|
|
RACE REPORTS: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 12: DEBUTANT JOAQUIN RODRIGUEZ FLIES TO FIRST IN MENDE
Road Bike Action and AFP
July 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|