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RACE REPORTS: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 9: SCHLECK GETS WHAT HE WANTS
Road Bike Action
July 13, 2010
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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.
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