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RACE REPORTS: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 16: FEDRIGO FOR FRANCE, THOR GOES GREEN
Road Bike Action and AFP
July 20, 2010
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Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom) wins the sprint in Pau after a long breakaway in Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France.
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Pierrick Fedrigo gave France one more reason celebrate 100 years of the Tour in the Pyrenees as he sprinted to a stage win in Pau, the 6th for the French in the 2010 Tour de France. The 199.5 kilometer stage 16 took the riders over four major Pyreneean cols: Col de Peyresourde (11.0 km at 7.4 %, Category 1), Col d'Aspin (12.3 km at 6.3 %, Category 1) , Col du Tourmalet (17.1 km at 7.3 % HC), and Col d'Aubisque (29.2 km climb at 4.2 %HC) in another exciting day of racing in France.
 Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) attacks and surges on the slopes of the Pyrenees in Stage 16 of the Tour de France. (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Breaking Away to Stay
At kilometer 50, Sandy Casar (Francais des Jeux) broke free from the peloton. On the early slopes of the Tourmalet, Lance Armstrong bridged to Casar. Armstrong appeared strong in classic climbing style. As he reached Casar it seemed the two would try to work together, however the pace was not enough for Armstrong and he knew chasers were on the way.
The two would eventually be brought back together and the break would swell and finally settle on 9 riders: Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom, Ruben Plaza (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack, Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) Quick Step, Christophe Moreau (FRA) Caisse d'Epargne and Quick Step's Carlos Barredo. Multiple attacks on the slopes of the Tourmalet and Aubisque failed as each rider tried to make his mark on the stage. Moreau proved to be the best climber as he sprinted to the top of the Tourmalet and Aubisque to win precious King of the Mountain points.
The attacks softened as the riders crested the Aubisque and headed downhill into Pau.
 The moment Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) knows he will not win Stage 16 of the 2010 Tour de France- after 44 kilometers solo effort. (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Spaniard Carlos Barredo freed himself from the breakaway with 45 kilometers to go with an average gap of 40 seconds. At 10 km to go, the gap was whittled to 20 seconds yet it was still unclear if the chase would catch Barredo before the finish line. In the final uphill section of the course, and right on the 1 kilometer to go banner, he would concede to the breakaway and ride in to the finish in a state of utter disappointment.
The riders in the break- none sprinters- were faced with a bunch sprint to the line. Each rider seemed to make his case, Armstrong perhaps moving a bit too late, and Fedrigo emerged the victor.
"I knew it was going to be my day," said Fedrigo, who handed his team their second win of the race after Thomas Voeckler's impressive victory on stage 15 on Monday. "I felt something this morning that it was going to be my day. It's just little details, like seeing fans of the team and some family, but I knew I just had to go for it."
Mellow Yellow
The yellow jersey and GC contenders spent a leisurely day in the Pyrenees. There were no attacks by the GC contenders, and no changes gain or loss by Andy Schleck or Alberto Contador. Contador retained yellow for another day. The two are prepared for what will be one of the last decisive stages in the race for yellow- the final Pyreneean stage on Thursday that will finish top the Tourmalet. After the Tourmalet, their last battle will be when they face the final time trial Saturday before heading into Paris.
 A true champion Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) shows his climbing prowess in the Pyrenees as he fights for points in the green jersey battle. (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
The Green Mountain Machine
Among the group sat Norwegian sprint star Thor Hushovd. Hushovd vowed to take back the green jersey by any means possible in what has been one of the most exciting battles of the 2010 Tour. Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) has been playing a game of tag with Hushovd and the green jersey as the two eke out points on the line. Hushovd realized that his recovery from a crash earlier this year has slowed his sprint, and he may have trouble winning the jersey on sprint finishes alone. As such, he has taken to the mountains in order to get to the line and gain precious sprint points. Norwegian fans cheered as Hushovd held his own with the peloton all the way up the Cols.
Christophe Moreau turned up the heat on Anthony Charteau in the King of the Mountains competition for the polka dot jersey by claiming first place and the full 40 points on Col D'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet. Moreau moved himself into second place behind his fellow country man in the competition. Charteau maintains 143 points over Moreau's 128. The battle will continue on the second ascent of the Col du Tourmalet on Thursday when the Tour resumes.
Stage 16 Results:
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox-Bouygues Telecom in 5 hours 31' and 43"
2. Sandy Casar (FRA) Francais des Jeux at same time
3. Ruben Plaza (EPS) Caisse d'Epargne at s.t.
4. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini at s.t.
5. Chris Horner (USA) RadioShack at s.t.
6. Lance Armstrong (USA) RadioShack at s.t.
7. Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL) Quick Step at s.t.
8. Christophe Moreau (FRA) Caisse d'Epargne at s.t.
9. Carlos Barredo (ESP) Quick Step at 28"
10. Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam at 6'45"
Overall General Classification after Stage 16:
1. Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana in 78h29min 10sec
2. Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank at 8"
3. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) Euskatel-Euskadi at 2'
4. Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank at 2'13"
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 3'39"
6. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank at 5'01"
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) RadioShack at 5'25"
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Katusha at 5'45"
9. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana at 7'12"
10. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Transitions at 7'51"
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