|
|
STAGE 16: MARTIGNY (SWITZERLAND) - BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, 159 KM: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 16: ASTARLOZA STEALS THE STAGE
By Chris Henry in Bourg-Saint-Maurice
July 21, 2009
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Tackling two giant climbs, the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard and the Col
du Petit-Saint-Bernard, the stage 16 parcours offered scant few moments
of flat. Climbing from kilometer one and ending at the bottom of a 31km
descent, the 159 kilometers traveled on the road from Martigny in
Switzerland, through a brief incursion into Italy, and over the final
climb into France produced a deserving winner and a dynamic, animated
stage.
After figuring in the right moves throughout the stage, Astarloza
knew what he needed to do to escape from his lead group of four riders
on the fast, technical run-in to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. His execution of
that plan could not have gone better, making his move just before a
chasing group of four latched on to the leaders.
"I tried many times to win a stage," the Basque rider said of his
multiple Tour de France participations, responding to questions in
perfect French. "I don't win often because I'm not very good in the
sprint so I have to attack from a longer way out. Today it worked!"
"It's a big day for me today," he smiled. "For the team it's also
very important to win a stage. I tried to attack on the descent as
because there was a group coming up from behind. Today I was lucky to
get away alone and nobody was able to come back."
Alberto Contador (Astana) had no trouble holding on to the overall
lead after his first full day in the yellow jersey. The Spaniard holds
an advantage of 1:37 over his teammate, Lance Armstrong, and 1:46 over
the Briton Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) with five stages
remaining.
"Tomorrow there will still be attacks," Contador said, insisting as
most leaders do that the race is far from over. "I'm feeling the
fatigue from several tough days but I think everyone's legs hurt."
Two Climbs and Nowhere to Hide
Stage 16 was marked by a
number of attacks and the forming and re-forming of lead groups on the
road. The race began to take shape as king of the mountains Franco
Pellizotti (Liquigas) attacked a lead group of 21 on the lower slopes
of the first climb. Pellizotti was chasing more points for his polka
dot jersey and he was soon joined by the big Russian, Vladimir Karpets
(Katusha). In addition to taking maximum mountain points, Pellizotti
claimed the famous Souvenir Henri Desgrange, a 5,000 euro bonus named
for the Tour's founder that is offered each year on the race's highest
peak.
 Pellizotti missed out on the stage win but increased his lead in the mountains competition (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Astarloza, meanwhile, took advantage of the support of several
teammates during an attack on the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, creating
an early selection that he would later follow up with a move that would
establish the winning breakaway on the second and final climb of the
day.
Pellizotti and Karpets maintained their advantage until the foot of
the Petit-Saint-Bernard before new attacks reshuffled the deck. The
yellow jersey of Contador was safely tucked in a group just over four
minutes behind as Astana dutifully kept watch on the move. On the
undulating slopes of the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard, Belgian Jurgen van
den Broeck (Silence-Lotto) began a series of surges to thin the lead
group, ultimately creating a selection of four with Pellizotti,
Astarloza, and Amael Moinard (Cofidis) that would cross the final
summit together.
 Frank and Andy Schleck took turns attacking Contador, but could not drop the Spaniard (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
In the yellow jersey group, Team Saxo Bank was ready to rumble and
put several riders on the front to lift the pace, setting up Andy and
Frank Schleck for another Luxemburger one-two. Andy Schleck showed that
he is not afraid to attack Contador, but his moves were marked
immediately by the yellow jersey. A brief selection up front- that left
Lance Armstrong in the distance- would soon come back together as the
attacks were neutralized.
"It was still a hard stage," Contador commented at the finish.
"When the Schleck brothers attacked, we were ready. I was able to keep
up without difficulty but I knew there was a long descent too so I'm
happy to have finished up front."
Armstrong himself showed that he too is still a force to be
reckoned with, jumping clear of his chase group to bridge the gap to
the leaders. For the first time in this Tour de France, the seven-time
winner looked to be climbing with the punch and quick-pedaling power
that was the hallmark of his Tour reign.
 Armstrong had an incredible day and defended his second place in the general classification (Photo: Roberto Bettini)
"Lance is a great rider," Contador added, when asked about
Armstrong's move to rejoin the yellow jersey group. "He's shown it
before and he showed it again today. I know he would have helped me if
I needed him in the first group. He's still a great champion and to
have him working for me is fantastic."
As the battle for yellow calmed down, two groups of four riders
were locked in a high-speed duel on the 31km descent to the finish.
Despite a first attempt by Moinard to move clear in the finale, it was
Astarloza who played the winning hand with his cunning acceleration at
2km to go. Pellizotti was disappointed to miss out again but could
console himself with a solid lead in the mountains competition.
Damage on the Descent
Sadly, the descent of the Col du
Petit-Saint-Bernard was not kind to some. Saxo Bank's super-domestique
Jens Voigt fell hard on a seemingly innocuous straightaway. The big
German was on the back of the yellow jersey group when, rising out of
the saddle, his front wheel went airborne just long enough to
destabilize him given the speed of the descent. Voigt landed on his
shoulder and head, unable to even get a hand out to try to protect
himself.
With sparks flying from his bike, he slide down the pavement, lucky
to be missed by the closely following television motorcycles. Initial
reports following the stage indicated that Voigt suffered a head
injury, briefly losing consciousness on the mountain. He was
transported by ambulance to the hospital in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Among the Tour contenders, biggest loser of the day was Cadel
Evans, who has been thoroughly evicted from the overall classification.
"I'm
out of it; I'm out of the race," Evans told AFP, following up with
another cryptic explanation of his woes in this year's Tour.
"Physically, everything is fine. But for professional reasons I can't
comment on the problems I've been having."
Tomorrow the Tour will face up to its biggest day in the Alps, with
five major climbs on the menu and another rapid descent to the finish
in Le Grand Bornand. The brothers Schleck will not give Contador an
easy ride to Paris, even if the 2007 Tour winner looks to be in
complete command of this year's race. Regardless, the podium is wide
open with five days of action remaining.
Stage 16: July 21, Martigny (Switzerland) to Bourg-Saint-Maurice 159km
1. Mikel Astarloza (ESP/Euskaltel-Euskadi) 4hr 14min 20sec (37,510 km/h)
2. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) @ 0:06sec
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/Bbox Bouygues Telecom)
4. Nicolas Roche (IRL/AG2R La Mondiale)
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/Silence-Lotto)
6. Amaël Moinard (FRA/Cofidis)
7. Franco Pellizotti (ITA/Liquigas) @ 0:11
8. Stéphane Goubert (FRA/AG2R La Mondiale)
9. Christophe Moreau (FRA/Agritubel) @ 0:59
10. Alberto Contador (ESP/Astana)
Overall Classification After Stage 16
1. Alberto Contador (ESP/Astana) 67h 33min 15sec
2. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) @ 1:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 1:46
4. Andreas Kloden (GER/Astana) @ 2:17
5. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) @ 2:26
6. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas) @ 2:51
7. Christophe Le Mevel (FRA/Française des Jeux) @ 3:09
8. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) @ 3:25
9. Carlos Sastre (SPA/Cervélo TestTeam) @ 3:52
10. Christian Vande Velde (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 3:59
Other Classifications
Green Jersey: Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervélo TestTeam)
Polka Dot Jersey: Franco Pellizotti (ITA/Liquigas)
White Jersey: Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank)
Teams: Astana..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|