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RACE REPORTS: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 14: RIBLON VICTORIOUS IN AX-3-DOMAINES
Road Bike Action and AFP
July 18, 2010
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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.
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