC-Columbia who would finish second just 17 seconds off the pace.

As the day wore on, the winds picked up on the leaders in the overall standings in the race. None of the top 10 in the overall standings of the race finished the time trial in the top 10 on the stage.

Russian Denis Menchov delivered on his promise to get on the podium in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France. The Rabobank rider handily beat Samuel Sanchez and took 3rd place in the overall standings.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The big upset of the day was handed out by Denis Menchov (Rabobank) who bested Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) and moved himself into 3rd in the overall and a podium position in Paris.

For the Americans it was Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), winner of the 2005 Tour de France Prologue, who had the best finish in 5th, 3 minutes behind Cancellara.

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) will retain the white jersey, however missing the yellow by a mere 39 seconds to Alberto Contador in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France in his best showing in a time trial.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) was the biggest surprise on the day as he proved to the world he has been working on his time trial. Schleck finished just 31 seconds behind Alberto Contador (Astana)- leaving Contador with a slim 39 second advantage in the overall standings. While Contador will keep the yellow jersey in Paris, it was not without a scare on a stage where he had always been considered superior.

"I always said I was going to give it everything till the end and I think I did that," said Schleck. "I've made some progress in the time trial in the past year, but to beat Contador is not easy." Before the first time check, Schleck was unofficially ahead of Contador by 4 seconds.

Alberto Contador (Astana) emotional on stage as he grasps his likely 3rd Tour de France yellow jersey title in Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Contador, Tour de France winner in 2007 and 2009, climbed onto the podium to receive his yellow jersey overtaken by emotion.

"It was a very hard day. I've worked so hard for so many years but today it really came right down to the wire. That's why I'm so emotional," said Contador, who is on his way to his third Tour de France victory. "In fact, I think it's the first Tour I've won where I've been so emotional. I want to thank all the people who have been there for me these last years."

Stage 19 Results:
1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank in 52km in 1h00’56”
2. Tony Martin (GER) HTC-Coliumbia at 17”
3. Bert Grabsch (GER) HTC-Columbia at 1’48”
4. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTH) Cervelo TestTeam at 2’34”
5. Dave Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Transitions at 3’00”
6. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank at 3’03”
7. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) Caisse d'Epargne at 3’10”
8. Maartijn Tjallinghii (NED) Rabobank at 3’21”
9. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky at 3’33”
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky at 3’38”

Overall after Stage 19:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 89 hours 16 minutes and 27 seconds
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 39"
3. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobnk at 2'01"
4. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 3'40"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 6'54"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 9'31"
7. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 10'15"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 11'37"
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas at 11'54"
10. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at 12'02"

Stage 20 Preview
Longjumeau - Paris, Champs-Elysees 102.5 km

The final stage of the Tour de France is a parade of sorts as the riders present themselves to the grandest street in the world, the Champs-Elysees. Like warriors returning from battle they will drink champagne and ride arm in arm. Except for the sprinters.

On this 102.5 kilometer stage all has been decided except for the green jersey of the sprinters. It may be a battle to the finish as Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) looks to snag his 15th Tour de France stage win, and his 5th in 2010- and in so doing possibly taking the green jersey from Alessandro Petacchi (Lamre-Farnese-Vini).

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 17

7/23/2010

Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) ensconced in fans and fog on the top of Col du Tourmalet in Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France. Schleck would go on to win the stage in what appeared to be an agreement among the two riders.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The overnight rains and storms flooded streams on the road from Pau to Tourmalet. Here, the peloton crosses one such stream on Stage 17 of the 2010 tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton winds up the Col du Soulor in Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam), winner of the 2008 Tour de France, makes his attempt to break away for the day on Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France. Sastre may be remembered this day for not waiting as Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) fell to the floor, although he has always been a classy rider.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Marcus Burghardt (BMC) takes a pull on the way up the Tourmalet as the breakaway seeks to best the field with the misty lowlands behind. Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 18: Cavendish Bottles Field in Bordeaux

7/23/2010

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) bottles the field in Bordeaux with his 4th win of this Tour and his 14th win over four Tours de France in Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

With the "Sprinters' Capital" as the second to last opportunity for the sprinters to show they power, It was once again Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) showing the world he doesn't even need a lead out man. France's wine capital, Bordeaux, doubles as the sprinters' capital in the Tour de France, and provided a spectacular show for the thousands of spectators.

Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Doimo) on his solo run on Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

A typical breakaway took off early on the stage from Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux. The 4 strong group rode most of the 198 kilometer stage in perfect unison until just outside of 10 kilometers to go. Three of the four, including Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) fell back into the peloton, but Daniel Oss (Liquigas) had ideas of grandeur. He was able to stave off the peloton for the next 6 kilometers, averaging a gap of 20 seconds. He was finally caught on a day that was promised for the sprinters.

As the sprinters entered the town of Bordeaux, it appeared Team Sky were fully prepared to launch their fast man Edvald Boassen Hagen to the line for a much needed stage win. But it would be Cervelo TestTeam making the pace in the final kilometer for Norwegian Thor Hushovd. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) looked to be in the mix as well in the hunt for the green jersey. Petacchi moved to the left to create a second echelon, giving an added advantage to Cavendish who would jump from behind Thor's wheel onto Petacchi's. Cavendish simply out powered every other man in the field with an effortless acceleration. He gapped the rest of the bunch by a few meters, and even had time to look back to check the location of his competitors before crossing the line in victory.

Cavendish won his 4th stage in this year's Tour, and his 14th Tour stage win. "When Alessandro went with 275 (metres) to go I thought he had the jump on me, so I was pretty happy that I was able to get the jump on him," said Cavendish. "He went on the left and I came around him on the right," added the Isle of Man rider, who played down the ease with which he won the stage. "It doesn't matter whether you win by a lot or five bike lengths. A win's a win." As for the green jersey for the best sprinter, "I've got to try and win on the Champs Elysees, whatever the situation," added Cavendish. Cavendish is currently in third, 6 points behind Hushovd and 16 behind the new leader Petacchi.

Petacchi ripped the green jersey from Hushovd, however the Italian recognizes there is no rest until the Champs Elysees: "I still have to pick up points in the final sprint." .
For Thor, who feels his sprint has been compromised by an injury earlier this year, the optimism is gone after his 14th on today's stage. "That's it, the green jersey is over for me," said Hushovd. "I just haven't been good enough in the sprints." Hushovd went as far as to ride himself into 10th in Stage 16 in Pau.

Cameron Diaz (l), ALberto Contador (Astana) and Tom Cruise (r) on the yellow jersey podium after Stage 18 of the 2010 Tour de France.

There was no change in the General Classification, and Alberto Contador (Astana) retained the yellow jersey and his 8 second lead over Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)another day. Contador was joined on stage with Tom Cruise and Camern Diaz, to whom he presented signed yellow jerseys, "Here is a yellow jersey, which I hope to win on Sunday."

Stage Results:
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Columbia
2. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Transitions
3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini
4. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha
5. Oscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky
7. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto
8. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caiise d'Epargne
9. Grega Bole (SLO) Lampre-Farnese Vini
10. Ruben Perez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi

General Classification after Stage 18:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 88h 09min 48sec
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 8"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 3'32"
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 3'53"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 5'27"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 6'41"
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 7'03"
8. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 9'18"
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas at 10'12"
10. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at 10'37"

Stage 19 Preview
Bordeaux - Pauillac 52 km Time Trial

The time trial will be the ultimate test for the riders and the determinant in the race for the yellow jersey. Starting in the famous wine capital Bordeaux, the riders will test their endurance and speed against the clock. The first 15 kilometers will take the riders on a scenic route through Bordeaux, although they will be going far too fast and far too deep in concentration to notice anything but their burning legs and lungs.

As they leave Bordeaux the riders will pedal their way across wine country and the famous Chateaus of the region. But no time for tastings as they battle for precious seconds in the general classification as they give their final punch into the town of Pauillac.

This will be the final test between Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank). Is Alberto still the superior time trialist? Or does Schleck have a little something up his sleeve he hasn't told anyone about? Aside from the race for first, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) will be battling for the 3rd place position on the podium. Menchov set his sights on second. Is it possible for him to best Schleck? Perhaps not, but as he sits just behind Sanchez, he has a good chance to take that third position in Paris.

Contador a Step Closer to Third Tour

7/23/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Despite staying faithful to his promise of attacking Spaniard Alberto Contador throughout the 18.6km slog to the summit of the fog-shrouded Tourmalet, stage winner Andy Schleck finished with Contador sitting comfortably on his wheel.

In matching a series of attacks from Schleck, Contador took a huge step towards a third yellow jersey triumph on the Tour de France’s 17th stage Thursday.

"I gave it everything today, I tried to attack, I changed rhythm several times to try and drop him and I just couldn't," said Schleck, who applauded Contador's gentlemanly conduct at the end.

"In the end I have to say respect to Alberto because he didn't sprint (for the finish) at the end."

Schleck began the final climbing stage of this year's race, a 174km ride from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, with an eight-second deficit to Spain's two-time winner in the race for the yellow jersey.

Although Schleck attacked Contador first, at the 10km to go mark, then several times after that the Spaniard made his own bid to drop the Luxemburger with 3.9km remaining.

When Schleck pulled level, he gave Contador an icy stare - which the Spaniard did not react to.

"Everybody talks about the look, but I've got to look somewhere. I'm battling with Contador, I look him in the eyes," added Schleck.

"When I came back to him, I looked at him and saw he was suffering too and that gave me a bit more confidence."

Astana team leader Contador retained his eight-second lead over the Saxo Bank climbing specialist ahead of Friday's 18th stage, which finished in a bunch sprint, won by Mark Cavendish.

Schleck's last chance to overhaul Contador would be in Saturday's penultimate stage time trial over a 52km-long flat course, a discipline in which the Spaniard has a far better record.

Barring catastrophe for Contador between Friday and Sunday, and despite Schleck's insistence he will fight to the end, the Spaniard will claim his third yellow jersey after victories in 2007 and 2009.

"There's still some stages left but let's say today it was an important stepping stone (towards the yellow jersey)," said Contador, who played down the fact he has not won any stages this year.

"I didn't have to win stages early in the race like I did last year, even though I was feeling strong. The most important thing was to be strong in the third week when the Tour was going to be decided."

"I tried to attack him but Andy's reaction showed me he was strong," added Contador.

"But the whole time I was really concentrated, and felt pretty confident. Today I had great legs."

In 2008 Contador did not compete as he turned his attention to the Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain - both of which he won.

Schleck meanwhile had to be content with his second stage win of the race after he beat Contador by 10secs at Morzine-Avoriaz in the Alps.

"I couldn't drop him but I'm really happy to have won the stage," added Schleck, who despite his inferior record in time trials has not given up hope of overhauling Contador on Saturday.

Armstrong ascends the Col du Tourmalet
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Armstrong Believes He Will Emerge From Controversy Unscathed
Accusations of doping have followed Lance Armstrong throughout his career, although the American has never tested positive.

A US government probe into alleged doping conspiracies in his former teams has been reported to be gathering steam, with three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond saying he has received a subpoena to testify.

LeMond, long a critic of Armstrong, has predicted the investigation will produce "overwhelming" evidence against the seven-time Tour winner, although there is as yet little indication of what, if any, crime such evidence will point to.

The accusations of disgraced Floyd Landis - who admitted doping after years of denials and pointed the finger at Armstrong and others - could simply have US authorities "looking anew" at cycling, says Howard Wasserman, a professor at Florida International University's College of Law and a frequent commentator on sports and law issues.

Armstrong has strenuously denied Landis's claim of systematic doping practices at their former US Postal team and questioned his compatriot's credibility.

Landis won the Tour de France in 2006 but was then stripped of his title for doping. Earlier this year he admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I think right now they're just looking around," said Wasserman.

The New York Daily News reported that Armstrong's attorney Tim Herman has been unable to gain much information about the government's intentions.

Herman told the newspaper that authorities he met with declined to "discuss or even hint at" the tack the investigation will be taking.

Armstrong has said he'll cooperate with a "legitimate" probe, but not with a "witch hunt".

Despite the allegations he retains a strong following of fans who admire his return from life-threatening cancer to win seven Tour de France titles in a row as well as his continuing advocacy on behalf of cancer patients.

"Would the American people feel like this is a good use of their tax dollars?" Armstrong asked of the probe led by Jeff Novitzky, the federal agent who spearheaded the BALCO steroid distribution investigation that led to the downfall of athletics star Marion Jones among others.

Armstrong has now hired a criminal defence lawyer to represent him – Los Angeles-based Bryan D. Daly, a former federal prosecutor.

"I was recently retained by Mr. Armstrong to assist him with respect to the investigation by the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles," the New York Daily News quoted Daly as saying.

"We are going to work diligently to find out precisely what, if anything, this investigation has to do with Mr. Armstrong."

On Thursday, Armstrong said he was confident his name and reputation would emerge intact from the investigation.

"Obviously, you need some legal counsel on this... I wouldn't read anything into it. I'm 100 percent confident that there will be a satisfactory resolution for me," Armstrong said at the end of the Tour's 17th stage.

"You can't prosecute somebody for something they didn't do - normally. But along the way, you've got to protect yourself."

Millar descending on his way to the Col du Tourmalet
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Millar Calls 2010 'Worst Tour Ever'
David Millar says the 2010 Tour de France is easily the hardest he has ever competed in.

"I'm hanging on for dear life. I'm just trying to finish," added Millar, who has completed 12 of the 15 Grand Tours in which he has started.

"I've never even done a Grand Tour which is close to this (in difficulty). I've done Grand Tours which have been hard but I've kind of been in control, this has just been an absolute fight for survival.

Millar started his ninth Tour with the job of helping American teammate Christian Vande Velde bid for a top finish, but found himself working for Ryder Hesjedal as the Canadian rode into the top-10.

He was to realize his own personal ambitions in his speciality of the stage 19 time trial on Saturday.

But two days before the peloton reaches the Champs Elysees, Millar says he has no ambition whatsoever for the 52km race against the clock on Saturday that should rubber-stamp Alberto Contador's third yellow jersey triumph.

"I don't give two shits about the time trial," said Millar, whose Garmin-Transitions team lost Vande Velde to injury after only two stages.

It might sound defeatist to some, but Millar says he has been through the wars on this edition of the race.

Like many of the peloton he suffered from the numerous crashes which marred the first week, picking up injuries to his ribs and groin, then got sick.

Stage nine to Gap left Millar on an "emotional roller-coaster" and almost abandoning the race after spending a 180km on his own in the Alps, with only the support of fans stopping him from stepping into the broom wagon.

Then came the Pyrenees, where the climbs were more brutal. Millar is usually able to hold his own with the climbers, at least until the pace gets critically faster on the final ascension, but this time it was different.

Instead, he struggled to stay with the 'grupetto', the band of non-climbers and sprinters which forms in a collective bid to set a steady pace that allows them to battle the pain and beat the time cut-off.

"Injuries, crashes at the beginning, and I got sick in the first week. Then the injuries flared up again and I got sick again. It's been horrific.

"It's just taken me to my absolute maximum limits of survival. I've never had to do that before in racing, getting dropped from the grupetto, not being in the grupetto."

Millar would normally start the final time trial of the race with some ambitions, given that he is a former world champion in the discipline.

But having spent the race's second rest day Wednesday in bed coughing with bronchitis, it's no wonder he is without hope.

"Obviously I'm going to give it 100 percent like I do every time trial, but the chances of me getting any result are nigh on impossible," he added.

"I just want to get to Paris."

Tourmalet: Hesjedal puts Canada at Tour's top

7/22/2010

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) on his way to a 4th place finish in Stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) is on his way to become the best placed Canadian at the Tour de France since Steve Bauer's fourth in 1988. On the Col du Tourmalet today, he finished fourth and pushed himself into eighth overall with only three more days to race.

He dropped American Levi Leipheimer and Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov to make his jump from 10th today.

The 174-kilometer day, covered four high mountain passes through the rain and cold. Hesjedal, when he finished, had a collection as blue as the team kit. He explained, though, his ride was no surprise and he is comfortable handing the added pressures of team leader.

Team Garmin has pinned its hopes on the 29-year-old since both Christian Vande Velde and Tyler Farrar had to abandon the race due to fractures suffered in stage two to Spa.

Q: What did you think when you woke up and saw the weather this morning?
"Drama plus. I was not surprised, it has been a tough Tour de France with lots of hard conditions. I knew it was going to add to an already epic day.

"It is hard on the body to deal with the cold, especially when it has been 40°C. It is a little of a shock to the system."

Q: The team sports director, Matt White, said it was your best day to date. Do you agree?
"Yes, in the context. The Tourmalet, the third week of the Tour de France. I am going better and better this last week, I felt great yesterday and knew I would have a great day today. I just felt calm all day. I went up the climb, I was able to follow and put in a good ride."

Q. Honestly, did you have your doubts for today's Tourmalet?
"No. I felt really comfortable as soon as the first attacks went from Andy [Schleck] and Alberto [Contador]. I was able to bridge up to the first guys that made the response and then we formed a good little group there. Gesink was doing most of the work and there was no need for me to do more than to just sit tight."

Q: Could you get a sense of the celebration, 100 year since the Tour first covered these high mountains?
"It was insane and just to be there in the front, going through the mist and clouds. The fans, good on them for being up here in these conditions. I think it will sink in more once the pictures surface."

Q: White said you thrive on the pressure. Do you agree?
"I am just doing what I love doing. I am here in a nice situation, I have been apart of this team since the beginning. It is a nice place to be, I have shown the team can count on me and there is room to improve. I am excited for the next year."

Q: Can you defend yourself in the time trail Saturday and maybe move up a place?
"Yes, for sure, I feel good and the longer time trail will suit me. I feel the best I felt in the whole Tour de France, which is a good signal with the crono coming up."

Ahead of Saturday's 52-kilometer time trial, Hesjedal sits 9'18" behind leader Contador and 2'15" behind Spain's Joaquín Rodríguez.

Sanchez Crashes But Gains Time

7/22/2010

Sammy Sanchez battled bravely to recover and then gain time on Denis Menchov

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sanchez Crashes But Gains Time

Spaniard Samuel Sanchez's hopes of a podium finish on the Tour de France were almost dashed after a crash early in the final mountain stage of this year's race Thursday. Sanchez, who entered the stage in third overall behind race leader Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, was left gasping for breath after crashing and hurting his sternum and ribs.

The crash happened at the 24th kilometre of the 174km ride from Pau to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet. Sanchez got back on his bike after receiving treatment from the official race doctor Gerard Porte.

"He hurt his sternum and also has soreness in his rib cage area," Porte told France television. "He found it hard to breathe again at first, but apart from that there is nothing to report."

Sanchez, the reigning Olympic road race champion who rides for Euskaltel, was left prone on the ground after his crash but with the help of teammates he was able to rejoin the main peloton shortly afterwards. He began the day two minutes behind Contador in the race's general classification, with podium rival Denis Menchov of Rabobank at just 13 seconds adrift.

Despite his crash, Sanchez managed to rebound take precious seconds out of Menchov by the summit. He now leads the Russian by 21 seconds, but knows his true test will come in the time trial Saturday where Menchov is heavily favored.

The sprinters have two more stages to contest the green jersey competition

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sprinters Prepare for Final Challenges

Norwegian Thor Hushovd says his bid for a third Tour de France green jersey will be decided by his freshness after a brutal fourth day of climbing in the Pyrenees. Cervélo sprinter Hushovd leads Italian rival Alessandro Petacchi by four points ahead of Friday's 18th stage, one of only two remaining in which he can reinforce his green jersey lead.

The 198km ride from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux is mainly flat and, along with Sunday's final ride into the Champs Elysées in Paris, offers the sprinters a maximum of points at the finish line.

"Both stages are very important and I think that whoever is freshest after the stage to Tourmalet will have the edge," said Hushovd, who won the tough stage three over the cobbles in Arenberg.

"I didn't come into the Tour with the kind of power I'd hoped for but I'm getting gradually stronger and I will be doing everything I can to keep this green jersey."

Although Petacchi and Hushovd can duel for the points awarded at the two intermediate sprints, at the 29.5 and 150.5 kilometer marks, it is at the finish where the jersey could change hands on Friday.

Winners of the flatter stages are awarded 35 pts, with the runner-up awarded 30 and so on. It means one slip-up from Hushovd, and Petacchi will be back in green.

And then there's Britain's Mark Cavendish to contend with. The HTC-Columbia rider has won three stages so far, taking his career tally to an impressive 13 in only three participations. Cavendish will finish this Tour with the handicap of losing key lead-out man, Mark Renshaw, after the Australian was excluded after stage 11 for trying to headbutt Kiwi Julian Dean.

Although Cavendish has shown he can sprint without the benefit of Renshaw's back-wheel slipstream, the Isle of Man rider coming second on stage 13 to Revel when Alexandre Vinokourov won after a late escape, Hushovd is not so sure.

"It could change a lot of things for Cavendish," said the Norwegian. "If Renshaw had been there he would be able to bring Cavendish in for the final sprint in the best condition possible."

Despite his 29-point deficit, Cavendish is still in contention for the green jersey - an objective he had to put on the back burner after a disastrous start to the race.

Hushovd admits his lack of top end speed this year will force him to collect as many points as possible, including at the intermediate sprints.

"It's a very tight battle and every point counts. I cannot afford to not go for any," he said.

Anthony Charteau just has to make it to Paris to earn the Tour's climbing prize

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Charteau Locks Up Polka Dots

Anthony Charteau was rewarded for his consistent racing on the Tour de France climbing stages with the polka dot jersey for the race's best climber on Thursday. Charteau, who races for the Bbox-Bouygues team, went into the final climbing stage of this year's race, a 174km ride from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet, with a 15-point lead on fellow Frenchman Christophe Moreau.

With four climbs featuring on stage 17, and plenty of points to pick up, it was Moreau's last chance for glory on what is his final Tour de France. However, the Caisse d'Epargne team veteran's chances were hampered by an early breakaway that forged ahead to gobble up the points available on the race's first three climbs.

Moreau would have had to finish seventh on the stage, and ahead of Charteau, to claim the 16 points at the finish line that would allow him to snatch the polka dot jersey on the final day in the mountains. But early on the 18.6km ascent to the Col du Tourmalet, which has staged only one finish on the race, Moreau was one of several riders quickly dropped as the pace of the leaders' teams picked up.

He eventually finished 22nd at 4min 36sec behind stage winner Andy Schleck, who came over the finish line with race leader Alberto Contador having failed to close his eight-second deficit to the Spaniard. Charteau admitted he was soaking up his eventual win well before the summit.

"I knew when Christophe began to struggle early on the climb (to Tourmalet) that my victory was virtually assured," said Charteau, who finished the stage in 27th over a minute behind Moreau. "That allowed me to just ride up to the summit savouring my win. It was quite an experience, with all the fans at the roadside."

"I deliberately rode the final few kilometres by myself so I could take it all in," he said. "It was extraordinary. When I came round the final bend, the fans waiting there did a big 'Ola' for me. That's something you don't get a lot when you're racing."

Charteau's feat is another huge boost for Jean-Rene Bernaudeau's Bbox-Bouygues team as they continue their search for a new sponsor. Earlier this week French champion Thomas Voeckler and Pierrick Fedrigo boosted that campaign by winning a stage each in the Pyrenees.

Friends and teammates, Chavanel (l) and Pineau will both stay with Quick Step

(Photo: Chris Henry)

Chavanel and Pineau Extend With Quick Step

French riders Sylvain Chavanel and Jérôme Pineau have extended their contracts with the Quick Step team until the end of 2011 with an option for a further year, the Belgian team confirmed Wednesday.

"Sylvain and Jerome are two very important riders in our team," team general manager Patrick Lefevere said. "We're building the group's future on their shoulders."

Chavanel, winner of two stages on this year's Tour de France and the yellow jersey holder for two days, and Pineau, who wore the top climber's polka dot jersery, joined the team early in 2009. Pineau claimed a stage in the Giro d'Italia this year. The two are very close friends off the bike and showed their solidarity throughout the Tour.

Armstrong Lawyers Up

Lance Armstrong said Thursday he is confident of clearing his name after hiring a criminal defence lawyer to represent him in a federal investigation into serious doping accusations.

"Obviously, you need some legal counsel on this," he said. "I wouldn't read anything into it. I'm 100 percent confident that there will be a satisfactory resolution for me."

Seven-time race champion Armstrong is racing his final Tour campaign amid a series of damaging doping accusations levelled by former US Postal teammate Floyd Landis. Landis claimed that he, Armstrong and other riders at the team - which existed from 1997-2004 and was part funded by public money - were involved in systematic doping practices.

Armstrong has vehemently denied the allegations, and has questioned the credibility of Landis, a man who denied for four years that he doped despite testing positive and losing his title after winning the 2006 race.

The probe is being led by US Food and Drug Administration special agent Jeff Novitzky, who was in charge of the BALCO investigation into the use and distribution of designer steroids and which led to a jail term for former sprint queen Marion Jones after she was found guilty of perjury.

Armstrong was reported on Wednesday to have hired Los Angeles-based criminal defence lawyer Bryan D. Daly, a former federal prosecutor and partner at the firm Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton. Armstrong went on to suggest that anybody who may be called to give testimony should do likewise.

"You know, I think anybody involved should have legal protection, and know their rights and know what's truly best for them," he added. "It's safe to say that I will have representation here, just to be safe."

Armstrong Reaches Last Peak in Tour

7/22/2010

Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) arrives on the Col du Tourmalet in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Lance Armstrong reached the last of the of his Tour de France peaks today on the Col du Tourmalet. The occasion coincided with the 100th anniversary of the inclusion of mountain pass and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was there to honor him.

Armstrong shook his hand and said, "We are just two old guys that enjoy riding bikes together."

Sarkozy followed the 174-kilometer stage in the car of Tour de France boss, Christian Prudhomme. He saw Armstrong enjoy his last mountain day at the Tour de France, leaving only three races until the race ends in France's capital, Paris.

The day was cold and misty, but enjoyable compared to Armstrong's hard effort two days ago when the race covered the very same Tourmalet on its way to the finish in Pau. He attempted to ride clear of his rivals on the Col du Tourmalet, leaving 140 kilometers to race.

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx did the same thing in 1969 on an identical stage. He stayed clear, though, for the remainder of the stage and doubled his lead in the overall classification. He went on to win his first of five Tours that year.

"I am alive, I tried hard," explained Armstrong afterwards. "I am not the best guy on the race but I still have the spirit of a fighter."

The old boss of the peloton just did not have it Tuesday. His time at the Tour de France came between 1999 and 2005, when he won seven consecutive editions.

From the top of the Col du Tourmalet Armstrong looked out over France, towards retirement and returning to the USA with his family.

"Lance Armstrong," he said, "is over with in about four or five days."

Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) on his way to the top of the Col du Tourmalet, his final mountain in the 2010 Tour de France, his final Tour.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Tour de France Stage 17: Schleck Takes Tourmalet

7/22/2010

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) wins the sprint on top of the Col du Tourmalet in front of Alberto Contador (Astana) in Stage 17 of the 2010 tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Rain, heavy mist and fog did not hamper the action from the town of Pau to the summit of Col du Toumalet on Thursday's 174 kilometer Stage 17. On this the final day in the Pyrenees of the 2010 Tour de France, Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) led Alberto Contador (Astana) to the top of the Tourmalet as promised. Schleck took his second stage win of the Tour, Contador retained his yellow jersey.

Typical day in the mountains

A break of 7 had hopes of stealing a stage win on top of the Tourmalet. The teams of the yellow jersey and podium contenders initially allowed the break form. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Kristjan Koren (Liquigas), Aleksandre Kolobnev (Katusha), Marcus Burghardt (BMC), Remi Pauriol (Cofidis) and Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskatel-Euskadi) made up the break.

It was 2008 Tour de France winnrer Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam) who made a brave move to reach the breakaway on the penultimate climb of the day. Sastre was looking for a stage win, to do something special in this year's Tour.

Meanwhile, in the back of the peloton at the 24 kilometer mark Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) hit the deck chest first. Medical staff treated and cleared Sanchez, who sat 3rd in the overall, to remount his bike. In spite of the crash, Sastre carried on in spite of being scolded by Contador. As the peloton waited for Shanchez, Sastre and the breakaway gained precious minutes. Sanchez and his team eventually rejoined the peloton.

After the return of Sanchez to the peloton, Astana and Saxo Bank took control of the race and began to whittle down the gap. Even though there were no podium contenders in the break, Astana and Saxo Bank were looking for the stage win for their riders. On the early slopes of the Tourmalet, all of the breaks were caught including Sastre and the 7.

Two Man Show

Saxo Bank took early control on the Tourmalet. The blistering pace set by Fabian Cancellara and Team Saxo Bank dropped even Contador's best man, Alexandre Vinokourov. One by one riders popped off the yellow jersey group and it was time to see who was the best climber. Schleck made his first attack, which Contador- and no one else- answered. Schleck and Contador were left to battle one on one- to see who would be the best climber on the Tourmalet.

Schleck attacked and pushed the pace. Contador attacked however Schleck answered with little effort. "I gave it everything today, I tried to attack, I changed rhythm several times to try and drop him and I just couldn't," Schleck said. Contador sat on Schleck's wheel answering each and every surge and attack in step. "The whole time I was really concentrated, and felt pretty confident. Today I had great legs, " said Contador.

Just under the 5 kilometer to go mark, Caontador made his move. "I tried to attack him but Andy's reaction showed me he was strong," said Contador. Andy caught Alberto and gave him an icy stare, as if to warn him. Schleck resumed control and Contador followed his wheel all the way to the line. The two crossed the line together, and Schleck took the sprint.

Schleck applauded Contador's gentlemanly conduct at the end. "In the end I have to say respect to Alberto because he didn't sprint (for the finish) at the end."

Contador played down the fact he has not won any stages in this year's Tour. "There's still some stages left but let's say today it was an important stepping stone (towards the yellow jersey)," said Contador. "I haven't won any stages but my objective was to win the Tour. Some years you win stages, others you don't."

Other Notable Finishes

In an amazing show for the former mountain bike champion, Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) crossed the line in 4th at 1'7" behind the power couple. Ryder moves into 8th place, 9'18" behind Contador. American Chris Horner (RadioShack) had an amazing performance finishing the stage in 8th, moving himself into 10th place in the overall general classification.

No Costume Changes

Andy Schleck remains the best young rider and will continue to wear the white jersey, as Contador retains yellow, Anthony Charteau (Quick Step) keeps the polka dots for the best climber. With today's performance, Charteau has sealed the jersey for the Tour as there are no more classified mountains in the Tour.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) wears yellow into Bordeaux tomorrow maintaining his 4 point lead over Alessandro Pettachi (Lampre-Farnese-Vini). Two sprint stages remain: Friday's stage into Bordeaux and the final stage into Paris on Sunday.

Stage Results:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank in 174km in 5h03'29"
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at same time
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 1'18"
4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Tranistions at 1'27"
5. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 1'32"
6. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 1'40"
7. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 1'40"
8. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at 1'45"
9. Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) Omrga Pharma-Lotto 1'48"
10. Roman Krueziger (CZE) Liquigas 2'14"

Overall after Stage 18:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 83h32min 39sec
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 8"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 3'32"
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 3'53"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 5'27"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 6'41"
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 7'03"
8. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 9'18"
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas at 10'12"
10. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at 10'37"

Stage 18 Preview
Salies-de-Bearn - Bordeaux, 198km
Another day for the sprinters and another day for Alessandro Petacchi and Mark Cavendish to try to grab the green from Thor Hushovd.Cavendish has proved he is the fastest man on a bicycle, but he has yet to earn enough points to take the green. And 3 opportunities exist for the sprinters to gain precious points. A breakaway will likely take on the intermediate sprints, but the final sprint at the end will without a doubt include all of the top sprinters.
The climbers will be tired today, but riders and teams who have not won a stage in this year's Tour are likely going to try to take the final prize.

Bordeaux, the city of wine, will hosts the finish of this brutally flat, hot and windy stage.

Bob Roll's Tour Report:The Philosopher King Speaks The Truth

7/22/2010

Yeah I rode the Tourmalet today for Versus Channel’s "Ride with Bobke" promotion. The guy I rode with was this mountain bike shredder from Louisiana named Josh. I was expecting some “Joe Six Pack of Donuts” kind of guy who would barely make it, but he was a shredder. It was about a 22k climb and originally I was planning on taking some very sticky handed bottle feeds - the kind that would last for about 7k! There’s one 5k section that has about a 9% grade – it’s murderous. But we made it up in about an hour and a half – the Pros went outrageously fast and made it up in about 50 minutes.

The whole scene was pretty surreal. I mean first of all, I never expected to be climbing up the Tourmalet almost 30 years after I did it in the race. But beyond that it was like some Euro version of a drunken Woodstock with all these Euro-schloogs that were as hammered as a tent stake at the circus.

The one good thing to see is the return of the crowds. I haven’t seen this many people at the Tour since the Armstrong/Ulrich glory days. The crowds, the hysteria, the traffic jams and all the food is gone from the markets – the schloogs are cleaning out the food aisles! It took Lance seven years to build this into a huge race. It took the Euros three years to almost ruin it and then another two for Lance to build it back up.

I think the Tour organizers have learned two important lessons; The first is that personalities count. The old regime with Jean Marie Blanc always saw the race as bigger than the riders. The race is huge, but over the years it’s always been the same race. What the fans want to get behind are the riders. They respond to the trials and tribulations of a sympathetic character.

The other thing they learned is that you just can’t throw a rider out for doping if you base it only on suspicion. I think they’ve learned that throwing the book at a guy based only on suspicion is bad for the sport. If a guy gets popped, absolutely throw the book at him. Otherwise, praise the riders on, celebrate them and praise them. I think, I hope, that there will be no more guilt by association just because you throw a leg over a top tube.
As for tomorrow, it could be like last year where the promoters ran the stage up Mt. Ventoux late into the race thinking it would bring added excitement. But the riders were so exhausted by the time they got there and none of the big drama came into play. So tomorrow could be like that….or it could be a blood bath!

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 16

7/21/2010

Lance fans after Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France. Lance made an attempt to win a stage in this his final Tour. That attempt failed, and Lance and his fans will have to settle for 7, and a lackluster final Tour.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) was nabbed as he rode under the banner indicating 1 kilometer to go after attacking the breakaway of the stage with 45 kilometers to go. Bareedo attacked multiple times on both the Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aubisque unsuccessfully. Barredo was awarded the Agressive prize, although that offered little consolation in light of not winning the stage after heroic efforts.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton on the Col du Tourmalet during Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The breakaway on the Col du Tourmalet during Stge 16 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Taking the 6th stage win for France and his first Tour stage, Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) had more than enough left at the end of the stage to best the rest of the break, including Lance Armstrong. A former French National Champion, Fedrigo sprinted his way into the hearts of the French.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Petacchi Under Investigation in Italy

7/20/2010

Alessandro Petacchi finds himself under the microscope again

(Photo: Chris Henry)

Petacchi Under Investigation in Italy

Italian cyclist Alessandro Petacchi did not know he was being investigated for alleged doping practices prior to racing the Tour de France, the rider's lawyer said on Tuesday. Petacchi, who is currently second in the race's green jersey points competition, is reportedly being investigated in Italy for using illegal drugs prior to the event.

Petacchi's lawyer Virginio Angelini said in a statement issued through his Lampre team here that the Italian sprint star only learned of the probe on July 12. As a result, Petacchi has been called to a hearing by the Padova prosecutor, but Angelini denied Petacchi knew of the summons before the start of the race.

"The Padova prosecutor invited M. Petacchi on July 12 (and not before the start of the Tour de France as has been claimed in error) to appear at a hearing after the Tour de France to answer questions which are related, and not to the current season," said Angelini.

On Tuesday the ANSA news agency, quoting informed sources, alleged that two banned substances were found at the Lampre rider's home - PFC (Perfluorocarbon), an alternative to the banned blood booster EPO, and human serum albumin. According to ANSA the inquiry began before Petacchi lined up for the start of this year's Tour, in which he has won two stages. The affair is said to centre on two former teammates as well as two other amateur riders.

Petacchi, one of the most successful sprinters of his generation, was suspended for a year after the 2007 Tour of Italy for testing positive for excessive levels of the asthma drug salbutamol.

Italian outfit Lampre, who learned of the summons through the media, said they would support Petacchi while awaiting "further details". Angelini said Petacchi is "ready to clarify the situation and to supply all the necessary evidence to show that he has nothing to do with this affair."

Prior to the start of stage 16, after which he lost the green jersey to Norwegian rival Thor Hushovd, Petacchi said he had nothing to hide but would speak to prosecutors as soon as the race finishes.

"We can't have a minute's peace, there's always something going on," said the Italian, who was subject of an investigation three years ago which led to a one-year ban. "Nobody told me anything about this investigation, maybe to leave me in peace on the Tour. But I will attend the hearing on July 28 as soon as I get back."

"If they had found anything suspect at my house, then I wouldn't be racing here," he added.

Thor zips up another green jersey

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Hushovd Back in Green

Norwegian Thor Hushovd thanked his Cervélo teammates for helping pace him over some tough Pyrenean climbs Tuesday on his way to regaining possession of the coveted Tour de France green jersey. Hushovd started the 199.5km 16th stage from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau, the third of four days in the Pyrenees, with a two-point deficit to Italian rival Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre.

And despite failing in several attempts to join a nine-man breakaway that went on to finish nearly seven minutes ahead of the main peloton, Hushovd hung on to contend the sprint points still remaining at the finish. Hushovd, a two-time green jersey winner, was the first of a 49-man group to cross over the line 6:45 behind stage winner Pierrick Fedrigo of France, thus picking up six points for his 10th place.

Petacchi, who has won two stages this year, struggled from the start of the stage which began almost immediately with the 11km climb to the summit of the Col de Peyresourde. In the end the Lampre rider was left battling to stay within the time limits with the sprinters and other non-climbers among an 84-strong grupetto, which finished 34 minutes in arrears.

Hushovd now has a four-point lead on the Italian, but he still believes their points classification duel will go all the way to the Champs Elysées in Paris on Sunday.

"It was an important day," said Hushovd. "I knew it was a good chance to try to get some more points and the team did a great job helping me get over the climbs."

"With the breakaway up the road, we knew there were some points waiting at the finish line," he explained. "It's important to take as many as you can whenever you have the opportunity."

Britain's Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), the winner of three stages, is third overall on 162 points and still mathematically in contention. However, Hushovd said he will pay more attention to Petacchi.

"Petacchi is my most dangerous rival but I'm feeling better as the Tour goes on," Hushovd added. "I think I have a good chance to win another stage. I would love to win on the Champs-Elysées. The green jersey always comes down to who is the strongest rider over three weeks."

Jens Voigt crashed hard but remained determined to carry on

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Voigt Down But Not Out

Saxo Bank's Jens Voigt shrugged off the pain of more crash injuries on the Tour de France 16th stage on Tuesday, in a bid to help team-mate Andy Schleck win the race's yellow jersey. Voigt, one of the Danish team's most powerful riders, was hurtling down the descent of the Col de Peyresourde, the first of four mountain passes, when he suffered a puncture and crashed at top speed.

The German managed to avoid a repeat of the horrific injuries he suffered during last year's race when he landed on his face and head at top speed, also on a descent.

After waving away the help of race assistants in the broom wagon, Voigt battled on to finish the stage with the grupetto, the group of sprinters and non-climbers who club together in a bid to beat the time cut-off.

"I'm doing 70 kilometres an hour on the first descent when my front tire explodes," explained Voigt. "Before I hit the asphalt I actually manage to think that this is going to hurt. Both knees, elbows, hands, shoulders and the entire left side of my body were severely hurt."

"My ribs are hurting but hey, broken ribs are overrated anyway," he joked. "Fortunately, I didn't land on my face this time and I'm still alive. I was offered a ride on the truck that picks up abandoned riders but I'm not going to quit another Tour de France. Now there's a rest day and Paris is not that far away."

Hesjedal Hangs Tough

Garmin-Transitions' de facto man for the general classification, Ryder Hesjedal, continued to hang tough and hold his position in the standings after another tough day in the mountains Tuesday. On the eve of the Tour's second rest day in Pau, Hesjedal sits in 10th place overall, less than eight minutes down on race leader Alberto Contador.

"We came into the day knowing we were going to work to preserve my GC position and that’s exactly what we did," Hesjedal commented after Tuesday's stage. "David Zabriskie was great; he was with me all day and rode the front to help bring the gap back."

"I’m really proud of our team," Hesjedal added, referring to the difficulties his team has faced since the opening week of racing. "I know there’s a lot of racing still to come but we’re going to keep working hard and taking it day by day."

For Zabriskie, a top-ten position for a man who was not the originally designated team leader is surely something to be proud of.

"Our goal for today was to protect Ryder’s GC position, so I worked to bring the gap down for the last 40km," Zabriskie explained. "Omega Pharma-Lotto and Rabobank were working too. There’s no such thing as an easy day at the Tour de France, and today was no exception, but we did what we set out to do."

"I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s rest day and I’m happy Paris is in sight."

Tour de France Stage 16: Fedrigo for France, Thor Goes Green

7/20/2010

Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) wins the sprint in Pau after a long breakaway in Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Pierrick Fedrigo gave France one more reason celebrate 100 years of the Tour in the Pyrenees as he sprinted to a stage win in Pau, the 6th for the French in the 2010 Tour de France. The 199.5 kilometer stage 16 took the riders over four major Pyreneean cols: Col de Peyresourde (11.0 km at 7.4 %, Category 1), Col d'Aspin (12.3 km at 6.3 %, Category 1) , Col du Tourmalet (17.1 km at 7.3 % HC), and Col d'Aubisque (29.2 km climb at 4.2 %HC) in another exciting day of racing in France.

Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) attacks and surges on the slopes of the Pyrenees in Stage 16 of the Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Breaking Away to Stay

At kilometer 50, Sandy Casar (Francais des Jeux) broke free from the peloton. On the early slopes of the Tourmalet, Lance Armstrong bridged to Casar. Armstrong appeared strong in classic climbing style. As he reached Casar it seemed the two would try to work together, however the pace was not enough for Armstrong and he knew chasers were on the way.

The two would eventually be brought back together and the break would swell and finally settle on 9 riders: Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom, Ruben Plaza (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack, Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) Quick Step, Christophe Moreau (FRA) Caisse d'Epargne and Quick Step's Carlos Barredo. Multiple attacks on the slopes of the Tourmalet and Aubisque failed as each rider tried to make his mark on the stage. Moreau proved to be the best climber as he sprinted to the top of the Tourmalet and Aubisque to win precious King of the Mountain points.

The attacks softened as the riders crested the Aubisque and headed downhill into Pau.

The moment Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) knows he will not win Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France- after 44 kilometers solo effort.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Spaniard Carlos Barredo freed himself from the breakaway with 45 kilometers to go with an average gap of 40 seconds. At 10 km to go, the gap was whittled to 20 seconds yet it was still unclear if the chase would catch Barredo before the finish line. In the final uphill section of the course, and right on the 1 kilometer to go banner, he would concede to the breakaway and ride in to the finish in a state of utter disappointment.

The riders in the break- none sprinters- were faced with a bunch sprint to the line. Each rider seemed to make his case, Armstrong perhaps moving a bit too late, and Fedrigo emerged the victor.

"I knew it was going to be my day," said Fedrigo, who handed his team their second win of the race after Thomas Voeckler's impressive victory on stage 15 on Monday. "I felt something this morning that it was going to be my day. It's just little details, like seeing fans of the team and some family, but I knew I just had to go for it."

Mellow Yellow

The yellow jersey and GC contenders spent a leisurely day in the Pyrenees. There were no attacks by the GC contenders, and no changes gain or loss by Andy Schleck or Alberto Contador. Contador retained yellow for another day. The two are prepared for what will be one of the last decisive stages in the race for yellow- the final Pyreneean stage on Thursday that will finish top the Tourmalet. After the Tourmalet, their last battle will be when they face the final time trial Saturday before heading into Paris.

A true champion Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) shows his climbing prowess in the Pyrenees as he fights for points in the green jersey battle.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The Green Mountain Machine

Among the group sat Norwegian sprint star Thor Hushovd. Hushovd vowed to take back the green jersey by any means possible in what has been one of the most exciting battles of the 2010 Tour. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) has been playing a game of tag with Hushovd and the green jersey as the two eke out points on the line. Hushovd realized that his recovery from a crash earlier this year has slowed his sprint, and he may have trouble winning the jersey on sprint finishes alone. As such, he has taken to the mountains in order to get to the line and gain precious sprint points. Norwegian fans cheered as Hushovd held his own with the peloton all the way up the Cols.

Christophe Moreau turned up the heat on Anthony Charteau in the King of the Mountains competition for the polka dot jersey by claiming first place and the full 40 points on Col D'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet. Moreau moved himself into second place behind his fellow country man in the competition. Charteau maintains 143 points over Moreau's 128. The battle will continue on the second ascent of the Col du Tourmalet on Thursday when the Tour resumes.

Stage 16 Results:
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom in 5 hours 31' and 43"
2. Sandy Casar (FRA) Francais des Jeux at same time
3. Ruben Plaza (EPS) Caisse d'Epargne at s.t.
4. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini at s.t.
5. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at s.t.
6. Lance Armstrong (USA) RadioShack at s.t.
7. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) Quick Step at s.t.
8. Christophe Moreau (FRA) Caisse d'Epargne at s.t.
9. Carlos Barredo (ESP) Quick Step at 28"
10. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam at 6'45"

Overall General Classification after Stage 16:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 78h29min 10sec
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 8"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2'
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2'13"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3'39"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 5'01"
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack at 5'25"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 5'45"
9. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 7'12"
10. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 7'51"

Bob Roll's Tour Report: Contador's Horse Manure

7/20/2010

Imagine if after all we’ve ben through already that the Tour de France gets decided by a mis-shift?! So Schleck over-bakes a shift and comes to stop, then it comes off on the outside as he tries to grind it back on because he sees Alberto attacking like a lunatic. It was a crazy sight with only Menchov and Sammy Sanchez able to hang with Contador as he was streaking to the finish. And there’s Andy Schleck warping past all the guys that he had already dropped ages before.

So now Contador leads the race by eight seconds, but he did so with a really dishonorable move. If you attack a guy like he did Schleck you know the guy will risk his life to catch up. Look, the yellow jersey is a coveted icon in this sport and to win it based on others misfortune doesn’t give it the honor it deserves. We know Alberto is a great rider, but today he only proved that he’s willing to take advantage of an unlucky break.

I’m sure Alberto will spew all that disclaimer horse poop, but he saw it, he knew what was going down and he kept hammering. Racing for a mountain top finish is one thing, but they still had 20k to go. We’ll see how well Alberto can respond to the criticism – I have to say it’s odd to hear a guy getting booed when he’s being rewarded a yellow jersey! A big rule with the Tour is that you have to stay humble on your way to the coronation in Paris.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 14

7/19/2010

Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto) breaks free from the peloton on the way to Ax-3-Domaines. The 23 year has so far made a great show of force in the mountains in this his first Tour de France, and looks to have a bright future in the race.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The breakaway winds through the Gorges des l'Audes on the way to Ax-3-Domaines in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) has made his presence known to the field of GC contenders on the slopes of Ax-3-Domaines, and has been quoted saying he is aiming for the number two position on the podium on the Champs-Elysees in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton winds up the first climb in the Pyrenees, the Port de Pailheres, in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Robert Gesink (Rabobank) exudes the face of suffering on the roads to Ax-3-Domaines in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France. Currently in second place for the young rider's white jersey competition, he has been able to wear that jersey on the days Andy Schleck is in yellow. Gesink lies in 6th in the overall General Classification.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 15: Voeckler Wins, Contador in Yellow

7/19/2010

Thomas Voeckler (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) winning Stage 15 of the 2010 Tour de France in Bagneres-de-Luchon.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

In yet another dramatic stage in the 2010 Tour de France, French National Champion wins after riding away from a break of 10. Stage 15, the second of 4 days in the Pyrenees, started the same as the rest as stage win hopefuls would break away just outside of Pamiers. The 187 kilometer stage finished in Bagnères-de-Luchon after a 21 kilometer descent off summit of the HC climb of Port de Bales- a long enough and technical enough descent to have an effect on the race.

The stage began with a blistering pace. Cervelo TestTeam GC contender Carlos Sastre observed: “It was really hard, really fast. The first 100km was MotoGP." The pace, set not only by the teams of the GC contenders, but the would-be heroes looking for stage wins. The would-be heroes of the day was a breakaway of ten riders.

The remnants of the breakaway haunted by the Devil of the Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Holding out for a Hero

The break of ten lacked the climbing firepower of previous stages, and the question was whether or not anyone would be able to make the break stick and take the win. At 70 kilometers from the finish, the gap had grown to 10 minutes. On the slopes of the Port de Bales, the question would be answered, in French: Thomas Voeckler. He was able to ride away from the rest of the men in the break. The first 10 km of the climb would average 5-6% in gradient, increasing to 10-11% for the second 10 km. At the top of the climb, Voeckler had 4 minutes 15 seconds advantage, which would be enough for him to comfortably ride in to Bagneres-de-Luchon uncontested to take his first stage of the 2010 Tour de France.

For Voeckler, it was his first win in this year's Tour de France. For France, it was the host country's 5th.

"I worked hard for this stage win," said Voeckler, who admitted he almost abandoned the race last week. "It has been a really difficult race for me and, if there had been crosswinds on (the stage during) July 14 instead of a headwind, I would almost certainly have pulled out." The 31-year-old Bbox-Bouygues Telecom rider is perhaps best known for the 10 days he spent in the yellow jersey in 2004.

Again, as in the preceding days, the drama of the Tour was unfolding behind and unbeknownst to Voeckler.

The top 5 GC contenders tackle the Port de Bales together.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Every Man for Himself

Astana and Alberto Contador realized their mistake on Sunday's Stage 14, and sat in behind Saxo Bank for the day. As Saxo Bank's star riders and sprinters Jens Voigt, Nicki Sorenson and the rest pushed an excrutiating pace, Contador and his team would sit behind. When it became the turn of Schleck, he knew he would have to push the pace on his own. Schleck whittled the group down to 4: Contador, Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) and himself- just kilometers from the summit.

Andy Schleck on the side of the road to fix his own mechanical, left to fend for himself as the GC hopefuls ride by.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

In the critical three kilometers of the Port de Bales, Andy Schleck dropped his chain. Alberto Contador, Samuel Sanchez and Denis Menchov did not stop to wait for Schleck and the three decided to attack. For Contador, he would gain just enough time to take back the yellow jersey, holding a mere 8 second lead over Schleck. Contador faced a few cheers among the boos during his yellow jersey presentation; however, with Denis Menchov and Sanchez still within reach of the podium and perhaps the yellow jersey in this dramatic race, Contador could not risk losing an more time to the pair. Schleck would finish in 12th on the stage at a 3 minute and 29 second deficit to Voeckler.

"I'm really disappointed. My stomach is full of anger, and I want to take my revenge," said Schleck after the stage. "I will take my revenge in the coming days."

Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis, meanwhile, appeared to side with Contador. I didn't see it but it's all part of racing circumstances," said the Dane. "I think he (Contador) waited at the start, and then he went. That's just part of racing."

Contador, who was at the mercy of not only Schleck, but Menchov and Sanchez as well, said "I set out with the intention to attack on the climb, but when I countered Andy I didn't know he actually had a problem," said the Spaniard. "When I knew he had the problem, it was already too late. We had taken a significant lead on him."

This edition of the Tour has had a handful of moments where the yellow jersey and other champions, including Lance Armstrong, have been left in the dust to deal with their problems- crashed, mechanicals- on their own. Had the boot been on the other foot, the Luxemburger claimed he would have waited on Contador. "In the same situation I would not have taken advantage," said Schleck, who took the yellow jersey from Australia's Cadel Evans on stage nine.

Alberto Contador (Astana) finally in yellow.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Stage 15 Results:
1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom in 187.5km in 4h44'51"
2. Alessandro Ballan (ITA) BMC at 1'20"
3. Aitor Perez Arrieta (ESP) Footon-Servetto at same time
4. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 2'50"
5. Luke Roberts (AUS) Milram at same time
6. Francisco Reda (ITA) Quick Step at s.t.
7. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at s.t.
8. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at s.t.
9. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at s.t.
10. Brian Vandborg (DEN) Liquigas at s.t.
...12. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank ... at 3'29"

General Classification after Stage 15:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 72hr 50' 42"
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 8"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2'
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2'13"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3'39"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 5'1"
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack at 5'25"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 5'45"
9. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 7'12"
10. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transition at 7'51"

Stage 16 Preview
Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau - 199.5 km

Two hundred kilometers, two Category 1 and two HC climbs will tear the legs off the racers Tuesday as day three in the Pyrenees delivers a near controversial stage. The riders will have to tackle Category 1 Peyresourde from the start with no flat or rolling warm up. Next up, the Category 1 Col d'Aspin, then the famous Col du Tourmalet and finally Col d'Aubisque. After the 4 major climbs, two intermediate sprint points and a 60 kilometer descent take the riders into Pau.

It is anybody's guess how this stage will pan out. With a 60 km downhill ride from the top of the Aubuisque, it is hard to say if the GC climbers will feel comfortable enough to risk an attack. Certainly more heroic efforts by stage-win-seekers will ensue. Will Thor Hushovd attack? Will Contador and Schleck stick together? Whose team will sit at the front? If you are not on the edge of your seat, check your pulse.

Armstrong Conserves Ahead of Expected Attack

7/19/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

While Frenchman Christophe Riblon of AG2R took a deserved maiden stage win on the race after a 184.5km race from Revel which took in one unclassified (hors categorie) mountain pass before finishing on the summit of Ax 3 Domaines, Lance Armstrong dropped further down the Tour de France overall standings after letting the lead group go.

Armstrong was dropped early into the 15.5km climb of the Port de Pailheres as the pace of Astana took a toll on many of the podium hopefuls.

Although he would like to add one more stage win to his tally, Armstrong knows from experience that won't be easy to come by.

"I'd still like to get one. The race is hard, nobody's going to give it away, back in our heyday we did not give anything away," he said.

"So I don't want anybody to say, 'hey let the old man have one'. That's not what this event is about, it's a hard sport and the best guy's suposed to win on a daily basis and on a three-week basis.

"I got 25 (stage wins), I don't need somebody to hand me one."

The American was left to finish the race with RadioShack teammate Janez Brajkovic, the pair crossing the finish line 15:14 adrift of Riblon, who crossed the line 1:08 ahead of Spain's reigning champion Alberto Contador (Astana) and race leader Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).

Armstrong added: "I will do my best, (but) as you know we're running out of chances."

Menchov on the climb to Ax 3 Domaines
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sanchez, Menchov Aim High for Finale
As the yellow jersey duel between Schleck and Contador moves up a gear, Sanchez and Russian Denis Menchov are engaged in their own podium battle. The duo took advantage of the poker game tactics employed by Schleck and Contador on Sunday by racing ahead to take 14 seconds off both yellow jersey favorites.

On paper, former Tour of Spain winner Menchov has the edge because he is stronger on the longer climbs that feature in the coming days in the Pyreenees, and faster than the Spaniard in long time trials.

After the peloton leaves the Pyrenees on Thursday, the penultimate stage time trial on Saturday is practically the last chance for all contenders to strike.

Reigning Olympic road race champion Sanchez set off in Rotterdam over two weeks ago hoping for a stage win and a coveted place among the race's top ten.

But ahead of the 15th stage in the Pyrenees, the climbing specialist from the rainy Asturias region in the north of Spain is still in third place overall at 2min 31sec behind Luxembourg's race leader Andy Schleck, who has a 31 second lead on reigning champion Alberto Contador.

Euskaltel sports director Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano is not writing off Samuel Sanchez's chances of a podium place on the Tour de France just yet.

Former ONCE rider Gonzalez de Galdeano admits Menchov will be hard to beat, but he is not ruling Sanchez out of contention for a podium place in Paris.

"It's going to be difficult to beat riders like Menchov, he's got a lot of experience in the three-week Grand Tours," Gonzalez de Galdeano told AFP before the start of Monday's 15th stage.

"And in the time trial, normally he is a lot stronger than Samuel.

"But Samuel is in a good position. Today (Monday) is a good stage for him and so is tomorrow (Tuesday).

"Samuel never used to like these kinds of races, but it's different now. I expect Samuel to fight all the way to Paris, so why shouldn't we believe in his chances?"

However Rabobank team leader Menchov doesn't seem to be giving Sanchez a second thought.

The Russian believes he can stay close enough to Contador and Schleck to then overtake the Luxemburger in the final time trial and bid for not third, but second place.

"Contador will be difficult to beat in the time trial," said the Russian, who is fourth overall at 2:44.

"But I have a chance of overtaking Schleck, because he's not as strong in the time trial as me or Alberto."

Seven years ago Sanchez finished out of the time limit on the eighth stage of the 2003 Tour de France, having also failed to make the cutoff during stage 12 of the 2002 edition.

But although being known primarily as a specialist in the hilly one-day classics and one-week stages races, the man from Oviedo finished runner-up to Alejandro Valverde in last year's Tour of Spain.

Whatever happens in the coming days, Sanchez is keeping his cards close to his chest.

"It will be hard for me to get on the podium, or even go for a stage win," admitted the Spaniard.

"Menchov is faster than me in the time trial so I would need at least a one-minute advantage on him before Saturday."

Santambrogio comforts Evans after he loses the yellow jersey.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Another Blow to Evans: Climber Santambrogio Abandons
In Cadel Evans’ bid to win the Tour de France, Mauro Santambrogio was charged with a mission: Protect his leader in the mountains. In yet another blow to Evans, the Italian Santambrogio retired from the race Monday.

BMC rider Santambrogio had been sick and pulled off the side of the road before the start of the Portet d'Aspet, the first climb in the hilly 15th stage between Pamiers and Bagneres-de-Luchon.

Evans, a former two-time runner-up in the race, is currently 19th overall at 12min 39sec from Luxembourg's race leader Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).

Euskaltel-Euskadi Could Lose ProTour Status
The ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi faces a budget crunch for the 2011 season. According to the head of Fundacion Euskadi, the Basque separatist movement that provides half the funding for the team, the team faces a $1 million budget shortfall. With a typical operating budget of $5 million, Miguel Madariaga of Fundacion Euskadi says that the team will need to either find another sponsor to help it close that gap, or it will drop to the Pro Continental division.

Should the team drop a division to Pro Continental, it will have to rely on invitations to race in the world’s biggest events, including the Tour de France. That could make it hard to attract and keep top riders, such as Samuel Sanchez who currently lies third overall in the Tour. Sanchez’ contract is up at the end of the season and should he finish on the podium, his talent will be much in demand. Without a rider with Sanchez’ star power, Euskaltel-Euskadi could find it difficult to race on the world stage.

Bob Roll's Tour Report: A few Things That Have Bobke Surprised

7/18/2010

Today’s lesson: Expect the unexpected. If anyone put money down on Christophe Riblon winning the stage today, I would guess they are much richer for the wager. Talk about a surprise! I think another surprise was once again seeing how vulnerable both Schleck and Contador looked. I think their rivalry is so intense in the Tour that it’s exhausting both of them. I’d say neither team is stronger than the other at this point, although Astana does look a bit more organized.

More surprises? I was definitely expecting to see more out of Radio Shack. Look at all the talent they have there and they aren’t showing much. Lance is not the only guy on the team getting old and that will probably have to be addressed in the future. Kloden, Levi, even Horner, all in their mid-30’s. I mean they are riding great for a bunch of old guys, but not what you’d expect from one of the best Grand Tour teams on paper. It’s definitely not good to see the gap between Levi and Menchov/Sanchez grow, but remember, if you blow on the Tourmalet it can prove really decisive because it’s so hard.

That would be another surprise though – the amount of bad luck that Lance keeps having. That guy had pretty much smooth sailing for seven years and now he’s crashing daily. Oh, and another surprise would be if Andy Schleck wins the Tour.

One last surprise, well, not so much for me, but probably for some investors in Great Britain – how about Bradley Wiggins! He’s having a really hard time out there, but then that writing was on the wall. This sort of thing happens a lot when a rider has a great year, weasels out of his team contract so that he can sign some big money deal with a new team, has a team built around him and then he flames out. Whoever is bankrolling the Team Sky operation, well, they may know business, but they obviously don’t know bike racing because if there’s one rule we all live by, you can’t buy success in the Tour – it takes time. A successful rider and team need to be nurtured - take Andy Schleck - a perfect example. We’ve heard all these stories about the British Invasion and how much money they’re spending – what has it got them so far? I bet someone up in jolly ol’ England is asking, “Oi, what did we get for our money?!”

Riblon Revels from Revel to Ax-3-Domaines

7/18/2010

Christophe Riblon claims his prize for winning the grueling Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

At six years old, Christophe Riblon officially began his career as a cyclist when he took his first racing license.

"When I was a kid I promised myself I would go on to become professional and have a great career. I've made a fairly good job and picked up a few big wins here and there. But here, it's just indescribable. I've dreamed of this moment for 20 years."

This indescribable feeling comes to the 29-year-old Riblon upon winning Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France. The stage, which finished in the ski resort village of Ax-3-Domaines, was the first of four in the Pyrenees. Riblon's win makes four for the French in this Tour. Sylvain Chavanel's double for Quick Step in the first week and Sandy Casar's cracking win for Francais des Jeux in the ninth stage to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne make up the other three.

Riblon digs deep on his way to Ax-3-Domaines.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

While France has enjoyed the spotlight of four stage wins, the hot country still seeks the next Bernard Hinault who last won the yellow jersey in 1985.

"I came into the race hoping to challenge in the GC (general classification) but I just haven't been able to get it together in the first two weeks," said Riblon.

"Even the last three days, it's been a nightmare. Last night I was really down after my performance. It wasn't my idea of what I wanted my Tour to be like, and I wouldn't have bet one euro on me today.

In Riblon's wake were a number of riders hoping to make up time they had lost in the overall standings. But, with some help from the fans at the roadside, he held firm to come over the finish line 54 seconds ahead of Russian Denis Menchov and Spaniard Samuel
Sanchez.

"When you're in front and going for the win, you transcend yourself," he added. "The most incredible thing are the people at the side of the road. They just didn't stop telling me, 'you're going to win!'.

"But still, I refused to let myself believe them until I was inside the final kilometer."

Riblon, a star rider on the track, joined an early breakaway Sunday and held off the threat of compatriot Amael Moinard (Cofidis) early on the final, 7.8km climb to the race's second highest mountain top finish.

Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador at the finish of Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo:Roberto Bettini)

Schleck speaks out about his Game
Andy Schleck is confident he can avoid making the same mistakes he has made against Contador in the past. And that appears to mean he will wait on the Spaniard to attack first.

"I've made enough mistakes that have allowed him to drop me because I passed him," he added. "But I've learned a lot from my mistakes." And as such, Sunday's Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France was a veritable poker on bikes, a cat and mouse game that went on in spite of the race unfolding around Shcleck and his closest competitor, Alberto Contador. Schleck ultimately finished the 184.5km stage from Revel to Ax-3-Domains with his 31sec lead on Contador intact.

Schleck has stressed since he took the Tour de France lead on stage nine last week that his tactics will be designed to reward him with the yellow jersey in Paris. In 2009, Schleck finished four minutes behind Contador.

Yet with the Spaniard being tipped to take significant time off Schleck in the penultimate stage time trial next Saturday, the Saxo Bank climber arguably cannot afford to leave the Pyrenees with a cushion of less than two minutes. However, Schleck is positive about his performance today and believes he has gained the mental edge on Contador.

"This is just a guess, but I guess he's not happy. He didn't lose any time but he didn't gain any either," said Schleck. "His plan was to take the yellow (jersey) today. It didn't work, he didn't gain a single second on me and I even think I was a little better than him."

Although fans would expect Contador to have to attack Schleck to claw back his deficit, the Spaniard is in no hurry. And, he arguably emerged the winner on Sunday having taken one step closer, without conceding any time, to the 50km time trial next Saturday.

Schleck's obsession with Contador meant he stuck to the Spaniard like glue when he tried twice, at 5 and 4 kilmoeters from the finish, to shake the Luxemburger off his wheel.

Schleck even allowed Spaniard Samuel Sanchez and Russian Denis Menchov to go on the offensive virtually unchallenged, before reacting inside the final two kilometers with Contador to limit their advantage to 14secs.

"For the moment, Menchov and Sanchez are not dangerous," explained Schleck.

"We were more or less equal on the climb," said Contador. "The way it was going it could have benefited other riders, like Menchov and Samuel (Sanchez), who are very strong riders. So we decided to race together in the end to limit our losses to them."

Contador claimed the climb to Ax-3-Domaines was not hard enough for him to launch a worthy attack on Schleck. But there will be chances aplenty in the coming days.

Monday's 15th stage from Pamiers notably features the 19.3km climb over the Port de Bales before finishing 21.5km later down in Bagneres-de-Luchon. The 16th stage Tuesday will take the peloton over four climbs, including the imposing Col du Tourmalet before finishing on a downhill again in Pau. After Wednesday's rest day, a tough stage 17 finishes with a 18.6km ascension to the summit of the Tourmalet - the race's final climb before another potential decider on Saturday.

What happens in between is anybody's guess.

Lance Armstrong in the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong, founder of LiveStrong Foundation has had to deal with doping allegations for most of his career.
(Poto: Yuzuru Sunada)

LeMond Speaks out Against Lance
Three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond has received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in the investigation of possible fraud and doping charges against Lance Armstrong, the New York Daily News reported Friday. The letter also orders LeMond to appear at a federal courthouse in Los Angeles on July 30, the newspaper said.

Greg LeMond warns the investigation of fellow Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong should not be taken lightly, and could even bring about the downfall of the world's most famous cyclist. Armstrong's fame came to him not only from winning 7 Tours de France, but also due to his battle with cancer and his subsequent foundation of LiveStrong.

A grand jury in the US District Court of the Central District of California issued the subpoena, which requests testimony and documents related to the four cycling teams Armstrong has led - US Postal Service, Discovery Channel, Astana and RadioShack. Subpoenas were delivered to LeMond, as well to other past and present teammates of Armstrong.

In an interview conducted in French with the Journal Du Dimanche newspaper a seemingly embittered LeMond said, "up until now, he has achieved great things, if you consider he did it fairly, which I don't believe."

"For him, it's the beginning of the end." He added: "The federal investigation is very serious, more than people believe.

Armstrong is racing his final Tour campaign amid damaging accusations by former teammate Floyd Landis that their former team, US Postal, was involved in systematic doping practices. A federal investigation into Landis's claims has been launched and is being led by Jeff Novitzky, the same federal agent whose probe into the BALCO doping scandal brought about the downfall of athletics star Marion Jones.

Landis first accused Armstrong of doping during this year's Tour of California after his team, the Bahati Foundation team, was denied a spot in the race. Landis continued his charge on the opening day of the 2010 Tour de France with a detailed story of the alleged doping in a Wall Street Journal article entitled "Blood Brothers".

The three-time yellow jersey champion LeMond has been an advocate of clean cycling for the past decade, and subsequent questioning of Armstrong's record-setting performances have led to the pair having a turbulent relationship.

Some fans claim LeMond is bitter because Armstrong went on to surpass his record for an American on the race, but he has not limited his queries to Armstrong. Last year he questioned whether Spain's reigning champion, Alberto Contador, was riding clean.

LeMond said he has taken no particular enjoyment from seeing Armstrong suffer on what has been a disastrous farewell campaign. He believes the Texan faces more pressing concerns than the multiple crashes he has suffered in the past two weeks.

"Seeing him suffer doesn't affect me at all. I would even have preferred it if he hadn't crashed," added LeMond, who won the race in 1986, 1989 and 1990.

LeMond goes on, "Given everything that he has been accused of recently, I'm even surprised he decided to race the Tour. I don't know how he's managed to stay concentrated on the race. It will be interesting to see if he collaborates with the investigation."

Armstrong said earlier this week he would be prepared to cooperate with any investigation, provided it did not become a "witch hunt".

"Like I said, as long as we have a legitimate and credible and fair investigation, we'll be happy to cooperate, but I'm not going to participate in any kind of witch hunt," he said.

And while Armstrong continues to question the credibility of Landis, who denied for four years that he had doped before finally confessing two months ago in a bid to "clear his conscience", LeMond has no doubts.

He claimed that friends of Landis were even being threatened by Armstrong.

"Listen, Landis spoke out because Armstrong was going after him. He made threats against his (Landis's) friends," LeMond alleged.

"I believe Landis because everything he's said, I've already heard. There's a major difference between a guy like Ivan Basso (who was banned for two years for doping) and Armstrong. Basso doesn't threaten people!

"When it comes to manipulating people, Armstrong is the undisputed champion."

When confronted by the report on France 2 television after the 14th stage, Armstrong pointed the finger at LeMond and his victory on the race in 1989.

"We will have the opportunity to tell the truth to the authorities, and Greg LeMond will tell the truth about 1989 I hope," said Armstrong, who is now 38th overall, 39'44" behind Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.

"Because he, too, needs to tell the truth. I have nothing to hide."

Tour de France Stage 14: Riblon Victorious in Ax-3-Domaines

7/18/2010

Christophe Riblon (Ag2r-La Mondiale) victorious in Ax-3-Domaines as he proves taking a chance in the break is worth the risk in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

In the first day of four in the Pyrenees, the hopes and dreams of the peloton are realized and shattered as the French have another victory in the 2010 Tour de France. Stage 14 provided a drama across the 184.5 kilometer stage from Revel to the ski resort town of Ax-3-Domaines. Ag2r-La Mondiale rider Christophe Riblon started the race in a breakaway with 8 other riders but he was able to achieve the dream of every professional cyclist to ride away, stave off the chase, and take the win at the end of the day- and an added bonus for a Frenchman of taking a win for France.

The first 10 km of the stage set the scene for the rest of the day as hard driving attacks and pulls would split the race to pieces. For the break of 9, it would mostly be an inglorious day as the 9 became 1. For Riblon, it would be a lonely yet heroic ride into Ax-3-Domaines as he was able to dig deeper than the rest and realize his first stage win in a Tour de France.

The look on Andy Schleck's face tells all as he marks every move by Alberto Contador in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

We Keep Playing Those Mind Games Together

Unbeknownst to the Ag2r rider, drama was unfolding and it began in the Gorges des L'Audes where Team Astana took control of the peloton in defense of Alberto Contador. There were no major moves by the top GC contenders on the slopes of the first major climb of the Pyrenees- Port de Pailheres- since the climb was followed by a 20 kilometer descent before the final climb to the mountain top finish.

When the peloton arrived on the slopes of the 7.8 kilometer Ax-3-Domaines, Saturday's stage 13 winner Alexandre Vinokourov set the pace for Contador. For a moment it seemed Schleck may be falling off pace or had a mechanical as he drifted backwards to speak to a team car. It was at this point that it became apparent that Schleck had no mechanical, no problems and perhaps was simply playing a mind game with Contador as he sat at the back of the group, seemingly not worried about his 30 second lead over the Spaniard.

Alexandre Vinokourov fresh off his own stage victory destroys the remains of the peloton for Contador in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Vino broke the legs off everyone except Denis Menchov, Samuel Sanchez and of course Contador, Shcleck and the remains of the breakaway in front. Meanwhile, Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TestTeam) who had won on the slopes of Ax-3-Domaines before appeared to be on his way to a stage victory as he escaped the peloton. The Spaniard picked off previous attackers which included Footon-Servetto's 23 year old Rafael Valls.

There was no change in the top 5 of the overall general classification of the race, but Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador spent the final few kilometers of the climb into Ax-3-Domaines playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse and toying with their lead over the rest. With the Astana team driving the pace all the way from the base of the climb to Port de Pailheres, down the slopes and up to Ax-3-Domaines, Schleck had to only sit in and watch Contador and mark his attacks. Contador was unable to shake Schleck and it seemed Schleck was taking back some of the confidence he had given Contador on the previous stage into Mende.

Dreams Come True

Meanwhile, Riblon surged for the win. "I don't know what to say, I'm just too emotional," said Riblon, who was congratulated by Schleck after the Luxemburger's arrival. "Today I felt like I really had good legs, and so I went for it. Given the fact that Astana were chasing hard behind the breakaway, my victory feels even more valuable. I did a good climb. It's the kind of result I've been after for a long time."

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) shows he is still in contention for the podium in Stage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

While the two power climbers were playing their game and Riblon was soloing to his first win, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) gained an extra 15 seconds on the number 1 and 2 as they finished just 52 seconds behind Riblon.

In the end, Schleck admitted to his game playing. "He played poker, I played poker, we both played poker today," said Schleck. "I can afford to lose time to the others but I had to play the game today. Tomorrow will be different.

"I want to win this Tour," he added.

2010 Giro d'Italia Champion Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) in the shadow of polka-dot -clad Anthony Charteau (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) inStage 14 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Hopes Adrift

American Levi Leipheimer, team RadioShack's podium hope lost a few seconds and fell from 6th to 7th in the GC giving way to Rabobank's Robert Gesink. Leipheimer eventually finished 11th at 1:53 behind Riblon. Anthony Charteau (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) solidified his lead in the King of the Mountains competition. Charteau now has 115 points, with Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) in second with 92.

The rest of the pre-race contenders watched their mountains of hopes crumble to gravel. America placed their hopes on Lance Armstrong for a stage win today yet he was one of the first to pop off the peloton by the pace set by Astana on the Pailheres and finished 15:14 behind Riblon. Lance sits 38th overall at 39:44 behind Schleck. In spite Amrstrong's finish today, he still has hopes for a stage win.

"I'd still like to get one," stated Armstrong knowing this is a tall order at this point. "The race is hard, nobody's going to give it away."

Australians Michael Rogers and Cadel Evans, Britain's Bradley Wiggins and American Levi Leipheimer were left among the strugglers on the final climb into Ax-3-Domaines.

Stage 14 Results:
1. Christophe Riblon (FRA) Ag2r-La Mondiale - 184.5km in 4h52'43" (37.8km/h)
2. Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 54"
3. Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 54"
4. Schleck (LUX) Saxobank at 1'08"
5. Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at same time
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at s.t.
7. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at s.t.
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at s.t.
9. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese-Vini at 1'49"
10. Carlos Sastre (ESP) Cervelo TestTeam at same time

Overall General Classification after Stage 14:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank in 68h02min 30sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at 31"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2'31"
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2'41"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3'31"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 4'27"
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack at 4'51"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 4'58"
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at 5"56'
10. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo at 6'52"

Stage 15 Preview: Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon 187.5 km
Day two in the Pyrenees will present the riders with another HC climb- the 19.3 km at 6.1% Port de Balès. After cresting Port de Bales, the course winds down into Bagneres-de-Luchon- with a 2 km flat finish.

With a 20 km descent after the summit of the Port de Bales, this will be a day for attacks and daredevil descents to take the stage win. Look for climbing specialists, Spanish and Basque riders to take chances while Schleck and Contador continue their game of bicycle poker.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 13

7/17/2010

The famous sunflowers of the south of France provide a serene backdrop to the drama of Stage 13 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The Plane tree-lined roads protect the breakway of three from the wind and sun if only briefly. Juan Antonio Flecha of Team Sky takes his turn at the front of the breakaway that lasted over 160km.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton cruises through wheat fields in the shadow of round bales of straw during Stage 13 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Italian Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) may not have won the race, however he did win enough points to take back the green sprinter's jersey from Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) by taking 2nd in the bunch sprint behind Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) in Stage 13 of he 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) gets his win- finally. Vino was overtaken by teammate Alberto Contador and stage winner Joaquin Rodriguez yesterday just before the finish line. Contador was in need of seconds and had no choice- Vino got his stage Sunday in Stage 13 of the 2010 Tour de France, his 4th stage win of his Tour career.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 12

7/17/2010

The breakaway on the way to Mende in Stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

A nice display of teamwork by Rabobank as the riders get organized in a tense Stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Americans Lance Armstrong and George Hincapie suffering on the way to Mende in Stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton and the parade of team cars winding through the French countryside in Stage 12 of the 2010 tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Andy Schleck was admittedly tired at the end of Stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France where he handed 10 seconds to Alberto Contador in the race for the Maillot Jaune (yellow jersey).
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 13: Vino Steals the Sprinters' Glory

7/17/2010

Alexandre Vinokourov finally gets his day in the sun as he takes the day from the sprinters and wins stage 13 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

A day that would be glorious for the sprinters was ruined by Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) whose own glory was stolen on Friday's stage by his teammate Alberto Contador on the runway in Mende. The 13th stage of the 2010 Tour de France from Rodez to Revel dealt the riders 196km- a long however relatively flat day with 5 Category 3 and 4 climbs and two intermediate sprints.

Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) taking his turn in the 3 man break on stage 13 of the 2010 tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

As is typical on transitional stage a breakaway formed at 5 km. Stage winner Sylvain Chavanel Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step, Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) Team Sky and Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox-Gouygues Telecom rode clear of the peloton most of the day. The gap stretched to just over 4 minutes at most and hovered in the 2 minute range until they were picked off with just under 10km to go in the race. With the sprinters' teams hard at work, including HTC-Columbia for Mark Cavendish, it was only a matter of time.

The 2km 6 % Category 3 climb of Côte de Saint-Ferréol provided the stage for the drama, and although the sprinters did hold their own on the climb, the attacks would persist. Current USA National Champion George Hincapie (BMC Racing) could be seen moving his way to the front of the peloton and appeared to be riding in support and protection of Cadel Evans. However it was his teammate Alessandro Ballan who was launched on the attack.

Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese-Vini), Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) and Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) would follow suit and each take their turn at making the break.

In the end, it was Vinokourov who broke free of the peloton and the aggressors to the top of the climb. Vino took the descent at top speed and was able to fend off the peloton all the way to the finish line clearly fueled by his loss in Mende Friday.

"For me, just to be at the Tour de France is a victory. So to win a stage makes me very happy," said Vinokourov, who served a two-year ban after being caught blood doping at the race in 2007. "This victory is also very important for the team's motivation, especially with four days in the Pyrenees remaining."

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is the best of the rest as all the top sprinters have a go at the line.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sprinters Give the crowd a Show

The sprinters organized, and although unable to pip Vinokourov, made a spectacular bid to the finish. Mark Cavendish showed he needs no man to lead him out as he just sat on the wheels of the other sprinters before launching his incredible sprint. Cavendish took Petacchi by half a bike in the end.

In spite of missing out on a stage win, Cavendish was pleased with the day's efforts by his team. "At the end (of the stage) we weren't riding full gas," said Cavendish. "I had to use my team the whole day so I didn't have anyone, but if any of the other sprint teams wanted to take it (chase) up maybe we could have got him back. But he did a very impressive ride. We didn't win the stage today... but it was an incredible ride by Vinokourov. He deserves that win."

In what has become the most exciting competition in the 2010 Tour de France, Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese-VIni) takes the green jersey right off the shoulders of Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam), again.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The Green Merry Go Round

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) took the green jersey off the shoulders of Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam)- yet again- by a mere two points. Hushovd crossed the line in eighth place to collect 18 points and now has a total of 185 points, with Petacchi on 187 and Cavendish on 162.

There was no change today for the race for yellow, white or polka dots jerseys.

Stage Results:
1. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana
2. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Coliumbia at 13"
3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese-Vini at same time
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky at s.t.
5. Jose Joaquim Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at s.t.
6. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Transitions at s.t.
7. Anthony Geslin (FRA) Francais des Jeux at s.t.
8. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam at s.t.
9. Grega Bole (SLO) Lampre-Farnese Vini at s.t.
10. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) Ag2R-La Mondiale at s.t.

Overall General Classification after 13 Stages:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank in 63h08min 40sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at 31"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2'45"
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2'58"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3'31"
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack at 4'06"
7. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 4'27"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 4'58"
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at 5'02"
10. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo at 5'16"

Stage 14 Preview
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Revel - Ax 3 Domaines - 184.5 km

The 2010 edition of the Tour de France celebrates 100 years of the Pyrenees beginning Sunday as the peloton takes on 4 days of the race's most difficult mountain range. The steepness of the Pyreneean climbs will break the peloton apart and separate the climbers from the rest of the pack. At kilometer 155.5 of stage 14, riders will first face the "above" or "out of" category Hors Categors (HC) climb of the Port de Pailhères, a 15.5 km climb averaging 7.9 %. The climb into ski resort Ax-3-Domaines presents the Category 1 climb of 7.8 km of 8.2%.

This stage will set the tone for the rest of the Tour as Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador go head to head on the slopes. Expect to see heroic efforts from other climbers, perhaps even Lance Armstrong will make a case for a stage win in his beloved mountains. With over 20 km of intense climbing, this is a stage you will not want to miss.

Bob Roll's Tour Report: Bobke's Take on The Cav & More

7/17/2010

As Bobke and Versus co-host Craig Hummer navigated the roads of France (and momentarily got stuck on the wrong highway "Zappy, I have to call you back, we're in thick with the French highway schloogs!"), we eventually got his report from Friday.

Here's Bobke's Take On:

Tyler Farrar: “He had just had enough. He was in a lot of pain and that was not an easy stage to survive. Tyler got dropped on the first climb and the rest of the day wasn’t going t get any easier so he pulled the plug and let the water drain from the tub. The sprint game is a tough one to play.”

Mark Renshaw: The head butts were grounds for getting relegated to the back as was his move on Tyler. Separately, those two things were no big deal, but taken together, as in him doing both within 100 meters, that becomes unsportsmanlike and the Tour had to throw him out. Renshaw is an old track racer and he will always respond every time and Julian Dean did move in on him first. Renshaw will protect his stretch of highway, it’s his instinct and it’s his job. Was Mark’s move on Tyler on purpose? Sure, but again, it was in response to Dean.

Mark Cavendish: Cav will be just fine with Renshaw there as his lead out man. I bet Bernhard Eisel will be his new lead out man. It might be a little tougher for Cav, but you don’t come in to the Tour without a back-up plan. What makes Cavendish so special is that he can get from 500-1500 watts in a blink of an eye – no one else can do that. Petacchi might get up to 1800 watts, but Cav can get to 1500 faster and hold it longer and that’s his advantage. It’s like measuring roll-on speed, Cavendish is the Yamaha V-Max (above) of sprinters and Petacchi is like a Suzuki Hayabusa

Friday’s stage: It was a deceptively hard one. The peloton was going as hard through the stage as the break was. Ryder and Vino forced the Saxo to work and they got totally fragged so they had to recruit Lampre and Cervelo to help them out. Astana played a great tactical game today, even if it wasn’t part of the game plan, which is what it looked like when you saw the Vino/Contador drama unfold. As long as the conjecture game is in full-flight I would imagine the conversation at Astana’s dinner table will be a bit frosty tonight. Alberto probably can’t believe that he’s in a similar situation as last year with a division in the camp. It’s not as bad as last year with Lance, but even though Vino has said he’s there to work for Alberto, he certainly seems to want things for himself as well.

Bobke answers Bikechicks question:

Hi Zap
I'm on twitter as @Bikechik. I tried to enter this on the Versus site but it kept reloading beer ads. Maybe this will be interesting enough for you to ask and Bobke to answer.

Teamwork and "pulling" on the front for the leader are standard features of bike racing. But when wind resistance is mild on a climb how much of the pulling is for aerodynamic advantage and how much is psychological?

Bobke: "On the steep climbs, yes, it is definitely more psychological. In fact, I’d say it’s about 99.5% psychological."

Hesjedal pushing his way to the Tour's top

7/16/2010

Ryder Hesjedal flows over the pave in stage 3 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Canadian Ryder Hesjedal became the de facto leader of Garmin-Transitions after captain Christian Vande Velde abandoned with two broken ribs. He's handled the responsibility well and showed today he is ready to gamble for a top ten.

He gambled in a medium-mountain stage, what is known as a transitional stage, by riding away in an escape. He remained ahead until the last climb to the finish, where he drifted back to the group of the classification favorites.

"I would rather race than sit and follow. Some people might say that is stupid, but I am here to race and I'd rather be out front taking my chances," Hesjedal explained.

"You never know until you tried, if we had stayed away for time or if I had won the stage... I am not scared, even with the hardest days of the tour coming up."

Four of the hardest days are coming in the Pyrenees, beginning with Sunday's stage to Ax 3 Domaines. Hesjedal sits 13th overall, 6'25" behind leader Andy Schleck, and he aims to finish in Paris next Sunday in the top ten.

How well do you know the Pyrenees?
"They are horrific. We will see where I stand. I know enough about them, I know the Tourmalet, the Peyresourde, we train up there quite a bit out of Girona."

Did you preview them with Vande Velde?
"No, I did the Tour of California and then had a break, then did the Tour de Suisse. I was more concerned about being in proper form than to preview the climbs."

Is it a two-man race, between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck?
"They definitely showed that on Tuesday [Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne]. When you look at what's coming up, a lot can happen on climbs that hard and with that much still to go. The day with Aspin and Aubisque. If people thought Morzine was hard, that day is going to be something special."

You are a calm guy. Are you dealing with the pressure of being the Garmin classification leader?
"There is no added pressure on me. I want to try to do well, but like I said before, I never came here with a top ten in mind. Maybe if I had been thinking about it all year and now to be here, then maybe that would be different.

"I am taking it as it comes. I am already pleased with what has happened to date. What ever happens today and forward is still a bonus. I have learnt a lot and I am containing to learn, I am going to come out of this Tour de France a lot better rider. That's what is important."

You have studied at the classification well. What is possible? A top ten?
"I think so. I think that is a nice goal to shoot for. I have been in the top ten for a week and I am less than a minute out of eighth or ninth.

"If you look at the top 20, you see that it is solid. Every name is quality, they all have either stood on a Grand Tour podium or won a big race. I am just happy to be in that company. I am a fan of looking at the quality of the race, and not just the result itself. Who's in front, who is behind you. I am pleased with the company I am in."

Do you talk to Vande Velde regularly for advice?
"The last thing he wants to do is be going through the Tour de France mentally when he is at home, though, I heard from him a lot when he first dropped out. I am sure he sees that I am fine and doing my best."

Does Contador look as sharp to you as he did in the previous Tours?
"Who knows. He is a sharp rider and we will see just how sharp he is when the race hits the Pyrenees."

What do you think to be right there against your team-mate last year, Brad Wiggins? Was it too much of a goal for him to aim for the podium?
"I don't think I am 'racing' against him at the moment, but we have been surviving together. We just happened to be with each other on the end of the Alpine stages.

"The sport changes every year. If you get fourth one year, obviously you have to prepare and try to come back to improve. He said immediately after his first few tests [stages in the race] that he doesn't not think he is capable of going with the top guys."

Tour de France Stage 12: Debutant Joaquin Rodriguez Flies to First in Mende

7/16/2010

Joaquin Rodriguez sprints to win his first stage in his first Tour de France in stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo:Roberto Bettini)

First time Tour de France rider Jaoquin Rodriguez Oliver (Katusha) took flight and outsprinted Alberto Contador (Astana) on the runway in Mende in Friday's 210 km stage 12 of the 2010 Tour de France. In what would promise to be another exciting stage in the Tour, both the polka dot and green jersey changed hands and Contador gained 10 seconds on yellow jersey rival Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).

"My aim before the Tour was to win a stage and finish as high up as possible in the general classification," said Rodriguez. "That's one of my aims crossed off and I hope to keep fighting for a top finish.

The attacks came early in the race as Fabian Wegmann (Milram) and Lars Boom (Rabobank) made separate attempts to sneak away in the first 5 kilometers. An 18 man break finally stuck on the Nonieres, the second of 5 climbs of the day, at about 60 km. Included in that break were Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) and Andreas Kloden (Team RadioShack). Vinokourov went as a tactical move for his Astana team: "When I saw there were 10 or 15 riders going, I knew it was the right move," said Vinokourov, who finished third on the stage to move up to 12th overall at 6min 25sec behind Schleck. "It was our main objective, so we didn't have to put riders into the chase."

Going Green: All the way to Paris

Delivering on his promise to fight all the way to Paris for the green jersey, Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Cevelo TestTeam) joined the early breakaway in order to gain precious sprint points. Hushovd lost the green jersey to Lampre's Petacchi in stage 11 after a less than stellar finish in the bunch sprint in Bourg-les-Valence.

In the first of two intermediate sprints at Mariac (74.5km), Alessandro Petacchi's teamate Grega Bole would nab Hushovd at the line to take the 6 points, leaving Hushovd with 4 and creating a tie for the green jersey. In the fashion of a true champion, Hushovd won the second intermediate sprint and took virtual posession of the jersey.

"I was a little angry yesterday after losing the green jersey and I wanted to try something today," said Hushovd - the only sprinter to contest the sprints on such a hilly stage. He had the determination to repeat his performance in the 2009 Tour de France when he raced in the hills to gain intermediate sprint points.

The breakaway on stage 1 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Would be Heroes

The perfect setting for a breakaway to steal the day, stage 12 had moments of hope. One rider who seemed to have the perfect ingredients for heroic day was Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions). After a dramatic day for the team on Thursday and no stage wins to the team's credit, Hesjedal, a former mountain bike champion, was riding strong. He was involved in the early break which whittled down to four: Hesjedal, Vinokourov, Kloden and Vasil Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne). Each rider focused on his own ambitions; Kloden and Kiryienka fighting for the team standings, Hesjedal looking for a stage win and Vino doing his job.

It seemed Ryder Hesjedal would have that heroic day as Kloden and Kiryienka were eventually dropped. Then he cracked on the "Jalabert Climb" (the climb delivers near 11% for 2 km) in the final 5 km of the race. This gave way to Vinokourov who looked as if he might grab a win as he rode away, alone.

The drag race on the runway of the Mende Aerodrom. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and Alberto Contador (Astana) with Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) in full chase. In the background the yellow jersey of Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).

No Rest for the Yellow

While Vinokourov might have thought he had a stage win opportunity his teammate Alberto Contador had other ideas. Contador attacked on the slopes of the Jalabert climb; Andy Schleck would have no answer to the Spaniard's surge. As Contador rode away from the remains of the front of the peloton, he took with him Joaquin Rodriguez. The pair blew apart the breaks and overtook Vinokourov.

On the finishing straight of the Mende Aerodrome runway, Contador and Rodriguez would sprint. Rodriguez bested Contador at the line- his first stage win in his first Tour de France. Although Contador's main objective was to gain time on Schleck he indicated disappointed in losing the sprint at the line.

"I was on Andy's wheel and saw him looking weak for a moment and decided to go for it," added the Spaniard. "I saw he wasn't doing anything so I decided to go. It's a pity I couldn't cap it with the win.

In the end, Schleck would concede 10 seconds to Contador, but not the yellow jersey. "To be honest I suffered a bit today," said Schleck, who finished fifth on the stage and now leads Contador by 31sec. "It was a hard day and I wasn't looking forward to this climb. It's short and you have to be explosive - not my type at all.

For Contador, the stage win was not as important as the mental consequences of his attack. "It's an important psychological blow. It's good to see your body responding like that after 210km of racing," said Contador.

Charteau is King

In the King of the Mountains competition, Anthony Charteau made his way back into the polka dot jersey when he joined the early breakaway. Unfortunately, Jerome Pineau was involved in an early crash, and spent the race in the peloton.

There was no change in the yellow jersey or the young rider's white jersey competitions, and Andy Schleck will retain both.

American Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) abandoned the race due to the pain of his broken wrist, an injury he sustained in stage 2 from brussels to Spa.

Stage 12 Results:
1. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (ESP) Katusha - 210.5km in 4h58'26" (42.3km/h)
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at same time
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 4"
4. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 10"
5. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 10"
6. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at same time
7. Andreas Kloden (GER) Team RadioShack at s.t.
8. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at s.t.
9. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 15"
10. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo at same time

General Classification after Stage 12:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank in 58hr 42min 01sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at 0:31
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2:45
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2:58
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack at 4:06
7. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 4:27
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 4:58
9. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at 5:02
10. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo at 5:16

Stage 13 Preview Rodez-Revel 196 km
Saturday's Stage 13 presents the peloton with 5 classified climbs and two intermediate sprints. This transition stage will offer the riders a bit of respite from the viscous pace and climb into Mende of stage 12 and some time to rest up for the 4 days in the Pyrenees.

Look for early breakaway attempts for riders looking to win a stage as well as more from the sprinters and the King of the Mountains competition.

Contador Cuts Deficit to Schleck

7/16/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Defending champion Alberto Contador cut into Andy Schleck's overall Tour de France lead here on Friday, as Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez celebrated his maiden race victory in the 12th stage.

Rodriguez held off the challenge of his compatriot Contador, who launched a late charge on the gruelling 3km climb towards Mende that caught his rivals cold and allowed him to cut Schleck's advantage to 31sec.

It was 31-year-old's Rodriguez first stage win in the race, in which the Katusha rider is competing for the first time.

Schleck (Saxo Bank) recovered to cross the line in fifth place alongside Belgium's Jurgen Van den Broeck, 10sec behind Contador.

Third place went to Contador's Astana team-mate Alexandre Vinokourouv, a survivor of a breakaway that started after 60km of this rolling 210.5km stage from Bourg-de-Peage.

Vinokourouv was not reeled in until the final 2km, as Contador surged past him in a bid to gain as much time on Schleck as possible.

Farrar will have to wait another year to score a victory in the Tour.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tyler Farrar Abandons on Stage 12
Compromised by a wrist fracture, Garmin-Transitions’ Tyler Farrar abandoned the Tour de France during stage 12. Considered a “medium” mountain stage, the course to Mende proved to be rough on the team’s top sprinter. He is headed back to the states to recover and train.

He is the third rider from Garmin-Transitions to abandon the race, following Christian Vande Velde and Robbie Hunter. That leaves just five riders to support leader Ryder Hejedal in his bid to crack the top 10 on general classification.

Hushovd pulls on the green jersey once again
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Green Jersey See-saws Between Hushovd and Petacchi
After gaining the green jersey on Thursday, Alessandro Petacchi gave it up again to Thor Hushovd on Friday.

Lampre rider Petacchi, the winner of two stages so far, started the 184.5km 11th stage from Sisteron to here with a seven-point deficit to Cervelo fast man Hushovd.

After finishing runner-up to Britain's Mark Cavendish as the HTC-Columbia man grabbed a third, albeit controversial, win of the race, the Italian added 30 points to his tally, giving him a four-point lead.

Two-time green jersey winner Hushovd took only 19 points for his seventh-place finish, ending the hopes of team director Jean-Paul van Poppel for the day.

"We calculated that we could lose points today. We did the best we could. We tried to keep it, but it was not possible," said the Dutchman.

Hushovd later admitted he has lacked power for the bunch sprints since breaking his collarbone in May.

"I know I am not as fast as last year in the sprint. My injury slowed down my preparations for the Tour," said the Norwegian.

"But I feel like I am getting stronger day by day."

On Friday, Hushovd and Slovenian Grega Bole's successful bid to join the breakaway was no coincidence either, although their aims were not targeted at the yellow jersey.

At the first intermediate sprint at Mariac (74.5km) Bole rode hard to cross first, stopping Hushovd, the green jersey rival of his Lampre team-mate Alessandro Petacchi, taking all six points at the line.

Reigning champion Hushovd came second to take four, drawing virtually level with the Italian sprinter on 161 points.

From there, the front-runners worked in harmony although their lead was kept, for the time being, to a tight two minutes.

Petacchi's Lampre team began to contribute to the chase, but their efforts were in vain as Hushovd went on to beat Bole into second place at the second intermediate sprint, thus adding six points to his tally and becoming the virtual owner of the green jersey again.

However, the Italian now believes he can actually challenge Hushovd all the way to Paris for a prize whose points can be won at the finish line of the flatter stages as well as at intermediate sprints on all stages.

"I'd love to arrive in Paris with the green jersey. It's now a huge motivation for me on this race. And, I'm in good condition," said Petacchi.

Yet the Italian faces a battle.

Hushovd's determination to beat Cavendish to the prize last year left him going off on audacious solo raids into the mountains in a bid to gobble up the intermediate sprint points.

And the Norwegian suggested that more of the same could be on the menu.

"I will keep fighting. Let's see how we get over the mountains," he said.

Van Poppel, meanwhile, believes the duel could even be decided on the final finish line on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

"The fight for the green jersey will be very hard. We expect it to come down to the final sprint on Paris.

"Thor has the advantage that he can climb and I believe he is becoming stronger. It won't be easy."

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 11

7/15/2010

The peloton passes a field of lavender in stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France. The region of Provence is known for its lavender.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Andy Schleck has an encounter with a lamb in Sisteron. Sisteron is the "Gateway to Provence" and is known for its lamb.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Equestrians adorned in yellow, polka dot and green jerseys race the peloton during stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton at Serres, France during stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tony Martin gets an enthusiastic embrace from Mark Cavendish after his 13th Tour de France stage win, 3rd stage win in 2010 and the 57th road win of his career.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Renshaw Relegated, then Removed

7/15/2010

Mark Renshaw is Mark Cavendish's best lead out man, but has been disqualified from the race for headbutting.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Australian Mark Renshaw was disqualified from the 2010 Tour de France race for headbutting, a tactic typically reserved for sports such as WWF wrestling. Renshaw, the lead-out man for HTC-Columbia teammate Mark Cavendish and quite possibly the best lead out in the business, played a crucial role in Cavendish's six stage wins in the 2009 Tour de France.

But in the final 500 meters of the 184.5km stage 11 from Sisteron, the normally affable Australian lost his head when he tried to headbutt Garmin-Transitions' Kiwi lead-out man Julian Dean three times. Cavendish eventually raced on towards his third stage win of the race, and 13th of his career, as Renshaw then produced another blatant blunder by trying to block Dean's sprinter, Tyler Farrar, as the American tried to come up the inside of the barriers.

Top race official Jean-Francois Pescheux said they only needed to look at the television pictures once to make their decision. "Renshaw was declassified immediately but we have decided to also throw him off the race," said Pescheux. "We've only seen the pictures once, but his actions are plain for all to see. They were blatant. This is a bike race, not a gladiator's arena."

Television pictures show Dean getting very close to Renshaw as he tried to bring Farrar into position, although elbows and shoulders are certainly not unknown to clash in the hotly-contested bunch sprints.

For Dean, a former team-mate of Renshaw's at Credit Agricole, Renshaw's actions were simply uncalled for. However, the Kiwi suggested it was Renshaw's second error, closing the door on Farrar, that was most dangerous.

"All the other (HTC-Columbia) guys were fine, it was just Renshaw's behavior that was inappropriate," said Dean. "I jumped my front wheel in Cav's wheel. I went past Renshaw and tried to keep the speed high and while I was coming out of Renshaw, he didn't seem to like it too much.

"I didn't make any movement at all. Next thing I felt like he was leaning on me and hitting me with his head."

He added: "And then he carried on afterwards and came across on Tyler's line and stopped Tyler from possibly winning the stage. He shouldn't have done that. It's not appropriate.

"It's dangerous behavior and if there had been a crash there it would have caused some guys some serious damage.

"What we do is very dangerous and we don't need behavior like that to make it even more dangerous."

Speaking before being informed of the decision, Renshaw claimed he had been in danger of being put into the barriers by Dean; a claim that television pictures did not appear to corroborate. "The guy (Dean) came across from me... either he keeps turning left, puts me in the barrier and I crash, or I try to lean against him," he said. "I didn't have another option. It's all about sprinting straight."

Although saddened by the decision, Cavendish laid some of the blame on Dean, claiming the Kiwi "hooked his elbow over Mark's right elbow". "Mark used his head to try and get away. There's a risk when the elbows are that close (that) the handlebars are going to tangle," said Cavendish.

"That puts everyone behind in danger. Mark (Renshaw) gave us a bit of space that kept us upright. I'm very happy to win. The team did a great job."

Renshaw later posted in his Twitter account: "I think today's punishment was very harsh. I never imagined that i would ever be dq'd from the tdf. Very disappointed."

In a statement issued Friday, Renshaw continues to defend his actions and his innocence:

"I'm extremely disappointed and also surprised at this decision. I never imagined I would be removed from any race especially the Tour de France. I pride myself on being a very fair, safe and a straight up sprinter and never in my career have I received a fine or even a warning."

"Julian came hard in on my position with his elbows. I needed to use my head to retain balance or there would have been a crash. If had used my elbows when Julian brought his elbow on top of mine we would also have crashed. The object was to hold my line and stay upright.

"I hadn't started the sprint yet. We were still at 375m to go. After that Cavendish had to start his sprint early and I was also ready to finish off the sprint as I still had a lot left in my legs. It would have been good to try to take some more points. I only saw open space on my left. I had no idea Tyler Farrar was there. By no means would I ever put any of my fellow riders in danger."

We're friends to the end, and the finish line is the end. Schleck and Contador enjoy a chat during the sleepy stage 11 of the 2010 tour de France- before Schleck's SaxoBank team tried to pull one over on the Astana rider from Spain.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Fair Winds did not sway Contador
Alberto Contador admitted experiencing a tense end to the 11th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday as he fought off an attempt to drop him by yellow jersey rival Andy Schleck.

Contador started the 184.5km 11th stage from Sisteron with a 41sec deficit on Schleck with no apparent reason to worry.

But with 19km remaining Schleck's Saxo Bank team pulled to the front of the peloton in ominous fashion. Jens Voigt led the team in an area with little protection from the strong crosswinds and they soon had the peloton strung out.

Gaps began to appear, and while three of Contador's climbing specialist team-mates were left behind in a smaller group, Spain's reigning yellow jersey champion looked to be briefly in trouble until teammate Alexandre Vinokourov pulled Contador to the front where he took the wheel of the yellow jersey of Schleck.

"It seemed pretty calm, but it turned out there was a lot of wind - but we got through it okay," said Contador, who rides for Astana. "But the tension was there."

Although the Schleck v Contador duel is likely to move up a gear once the race hits the Pyrenees for four stages beginning on Sunday, Saxo Bank's bid to drop Contador was not a total surprise. A similar move by the HTC-Columbia team on last year's race caused mayhem. Their turn of pace amid strong crosswinds on stage three to La Grande Motte split the race in two, leaving a 28-man group, which included Lance Armstrong but not his then team-mate Contador, to go it alone.

Among the main contenders to lose time that day were Schleck, Contador, Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov. That stage also confirmed that Armstrong, who started the 2009 race pledging to help Contador, had personal ambitions of his own.

Contador meanwhile has played down his chances of taking time off Schleck at the end of Friday's 210.5km stage to Mende, which ends with a steep 3km ascension of the 'Jalabert' climb.

He took time off Schleck there at the Paris-Nice stage race in March, but said: "It will be a totally different climb, first of all because we've already raced a lot of hard days on the Tour. "First we have to see how we are and then what we can do."

Alessandro Petacchi takes green home tonight. Expect to see Thor Hushovd fight to the end to get it back in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Green Battle Heats Up

As the 2010 Tour de France makes its way through Provence and into the Pyrenees, the battle for the green sprinter's jersey brings the heat.

In Thursday's 184.5 km stage 11 from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence, Italian Alessandro Petacchi crossed the line in 2nd behind Cavendish, 5 spots ahead Cervelo TestTeam sprinter Thor Hushovd. The Italian veteran earned 30 points to steal away the jersey from the Norwegian by only 4 points.

Two-time green jersey winner Hushovd took only 19 points for his seventh-place finish, ending the hopes of team director Jean-Paul van Poppel for the day.

"We calculated that we could lose points today. We did the best we could. We tried to keep it, but it was not possible," said the Dutchman.

Hushovd later admitted he has lacked power for the bunch sprints since breaking his collarbone in May. "I know I am not as fast as last year in the sprint. My injury slowed down my preparations for the Tour," said the Norwegian. "But I feel like I am getting stronger day by day."

Petacchi came into the race primarily looking to boost his unremarkable season thus far with stage wins, and has already succeeded after winning the first and fourth stages.

However, the Italian now believes he can actually challenge Hushovd all the way to Paris for a prize whose points can be won at the finish line of the flatter stages as well as at intermediate sprints on all stages.

After admitting he could not overtake Cavendish in the final 80 meters, "because by then I was starting to reach a plateau", Petacchi has now turned his attention to a more unlikely achievement.

"I'd love to arrive in Paris with the green jersey. It's now a huge motivation for me on this race. And, I'm in good condition," said Petacchi.

Yet the Italian faces a battle.

Hushovd's determination to beat Cavendish to the prize last year left him going off on audacious solo raids into the mountains in a bid to gobble up the intermediate sprint points.

And the Norwegian suggested that more of the same could be on the menu. "I will keep fighting. Let's see how we get over the mountains," he said.

Van Poppel, meanwhile, believes the duel could even be decided on the final finish line on the Champs Elysees in Paris. "The fight for the green jersey will be very hard. We expect it to come down to the final sprint on Paris.

"Thor has the advantage that he can climb and I believe he is becoming stronger. It won't be easy."

Tour de France Stage 11: Cavendish Proves He Means Business

7/15/2010

Mark Cavendish takes his 13th Tour de France stage as he wins his 3rd in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

As expected, 3 riders blasted out of Sisteron on Thursday's 184.5 kilometer stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France. Sisteron sits in between the Dauphine and Provence regions in France- and is a first time host to the Tour de France.

The heat has taken its toll on the peloton. Temperatures in the 90s during the day and the apparent lack of air conditioning in France are causing many riders to have difficulty sleeping at night. This fatigue did not stop Anthony Geslin (FRA) Francais-des-Jeux, Stephane Auge (FRA) Cofidis and Jose Benitez (ESP) Footon-Servetto who attacked a soon as race director Christian Prudhomme officially started the race.

Stephane Auge (FRA) Cofidis, Anthony Geslin (FRA) Francais-des-Jeux and Jose Benitez (ESP) Footon-Servetto, left to right in stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France. Auge took the aggressive prize for the stage.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The break stayed away, gaining points and prize money until kilometer 162, with just 22 km to go.

Team SaxoBank took control of the peloton around kilometer 18 in protection of the yellow jersey of Andy Schleck. As Jens Voigt and Fabian Cancellara forced the pace, the crosswinds gave aid in blowing the peloton to pieces.

Just outside of 7 kilometers to go, Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel(FRA), no stranger to making bold moves launched an attack. Yaroslav Popovych (Team RadioShack) marked the attack which was subsequently pulled back by the peloton in a matter of seconds. There would be no more attempts at glory today, except from the sprinters.

The blistering pace set by Saxo Bank as the peloton approached the town of Bourg-les-Valence split the field. In 2009, Astana's Alberto Contador (ESP) was left out in the wind in a similar stage. This year it would not happen as the Spaniard learned his lesson and latched on to the wheel of Schleck with the help of Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov.

The sprinters' teams would be up next, as Team Sky, Lampre-Farnese Vini, HTC-Columbia, Cervelo TestTeam and Garmin-Transitions would vie for position. The final run in to town would present the riders with one sharp right hand bend and one sharp left hand bend creating a dangerous environment for the speeds in excess of 60km/h. Whoever would be first in line through the corners would likely win the race.

The wind up for the sprint included Cavendish with his lead out man Mark Renshaw, Tyler Farrar with Julian Dean, Alessandro Petacchi and Robbie McEwen.

As the riders approached the 200 meter mark, it seemed as if Cavendish would have to fight with Farrar. At the last moment, Renshaw threw several headbutts at Dean, pushing him out of the way of Cavendish. At the same moment, Farrar had hooked on to Cavendish's wheel. This could be the win for Farrar.

In a second rogue act in a matter of moments, Renshaw veered into Farrar and cut him off, ruining his chances for victory.

Mark Cavendish took the sprint with his 3rd Tour stage win this year and his 13th Tour de France victory. As such, Cavendish bests the 12-stage victory tally of several notable sprinters including German great Erik Zabel, Italian Mario Cipollini and Australian Robbie McEwen.

Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/Lampre-Farnese Vini) and Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Transitions) finished second and third respectively.

Renshaw Relegated, then Removed

Referees immediately relegated Renshaw, later deciding to eliminate him from the race for his dangerous and unsportsmanlike actions.

Top race official Jean-Francois Pescheux said after the race: "Renshaw was declassified immediately but we have decided to also throw him off the race.

"We've only seen the pictures once, but his actions are plain for all to see. This is a bike race, not a gladiator's arena."

Alessandro Petacchi (ITA/Lampre-Farnese-Vini) finally took the green jersey away from Norwegian Thor Hushovd in stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Green Goes to Petacchi

Petacchi took the green jersey from Thor Hushovd in the sprinter's competition narrowly by 4 points.

The Lampre rider leads the green jersey race on 161pts, with Cervelo's Hushovd second on 157, Australian Robbie McEwen on 138 and Cavendish on 132.

Andy Schleck retains the yellow jersey with no change in the top of the General Classification and remains just 41 seconds over Spaniard Alberto Contador.

Stage Results:
1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Columbia in 4hr 42min 29sec
2. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, same time
3. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Transitions, s.t.
4. Jose Joaquim Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
5. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha, s.t.
6. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom, s.t.
7. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam, s.t.
8. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) Ag2R-La Mondiale, s.t.
9. Juergen Roelandts (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, s.t.
10. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Milram, s.t.

General Classification after Stage 11:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Team SaxoBank in 53hr 43min 25sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Team Astana at 0:41
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2:45
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2:58
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack at 3:59
7. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 4:22
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at 4:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Team Katusha at 5:08
10. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo at 5:09

Stage 12 Preview
Bourg-de-Péage - Mende 210.5 km

With 5 small climbs and over 200 kilometers, Stage 12 may provide another opportunity for heroic breakaways. With so many opportunities for King of the Mountain candidates to gain points, look for Anthony Charteau (FRA/BBox-Bouygues Telecom) and Jerome Pineau (FRA/Quick Step) to continue their best-climber's battle for the polka dot jersey.

The final 5 kilometers of the stage deliver 10 to 11% slopes, known as the "Jalaebert climb" before leveling out to flat for one full kilometer into Mende. This intermediate day is considered flat by Tour de France standards, however it will suit the riders hoping to win a stage in this year's race.

Sprinter's Day

7/15/2010

Tour de France fans are bracing for what could be one of them most exciting competitions of the Tour this year- the best sprinter's green jersey. Currently the jersey is being worn by Norwegian Thor Hushovd of the Cervelo TestTeam, however he lost 3 points to veteran Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi narrowing his lead to seven points.

"Now the big battle for the green jersey begins. Every point counts," said Hushovd, who dominated the competition in 2005 and 2009.

Mark Cavendish led all the sprinters over the finish 14:19 behind the day's main breakaway, with Petacchi, Hushovd and McEwen finishing respectively just behind.

Cavendish took 12 points, Petacchi 11, Hushovd 10 and McEwen nine and left the Norwegian, now on a total of 138, with just a seven-point lead to the Italian. McEwen is third on 116.

A key lead out for Tyler Farrar, South African Garmin-Transitions rider Robbie Hunter did not start stage 11. Hunter fractured the radial head of his right arm.

While Hushovd will start Thursday's 184.5km 11th sprinter-friendly stage from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence in green, he may not be the one on the green podium in Bourg-les-Valence.

Sergio Paulinho on the podium for his win in stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

After 21 Years, Portugal Wins Second Tour Stage
Sergio Paulinho earns hero status not only for Team RadioShack, but for Portugal as well. Twenty-one years ago, Acacio Da Silva was the first Portuguese to win a stage in the Tour de France.

“I hope there will be more Portuguese riders in the coming years. For me, this is my biggest performance in my career. Even nicer than my silver medal at the Olympic Games in Athens. The Tour de France is the biggest bike race on earth. Winning a stage here is the maximum you can achieve as a rider.”
“It was very close,” commented Sérgio Paulinho, “but it doesn’t matter if you win with half a wheel or with a 30 second difference. When Team Director Dirk Demol told me that Kyryienka and I had a one- minute advantage, I felt confident, even if I suffered a lot. I stayed in the wheel for 300 meters and then I gave everything in the last 50 meters. Mario Aerts was strong too but he attacked too early and lost his chances on a win.“
“Sérgio rode great,” said Team leader Lance Armstrong in Gap. “He rode smart and beat him in the sprint. This is a great result for the Team.”

“I am convinced we can win more stages,” said Sports Team Manager Johan Bruyneel. “ For now I am so happy for Sérgio. He was strong today and deserves this victory. He’s a guy that always sacrifices himself for the Team. He’s a very strong rider and never thinks about himself. To see him shine and win a stage in the Tour de France I’m very happy for him and Team RadioShack.”

“I hope indeed to help others win a stage too,” continued stage winner Paulinho. “Our main goal however remains to get Levi Leipheimer on the final podium in Paris and to win the Teams Classification. Caisse d’Epargne is a big competitor for that classification. We could not let Kyryienka go in a successful breakaway without a Team RadioShack rider present too.”

Belgian National Champion Tom Boonen, sprinter and spring classic's specialist shown here on the pave in the 2010 Paris-Roubaix.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Belgian rider Tom Boonen on Thursday
Quickstep team announced Thursday Belgian champion Tom Boonen "underwent an operation to his
left knee for a lesion in a pre-patellar band".
"Last Friday I started training and the pain seemed to be diminishing," he said. "On Monday I tried to do 100 kilometres and the situation immediately got worse.
"After consulting with the team's medical staff and with Dr Claes we decided to go ahead with the operation.
"I'm calm and confident even though I'll have to stay off a bike for a while. It's the first time I've faced an injury of this type but I'm ready to work on recuperating as best as possible and get back to racing after observing the recommended recovery time."
Boonen, who did not start the Tour de France, was injured during the Tour of California and was also involved in a mass crash in the Tour of Switzerland.
Team doctor Yvan Van Mol added: "After trying to heal Tom's knee with a series of non-invasive targeted therapies, the operation was a necessary choice.
"Tom will have to rest for at least three to four weeks before gradually going back to training and eventually getting back into competition. At this time we cannot determine when Tom will be able to return to competition."

Bikes Banned in Missouri County
St. Charles County, Missouri Council unveiled a bicycle ban that would prohibit bicycle riding on State Highways D, DD, F, Z, along with part of Highway 94. People on both sides of the issue packed the chambers for a lengthy debate and the issue was tabled. Opponents left the meeting disappointed because the council decided to delay action, in part, to consider expanding the proposed ban to even more highways.

The area is roughly centered around Defiance in southern St. Charles County, near St. Charles County's wine country and the Katy Trail: a haven for cyclists, with bicycle rental shops and trail access points connecting to those same stretches of highway, according to a press release from the County.

Many communities support Safe Streets for Students and other efforts to fight the growing rate of obesity in Missouri which is now at 28.1%, placing the state 13th out of 50 states. In spite of this effort, St. Charles County plans to cut cyclists out.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 10

7/14/2010

The breakaway on the breathtaking Col de Noyer: Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/Caisse d'Epargne), Pierre Rolland (FRA/Bbox-Bouygues Telecom), Mario Aerts (BEL/Omega Pharma-Lotto), eventual stage winner Sergio Paulinho (POR/Team RadioShack), Maxime Bouet (FRA/Ag2R-La Mondiale), and Dries Devenyns (BEL/Quick Step).
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

A colorful Bastille Day parade as the peloton starts Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France in Cambery.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Cowboys young and old whoop it up for fellow Texan Lance Armstrong and the rest of the peloton on Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Who wouldn't want to listen in on this conversation? Current race leader Andy Schleck (SaxoBank) and Lance Amrstrong have a bit of a chat during Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Sandy Casar (FRA/Francaise des Jeux), a French national hero for winning a stage in the Tour, is swarmed by adoring young fans.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 10: Paulinho Takes win for RadioShack

7/14/2010

Sergio Paulinho takes the win for RadioShack.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Stage 10 Chambéry - Gap, 135 of 179km Bastille Day

Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France, from Chambery to Gap dealt the riders temperatures in the 90s on Wednesday. Two sprints and three climbs greeted the riders, however, the highly technical descent into Gap likely the subject of the riders inner dialogue. The descent is famous for Lance Armstrong's "cyclocross" ride across the field when Joseba Beloki crashed in a corner, breaking his leg and dashing his hopes for the yellow jersey.

July 14th is Bastille Day in France, and the French have only won on 13 occasions on this day. As such it was expected a Frenchman would attempt to take the win.

Riders, knowing the danger of the descent, exhausted from a few hard days in the Alps, and facing an 8 kilometer uncategorized climb at the end were quick to make a break. At kilometer 36 of 179, 4 riders broke away. The 4 were joined by two more to create a 6 man break including two frenchmen who were hoping to make proud their country.

The break was comprised of Mario Aerts (BEL/Omega Pharma-Lotto), Pierre Rolland (FRA/Bbox-Bouygues Telecom), Sergio Paulinho (POR/Team RadioShack), Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/Caisse d'Epargne), Maxime Bouet (FRA/Ag2R-La Mondiale), and Dries Devenyns (BEL/Quick Step). The peloton would not chase and the break would average 10" advantage over the peloton.

Andy Schleck enjoys an easy day, his first in the yellow jersey.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Calm and Collected Peloton
The peloton stayed together and chose not to attack the break which contained no threats to the GC leaders. With so many riders nursing injuries, from Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC Racing) to David Millar (GBR/Garmin-Transitions) the collective mind of the peloton made a decision to rest easy and reserve energy for the upcoming Pyreneean stages.

Race leader Andy Schleck (SaxoBank) was all too happy to have an easy day in the saddle.

"It was very, very hot and I think most of the guys are still feeling the effects of yesterday's stage," said Schleck, who took the race lead from Cadel Evans on Wednesday when the Australian struggled on the Madeleine climb. "A lot of the French guys were motivated today, since it's the national holiday. "But we were happy to let the breakaway go. That allowed us to ride at an easy pace for most of the day."

The breakaway on the Cote de Laffrey.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The Breakaway Breaks Up
While the peloton were enjoying a quiet ride through the foothills of the Alps, the breakaway riders were becoming anxious for a stage win. At 15 kilometers to go Mario Aerts (BEL/Omega Pharma-Lotto) attacked in hopes of riding away from the group. His failed attack would drop Bouet, and ignite Paulinho and Kiryienka. The pair would work together until the final bend of the race course. It seemed as if Kiryienka would have the advantage as he surged- however his surge may have been a bit premature as Paulinho caught Kiryienka off guard with an acceleration. Paulinho's acceleration would not go unanswered, and Kiryienka jumped, nearly nabbing the Portuegese rider. Paulinho took the stage win, his first Tour de France stage, and the first stage win for Team RadioShack.

"After all the bad luck we had in the first week of the Tour, this comes at the right time. I hope it gives a bit of morale back to the team," said Paulinho.

"I've been dreaming of this since I was a little child." And even though Paulinho won a Silver Medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, "It's more important to win a stage in the Tour de France than a silver medal at the Olympics - it's the biggest race in the world and I think any rider would agree," he added.

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) edges out Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) for an extra 3 points in the Green sprinter's Jersey competition.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sprinters Flex Their Muscles
While it seemed the peloton would roll gently into Gap 14 minutes behind the break, the sprinters had other ideas. With a heated points race for the Green Jersey and a sprinter's stage on Thursday, the fast men decided to get an early warm up.

It was Brit Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) who bested the rest with Italian Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese-Vini) edging out current points leader Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) gaining 3 points on the competition.

Polka Dots Switch Back
In the race for the King of the Mountains, Jerome Pineau (FRA/Quick Step) sprinted past Anthony Charteau (FRA/Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) to gain one point and regain the Polka Dot Jersey on the Category 1 climb, le Cote de Laffrey. The two Frenchmen shook hands after cresting the only Category 1 climb in the stage. There would be no more points available to the two for the final two climbs on the day. With only one point between the two and Christophe Moreau on their heels, keep an eye on this competition to see who will ultimately take home the jersey.

Stage 10 Results:
1. Sergio Paulinho (POR) Team RadioShack in 5h10min 56sec
(average: 34.5 km/h)
2. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR) Caisse d'Epargne at 0:00.
3. Dries Devenyns (BEL) Quick Step at 1:29.
4. Pierre Rolland (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom at 1:29.
5. Mario Aerts (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at1:33.
6. Maxime Bouet (FRA) Ag2R-La Mondiale at 3:20.
7. Nicolas Roche (IRL) Ag2R-La Mondiale at 12:58.
8. Remi Pauriol (FRA) Cofidis at 13:57.
9. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC Columbia at 14:19.
10. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini at 14:19.

General Classification after Stage 10:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX) SaxoBank 49h00min 56sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana at 0:41.
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at2:45.
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2:58.
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3:31.
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack at 3:59.
7. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 4:22.
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne at 4:41.
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 5:08.
10. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo at 5:09.

Stage 11 Preview
Sisteron-Bourg-les-Valence 180km

Sisteron, the Gateway to Provence and Bourg-les-Valence in the heart of the Rhone Valley are both first time Tour hosts. The stage has one Category 3 climb at kilometer 56.5, however this day is picture perfect for the sprinters.

With two intermediate sprints and a perfect sprinter's finish in Bourg-les-Valence, Stage 11 will prove important in the race for the Green Jersey. The course rolls down the foothills of the Alps giving the riders a short break between the mountain ranges that make the Tour de France the most difficult sporting event on Earth,

Look for Cavendish to snag points in his fight from the back of the green jersey points race. Alessandro Petacchi trails Thor Hushovd by 10 points, with Robbie McEwen still firmly in the fight.

Garmin-Transitions has yet to win a stage in this year's Tour de France, and in Tyler Farrar (USA) the team has hope. Expect a heated stage with sprinters going tete-a-tete to the end.

Evans Reveals Injuries

7/14/2010

BMC's Cadel Evans (AUS) climbing the Col de la Madeleine with a fractured elbow.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Cadel Evans revealed on Wednesday a fractured elbow and lack of sleep caused him to crack on the climb of the Col de la Madeleine. Evans was injured in a crash at the start of Sunday's stage.

"Sometimes you do everything you can and on the day... I didn't get any recovery since that (injury), I couldn't sleep properly.

"It's not real good being there, with the yellow jersey of the Tour de France, trying to go to sleep at night knowing you have a broken arm.

"Psychologically it's not the easiest thing to confront either."

Evans conceded the yellow jersey and lost over 8 minutes to Andy Schleck on Tuesday's stage of the Tour de France.

David Millar (UK) shown here at the end of Stage 2 in the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Millar Survives Stage 9, Barely
Garmin-Tranistions David Millar spent a long day in the saddle on Tuesday looking for the "autobus", the groupetto at the back of the race comprised of sprinters and others who look to survive and commiserate on the mountain stages. Unfortunately for Millar, there was no autobus, and he was left to ride almost 205 kilometers alone.

"It was an emotional roller-coaster, and I'm so glad I got through it,"said Millar, at the start of Wednesday's 10th stage from Chambery to Gap.

Millar has been riding with bruised ribs and a stomach bug for the past few days. One of Britain's greats, Millar has become a mentor and a support rider for the US based Garmin-Transitions team. Millar pulled himself together despite back spasms and pains in his side as Tour fans encouraged him over the climbs.

"The people helped me enormously. At first it's a bit embarrassing. I was actually ashamed. But after a while I realised that everyone was really rooting for me, telling me to keep going and not to abandon."

Millar, the last rider to finish, narrowly escaped being eliminated by the time cut, and admitted the performance represented "a brand new entry into my top five worst-ever days on a bike".

Lance Armstrong in Stage 9 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Armstrong and Others Subpoenaed
Grand jury subpoenas have been delivered to Lance Armstrong and others according to a website article by the New York Times.

In May after his team was denied a spot in the Tour of California, Floyd Landis, a former US Postal teammate to Lance Armstrong, publicly admitted to and accused Armstrong and others of systematic doping.

US authorities are taking allegations by former US Postal teammate Floyd Landis seriously and have launched an investigation into possible fraud in conjunction with doping.

Floyd Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title when he tested positive for doping. Landis went as far as to write a book claiming innocence before finally admitting to doping in May. Armstrong has never tested positive for doping and denies the allegations.

RBA Mini-View: Damiano Cunego

7/13/2010

Italian Damiano Cunego fired his first Tour shot on the Croix de la Serra climb. The Lampre-Farnese Vini rider attacked to follow immediately the move of eventual race winner Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) and Thomas Voeckler (Bbox Bouygues Telecom).

Cunego won two stages of the Vuelta a España last year in a similar attacking style and hopes that he will score his first Tour de France stage win this year. Unfortunately, he did not have the strength to follow France's Chavanel, who rode clear on the final climb of Lamoura

Q: Was the Croix de la Serra your day to try for a win?
Damiano: I tried, and everyone was firing off at that moment. We formed a little group, but I could see right away I did not have that same spark as Voeckler and Chavanel. Maybe I was too generous with my pulls on the front while we were trying to move clear of the favourites group.

I tried to save myself some for the finish, but on the last kilometres, I just missed that little something, that spark that they had. I am sorry I could not at least pull off a podium finish.

RBA: If they had the "spark" today, do you believe that you can find your "spark" in the coming days?
Damiano: It has been since the Giro d'Italia that I have not raced, besides form the Italian championships, which I raced a week before the Tour de France. I know, I will continue to develop in this race and find my 'spark'. Today, though, I had to settle for less.

RBA: Will you maybe have a better chance, more freedom, once the classification is settled?
Damiano: Yes. Also, when the climbs are a little bit longer and when the others start to get a little more tired. My resistance is good and I want to be there at the end of one of the big stages.

RBA: Are you aiming for a particular stage? In the past, you came close to L'Alpe d'Huez, maybe this year you can try on the Tourmalet?
Damiano: I am not aiming for a particular stage, but I am studying the day ahead every night to be prepared. It is important to know the climbs and the classification, what chance you have being let free by the overall favourites. Every day is an adventure.

RBA: You have a new baby on the way, "Christian". When will he arrive?
Damiano: Maybe the 11th, I will want to win a stage for him.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 9

7/13/2010

The rugged Alps dwarf the giants of the peloton.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

BMC controls the peloton for Cadel Evans in yellow. Evans would eventually crack on the final climb of the day, conceding 8 minutes and the yellow jersey to Andy Schleck.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

A cameraman pops out to snag an eternal glimpse of the spectacle of a Tour breakaway on the slopes of the Col de la Colombiere.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

A little cat and mouse by the young guns of this year's Tour as colorful families look on. Alberto Contador (left) asks with his eyes: "What else do you have?" to Andy Schleck as Andy tests Contador on the slopes of the Col de la Madeleine, the first HC, or "above/out of category" climb of the 2010 Tour. The two stuck together down the slopes and joined the break for the sprint finish.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Just behind eventual sprint and stage winner Sandy Casar (FDJ), Luis Leon Sanchez of Caisse d'Epargne looks over his shoulder to check on the position of Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini). Sanchez finished ahead of Cunego in this final sprint after the three spent the entire day in a breakaway. The breakaway was whittled down to four: Casar, Sanchez, Cunego and Anthony Charteau (BTL). The break was joined by Contador (AST) and Schleck (SAX) along with Christophe Moreau (CGE) for a bunch sprint of 7 at the finish.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Bob Roll's Tour Report: The Andy vs, Alberto Battle & Ask Bobke

7/13/2010

Today was beautiful. It was fantastic…well, unless you were Cadel Evans. One word to describe Cadel? I’d say allergic…Cadel seems like he’s allergic to the yellow jersey. What many people didn’t know, actually what his team didn’t even know, was that he was riding with a broken elbow. Say what you will about Cadel Evans, but I don’t think people should be so dismissive of him. Today he was courageous in defeat and he deserves some credit for not only trying to stay with those guys, but to do so over some of the most gruesome climbs in Europe.

As for Schleck and Contador, their race today was magnificent. Andy was all in and today he tried to win the Tour, but Alberto was on his game. Their battle today was as good as it gets. They were duking it out like a couple of prize fighters trading punches. I have to say it was odd to see them doing track stands on the climb, but it shows that they respect one another. I think Andy learned that with Alberto you can’t just race him, to beat him you have to drop him. But the way they were both reefing on the pedals was a great show.

Astana has shown themselves to be solid in the mountains, but from now on look for Saxo to do their work – they’ll know what to do and when, and, they have the horsepower.

Two questions for Bobke:
1. With word that the Schleck brothers are leaving Saxo Bank (and that Bjarne Riis has already secured a new sponsor), who do you think Specialized would follow for 2011? That’s a good question…I don’t know the inside story of course, but I’d say the Schlecks.

2. Today Andy Schleck joined his brother Frank as a yellow jersey winner – have there been any other brother acts in yellow? Francois & Pascal Simon were two of four cycling brothers who wore yellow. Francois held it three days in the ’01 Tour and Pascal wore yellow for seven days in 1983. I think the Swede Gosta Petterson (3rd @ 1970 TdF, 1st @’71 Giro) and one of his brothers might also be in there.

Connect With Dr. Jeff Spencer

7/13/2010

You're invited to join eight-time Tour de France winning team doctor, Olympic cyclist, and builder of champions, Jeff Spencer for his daily "Ultimate Tour Insider" analysis of each stage of the 2010 Tour de France. Jeff helped Lance Armstrong win seven consecutive Tour de France victories and Alberto Contador his first.

Jeff will share with you how the riders overcome the extreme mental and physical challenges faced over the 23 days of the world's most grueling sporting event so that you can learn the strategies used by top pros to become a champion yourself in your sports and life.

To get connected to Dr. Jeff Spencer, follow the link below:

www.facebook.com/ConnectWithDrJeff

Jeff is the ultimate Tour insider and is posting his real-time updates several times a day, sharing the scoop of what it was like to be behind the scenes of eight Tour de France titles.

Tour de France Stage 9: Schleck Gets What He Wants

7/13/2010

Sandy Casar meant it when he won stage 9 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) lost all hope of wearing the yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysees when he conceded nearly ten minutes to his rivals on the slopes of the Col de la Madeleine Tuesday. After bitter words towards Lance Armstrong Sunday- when riders were criticized for not waiting for the fallen American rider- Evans, the would-be first Australian winner of the Tour de France- had to face the reality of his own mortality.

Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Fanrese Vini rides away on the Category 1 Col de la Columbiere.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Fast from the Start

The stage began as an attack fest as riders desperate to take the spotlight away from the GC contenders punished themselves and others. Several breaks were to give it a go until an eleven man break stuck.

And Then There Were Four

The eleven man break was whittled down to four- Damiano Cunego (LAM), Luis Leon Sanchez (GCE), Sandy Casar (FDJ) and Anthony Charteau (BTL)- by the summit of the 25.5 km Col de la Madeleine which would be the bulk of the finishing bunch. Somewhere behind the four Frenchman Christophe Moreau (GCE) riding his 15th Tour de France as the oldest rider in the peloton at 39- crossed the summit of the Col.

Behind Moreau, Andy Shcleck and Alberto Contador tested each other as they rode away from the group of leaders. Schleck attacked multiple times and Contador answered each attack in step. The two made a deal to ride together to the finish. As the pair glided up the slopes, Jens Voigt (SAX) fell back from the break and found himself with the pair. Voigt gave his all for Schleck leaving every ounce of energy on the slopes for his teammate. Eventually, Voigt would crack and fall in with the peloton.

Jens Voigt (SAX) gives his all for teammate Andy Schleck (SAX) while Contador (AST) sits in.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Schleck and Contador crested the Col with just over a two minute disadvantage, which would be whittled away to nothing within the final kilometer of the stage.

Meanwhile, Evans popped and was dropped from the group of GC contenders. Evans would concede time and the yellow jersey to Schleck before even reaching the summit of the Col.

The Fiery Sprint Finish

On the descent, taking chances yet working together, Schleck and Contador caught Christophe Moreau, and the chased ensured. With a teammate in the front break, Moreau would sit in with the two and allow them to do all of the work. Within sight of the small group, Samuel Sanchex of Euskatel-Euskadi would make an attempt to bridge. His attempt would fail, but he would round out the top 8 on the stage with his heroic descent into "La Chambre" or "The Bedroom" below the Col de la Madeleine.

In spite of having to do all of the work at the front, Conatdor and Schleck with Moreau in tow caught the break within the final kilometer to give spectators an amazing sprint finish of 7.

While Damiano Cunego (LAM) was favored to win the sprint, he was not savvy enough on the final corner and Frenchman Sandy Casar (FDJ) outsmarted the group to take the win.

"I really wanted that so much, no one was going to beat me."

Mauro Santambrogio (BMC) consoles teammate Cadel Evans after the finish of Stage 9 when Evans realizes his hopes to win this year's Tour de France are dashed.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Schleck's Yellow Fever Antidote: The Jersey

Wednesday Andy Schleck will wear the yellow jersey for the first time. And he has only Contador to worry about.

"We're both at about the same level, although now I have a lead of 41secs," said Schleck, who won the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz on Sunday to close to within 20sec of Evans.

"It's now up to him (Contador) to attack in the Pyrenees."

Contador has fewer riders to worry about as Lance, Evans, Ivan Basso (LIQ), Denis Mechov (RAB) and Brit Bradley Wiggins (SKY) are all but out of the race.

"I know what my aim is now, and which wheel I have to follow - Andy Schleck's. I think he's the most dangerous," said the Spaniard, who up until now has been largely unchallenged on the race's tough climbs.

"It was a really epic stage, and the very hard climb to the Madeleine left a lot of people struggling."

An exasperated Evans crossed the line realizing his current situation was grim.

"I'm not at my normal level, but when you're in the yellow jersey at the Tour whether you're good or not you have to be there," said Evans who broke down in tears at the end of the stage. "I haven't seen the results yet but I'm pretty sure it's over for this year."

Evans will find himself in 18th place in the General Classification this evening, 7:47 behind Schleck.

The Polka Dots Change Hands

For the first time in the 2010 Tour de France, the climber's polka dot jersey will change hands. Anthony Charteau (BTL) won the summit on the Col de la Madeleine, taking the polka dot jersey from Jerome Pineau (QST). Although Pineau and Charteau have the same number of points, the rider with the win on the highest classification takes the highest rank. The Col de la Madeleine was the first HC, or Hors Categors (outside or above category) climb in this year's Tour which presents double points for the climber's classification giving Charteau the advantage and the jersey. Although the jersey has changed hands it has not changed Nationalities, as both Pineau and Charteau are French.

Stage Results:
1. Sandy Casar (FDJ)
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (GCE)
3. Damiano Cunego (LAM)
4. Christophe Moreau (GCE)
5. Anthony Charteau (BTL)
6. Alberto Contador (AST)
7. Andy Schleck (SAX)
8. Samuel Sanchez (EUS)
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT)
10. Levi Leipheimer (RSH)

General Classification after Stage 9:
1. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 43h35min 41sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) at 0:41.
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 2:45.
4. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 2:58.
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 3:31.
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA/RSH) 3:59.
7. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 4:22.
8. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 4:41.
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 5:08.
10. Ivan Basso (ITA/LIQ) 5:09.

Stage 10 Preview: Chambéry - Gap 179 km
With 3 categorized climbs, the riders will have the opportunity to test their recovery. The first climb Côte de Laffrey is a Category 1, and is 7 kilometers of 9%. The final two mild climbs may offer some breath if a rider decides to breakaway on the first climb.

The final kilometer of the race is practically downhill, so the last over the final mountain pass may quite possibly win the stage. Look for a breakaway, and look for the French to win on Bastille Day.

Simon Gerrans Out of Tour

7/12/2010

©Team Sky

Team Sky will start with only eight riders when the Tour resumes on Tuesday. Australian Simon Gerrans suffered a broken arm in a crash in the Tour's eight stage on Sunday, which occured Seven kilometers into Sunday's eighth stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz.

The first of three crashes on stage 8 tangled polka dot jersey Jerome Pineau (FRA/QUick Step), Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) among others.

And although he bravely battled on to finish the 189km route, Gerrans was taken to the hospital to see X-rays on his left elbow confirmed the worst news.

The winner of stages in all three of the Grand Tours, Gerrans had this year endured a luckless Tour de France. He was one of the many riders who fell on stage two from Brussels to Spa and then crashed again the following day.

That second crash resulted in a trip to the hospital to check he hadn't fractured his cheekbone after he fell on his pedal when hitting the road.

Sporting several stitches and a black eye he was able to continue the race but this latest news means his Tour de France is over.

Gerrans told www.teamsky.com: "Obviously I'm very disappointed - I've had the sort of Tour de France you'd rather forget.

"I'm absolutely gutted that I'm not going to be able to help the other guys over the next two weeks."

No one waited for Armstrong this time, as he finishes the stage that ensures he will not wear the yellow jersey in 2010.
(photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

To Wait or not To Wait When Armstrong Crashes

Lance Armstrong has lost his chances at an eighth yellow jersey Sunday when he crashed after hitting his pedal on the curb of a roundabout. As the crash ensued, riders rode quickly away.

To some, the idea of leaving a champion behind to chase not only lacked the necessary etiquette in the peloton, but also seemed a highly disrespectful move for a rider who has been known to stop or slow down for fallen competitors. Luxemburger Andy Schleck said after he won the stage: "I thought we should have waited on him, especially given what Armstrong has achieved in the past.

"You have to have some respect. Plus, it's his last Tour," he said.

Others in the peloton disagree.

"To have a crash in a mountain stage of a Tour can be really difficult," said Evans, who will wear the yellow jersey into Tuesday's stage when he will start with a 20sec lead on Saxo Bankm rival Schleck.

"Two years ago when I crashed in the Tour I had one of hardest days of my career on the stage to Hautacam, with all the bruising and pain.

"That day, I got dropped with (sprinter) Julian Dean on the first climb and was fighting for yellow at the end of day.

"I went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. It was a bit different today."

In the first crash of the day just eight kilometers from the start, Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/Team RadioShack) took the obligation of peloton police and scolded the Cofidis riders who attacked when they heard the crash behind them.

Armstrong suffered yet another crash on the stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz on Sunday when Euskatel-Euskadi rider lost his musette bag into his front wheel.

However it was the crash at the foot of the Col de la Ramaz, the penultimate climb of the day when American suffered a sore hip and scrapes after crashing when he clipped his pedal at a roundabout. As he dusted himself off, the peloton raced on
ahead.

After a frantic chase, Armstrong finally gave up, later admitting - after he finished almost 12 minutes in arrears to all his rivals - he could not produce the power he needed to get back to the peloton.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins said Armstrong's crash and subsequent setback prompted little emotion in the peloton as they raced up the Col de la Ramaz.

"I don't think people (riders) give a monkey's to be honest, maybe the spectators and the press do, but amongst the riders it's just a crash. Lance has gone down, and everyone carries on," he said Monday.

"A few guys maybe get a bit, 'oh no, Lance has crashed, what do we do?' But the racing carries on."

Armstrong has crashed several times on what is his final Tour campaign, and Wiggins believes that after avoiding many catastrophes during his seven-year reign, his luck has perhaps run out.

"It's just unfortunate. It was pot luck, just one of those things," he added.

"He's crashed a couple of times on this race and he had seven years with no crashes virtually, and they just seem to happen now."

Wiggins forgot about stage 15 of the 2003 Tour de France when Armstrong caught his handlebar on the strap of a spectator's musette bag and Jan Ullrich waited for Lance- and when Lance waited for Jan Ullrich after Jan crashed into a ravine on the slopes of Col de Peyresourde.

Contador: Schleck Is Greatest Rival

7/12/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Two-time champion Alberto Contador believes Andy Schelck will be his biggest yellow jersey rival in the remaining mountain stages of the Tour de France.

Contador sits third overall at 1:01 behind new race leader Cadel Evans of Australia, who has a 20sec lead on Schleck following the Luxemburger's victory on stage eight in the Alps.

Schleck's attack in the final kilometer of the 14km climb to Avoriaz on Sunday left Contador's group, which also contained Evans and several other contenders, struggling to counter.

They eventually finished 10 seconds behind Schleck, and after the first real mountain stage of the race Contador has seen enough to believe that climbing faster than the Saxo Bank leader will be his biggest challenge this year.

"Last year he (Schleck) gave me a few problems and this year he will be my biggest rival," said the Spaniard, who won the race in 2007 and 2009.

"When the attacks started (on the last climb) it wasn't easy for me to counter, then Schleck attacked. I tried to follow him but when I saw they'd taken a small lead I decided to sit up.

"In the end we lost a few seconds but overall it was a good result."

Contador's Astana team set most of the attacking pace on the race's last two climbs Sunday, a tactic employed to drop rivals and which proved fatal for some.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, who suffered a hip injury in one of his several crashes on the stage, could not close the gap and was left trailing to finish almost 12 minutes adrift, his Tour campaign now virtually over.

Schleck, like Evans and many other favorites, was left with no teammates to help him as Contador's Astana team kept numbers up front until the final few kilometers of the stage.

The Spaniard said Astana had done great work in trying to put time into their rivals, and that as of Tuesday's final day in the Alps they will look for a repeat.

"We took responsibility for the race because we saw that Lance (Armstrong) was behind and that all the rest (of the field) were struggling.

"It seems he (Armstrong) lost a lot of time although there's still a lot of stages for him to attack.

"After the rest day, I hope we can be just as effective."

Armstrong, on his final Tour campaign, is now 39th overall at 13:26 behind Evans.

Armstrong’s shredded back after stage 8
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Bruyneel Disappointed by Armstrong’s Turn of Luck
Lance Armstrong lost all chance of winning this year's Tour de France because of injuries suffered in a crash and not because of pressure caused by more damning doping allegations, his team said Sunday.

Armstrong endured arguably his worst day of his career on the world's biggest bike race after he crashed several times on the eighth stage to finish over almost 12 minutes adrift at the summit of Avoriaz in the French Alps.

Ahead of the race's first rest day, when his RadioShack team manager Johan Bruyneel is likely to hand the leader's torch to Levi Leipheimer, the seven-time champion is now in 39th place overall at 13:26 behind new race leader Cadel Evans of Australia.

Cancer survivor Armstrong came into his final Tour campaign hoping to challenge reigning champion Alberto Contador for the race's coveted yellow jersey, albeit under a cloud of suspicion following the publication of allegations by former teammate Floyd Landis that Armstrong was involved in systematic doing while at their old team, US Postal.

Instead, the American was left with the also-rans for the final two climbs of the race—and is now uncertain to continue.

"It's sad to see, but that's sport," said Bruyneel, the Belgian who helped spearhead Armstrong's competitive return to the sport after he successfully battled testicular cancer in 1998.

"There's a time for everything. He's been beaten by bad luck more than any physical deficiency. It's certainly the end of his aspirations to win the Tour de France."

Bruyneel played down suggestions that Landis's allegations had put extra pressure on Armstrong.

"That's got nothing to do with it," said Bryneel.

"He had a setback at the start of the stage when he almost crashed trying to avoid a fall in front of him, then 10km before the climb to (the Col de) Ramaz he had quite a heavy crash.

"Once he was on the Ramaz he was in difficulty. On the last climb (to Avoriaz) he told me he'd taken quite a big knock to his hip, and that it was impossible to produce the power he needed to make it back.

"Once he was behind and he had no chance of coming back, he effectively threw in the towel."

In between the Ramaz and Avoriaz, Armstrong fell again when two Euskaltel riders tumbled in front of him as they crested the easy, category three climb at Les Gets.

After the American's setbacks on stage three's ride over the cobbles to Arenberg, where he suffered a puncture and lost time to all his rivals, Bruyneel said it couldn't have been a worst first week.

"Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. It started on the cobblestones, we had some bad luck that day when Lance suffered punctures and lost time," added the Belgian.

He said RadioShack, whose best placed rider is now Leipheimer in eighth overall at 2:14 behind Evans, will now have to readjust their ambitions for the race.

"Let's look and see during the rest day how Lance's injuries are, and how everyone else is and then we can adapt our strategies and objectives for the rest of the race."

Evans pulls on the yellow jersey
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Evans Avoids Media to Focus on Rest, Recovery
Australia's reigning world champion Cadel Evans has displayed a new determination in his bid to keep the Tour de France yellow jersey this year after shunning media on the race's first rest day.

Evans took the race lead after the first big climbing test on Sunday when he finished in a group of favourites 10 seconds behind Andy Schleck as the Luxemburger soared to the stage win at Morzine-Avoriaz.

The Australian now holds a 20 second lead on Saxo Bank leader Schleck, who along with Astana's reigning champion Alberto Contador, third overall at 1:01, is a hot favorite to win the race.

In 2008 Evans' team Silence-Lotto held a garden party to celebrate him taking the race lead, which he later lost to Frank Schleck before the Luxemburger's Spanish teammate at CSC, Carlos Sastre, beat Evans to overall victory.

This time, there will be no celebrations. Evans, who suffered a forearm injury in a crash early on Sunday's stage, has decided that his day will be filled with training, rest and some physiotherapy.

In a small audio interview issued by his BMC team, Evans admitted to feeling "honored" by being among the few world champions to wear the race's coveted tunic.

"For me personally, of course, getting the yellow jersey at the Tour is alwasy something special," said Evans.

"To swap the (world champion's) rainbow jersey for the yellow jersey is a rare feat that I've had the honour to experience.

"But it's also for the team and all the work we've put in together, not just for the Tour but building the team and everything."

Evans said he made a gift of his yellow jersey to team sports director Jacques Michaud, who was celebrating his birthday.

"It's so nice to walk down the dinner table with the yellow jersey and give it to Jacques Michaud who's birthday it was," he added.

"For everyone who's put in work trying to build this team, it's really a nice reward for everyone."

A final day of racing in the Alps is held Tuesday, when the peloton tackles four mountain passes, including the 25.5km ascension of the Col de la Madeleine whose summit is 30km from the finish in the valley of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

In the third week four days in the Pyrenees, followed by a long time trial on the penultimate stage, will be crucial in deciding the yellow jersey winner.

Although hurting from his tumble near the start of Sunday's stage, Evans said his legs are responding well.

"I've got a very sore left forearm, but the legs are still going which is the important thing, that is what the main concern is right now," he added.

"It's a little bit uncomfortable right now. Hopefully with a good night's sleep I should be alright.

"I'll try to take it as easy as possible, and get as much physiotherapy as possible on my arm."

Hesjedal finishes stage 8
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Hesjedal Joins Yellow Jersey Hunt
Canada's Ryder Hesjedal arguably gave the best indication of how tough life can be on the Tour de France when he had to get off his bike and walk at the end of the eighth stage on Sunday.

But after an epic day of racing in the Alps which prompted the first big selection among the yellow jersey contenders, and brough an end to Lance Armstrong's victory hopes, Hesjedal was rewarded for his efforts.

The Canadian has been named as Garmin-Transitions leader following the retirement of American challenger Christian Vande Velde due to broken ribs he suffered in a crash on stage two.

And on the first real day of climbing, Hesjedal honoured his new role by keeping pace with all the specialist climbers to sit sixth overall at 1:11 behind new leader Cadel Evans.

Given he is not a specialist climber, Hesjedal's team boss Matt White was quick to put his ride into perspective.

"Today was the first real selection of the Tour de France contenders. It's safe to say that Ryder has done some of the rides of his life here, and today was no exception," said the Aussie.

"Losing Christian was obviously a negative for the team, but it provided Ryder with an opportunity to step up into a GC (general classification) role—and he's done it.

"I'm really proud of what he's accomplished here already and for now, we'll keep taking it day by day."

The pain was plain to see as Hesjedal had to be helped by one team official as he walked gingerly past with his bike shortly after arriving 1:14 behind stage winner Andy Schleck, and 1:04 behind a group containing all the other favorites including Spaniard Alberto Contador.

"As much as I wanted to stay with the Contador group, I knew my limits on the last climb," said Hesjedal.

"I lost it a little and after that I decided to ride tempo. Fourteenth on the stage and sixth overall is beyond what I ever expected, so I'm happy.

"I'm looking forward to the rest day and getting at it again next week."

RBA Mini-View: Gesink Sees A Future for Dutch Cycling

7/12/2010

Young Dutchman Robert Gesink is at times hailed as an outsider for the general classification in the Tour de France. This may be only his second participation (he crashed out of the 2009 Tour) but with strong performances in recent stage races including the Tour de Suisse, the young climber is among his country's bright stars.

Robert Gesink (Rabobank) bests Liquigas-Doimo's Roman Kreuzinger for third place in stage 8 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Riding for Rabobank comes with its share of pressure in the Netherlands, as the "home" team is expected to shine throughout the year but particularly at the Tour de France. For Gesink, the pressure doesn't appear to be a burden, despite his ability to climb with the best in the peloton.

"I'm 24 years old and normally you'll be at your best a few years later," he explained. "That doesn't mean I'm not trying to do my best now or trying to take away whatever I can. I think as a rider it's possible to learn and get stronger in the first few years."

Gesink held the leader's jersey in the Tour de Suisse this year and has had his share of stage wins, including victory a win at the 2009 Tour of California. This year he is hoping to finish the Tour de France in Paris and if a result is possible along the way, he will take the opportunity.

"I didn't finish my first Tour so this is just my second start and hopefully my first full Tour," he said. "Of course I'll try and I'll go for the general classification but in these first years I need to learn."

As the for overall prospects of young Dutch riders such as himself and teammate Lars Boom, a former cyclo-cross world champion now focusing on the road, Gesink expects his country to do just fine.

"I think right now we have a couple of guys coming up behind Lars (Boom) and me, who could be at the top in the Tour in the next few years," he suggested.

"I think in a few years there will be more and more guys from our development team who will be really good. We have to have some patience though. The Netherlands is a small country!"

After finishing third in Stage Eight, Gesink currently sits in 11th overall.

Bob Roll's Tour Report: Rest day ruminations

7/12/2010

Lance will recover on the rest day and from then on out help out when and where he can. Although he’s no longer a GC contender, the good thing for race fans is that he’s now free to attack the race at will which could be exciting to watch. It’s funny because that was how he started his Tour de France career when he was with Motorola - he was an attacking opportunist! It’s kind of appropriate that he would end his career the way he had started it. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Lance Armstrong over the years it’s to never count him out. I think he’ll still be causing some sleepless nights for the guys on top of the leader board. One thing is for sure, the guys at Saxo and Astana won't be racing like that.

Lance has played the support role before, in fact, it was just last year when he committed to Alberto. Lance is a great friend and a horrible enemy and he’s always solid no matter what his role is.

It’s good to have a rest day. Your body is a temple, but sometimes it’s also a piggy bank and you always gotta keep some money in reserve. I do wish that I was back in America where I could find me a big plate of carnitas and a cold beer. Zappy, chase it down and think of me as I’m working on another serving of soggy fries and shoe leather steak!

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 8

7/11/2010

The breakaway rides into a mural.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Danish National Champion Nicki Sorenson climbs up out of the culvert after one of the many crashes on the stage.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Those guys are not taking naps, yet, although the others appear to be playing Frogger.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Daniel Navarro (Astana) looks back to see who made the selection.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Some of the favorites arrive at the mountain top finish; Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo) looks feisty at the end of Stage 8, while Denis Menchov (Rabobank) appears crushed.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Bob Roll's Tour Report: C'est la vie Lance

7/11/2010

Well, today was a not a good day for the red, white and blue, at least the Texas tri-color. It appears that Lance has been wedded to misfortune this year – I doubt if it could get much worse.

Overall, I’d say that Alberto didn’t look that great today, but it was a great day for Andy Schleck. The young Austrian fought a pitched battle to the very end with Sanchez who kept looking back has he led Andy out, but he soon realized that there was no chance to shake Schleck. What a thrill it must’ve been for both of them to drop Contador on a climb. That is such a rare feat, but the two of them pulled it off.

It looks like America’s hopes now rest with Levi. I don’t think he can win, but as he’s already shown in the past, he can make the podium in Paris. In fact, I think he has a better chance at it than Cadel, Gesink or Wiggins. Either way, right now it’s clearly the Alberto and Andy show.

Today, Lance learned what he’s always known, you can’t make any mistakes in the Tour de France if you want to win. That second crash wasn’t even his fault, but the Tour is a not the type of race that takes that into consideration. To win you have to not only be on top of your own game, but all the other riders as well.
So now Cadel is in yellow. As the race wears on I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken to task by his own worst enemy – himself. History has shown that Cadel can get victimized by his nerves and when the human computer goes south there’s no time in the Tour for rebooting! If Cadel’s old demons come calling, the next two weeks will be long indeed for the Australian.

I have to say there seems to be more Americans here than ever before. And it might not be the sort of observation I’d make when I’m at home in Durango and all the tourists from Texas are pulling into town, but the Americans are a good looking crew – especially compared to the French mountain trolls who we run into each year. Unfortunately, too much inbreeding has left the trolls all twisted up, whereas the Americans make the show with straight up posture and good hair.

Now we have a rest day where I plan to sleep in, take a long lunch then go back to bed. I would never compare my effort at the Tour with that of the riders, but after all the drama of this last week, I’d say we all deserve a day off.

Tour de France Stage 8: Schleck Emerges on Climb to Avoriaz

7/11/2010

Schleck gave nothing away as he sprinted to victory ahead of Samuel Sanchez

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Andy Schleck showed today that he is ready to go on the attack in the Tour de France, separating himself from an elite peloton in the closing meters of the climb to Morzine-Avoriaz. While defending champion Alberto Contador took the responsibility to have his Astana team control the pace up the entire final ascent, Schleck sensed that the Spaniard was not ready to launch a characteristic attack and instead he took his own initiative to stamp his authority on the first real Alpine stage of the Tour. Schleck beat Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) to the line, surprising even himself with the stage victory.

"I didn't expect to win the stage today," Schleck said after the stage. "I have a goal in this Tour and I am going to take it step by step. Maybe it would have been possible to take the yellow jersey today but I want to have it in Paris."

"I was hoping for a decisive stage today," he added. "I was really nervous this morning because I know in a stage like this your legs are really important. I was really at one hundred percent both mentally and physically and I was surrounded by my team. I'm incredibly happy to have won the stage."

Among the overall favorites, Cadel Evans assumed the race lead and his first yellow jersey of the 2010 Tour. Evans became the first reigning world champion to don the yellow jersey since Greg LeMond in 1990. He now leads Schleck and Contador in the race for the podium as the peloton ends its first week on the road. The riders will enjoy a well-earned rest day in Morzine on Monday before continuing in the Alps Tuesday.

"Obviously (race leader) Sylvain Chavanel is not a specialist in this sort of climbing but congratulations to him on a great Tour," Evans said when asked whether he expected to pull on the yellow jersey.

"I don't want to lose too much time to Andy but I'm happy to finish with Contador today and being in the yellow jersey is not a bad position to be in," he said, adding a note of thanks to his new BMC team. "It's been incredible riding alongside George Hincapie in this Tour. It's been great riding with all the guys and I think this is the reward for them."

Three crashes and a tough day of climbing ended Armstrong's final GC bid

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Armstrong Down, Out of General Classification

For seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Sunday will surely rank as one of the worst (if not the worst) days he has experienced in the Tour. An unfortunate crash shortly before the first category 1 ascent of the Col de la Ramaz compromised the American's ability to stay with the leaders as the road tilted upwards. While he limited his losses on the first half of the climb, he ultimately began to lose ground on an increasingly select leading group containing every other Tour contender.

By the final climb to Morzine-Avoriaz, Armstrong knew his podium chances were finished and he struggled up the climb to finish more than 11 minutes down on stage winner Schleck. Long before he crossed the line he knew his podium chances were over.

"It was a very bad day," he admitted freely just after crossing the line. "I felt good early on, but I just came around a roundabout, touched the pedal and the front tire rolled off and I hit the ground."

"They started the Ramaz pretty hard and for me it went from bad to worse," he said of the leading group, of which he would see little by day's end. "I've had a lot of good days here... My Tour is finished but I'm going to hang in there and enjoy my last finish and support the team."

Only Andy Schleck took the initiative to attack the select group of leaders

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Alpine Rendez-Vous

The Tour de France has yet to hit an hors catégorie (beyond category) climb, but today's ascents of the category 1 Col de la Ramaz and Morzine-Arvoriaz were important openers in this first mountain phase. The remaining leaders from an early break were Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank), Mario Aerts (Omega Pharma-Lotto), and Amael Moinard (Cofidis), who had moved clear from their initial companions by the top of the Col de la Ramaz. The trio was set to contest the finale to Morzine-Avoriaz together but after a long effort out front it was clear that the general classification behind would quickly end their chances.

Aerts appeared the strongest of the trio, but not long after a goodwill handshake from Moinard for a job well done, it was Moinard who put in a final dig to go solo. He was soon caught, however, setting the stage for the favorites- sans Armstrong- to test the legs and once more reshape the general classification. Yellow jersey Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) was a long way behind, not that he had expected to remain in contention in the high mountains.

In the dwindling lead peloton, Astana sent three men to the front to shepherd Contador up this first real Alpine test. After Alexandre Vinokourov and Maxim Iglinskiy peeled off, it was Paolo Tiralongo who did an enormous amount of work dragging the leaders up to Avoriaz. Whether the pace was too high or the heavy favorites too nervous, no attacks were made until the final kilometer, when Andy Schleck decided the moment had arrived. Only Sanchez could follow his wheel, and with the two away a sprint win for the Olympic champion seemed assured until Schleck dug deep and showed that time bonuses or no (none are on offer this year for stage winners), he wants to fight for stage wins as much as for the classification.

Safely in the leading group just ten seconds behind were the likes of Contador, Basso, Evans, Leipheimer, Menchov and Sastre. The men who lost time were Michael Rogers, Ryder Hesjedal, and Bradley Wiggins. Nonetheless, the time gaps in the top 20 places overall are not enormous, with most of the likely contenders sitting within two and a half minutes of the new leader Evans.

Stage 9 Preview

Monday brings the Tour's first rest day as the riders will either gaze happily at the race standings or lick their wounds from a tougher than average first week of racing. Cadel Evans said he is simply happy enough to be in yellow that he will not make any great declarations regarding his desire to keep his jersey at any cost. Andy Schleck, meanwhile, has shown that whatever nerves he may face at the beginning of each stage, he is a capable team leader and will not shy away from attacking the race's preeminent climber, Alberto Contador.

Racing resumes on Tuesday with stage 9 with a 204.5km mountain marathon from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint Jean de Maurienne. Although this stage does not finish atop a mountain summit, the profile looks like a jagged saw blade with five categorized climbs ready to cut the legs of the peloton. The final ascent up the hors catégorie Col de la Madeleine will provide an opportunity for fireworks among the yellow jersey contenders before a fast plunge down to Saint Jean de Maurienne. Time gaps will have to be significant, however, as 13km remain between the end of the descent and the finish line.

Cadel Evans may not feel the need to defend his yellow jersey at all costs, but with the general classification stacked with overall contenders, he won't have the luxury of letting just anyone up the road. Alberto Contador is most likely to take his significant time gaps on the summit finishes, thus the profile may not incite him to attack. Then again, having lost ground to Schleck in Sunday's Alpine opener, the defending champion may have a score to settle.

Results:

Stage 8: Station de Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, 189km

1. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank in 4 hours 54 minutes 11 seconds

2. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskaltal-Euskadi same time

3. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 10 seconds

4. Roman Kreuzinger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo s.t.

5. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana s.t.

6. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing s.t.

7. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto s.t.

8. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack s.t.

9. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo s.t.

10. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank s.t.

General classification after stage 8:

1. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing in 37 hours 57 minutes 9 seconds

2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 20 seconds

3. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 1 min 1 sec

4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1 min 3 sec

5. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank 1 min 10 sec

6. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions 1 min 11 sec

7. Roman Kreuzinger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo 1 min 45 sec

8. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack 2 min 14 sec

9. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2 min 15 sec

10. Michael Rogers (AUS) HTC-Columbia 2 min 31 sec

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 7

7/10/2010

This was a day for the French, and for team Quick Step as Jerome Pineau earned enough points to keep his polka dots another day. Teammate Sylvain Chavanel soloed for the mountain top win and rode himself into yellow.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The technologically advanced peloton rolls through small, old villages of France, where life is still simple.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The peloton's only Japanese rider, Yukiya Arashiro (Bbox) takes his turn for French National Champion Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler would later in the stage make an attempt to bridge the gap.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Danilo Hondo (Lampre-Farnese Vini) shows how to gain maximum velocity on the descent.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Debutant Rafael Valls (Footon-Servetto) of Spain made an effort to take the stage win away from Chavanel. He was close, and earned a second place in a stage of his first Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Bob Roll's Tour Report: Traffic Jams & Bad Coffee

7/10/2010

Oh Zappy, this is heinous…we are stuck in the worst traffic jam possible. We don’t have much a drive to make tonight, but we’ve moved about five feet in the last hour. It’s always good when the Tour visits new towns, but it can come back to bite all of us if they have no clue about crowd and traffic control. They have none here in Station des Rousses. Making matters worse, this humongous thunder and hail storm just blew through. It was like the world was coming to an end. Luckily, the all the riders were already in off the course, but it was bad.

As for the race today, I’d say Sylvain Chavanel definitely silenced all of his doubters with his performance today. And, as France’s highest paid rider who hadn’t done too much as of late, there were plenty of doubters out there for sure. But I was absolutely impressed with him – that was a tough ride, no doubt about it. The thing is when you level insults or accusations about riders at this level, they will react and the best way to react is to attack. Sylvain shelled all those guys today! I’d have to say that his teammate Jerome Pineau also rode well today by taking five of six KoM awards.

With a stage like today, it came as no surprise to see all the real GC contenders sit still. This was a course that you could go really hard on and make up about 15 seconds, but really hurt yourself for the harder stage that comes tomorrow where you could easily give up a few minutes. Of all the guys, if I was Andy Schleck I would be most concerned. He was isolated and vulnerable today and that can’t happen tomorrow. I’d say Ryder looked good today and it’s nice to see him climb to third all though I doubt he’ll still be there by race end.

The big question in my mind now is what the weather is going to do. If this stuff hangs around tomorrow it’s gonna be grim and it will extrapolate the gaps at the finish; three seconds will turn into 30 seconds and 30 seconds will turn into three minutes.

You know what I was thinking? They need to get more Italians to move to France if only so that they’d have some good coffee in the morning. The only problem is that once you live in Italy you would never move to France. How can a country that gets it so right with a bike race get it all so wrong with coffee in the morning? I’ll leave you with that to ponder.

Tour de France Stage 7: Chavanel Wins, Reclaims Yellow

7/10/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sylvain Chavanel became the first Frenchman since Laurent Jalabert to claim two stage wins in a Tour de France today in Station des Rousses. On the first summit finish of this year's race, the Quick Step team put on a textbook show of teamwork and timing as Jérôme Pineau launched himself in an early break to earn maximum king of the mountains points, eventually resisting alone on the final climb. Teammate and stage 2 winner Sylvain Chavanel made his own counter-attack from a chasing group to catch and pass Pineau, soloing to victory and a new yellow jersey.

Sylvain Chavanel solos to stage victory, and into the yellow jersey for the second time in this Tour de France.

(Photo: Roberto Bettinit)

Yellow jersey Fabian Cancellara cracked completely on the final climb, having clawed his way back to the field on each of the previous to climbs. In the end, he knew his stint in yellow was done and languished home many minutes later. For Chavanel, the disappointment of losing his yellow jersey after stage 3 was wiped away as he improbably fought his way back to the top of the standings.

"The farther along we got in the Tour de France, the more disappointed I was not to have the jersey back," Chavanel said at the finish, acknowledging the unlikely scenario that played out in today's stage. "Today I had the legs and this is a bit of revenge for me."

"I wanted to win again but I didn't expect this second victory to come so quickly," he added. "I just want to enjoy this moment right now."

The overall favorites stayed together, as expected, and with a minor shuffling of the classification after Cancellara's loss of time, the race looks ready for the first real GC showdown tomorrow on the slopes to Avoriaz.

Textbook Racing

Heading into today's seventh stage, Quick Step had a primary objective and that was to conserve its lead in the king of the mountains classification. Polka dot jersey Jérôme Pineau was indeed vigilant enough to place himself in the early break and consequently earned the maximum points available on every climb except the last rise to Station des Rousses. The 165.5km stage featured six mid-level climbs on the road from Tournus to Station des Rousses, increasing in difficulty as another hot day wore on.

Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) retains the polka dots another day, as well as winning the prize for the most aggressive rider on the day.

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Pineau was joined in the early move by German national champion Christian Knees (Milram), Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidids), Danilo Hondo (Lampre), and Ruben Perez (Euskaltel Euskadi). By the summit of the day's second climb, the Côte de l'Aubépin, the quintet had moved more than eight minutes clear of the peloton, having covered the fastest opening hour of racing since the Tour began.

The gap then fell slowly but steadily and was down to 4 minutes by the summit of the Côte du Barrage de Vouglans. Summiting the penultimate climb, the Col de la Croix de la Serra. Pineau once more claimed maximum points on the summit, his work essentially done for the day given the unlikely chances of this break staying away until the finish. He had whittled his breakaway down to just one other man, Hondo, and the duo were now pursued by a constantly shifting chase including Damiano Cunego, Thomas Voeckler, .Sylvain Chavanel, Matthew Lloyd, among others. Nonetheless, the polka dot jersey inspired Pineau and he carried on.

Danilo Hondo (Lampre-Farnese Vini) taking his turn in front of Jerome Pineau (Quick Step).

(Photo: Roberto Bettinit)

Pineau and Hondo had 2'20" on the yellow jersey of Fabian Cancellara and 50 seconds on the chasers as they plunged towards the final difficulty of the day, the Côte de Lamoura, which would take the field to its first summit finish at Station des Rousses.

Chavanel's move to bridge to the chasing group put him in the virtual yellow jersey ahead of the final climb. He knew this, and decided his fate would be better sealed alone. He jumped clear from the chase group in an effort to bridge to Pineau, who himself had attacked and dropped Danilo Hondo.

Quick Step has more than made up for sprinter Tom Boonen's absence, with the Chavanel-Pineau duo racing every day for the polka dot and yellow jerseys and enjoying their success and camaraderie. Today's display on the run-up to the Côte de Lamoura was textbook racing.

"I gave everything on the last climb," Pineau explained. "I knew Sylvain was behind me and when I saw he was on his own I thought I'd help him for a few meters. But the way he went by me I knew he was really strong."

When asked what words were spoken as he passed his friend and teammate, Chavanel said that Pineau's only words were, "go! go!"

"I have a great team around me and Jérôme was very strong today," the new yellow jersey said as he received hugs of congratulations at the finish. "I was well-placed on the final climb so I thought ok, I'm going to go."

GC Favorites Stick Together

The contenders for the overall Tour title nervously watched each other on the lower slopes of the Côte de Lamoura. Lance Armstrong and Andy Schleck eyed each other while Alberto Contador had his Astana team set the tempo on the middle slopes of the climb. Ultimately, all of the favorites would stay together, preferring to wait for tomorrow's tougher Alpine stage to test their legs and their rivals. Along with Fabian Cancellara, the only casualty of the top five overall was young British rider Geraint Thomas of Team Sky. The white jersey would move to the shoulders of Andy Schleck by day's end.

"I knew when I saw the profile that we weren't going to drop Cadel (Evans) or anyone today and I expected him to take the jersey," Schleck commented later.

"To be really honest, today was a lot harder than expected," he admitted. "I looked around and I tried to find weaknesses... I couldn't find any."

Cadel Evans moves into second place overall, 1 minute 25 seconds behind Chavanel, while Garmin's Ryder Hesjedal hung tough to move himself into third, well-positioned against the remainder of the favorites. Alberto Contador sits in sixth place while Lance Armstrong has some ground to make up from 14th place, 3 minutes 20 seconds behind Chavanel (1 minute 51 seconds back from Evans).

GC favorites Alberto Contador (Astana) and Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) bide their time on Stage 7.

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Stage 8 Preview

As many expected, today's stage 7 provided a worthy winner but no real fireworks among the favorites for the general classification. Stage 8 could be a very different story as the first category 1 climbs make their appearance and the Tour de France enters the Alps. Covering 189km from Les Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, the tough Col de la Ramaz will test the field with a 14km ascent averaging 6.8% in gradient. The summit comes 35km from the finish in Avoriaz with few meters of flat before the peloton tackles the final test.

The climb from the town of Morzine to the final summit in Avoriaz lasts 13km and will likely provide the first real launching pad for the heads of state who feel their legs can match their ambition. Sylvain Chavanel will dig deep but is less likely to survive with the leaders until the finish. Defending champion Alberto Contador is the man everyone expects to throw down the gauntlet and attack on the Alpine slopes.

With a peloton already worn down from several days in the extreme heat and a tougher than usual first week of racing, who will be the freshest in Avoriaz? Conservation will be the name of the game in the early part of stage 8 as the final showdown before the Tour's first rest day (Monday) looms large.

Results:

Stage 7: Tournus to Station des Rousses, 227.5km

1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step in 4 hours 22 minutes 52 seconds

2. Rafael Valls (ESP) Footon-Servetto at 57 seconds

3. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP) Rabobank 1 min 27 sec

4. Thomas Voeckler (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1 min 40 sec

5. Mathieu Perget (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

6. Daniel Moreno (ESP) Omega Pharma-Lotto s.t.

7. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1 min 47 sec

8. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions s.t.

9. Ruben Plaza (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

10. Eros Capecchi (ITA) Footon-Servetto s.t.

General classification after stage 7:

1. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step in 33 hours 1 minute 23 seconds

2. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing at 1 minute 25 seconds

3. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions 1 min 32 sec

4. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank 1 min 55 sec

5. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana 2 min 17 sec

6. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 2 min 26 sec

7. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 2 min 28 sec

8. Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R La Mondiale s.t.

9. Johan van Summeren (BEL) Garmin-Transitions 2 min 33 sec

10. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank 2 min 35 sec

Sprinters' Holy Grail

7/10/2010

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) in green.
(Photo:Yuzuru Sunada)

Sprinters' Holy Grail: Tour de France Green Jersey

The competition for the Green sprinter's jersey in the Tour de France began before the race made its way to the Prologue in Rotterdam.

One contender, Heinrich Haussler (AUS/Cervelo TestTeam), was removed from the competition due to injuries sustained in a crash during Stage 4 of the Tour of Switzerland. Mark Cavendish (THC-Columbia) was accused of changing his line and taking out not only himself, but Haussler and several other sprinters on the day.

Once the Tour de France set off on the crash marred Stage 1, the Green Jersey competition would begin to take on even more dramatic twists and turns. Tears and broken bones would create a race as exciting as the race for the overall GC. After Mark Cavendish won Stage 5-his first of the Tour- he was unable to hold back tears of joy and relief.

As the peloton moves towards the first climbing stage in the Alps on Saturday, the Green Jersey competition remains heated and unpredictable. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) remains in Green, but his margin thinned even more on Friday as Cavendish took his second win in a row. Cavendish wrote a new page in
British cycling history when he equalled the feats of three of the Tour de France's top sprint greats with his 12th career victory on Friday. However, it is not Cavendish who threatens Hushovd for the jersey. Cavendish to date remains 30 points behind in 5th place and Alessandro Petacchi lies in second.

Another top contender, currently sitting in third for the Green jersey is Robbie McEwen (Katusha) was injured in a freak accident after the finish of Stage 6. A cameraman ran in to McEwen causing him to hit the ground. McEwen started stage 7 on Saturday, in spite of being badly bruised.

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) has surprised the cycling world with his two sprint wins in his return to the Tour de France, and is Hushovd's closest threat, with only a 4 point deficit in the competition.

The Green jersey is anybody's jersey as the peloton moves in to the Alps. Cavendish and his lead out man Mark Renshaw may not seem to be in contention, however, they will not stand down until the Champs-Elysees.

Liquigas-Doimo with a double head badge: Cannondale and Peopleforbikes.org
(Photo: Cannondale)

Liquigas-Doimo and Cannondale join forces with People For Bikes

Ivan Basso and his Liquigas-Doimo teammates will be sporting a second head badge- the Peoplefor Bikes.org logo- on their SuperSix bikes starting tomorrow in the Tour de France. Team Liquigas-Doimo and bike sponsor Cannondalejoined forces in supporting Peopleforbikes.org. PeopleForBikes.org is a movement to improve the future of cycling in the United States with more rider friendly communities, bike lanes, and bike paths to ensure safety and fitness for all.

For more information, or to sign the pledge, log on to www.cannondale.com.

Universal Sports Shows Cycling on Tour Rest Day

During the Tour de France's rest day on Monday, cycling fans can watch one of the most exciting races in the US, the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

The hour-long program will air on Universal Sports at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. EDT (5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PDT) on Monday, July 12 and will feature highlights of all five days of the men's and women's Nature Valley Grand Prix that took place June 16-20.

With the retirement of four-time Nature Valley Grand Prix champion Kristin Armstrong, the women's race was a see-saw affair, with the yellow leader's jersey changing hands four times. The primary battle was between Armstrong's new team, Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12, Team TIBCO/To the Top and HTC-Columbia.

The men's race was a classic duel between two-time defending champion Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis) and Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies). The contest was decided in the last two laps of the last stage in Stillwater.

"It was one of the most exciting races that we've held," Nature Valley Grand Prix Director David LaPorte said. "The women's race was aggressive and dynamic while the men's race was a real cliffhanger. Those are the two classic racing scenarios, and we were lucky enough to have had both of them."

It's go time!

7/10/2010

The Tour has hit the mountains - the final climb to Station des Rousses

(Photo: Chris Henry)

Today the Tour de France hits the mountains. We're in the beautiful Jura region of eastern France and the mid-size mountains in the area are a perfect hors d'oeuvre for the Alps to come.

The opening week of the Tour has been more exciting than usual, thanks primarily to the cobblestones of the north in stage 3. The general classification has already seen some shuffling, but the past three days belonged to the sprinters. Alberto Contador said after Friday's stage 6 that it was so boring he almost fell asleep. I know the feeling.

Now, however, it's go time for the Tour and the favorites for the general classification. Whether stages like Saturday's shake up the GC or not, they are sufficiently difficult that the favorites cannot afford to be inattentive or have an off day. What the spectators and journalists hope for, of course, is for someone to have the nerve to attack and not just watch the wheels.

With the first real day in the Alps coming on Sunday between Les Rousses and Morzine, the racing is getting increasingly serious. A rest day will punctuate the Alpine opener before Tuesday resumes with another relentless day of climbing.

After all the debate in the opening week of whether or not the cobbles belong in the Tour, I would suggest that the verdict is most definitely "oui". Yes, there is danger, and it's a shame that Frank Schleck and others came to grief on the pavé of the north, but there is danger all around in the Tour. Sprinting flat out, elbow to elbow, or flying down a mountain pass at 80km/h are no simple tasks either but the less adept still find a way to manage.

The wide range of possible contenders for the final yellow jersey gives me the feeling that the old "anything can happen" attitude is particularly prevalent this year. Alberto Contador remains the favorite, but I suspect his rivals are less afraid of challenging him whenever possible. They may not succeed, but let's hope for a race. All the way to Paris.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 6

7/9/2010

Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong are not looking at each other the same way as in 2009.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Fabian Cancellara enjoying his time in the sun. While he has held the yellow jersey every day but one thus far in the Tour, he is prepared to give it up Saturday, the first day in the Alps.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton bounces its way up a short climb. The polka dot King of the Mountains jersey and helmet of Quick Step's Jerome Pineau comfortably in the pack.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Interesting pavement on a beautiful village corner as the peloton winds its way to the finish.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tony Martin enjoying a quick break. Martin was in the hot seat for over 3 hours during the Prologue, only to be unseated by Fabian Cancellara, who beat him by 10 seconds; he retained the White jersey of the Young Rider competition after the Prologue, only to give it up on the cobbles of Stage 3.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 6: Cavendish Times Two

7/9/2010

No question this time: Cavendish and HTC-Columbia owned the final 250 meters

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Team HTC-Columbia has rediscovered its mojo, delivering Mark Cavendish to his second consecutive sprint victory after a disappointing opening to the Tour de France. Leadout man Mark Renshaw once more showed exactly how it's done, maneuvering Cavendish through the traffic in the closing 500 meters before the Manx Missile jumped away for the win. American Tyler Farrar of Garmin-Transitions was second, bouncing back from his injuries earlier in the week.

"Yesterday I was obviously very emotional," a smiling Cavendish said at the finish. "Today the team was once again incredibly strong. Bert Grabsch did a great job, as usual, and everyone got the train together. These guys are exceptional. Renshaw was amazing and all I had to do was follow him."

"I'm really happy and thanks again to the whole team," he added.

For Farrar, second place was not as disappointing today as it might otherwise be. Recovering steadily from his injuries in stage 2 to Spa, the Garmin sprinter showed that his legs are ready if not his leadout train.

"Of course I wanted to win but after the past few days I'm happy to be back," Farrar explained on French television. "I'm still not at one hundred percent but each day is getting better. Yesterday wasn't great, today was better, and next week I hope to be even better still."

While the diagnosis of a fractured wrist should have been news of the end of his Tour, Farrar admitted to a certain amount of stubbornness. "I was too dumb to quit after my crash," he joked.

Le Soleil Est Roi

The sun was indeed king today as temperatures on the road reached nearly 100 degrees after a rainy start. Riders sought to keep cool any way they could, including stuffing ice packs in their jerseys or removing their jerseys altogether to be dipped in ice water in the team cars. On the longest stage of this year's Tour de France, the peloton was resigned to a long day of suffering in the saddle.

For a breakaway trio, there was no respite from the heat. With only three in the move, reaching the finish ahead of the main field was even less likely than in the two previous days. Nonetheless, they pressed on. Today's escapees were Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Matthieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne), and Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

Matthieu Perget (FRA/Caisse d'Epargne) takes his turn at the front of the break.

(Photo Roberto Bettini)

As their time gains and losses played out in typical fashion, the capture came first with a move by Dimitri Champion (AG2R La Mondiale) who bridged to the leaders along with Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom). On the category 4 Côte de la Croix de l'Arbre, Perget jumped clear to take the king of the mountains points and carry on with a solo big for victory in the closing 20km. His bid fell short, leaving a group of five to soldier on to the finish in Gueugnon.

"I think you need to give it a try," Champion said of his first attack in his first Tour de France. "The goal is to win, so you have to take chances when they come."

The sprinters' teams made the final capture with 10km to the line, setting the stage for the third bunch finish in a row and another battle royal among the leadout men trying to set up their finishers. In the end, it was Cavendish showing that he truly is back at the top of his game.

Cancellara remains in yellow as GC favorites like Basso (r) look to the Alps

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Fabian Cancellara conserved his lead in the overall classification while the GC favorites were pleased to simply get through a long, hot day without incident.

"I'm proud [of the jersey] and tomorrow will be another day in yellow," Cancellara said. "If I have the jersey after tomorrow I'll be even more proud, but if not I won't be sad. We'll have to see how the race goes, with the teams and different tactics."

Hushovd Loses Ground in Points Race

In the points competition, Thor Hushovd remains in the green jersey but with a disappointing tenth place finish today, he now leads double stage winner Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) by just two points. The big Norwegian had no excuses and admitted that his past two sprints have not been up to expectation.

"No, it wasn't a good sprint," he said simply. "I was well-placed on Lancaster's wheel but we were too far back."

"I think there will be a big fight all the way to Paris for this jersey," he explained. "I don't know with who, but it's going to be tough."

With several mountain stages on order, Hushovd should remain in green for the moment but as he said himself, anything could happen.

Stage 7 Preview

The Tour heads to the mountains beginning with Saturday's seventh stage from Tournus to the Station des Rousses ski resort in the Jura mountains. Two intermediate sprints early on will provide Hushovd an opportunity to defend his jersey ahead of the mountains to come, unless of course an early breakaway soaks up the points ahead of the main field.

After the 50km mark, the climbing begins. While no major mountains are included in this seventh stage, the ascents grow progressively more difficult as the peloton winds its way to Les Rousses. With the Category 2 climb of the Côte du Barrage de Vouglans coming at the 104km mark, the peloton still faces two more Cat. 2 ascents in the final 60km of racing.

A leg softener on the Col de la Croix de Serra (15.7km at 4.3%) will set the stage for the final ascent to Less Rousses up the Côte de Lamoura. While not a steep climb, speeds will be high as the field races up another long ascent (14km at 5%) before topping out at the ski station finish.

Look for the general classification favorites to shadow box while an opportunist launches himself for the stage win. Saturday's stage may be one where the Tour is not won, but weaknesses could be exposed in the field ahead of the more serious Alpine climbs to come.

Results:

Stage 6: Montargis to Gueugnon, 227.5km

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Columbia in 5 hours 37 minutes 42 seconds

2. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Transitions same time

3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre s.t.

4. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha s.t.

5. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Milram s.t.

6. Sébastien Turgot (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom

7. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky

9. Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin-Transitions

10. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam

General classification after stage 6:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank in 28 hours 37 minutes 30 seconds

2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky at 20 seconds

3. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing 39 sec

4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions 46 sec

5. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step 1 minute 1 sec

6. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank 1 min 9 sec

7. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam 1 min 16 sec

8. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana 1 min 31 sec

9. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 1 min 40

10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1 min 42 sec

Schleck Discounts Evans' Chances

7/9/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Luxembourg's Andy Schleck has played down the climbing threat of Australia's Cadel Evans a day before the Tour de France heads into the Alps.

Schleck is considered the main challenger to two-time winner Alberto Contador after he finished runner-up to the Spanish all-rounder in 2009, albeit over four minutes adrift.

Ahead of three days in the Alps from Saturday to Tuesday—Monday is a rest day—the Saxo Bank climbing specialist is sixth overall at 30 seconds behind Evans, who has a 39 second deficit to race leader Fabian Cancellara.

Contador is ninth overall at 1:40 behind Cancellara and 1:01 behind Evans, while seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is further off the pace at 2:30 behind Cancellara.

Schleck believes Armstrong will be one of the key players in the Alps, were Sunday's stage is expected to witness the first big yellow jersey battle.

But the 24-year-old Luxemburger believes he won't have to worry about Evans, the reigning world champion who has twice finished runner-up on the Tour.

"Not to discredit him, but I don't see Evans sticking with the leaders (on the climbs)," Schleck said at the end of Thursday's fifth stage.

Schleck said he regarded Evans as "a bit of an outsider", but added: "Maybe I will be proved wrong."

He added: "I think Lance will attack (in the Alps). And if the opportunity comes up, RadioShack (Armstrong's team) will take it."

Fans of Evans, however, might beg to differ. Evans overcame the handicap of having weak team at his disposal to finish runner-up in both 2007 and 2008, although the Australian had a disastrous campaign in 2009 which he finished in 30th place.

But since then Evans has been virtually reborn. He finished third overall at the Tour of Spain in 2009, and weeks later carried that form to the world championships where he made history by winning the men's road race title.

He has been on superb form this season, winning the Fleche Wallonne semi-classic ahead of Contador, and is racing the Tour after a solid fifth place finish at the Giro d'Italia.

Now at the BMC team where he will be supported by American George Hincapie, among others, Evans' 2010 Tour campaign looks rock solid.

But he too will be watching out for his rivals in the coming days, especially Armstrong.

"He'll certainly move up on GC, that's for sure. I'm interested to see how he and Alberto are climbing," said Evans, who is hoping Armstrong's RadioShack team make some attacking moves.

"I wouldn't mind if they did. It's him that's got to make up time because I'm happy to stay where I am for a while."

The race will take a decisive turn in a third week which features four tough stages in the Pyrenees, where the climb to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet on stage 17 could virtually decide the yellow jersey.

Schleck believes that is when other "outsiders", like Italy's Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso or Spain's 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, will come into their own: "They will be there in the first week, and they'll be strong."

All Eyes On Armstrong As Tour Rides Into Alps
Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck will be among the Tour de France contenders keeping their eyes glued to Lance Armstrong and his RadioShack team Saturday as the seventh stage takes the race into the Alps.

Ahead of the end of the sixth stage Friday Armstrong's deficit to Australia's Evans, the best placed contender in third place overall at 39 seconds, was 1:51.

The first of three days in the Alps Saturday is a 165.5km ride from Tournus in southern Burgundy to the Alpine ski station of Les Rousses.

Despite the fact an already beat-up peloton will tackle five medium-sized climbs before the 14km ascent to Rousses, there have been hints the race's big guns will keep their powder dry for Sunday's more difficult stage to Morzine-Avoriaz.

In comparison, stage seven is more of an appetiser—the final climb's average gradient is just five percent and it has been suggested that Swiss race leader Fabian Cancellara, who is not a climbing specialist, will emerge with the yellow jersey still on his back.

Yet both Geraint Thomas, Team Sky's Welsh debutant, and Evans, a former two-time runner-up, have a great chance of taking the race lead as both are only 23 and 39 seconds behind Cancellara respectively.

Nevertheless, Evans will be keeping a close eye on attacks from Armstrong, who has time to make up on all his yellow jersey rivals after losing time on the tough stage three over the cobbles.

"Even in these early days people will be looking for opportunities, and there's a couple of guys on the back foot," said Evans.

"I know how it is in that position, you've got to look for opportunities everywhere."

Evans, Schleck and Contador were all big winners on stage three's ride over the cobbles.

Luxemburger Schleck is now sixth overall 30sec behind Evans but 1:11 ahead of Armstrong while Contador is ninth at 1:01 behind Evans and 50 seconds ahead of Armstrong.

Schleck has come into the Tour as the main challenger to two-time winner Contador after he finished runner-up to the Spanish all-rounder in 2009, albeit over four minutes adrift.

And the Saxo Bank climbing specialist seemed to suggest he will be paying special attention to Armstrong.

"There's two riders I need to pay close attention to, and that's Armstrong and Contador. They are the strongest. Armstrong's in good form, better than people might think," he said.

Thomas, the Welsh former track cyclist, has brought an air of excitement to the Tour after a superb first week of racing.

In doing so he has upstaged team leader Bradley Wiggins, although in reality the situation suits the Londoner who is fully focused on staking his own yellow jersey claim after a fourth place finish in 2009.

Thomas therefore has a great chance of pulling on the yellow jersey himself. That would be considered a huge achievement for his team on their debut, and is a prospect he had never dreamed of.

"It's quite strange to be in this position, but it's been a nice first week. It's not bad really, is it?" he said Friday.

"Obviously if the opportunity arose then I'd definitely try and grab it."

Evans will wait before striking later in the Tour.

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Evans Thinking of Mountains, not Jersey
Cadel Evans is keeping all thoughts of the Tour de France yellow jersey as far as possible from his mind.

But ahead of three potentially crucial days in the Alps, Australia's best contender for the world's biggest bike race must accept that he might just have to pull on the race's fabled tunic.

After his superb performance in stage three when a bumpy ride over seven gruelling cobblestone sectors left Lance Armstrong the biggest loser of the day, Evans is now only 39 seconds behind Swiss Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara.

Evans has famously finished runner-up twice, in 2007 and 2008. In 2008 he took the yellow jersey after the 10th stage to Hautacam in the Pyrenees and wore it for four days before losing it to Frank Schleck, who handed it over to eventual winner, CSC teammate Carlos Sastre.

The word from the peloton is that Saturday and Sunday's stages, which finish on the summits of Rousses and Morzine-Avoriaz respectively, will not host a real battle between the yellow jersey contenders.

After a tough week of racing that has left the peloton perhaps more tired than they'd reckoned, Evans admits he would love to emerge from those stages still in contention.

"Hopefully (I'd like to be) ahead of where I am on classification would be the optimal," the Australian said before the start of Thursday's fifth stage.

"But the stages we've had so far are not necessarily typical of the Tour, they're an indication of who's riding well but not who's (going to be) the best in the mountains.

"We'll see what happens in the mountains on Saturday, and particularly Sunday there'll be a real shuffle of the GC (general classification) contenders."

But asked about possibly picking up the yellow jersey on the way, he said: "We'll see. Long way to go yet."

Armstrong currently sits in 18th overall 2:30 behind Cancellara and 50 seconds behind Evans, a situation which, on paper, should force the American into trying to close his deficit.

"He'll certainly move up on GC, that's for sure. I'm interested to see how he and Alberto are climbing," added Evans, who is hoping Armstrong's team make some attacking moves.

"I wouldn't mind if they did. It's him that's got to make up time because I'm happy to stay where I am for a while."

Others have warned that Armstrong may try to destabilise Evans, Contador and last year's runner-up, Andy Schleck, by sending one or several of his capable teammates on the attack.

RadioShack have German Andreas Kloden, a former Tour runner-up, Yaroslav Popovych and young Slovenian climber Janez Brajkovic, who matched Contador on the climbs at last month's Dauphine Criterium stage race.

"Armstrong certainly will be wanting to make up some time, especially after stage three where he was expected to take time off Contador, but we can't forget who he has in his team," AG2R manager Vincent Lavenu told AFP.

"Kloden is strong in the mountains, so is Popovych and Brajkovic won the Dauphine last month."

Evans knows from experience his rivals will be looking to chip away at their respective deficits, but also that the real hard work won't come until the Pyrenees.

"Even in these early days people will be looking for opportunities, and there's a couple of guys on the back foot—I know how it is in that position, you've got to look for opportunities everywhere," he added.

"It depends on how aggressive we race the stage to Morzine (Sunday). If it's raced really hard from the start of the mountains it could make a real shake-up, (it will) start to shape a bit of the GC as it might be in Paris.

"But it's not like the four stages in the Pyrenees. Along with the time trial (on stage 19), I think the race is going to be won there."

Hesjedal rode to distinction on the cobbles in stage 3.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Hesjedal to Lead Garmin's GC Efforts
Ryder Hesjedal is not quite ready to target the yellow jersey, but the big Canadian knows he has no choice but to step in and replace Christian Vande Velde at the Tour de France.

Vande Velde, whom Hesjedal helped to a fifth place finish in 2008, crashed out of the race on stage two leaving Garmin-Transitions without their best rider to challenge for the race's coveted prize.

After his superb stage three performance over the tough cobbles left him with a fourth place finish, former mountain biker Hesjedal sits in third place overall with over a minute on some of the bigger favourites.

It means he has no choice but to take over Vande Velde's mantle, although the freedom he once enjoyed at the start of the race is now over.

"Now I have to look at it (differently) for the general (classification), I'm not going to be getting up the road anytime soon," Hesjedal told AFP before the start of the fourth stage to Reims on Wednesday.

Garmin-Transitions manager Jonathan Vaughters called out Hejsedal after his superb ride to Arenberg on Tuesday, suggesting he might fit into Vande Velde's role quite easily.

"We can't forget that Ryder is a very capable climber," Vaughters told AFP, later reporting on his Twitter site that he could see the Canadian "aim for the top five".

At least seven or eight riders have significantly more experience than Hesjedal in major Tours, so he is not getting carried away.

Three stages in the Alps beginning Saturday will also prove a big test, although he is hoping his major Tour experience—which includes an historic stage win on the Tour of Spain for Canada in 2009—comes to the fore.

"You have to be capable of doing that (challenging) if you're someone helping someone on the GC (general classification)," he added.

"I've obviously ridden the GC in a lot of races, so it's nothing new to me. But we'll see how it comes, and (I'll) take my chances.

"It's going to be a big test (this weekend) so we'll see once we get through there. That should be a good indicator of which way the race is going ahead of the mountains."

This weekend the ski stations of Rousses and Morzine-Avoriaz will host the first two summit finishes, and perhaps the first real battles between bigger favourites like Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and Lance Armstrong.

Tuesday ninth stage follows the race's first rest day and is also in the Alps, but finishes at the end of a long descent from the Col de la Madeleine.

Whether going up or down, Hesjedal said he is ready to give it his best shot.

"I definitely like the longer climbs where you can get into a good rhythm, but I've also shown that I can race well on the shorter, more explosive climbs like you get on the Tour of the Basque Country," he said.

"But I'm still developing. I'm pretty comfortable on the bike, and if I get over those kind of climbs in the right kind of position, I can definitely hold it to the bottom."

Ullrich with Pevenage (left).
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Ullrich Coach Admits He Organised Doping Trips
Former T-Mobile sports director Rudy Pevenage admitted his role Thursday in organising trips for former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich to an alleged doping doctor in Madrid.

Pevenage was Ullrich's mentor for many years before the German champion retired in 2006 amid his implication in the 'Operation Puerto' drugs scandal which has since snared two of the biggest names in the peloton.

The central figure in that affair, which has led to doping bans for Italian ace Ivan Basso and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, is Doctor Fuentes.

Fuentes was accused of running a laboratory which stored and enhanced the blood of dozens of athletes with the banned performance-enhancer EPO (erythropoietin).

Although suspected of being one of Fuentes' many clients, Ullrich has always denied doping during his career, which effectively ended the day before the start of the 2006 Tour de France when he and Basso were both thrown off the race for their suspected implication in the affair.

Having kept his silence for years, Pevenage has now admitted he helped organise Ullrich's trips to Fuentes' laboratory in Madrid.

But the Belgian also hit out at riders who, he claims, have spoken out against doping having also been clients of Fuentes.

"I never bought or sold banned doping products, all I did was organise Jan's trips to Madrid to go and see Fuentes", Pevenage told L'Equipe newspaper on Thurday.

He said T-Mobile had been racing clean in the wake of the Festina doping affair of 1998, which almost brought a halt to the 1998 race, but changed tack after seeing how badly they were faring against rival teams.

"At T-Mobile we stopped everything (doping) after 1998, and I can affirm that our team was really racing clean after that.

"But little by little we realised that we were beginning to trail behind some of our rivals, mostly the Spanish and Italians.

"What good is it going to do to keep on lying? But to put things in perspective, back then I wasn't under the impression we were doing anything wrong.

"I knew a lot of Fuentes' clients, among whom were good riders who actually started the Tour de France in 2006.

"And Fuentes wasn't the only doctor at that time who was up to that kind of thing. I knew of other doctors who were doing the same."

Pevenage said he was virtually snared by investigators in the Operation Puerto affair after he used his own telephone, and not an untraceable pre-paid card, to call Fuentes from the Tour of Italy in 2006 after Ullrich won a stage.

"Unknown to me, the investigators had already tapped Fuentes' phone. My number showed up, and that was it."

Ullrich paid a fine of 250,000 euros in April 2008 in exchange for the dropping of sporting fraud charges.

But it remains to be seen whether the German, who was last registered as a professional cyclist by the Swiss federation where he lives, could face more sanctions.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) lodged an appeal in March 2010 to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a decision by the Swiss Olympic Committee to drop all doping charges against Ullrich.

Bob Roll's Tour Report: Cavendish & The Cobbles

7/9/2010

What a crazy week this has been. Today’s stage was really like a reaction to the first few days which were unlike the first week of any other Tour that I can remember due to all the drama. I think all the drama of the rain, the crashes and the cobbles caught the peloton off guard, they were like, “Really? And we still have three weeks of racing to go?!”

Other than Cavendish coming back to form and winning the stage, it was all pretty typical today, almost boring in fact. No, today was back to normal for the first week of the Tour , they start, there’s a break-away, they get caught and then things explode in the last 3K. Today was good for Cav after all that went on yesterday. There were some false stories out there about what happened with Cav and the team after the race, but all iut came down to is that the guy is so volatile, he’s like nitroglycerin and when the team manager asked about his finish sprint and why he seemed to stop pedaling, Cavendish exploded.

The think that everybody needs to understand is that tactically, Cavendish represents a new era of bike racer. He doesn’t believe in honorably losing. If he can’t win he pulls the tin and stalls the effort, he’ll stop trying and that’s what happened the other day. When he knew Petacchi had him beat he just quit pedaling to save his energy for the next day. And look at the results – he won. Cavendish isn’t like the typical French rider who will kill himself to finish seventh instead of cruising in and saving his strength to be stronger the next day and maybe finish third. That’s how the French are taught to race – race honorably and never do well versus being smart and getting some results.

AS FOR THE COBBLES
Stage three was a great day of bike racing. It was like an Aesop’s Fable where the bad (luck) guys suffered and the good (luck) guys like Thor Hushovd get the lollipops. Lance proved that it’s not how good or prepared you are, it’s what kind of luck you have. Lance was as prepared as any rider could be, but in the end it didn’t do him any good. But in Frank Schleck’s case it wasn’t just bad luck. He was in good form, but he hit the deck so hard it vaporized his collarbone…you can’t blame the cobbles, you gotta know how to handle your bike.

Overall, I don’t think they’ll be including cobbles in the Tour again any time soon, but they should. The cobbles are great and they should include them in the race every year. The star riders should get over it and learn to become complete bike racers. The age of specialization is hurting the sport when riders pick and chooses the races they know they can do well in. The versatility of the riders is getting whittled away. If they keep including cobbles all the riders will get used to them which could make races like Flanders and Paris-Roubaix better races because the top guys won’t be afraid to compete.

If the Tour de France is supposed to be the greatest bike race in the world, it’s essential to have cobbles in the race to prove that whoever wins is truly the best rider in the world. Too many riders are focusing on the Tour for financial reasons and looking to keep the cobbles out for that reason. They want to go into it knowing that they can keep it under control. Cobbles make things unpredictable and that’s what bike racing is supposed to be.

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 5

7/8/2010

The peloton rolling through fields of sunflowers.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Mavic leads the peloton down a very steep hill.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

As the peloton leaves Eparnay, there is no time for mass.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Ecstatic fans from down under flock to Aussie Cadel Evans (BMC). While he hasn't worn yellow yet this year, the World Champ stripes make proud his adoring fans.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Mark Cavendish (THR) congratulated by Ivan Basso (LIQ) after his first win of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 5: Cavendish At Last!

7/8/2010

It was an emotional finish for Mark Cavendish, who scored his first victory of this Tour

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Mark Cavendish won six stages in last year's Tour de France, but this year didn't start so well between a crash in the first stage, a neutralized sprint the following day, and an utterly uninspired sprint in stage 4. Today, in the Tour's fifth stage, Cavendish got it right, sprinting to victory ahead of Gerald Ciolek of Milram and Edvald Boasson-Hagen of Team Sky.

"The guys did an incredible job, riding themselves into the ground," Cavendish said of his HTC-Columbia teammates. "I had to finish it off. It's a special moment for me."

After so much pressure and several days of disappointment this week, Cavendish and HTC-Columbia were finally able to rectify what teammate Maxime Monfort admitted this morning to being their first real defeat in stage 4.

"They did an incredible job yesterday and I let them down, so they could have given up today," Cavendish said. "But they didn't."

The bunch sprint finish meant once again that no changes were made in the general classification.

"I don't have a date when I say it's over," Fabian Cancellara said of his tenure in the yellow jersey. "I am taking it day by day. Clearly yesterday and today were easier to control but tomorrow is longer and then there are the mountain stages. It would be nice to have the jersey on the rest day but it's not that important."

Spanish champion Gutierrez showed off his new jersey on a hot stage 5

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Same Script, Different Day

The sun continued to bake the riders over 187 kilometers from Epernay, the capital of Champagne production, to Montargis. The peloton was within striking distance of Paris as it sped south, but this Tour de France has a long way to go before reaching the Champs Elysées.

The expected breakaway of the day included just three men on Thursday, as Spanish national champion Jose-Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Julein El Fares (Cofidis), and Jurgen Van de Walle (Quick Step) pressed their luck in a bid to defy a bunch finish. The bunch was clearly in no mood to prevent the escape, settling in for a long day in the sun before the eventual chase. The group gained a maximum advantage of nearly eight minutes, but that gap was reeled in to five minutes just 50km into the course.

Feeling the momentum of two stage wins by Alessandro Petacchi, the Lampre team decided that order needed to be restored. The chase steadily ramped up and as a result the time gaps tumbled.

With 15km to go the gap was still over a minute but the sprinters' teams were breathing down their necks. By 10km, that gap was down to 50 seconds, and despite a late solo bid by Gutierrez, the field was all together and storming into Montargis with 3km remaining.

Garmin-Transitions handled the final leadout before the sprint, but miscommunication saw Tyler Farrar boxed in by his leadout man Julian Dean at the precise moment Cavendish launched to the right of the road. By this point, Cavendish was back in action and unstoppable, crossing the line with his arms high in the air.

Cavendish burst to the line... then burst into tears

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Release Valve

Breaking down in tears during a post-race interview, Cavendish was overwhelmed by a release of emotion compounded by expectations and several days of bad luck. Later in the press conference, Cavendish paused for a long time when asked if the "bad boy" moniker was a question of being misunderstood.

"There's a lot of people who want to judge my personality based on the thirty seconds after a bike race," he said, searching for the right words. "To me, if somebody is so ignorant as to dislike me without knowing me, they're not worth worrying about what they think anyway."

"This sport is my life," he said simply.

A New Challenge for Hushovd

In the green jersey competition, Thor Hushovd is suddenly facing a challenge not from Cavendish or Petacchi, but from his fellow Norwegian Edvald Boasson-Hagen. The young talent on Team Sky has finished third in the past two bunch sprints and is a capable enough climber to fight for points on more than the flat stages. Nonetheless, Hushovd hangs on to his green jersey and looks ahead to the coming days.

"Yesterday I suffered and I suffered again today because it was very hot," Hushovd said of today's stage. "I spent a little too much effort struggling against Mark Renshaw to hold Tyler Farrar's wheel, but I had too good a position and I didn't want to give it up."

"But for the green jersey I'm happy," he said, adding that it would be "fun" to find himself in a battle with his compatriot. "I'm looking forward to the mountains... it'll be cooler!"

Hushovd leads the green jersey competition with 102 points, 14 ahead of Petacchi and another 3 ahead of Robbie McEwen. Boasson-Hagen is up to 5th in the standings with 64 points.

Jérôme Pineau continues to hold the polka dot jersey of best climber until the Tour hits the real hills on Saturday and the real fight begins. Geraint Thomas of Team Sky remains in the white jersey of best young rider.

Stage 6 Preview

Friday's stage 6 gives the peloton of the Tour de France the unfortunate prospect of facing the longest stage on what could be one of the hottest days of racing. The route travels southeast from Thursday's finishing town of Montargis to Gueugnon over 227.5 kilometers. The day features four category 4 climbs but once again the sprinters are expected to arrive without difficulty to contest one last bunch gallop before the road tilts upward.

The favorites for the general classification will need only hydrate and stay out of trouble as they prepare for the mountain battles to come. The sprinters, on the other hand, will face a newly energized fight to the line now that Mark Cavendish has re-found his winning ways. And of course, look for the early break to soak up the television time on the long slog from to Gueugnon.

Results:

Stage 5: Epernay to Montargis, 187.5km

1. Mark Cavendish (GBR) HTC-Columbia in 4 hours 30 minutes 50 seconds

2. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Milram same time

3. Edvald Boasson-Hagen (NOR) Team Sky s.t.

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

5. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam s.t.

6. Sébastien Turgot (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom s.t.

7. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha s.t.

8. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre s.t.

9. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale s.t.

General classification after stage 5:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank in 22 hours 59 minutes 45 seconds

2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky at 23 seconds

3. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing 39 sec

4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions 46 sec

5. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step 1 minute 1 sec

6. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank 1 min 9 sec

7. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam 1 min 19 sec

8. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana 1 min 31 sec

9. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 1 min 40

10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1 min 42 sec

Comedians & Race Bikes Don't Mix - Keep Ben Stiller Off Lance's Bike!

7/8/2010

The Ben Stiller & Lance Affair From 2009 (as told by Alex Wassmann)
While traipsing through the Village Depart on day two of the Tour, I ran into Alex Wassmann who is Sram’s top man when it comes to maintaining all of Lance's drivetrain needs. As we exchanged banter about the various goings on with the race, he mentioned that the actor Ben Stiller had visited the Radio Shack team bus in Rotterdam. He also alluded to there not being any repeat of the Stiller nightmare that the team endured at last year’s Tour at the Team Time Trial in Montpellier.

One year after Ben Stiller wreaked havoc with Lance's TT bike, Sram's Alex Wassmann was sure to keep the comedian away from Lance's 2010 bike.

"When Ben showed up last year he jumped on Lance’s bike and just started drilling the shifters and some of us were just standing there somewhat horror stricken. The bike was perfectly prepped, Lance was getting ready to do his warm-up and the clock was already ticking towards the team’s start. Somebody finally got Stiller off the bike and when Lance got on it it started making a weird noise. We couldn’t figure it out so we had Lance get off the bike. He went into the motor home and we adjusted everything and had Lance come back out. When he started pedaling it was still making the noise and at that point we started getting freaked out. We swapped the bottom bracket and crank out in full NASCAR mode. Lance got off the bike again and while he was inside I laid down on the ground while someone pedaled the bike and I noticed that the outer link on one of the chain links was tweaked out and about to break. We swapped the chain and got it running properly. When I went into the team bus Lance just looked at me somewhat nervously and asked what was up with his bike. “Nothing,” I said, “it’s fine.

With not a lot of time to spare, actually, only about five minutes before the start, Lance got on the bike and pedaled off. When the team went out and won the race, well, that was when we all breathed a lot easier.”

No thanks to Ben Stiller.

Armstrong Perseveres, Punches Fly among the Peloton, Haussler Chooses Green and Gold

7/7/2010

Heinrich Haussler at the Tour of Qatar.
(Photo Yuzuru Sunada)

Haussler Chooses Australia

Cervelo TestTeam rider Heinrich Haussler announced on Wednesday that he had relinquished his German citizenship in order
to wear Australia's green and gold in the world road race championships, which this year will be held in Australia.

The 26-year-old grew up with dual citizenship in Australia as the son of an Australian mother and a German father. He moved to Germany at the age of 14 and has been riding with a German license.

"It was not an easy decision to give up my German citizenship but I came to a point in my life where I decided to follow my feelings," he said.

"I had the lucky situation that I was the owner of two passports but I feel more Australian and, therefore, I made the final decision to ride in the future for the country where I grew up.

Haussler, who intends to remain based in the German city of Freiburg, is not competing in the Tour de France after a crash with Mark Cavendish in the Tour of Switzerland last month caused an injured knee to flare up, ruling him out.

Armstrong Cool under Pressure of Tour and Allegations

Alberto Contador has thus far provided far less consternation to Lance Armstrong than the pave and ill-meaning hecklers at the Tour de France. Armstrong ducked into the RadioShack team bus moments after an unidentified heckler began shouting "cheat" and "dopehead" at the Seven-time Tour Champion.

Armstrong, who has never failed a doping test, confronted a heckler who yelled similar insults during the Tour of Luxembourg in June. Days later during the Tour of California, Floyd Landis, former Postal teammate to Armstrong publicly accused Armstrong and other team members of systematic doping in past Tours de France. And on the first day of the 2010 Tour, the Wall Street Journal ran a scandalous story titled "Blood Brothers" in which Landis described in detail how the cyclists doped.

Armstrong lost precious time to his yellow jersey rivals on the cobblestones of stage three on Tuesday, suffering a flat tire. In spite of the allegations and bad luck on the pave, Armstrong has shown his classic focus and determination. Today, Armstrong enjoyed a drama free day on the bike. "I didn't want to have a third day in a row of bad luck, so ... (it's) nice that everybody stayed up (on their bikes)," said Armstrong, who sits in 18th place overall at 2min 30sec behind race leader Fabian Cancellara and 1:51 behind the best-placed favorite, Australian Cadel Evans.

"I think now you just got to pick up a few guys and focus on them... it's easy to look at the GC (general classification) and say 'gosh, there's 17 guys ahead of you'.

"But for the most part the vast majority of them won't be there (at the end)."

Tough guys Robbie Hunter (l) and Jakob Fuglsang.
(Photos: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Boxing Match: Hunter v. Fuglsang

L'Equipe newspaper reported Wednesday morning that Robbie Hunter was seen punching Jakob Fuglsang, a race debutant who rides for Bjarne Riis's Saxo Bank team, on one of the seven cobblestone sectors on the chaotic third stage.

The report said Hunter "has been known for his temperamental attitude on the bike for years... when is this kind of behavior going to be punished?"

Garmin-Transitions sprinter Hunter admitted he punched the Dane, but was quick to present his side of the story. Hunter said he was the victim of underhand tactics on the part of Fuglsang, who allegedly lashed out as Hunter tried to bring teammates on his wheel to the front of the race.

An exasperated Hunter told AFP before the start of the fourth stage: "We were riding to the front, with my guys on the wheel.

"We came to a right hand bend, I was coming into one of the cobbled sections and Mister Fuglsang decided he didn't enjoy us coming past and hit me on the ribs, with his fist.

"So that's when I turned around and hit him on the back, and that's what
happened."

It was a classic bike racing tactic by Saxo Bank on the tight cobbled roads of northern France which are notoriously unforgiving and provide little space for overtaking.

But Hunter said if Saxo Bank are prepared to get physical in their quest for success, everyone might as well pack up and go home.

"What I don't get is: just because they're riding on the front doesn't give anybody the right to think that they can just stay on the front," he added.

"It's a cobbled section, it's a race. If that's their attitude then let's just take the yellow jersey, go straight to Paris and the race is over.

"We're all here to race. Just because they're on the front trying to get on the cobbles first doesn't mean we can't try either. That's the way it is.

"And, he's got no right to put his hands on me."

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 4

7/7/2010

Alessandro Petacchi exudes emotion on the podium, after proving his win in Brussels on Stage 1 was not a fluke. Petacch and his team surprised the plans of Cavendish and other unsuspecting Sprinters.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The breakaway of 5 rolling across the French countryside.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Swarms of fans surround the peloton as the race begins in Cambrai.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Dimitri Champion (FRA) of Ag2R-La Mondiale leads the highly organized breakaway.
In an amazing feat of strength, the breakaway staved off the peloton. The break was in sight of the peloton from 6km to 3 km to go- an excrutiatingly long time. Typically, a breakaway will stand down, but these strong riders would not.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

The peloton rolls across the French countryside.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Tour de France Stage 4: Ale Jet Petacchi Doubles in Reims

7/7/2010

Italian sprint king Alessandro Petacchi took his second stage victory in this year's Tour de France by outmuscling his rivals in a long drag to the line in Reims. Whereas Petacchi's win in stage 1 in Brussels was marred by three crashes in the closing kilometers, his rivals had no response for his powerful sprint. The Lampre rider got the better of Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) after the big names of Cavendish and Hushovd faded early.

"If people say I won in Brussels because of the crashes, today I proved that I have the power to win," Petacchi commented after crossing the line. "I've learned a few things in the 200 plus sprints I've done."

"These victories are important for my team and they give me a lot of confidence," he added. "It's true that without a big leadout train I have to take my chances as I can and anticipate the sprints, but that's not to take anything away from my team because they did a lot of incredible work for me today."

"I think Cavendish was waiting for the the final 250 meters but I anticipated the right moment and jumped early."

Petacchi also brushed aside any thoughts that he is not in this Tour for the long haul.

"Oscar Freire said to me the other day that my Tour is done, I won my stage... But I don't see it like that," he said. "I am here to win more stages."

The Peloton Settles Down

With a late start and a short parcours, today's stage offered a rest day of sorts for the embattled general classification riders and those who have suffered crashes and pain since the opening road stage on Sunday. Everything went according to script, as an early break of five men went clear just 1 kilometer into the race and enjoyed their time in the sun until their capture with just over 4km to the line. The rest of the peloton stayed compact and rolled steadily into the heart of Champagne country.

Five riders took the initiative to tempt fate against the laws of flat stages, going clear shortly after the drop of the flag leaving Cambrai. The group included recent Dauphiné Libéré stage winner Nicolas Vogondy (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Dimitri Champion (AG2R La Mondiale), Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto), and Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto).

Dimitri Champion (l) was the driving force behind the five-man breakaway

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

After two stages over 200km, today's shorter ride meant that the sprinters' teams were not going to let a breakaway get too comfortable. The maximum advantage for the five leaders was 3 minutes 50 seconds at the 50km mark. HTC-Columbia kept the gap manageable, thinking of the sprint finish to come and the team's fast man, Mark Cavendish.

Thor Hushovd's Cervélo TestTeam took over the pursuit in the closing 40km along with HTC-Columbia, with Lampre contributing to the chase. Frenchman Dimitri Champion looked the most fluid and eager of the escape, keeping the pace high and resisting until the bitter end as the race closed in on Reims. As the gap tumbled to under 30 seconds in the final 20km, it was clear the break was doomed and the sprinters began to think ahead to their leadout plans. Under the 5km to go banner, Champion's last token accelerations with the peloton in sight marked the end of the adventure for the five.

The yellow jersey favorites stayed quiet today. Fabian Cancellara easily held on to his yellow jersey while the general classification remains unchanged ahead of Thursday's stage 5. It was a quiet day too for the likes of Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong and Andy Schleck after the battle on the pavé a day before.

Hushovd Targets Green Repeat

Thor Hushovd was disappointed with his sprint but offered no excuses on a day when he just didn't have the finishing speed required. Despite finishing in ninth position on the stage, he retained his green jersey.

"Today I lacked a little power in the sprint, unfortunately," Hushovd admitted. "I think the fatigue from the first three days, which were very nervous, took a lot away from me. I also suffered a bit in the heat."

"Of course I want to win the green jersey again, but first I want to win another stage," he added. "The fight to the green jersey is just starting. I have to take it day by day and try to pick up points when I can."

HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish, meanwhile, was simply not a factor in the first full bunch sprint of the Tour. Led out by Mark Renshaw with 500 meters to go, Cavendish had no response for the acceleration to the left from Petacchi and promptly admitted defeat by sitting up in the sprint.

Cavendish let his pride get in the way of his objectives, as he sat up in the sprint and thus failed to salvage his day with more points toward the green jersey competition. The three points he conceded today to Thor Hushovd, who has to be seen as the favorite for the green jersey in Paris, may come back to haunt him later in the Tour. He currently languishes in 36th place in the points classification with 15 points to Hushovd's 80.

"I'm sure that Cavendish will win this week," HTC-Columbia's ace leadout man Renshaw insisted after the stage. "The other teams are very strong, it's not that we're not riding well. But there's no question that Mark will win this week."

Stage 5 Preview

The temperature is rising as the peloton moves south and deeper into France and another sprint stage is on order in Thursday's fifth stage of the Tour. The race begins in Epernay, the capital of the Champagne region, and covers 187.5km on its way to Montargis. A few small category 4 climbs will serve the breakaway artists well to get clear before the stage evens out. No major difficulties are expected to disrupt another bunch sprint finish.

Look for Mark Cavendish and HTC-Columbia to make amends for a non-sprint Wednesday as the winner of six Tour stages in 2009 tries to open his account in 2010. Thor Hushovd will be right there to defend his green jersey and search for additional wins himself, while Italy's Alessandro Petacchi clearly has the head and the legs to rank as the strongest sprinter so far this week.

Results:

Stage 4: Cambrai to Reims, 153.5km

1. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre in 3 hours 34 minutes and 55 seconds

2. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Transitions same time

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky s.t.

4. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha s.t.

5. Robbie Hunter (RSA) Garmin-Transitions s.t.

6. Sébastien Turgot (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom s.t.

7. Jose Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne s.t.

8. Daniel Oss (ITA) Liquigas s.t.

9. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam s.t.

10. Oscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank s.t.

General classification after stage 4:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank in 18 hours 28 minutes and 55 seconds

2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky at 23 seconds

3. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing 39 sec

4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions 46 sec

5. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step 1 minute 1 sec

6. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank 1 min 9 sec

7. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam 1 min 19 sec

8. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana 1 min 31 sec

9. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 1 min 40

10. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1 min 42 sec

Petacchi Doubles in Reims

7/7/2010

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

The yellow jersey favorites stayed quiet today. Fabian Cancellara easily held on to his yellow jersey while the general classification remains unchanged ahead of Thursday's stage 5.

Stay tuned for a full report and photo gallery.

Results:

Stage 4: Cambrai to Reims, 153.5km

1. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre

2. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Transitions

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Sky

4. Robbie McEwen (AUS) Katusha

5. Robbie Hunter (RSA) Garmin-Transitions

General classification after stage 4:

1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank

2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky

3. Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing

4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions

5. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Quick Step

Fab Five Photo Gallery: Stage 3

7/6/2010

Lance as the model for determination and mental toughness.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Sylvain Chavanel in Yellow with Jerome Pineau in Polka Dots in the protection
of their Quick Step team.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Alberto Contador pointing to his foundering bike as he rolls in to the finish.
Teammate Vinokourov punched it to the line, leaving Contador
unhappy in the wake of GC contenders.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Lance, after a wheel replacement, left Popvic in his dust and
tackled the pave on his own.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Eventual stage winner Thor Hushovd taking a pull in front of Fabian Cancellara
on the pave. Is Fabian's front wheel in the air?
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Contador Up, Armstrong Down, F. Schleck Out

7/6/2010

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Contador Tames Cobbles, Team Now Looks to Climbs

Weighing just 62 kg, Spaniard Alberto Contador wasn't supposed to have enough weight to even stay on his bike during the third stage of the 2010 Tour de France. But on Tuesday the reigning yellow jersey champion showed equal measures of determination and class, while also riding his luck, to steal some time on his rivals during a chaotic, cobblestone-riddled finale to the race.

Ultimately, Contador lost time to rivals Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, last year's runner-up, and Australian Cadel Evans, who has twice finished in that position. But those were losses tempered by the fact the 27-year-old climbing specialist left Lance Armstrong in his wake as the American first struggled to keep pace and then dropped back further when he suffered a puncture.

Contador is now 1min 40sec behind Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who is not a real yellow jersey contender, and is well within sight of Evans and Schleck. But now he has a 50 sec lead on Armstrong. Contador could have done even better had he not suffered a mechanical problem in the final 30 km, during which his wheel, buckled after he lost a spoke, was slowing him down by rubbing off his brake pads.

"I did the last 30 km with the rear wheel absolutely braked so at the end, and despite the fact I crashed earlier, the result is not so bad," said Contador. "I knew that if I changed the bike would be much worse and I preferred to continue with the wheel braking. I could not stand up, but hey, we saved the day."

Contador would make no comment on his time advantages to Armstrong because he didn't know what it was. But Astana team manager Yvon Sanquer put their day into perspective.

"Overall it's a positive outcome for us," said Sanquer. "When you look at the result, he's taken some time except on Andy [Schleck] and Evans. The main thing today was not to lose too much time on his main rivals. And after three days of difficult racing, I think Alberto's come out of it okay."

Heavier riders, like stage winner Thord Hushovd or Cancellara, are comparative heavyweights to Contador and usually fare much better on the cobbles. But on this showing the slight Spaniard showed the world he can battle with the best on terrain which is known for producing cycling's hard men.

"We had a little glimpse of Paris-Roubaix in the sunshine, and we saw that a lot of riders weren't used to the cobbles. That's all part of the game," added Sanquer. "Alberto has shown that he's got talents for all kinds of terrain. He's an all-round champion, especially when he's motivated by the thought of winning the Tour."

He added, "Armstrong had a little bit of bad luck, but that can happen to everybody. After all, when it comes to the cobblestones he's just the same as everybody else."

For many, the hardest stage for Contador is now over. But Sanquer is not getting carried away ahead of the first Alpine stages this weekend.

"There are more complicated stages for us to tackle, but we're very happy to have got to this stage of the race in this position."

Lance Armstrong, center, lost time on stage 3 to GC rivals, including Alberto Contador

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Armstrong Loses Time as Rivals Soar on the Cobbles

Lance Armstrong is already looking towards the Alpine stages of the Tour de France after a frustrating day of chasing wheels on the dreaded cobbles third stage left him tumbling down the standings.

On what proved to be an epic day of bike racing over 213km from Wanze in Belgium to Arenberg in northern France, only 13km of cobbles, spread over seven sections, played the most decisive role.

And Armstrong ultimately emerged as the main loser. He went from fifth place with a five second lead on Spain's reigning champion Alberto Contador to 18th overall at 50secs behind the Astana team leader and 1min 51sec behind Australia's two-time runner-up Cadel Evans.

It was all going so well for the seven-time champion until the peloton arrived in France, where the cobbles are practically double the size as those in Belgium. As Andy Schleck's Saxo Bank team upped the pace in a bid to drop as many rivals as possible on the fourth sector, Armstrong's luck ran out.

Ultimately, it left him crossing the finish line in 32nd place at 2:08 behind stage winner Thor Hushovd as Contador, Schleck and Evans, all of whom are yellow jersey rivals, spent comparatively fruitful days in the saddle.

Armstrong said it was the crash involving Andy Schleck's brother Frank which split their group as Saxo Bank ramped up the pace. From then on, it was dog eat dog just to get to the finish.

"Section four was the major selection," said the American. "Then something happened in front and Frank Schleck came down, and that just kind of opened the group and we hung in there, we were right behind them, and just as we were coming back on to them in section six, I believe, I just got that front flat [tire]."

Armstrong lost precious time waiting for a wheel change, and that left him fighting simply to join a group ahead of him which contained Contador and Britain's Bradley Wiggins, with Evans and Schleck even further up the road.

"For a little bit, Popo(vych) came back, gave me a hand and then on the final section I went at it alone, stuck in the cars, dirt, and dodging people. But no complaints. Bad luck was with me today. Look at the results," added the American.

"Everbody thought the climbers were going to lose minutes today, and they're the ones at the front."

Armstrong, like many of the top favourites, had ridden the cobblestone in training. But he said they were hardly recogniseable as Saxo Bank hammered towards the finish.

"You can't simulate the effort it recquires to get to the front," he added. "Saxo Bank is a perfect example. Andy (Schleck) was in the front, but he had a great team and he didn't have to do anything. He went in completely rested and we were just fighting for their wheel.

"When we hit the key sections - I can't lie, I was on the limit. So it was a lot different to training."

Armstrong's "very frustrating" day could soon be forgotten. The Tour heads upwards as of this weekend for three stage which, nevertheless, do not offer the best terrain for attacking in the mountains.

But he now knows what he has to do to claw back the lost time. "We lost significant time, so we just have to keep our head up and take our chances on the climbs," he said.

"Our chances took a knock today, but we're not going home. We'll stay in the race. Sometimes you're the hammer and some days you're the nail. Today I was the nail. I've had plenty days when I was the hammer."

Frank Schleck receives medical attention after his crash on the cobblestones of stage 3

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Frank Schleck Breaks Collarbone - Pulls Out of Tour

Luxembourg's Frank Schleck broke his collarbone in three places, his Saxo Bank team said Tuesday after the Tour de France hopeful crashed out of the race on the chaotic third stage.

Schleck hit the ground on the fourth, and one of the most difficult, of seven cobblestone sectors on the finale of the 213km race from Wanze in Brussels to here.

His brother Andy, last year's runner-up to Alberto Contador of Spain, finished among the front group with Australian Cadel Evans and stage winner Thor Hushovd to leave rival Lance Armstrong down the standings.

Andy's superb ride on one of the most treacherous stages of this year's race was tempered by the fact he lost his brother for the rest of his campaign. Saxo Bank later said in a statement:

"After the horrible crash earlier today, Team Saxo Bank's Frank Schleck was examined at a local hospital where x-rays revealed three fractures of his left collarbone which obviously stopped the national champion of Luxembourg from continuing today's stage.

"After having congratulated his teammates tonight after a job well done on the cobblestones, he is undergoing immediate surgery and will be out of competition for a longer period of time."

Frenchman David Le Lay of AG2R was also forced out of the Tour today, suffering collarbone injuries of his own. Le Lay, a climbing specialist like Frank Schleck, crashed on a relatively smooth section of road just after the halfway point of the 213 km ride from Wanze in Belgium to Arenberg in France.

Floyd Landis in 2006

(Photo: Roberto Bettini)

Landis' Allegations Prompt 'Significant' Inquiry - WADA Chief

In other Tour de France news, disgraced non-champion Floyd Landis's allegations about doping in cycling have sparked a "significant" inquiry that could take months to complete, a world anti-doping chief said Tuesday.

David Howman, Director General of the World Anti Doping Agency, told AFP that WADA had helped US investigators establish cooperation with European counterparts through Interpol as the probe broadens.

Landis's claims in May prompted the US authorities to launch a federal

investigation led by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) special agent Jeff

Novitzky, who dismantled a key doping network in the United States before.

"This investigation has been going on for many weeks and I think it is a

significant inquiry," Howman said.

"And it's one that might go on for many more weeks because it essentially started with a US inquiry and is spreading," he explained. "We've been persuading people to cooperate and think that would be helpful."

Landis, a former member of US Postal, won the Tour de France in 2006 while riding for Phonak, only to be stripped of the title after testing positive for testosterone. Having consistently claimed his innocence for years, the American finally confessed to doping last month. But in a bid to "clear his conscience," he took his claims much further and accused seven-times Tour champion Lance Armstrong, and several other former teammates, of using banned doping products or methods at US Postal.

Armstrong, who has consistently rejected such allegations, hit out Saturday only hours before the start of his final Tour de France race at more "false" doping accusations levelled by Landis.

Howman said information from any athlete could not be dismissed. "We have to say we were disappointed at having to spend so much money pursuing Mr Landis, but you can't say that's something which should stop you from listening to him," he added. "That would show a closed mind." Howman reiterated that WADA was ready to listen to any leads that would help fight doping.

Novitzky led a successful probe into the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative) scandal, which produced and supplied designer drugs for Major League Baseball players and athletes, leading to several convictions including that of American sprint star Marion Jones.