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RACE REPORTS: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 8: SÁNCHEZ SLINGSHOTS TO VICTORY
By Chris Henry in Saint-Girons
July 11, 2009
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Sanchez had the sharpest legs and head to take victory in stage 8
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez picked up the pieces from Caisse d'Epargne's shattered Tour hopes with a textbook stage victory here in Saint Girons. Sanchez won the sprint from a group of four that escaped early in the day as the Tour de France left the principality of Andorra and returned to home soil over three climbs in the Pyrenees. It was a victory of salvation after the Spanish team- already deprived of its top talent in Alejandro Valverde- lost its leader, 2006 Tour winner Oscar Pereiro, who abandoned on the first climb of the day.
Ronaldi Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) fought back from early fatigue to hold the yellow jersey while Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) took over leadership in the green points jersey. Close to polka dots yesterday at Arcalis, Cofidis' Christophe Kern took over the climber's jersey while Columbia's Tony Martin remains best-placed among the young riders.
"After the Dauphine I came with the team to look at the team time trial course in Montpellier," the victorious Sanchez explained after the finish. "After that the others went home and I stayed on to check out this stage. I knew this stage was one that would suit me."
"Having already lost time yesterday, I also knew I would have a bit more freedom today to attack and that's what happened," he added.
Although today's 176.5km stage took in two first category climbs and one second category, a long descent to the finish favored a breakaway as the favorites held back, skeptical of any chances to provoke a split. Sandy Casar of La Française des Jeux moved clear of a small group that formed early on the marathon 23km climb to the Port d'Envalira, crossing the summit alone.
In a move of desperation, Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) rocketed clear from the main field and bridged to the Frenchman at the 50km mark. The Australian, already battered and bruised in the overall standings, brought several riders with him but few were impressed with his tactics. While a solid group for a breakaway, it nonetheless was a move which Casar found none too pleasing.
"I didn't quite understand Evans' move," Casar complained at the finish. "I'm not sure what he thought he would accomplish."
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Evans launched a futile move on the day's first climb
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
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The Astana team naturally wound up the pace to reel in Evans, who opted out of the breakaway sensing how futile the effort would be. By the bottom of the Envalira, Casar was clear with a group including, among others, Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R), Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), George Hincapie (Columbia-HTC), and Hushovd, who was picking off points in the intermediate sprints on his way to the green jersey.
Suffering First, Tactics Later
It wasn't until the lumpy roads on the ascent of the final climb, the Col d'Agnes, that the winning quartet moved clear. Casar suffered, but clung his way back to Sanchez and Euskaltel's Mikel Astarloza, who had moved up on the ascent. The four were free to cruise to the finish in Saint Girons, as none of the overall contenders was interested in organizing a chase.
Team Saxo Bank's young hope Andy Schleck tested the legs with an acceleration on the Col d'Agnes and created a split in the lead group that put the yellow jersey Nocentini in difficulty. The move ultimately fizzled, however, and the main peloton swelled as the day's short-lived battle for the classification shut down. This sealed the move for the four up front as tactics began to play out in the closing kilometers.
"I had told my teammates and my director that today was the day I wanted to try something," Casar explained. "I gave it everything from the start. I suffered a lot from all the work this morning, but I really didn't want to give that away and end up finishing in the bunch."
Spain's Astarloza was the first to break the trust of the breakaway, trying an attack but failing to gain any distance. The cat and mouse began with 3km to go until it was the small Russian Efimkin who, having followed wheels for the majority of the escape, tried his own solo move. Casar's most useful display of tactics came in forcing the two Spaniards to work together to chase, hoping to wear out the fast-finishing Sanchez.
Efimkin was caught by Sanchez, and with 300m to go it was Casar who tried to open the sprint. The Frenchman went too early and failed to gain any distance on Sanchez, who rallied once more to come around and take his second career stage win. For Casar, it was a fifth runner-up placing in the Tour.
"I knew that Efimkin didn't have a sprint and that his only chance was to go early, which he did," said Sanchez, who was once a teammate of the Russian's.
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Despite early difficulties, yellow jersey Nocentini hung on to the Astana-led field
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
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The main field eventually rolled in just under two minutes later, while two big groups of non-clumbers followed more than 10 minutes behind. The Italian Nocentini was pleased to survive his first test in yellow, noting that tomorrow should provide an easier day given the distance from the summit of the final climb, the mighty Col du Tourmalet, to the finish in Tarbes.
"I was very tired on the first climbs but I have to say thanks to the whole team because they all did a lot of work for me," Nocentini commented after receiving his second maillot jaune. "Stéphane Goubert in particular did a great job as team captain. He stayed with me and did a lot of work after I was already dropped. I owe him a big thank you."
Stage 8: July 11, Andorra-la-Vella to Saint-Girons 176.5km
1. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/Caisse d'Epargne) 4h 31min 50sec (38.958 km/h)
2. Sandy Casar (FRA/Française des Jeux) @ s.t.
3. Mikel Astarloza (ESP/Euskaltel-Euskadi)
4. Vladimir Efimkin (RUS/AG2R La Mondiale) @ 0:03
5. José Joaquin Rojas (ESP/Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1:54
6. Christophe Riblon (FRA/AG2R La Mondiale)
7. Peter Velits (SVK/Milram)
8. Sébastien Minard (FRA/Cofidis)
9. Jeremy Roy (FRA/Française des Jeux)
10. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/Bbox Bouygues Telecom)
Overall Classification After Stage 8
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/AG2R La Mondiale) 30h 18min 16sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/Astana) @ 0:06
3. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) @ 0:08
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) @ 0:39
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 0:46
6. Andreas Kloden (GER/Astana) @ 0:54
7. Tony Martin (GER/Columbia-HTC) @ 1:00
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 1:24
9. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) @ 1:49
10. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas) @ 1:54
Other Classifications
Green Jersey: Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam)
Polka Dot Jersey: Christophe Kern (Cofidis)
White Jersey: Tony Martin (Columbia-HTC)
Teams: AG2R La Mondiale
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