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DAILY RACE COVERAGE: SPRINTER'S DAY
Road Bike Action and AFP
July 15, 2010
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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.
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