Stage 7
Manosque - Fayence : 191km
Comment
This penultimate stage could prove to be an uncomfortable one in the saddle for many, including us as we look to conserve Moerenhout's top 10 GC placing on unpredictable terrain. The extreme winds today add to the strain.
Race Report
The day's break - Dessel, Barry, Russ, Righi, Pujol Stangelj, Uran, Morizot and Romain Feillu, who are later joined by Dyachencko, Morabito, Vaugranerd, Buffaz and King of The Mountains, Jerome Pineau.
Then something peculiar happens, as the severe crosswinds are exploited by Lotto riders. As you can see several of our riders make it across the split, but leader Moerenhout does not rank amongst their numbers..!
Thankfully BBOX soon solve our dilemna by pulling the rest of the group back together.
On the day's major climb, Moerenhout stays alert to moves from the likes of Contador and Gerrans, but nothing comes of it.
Escapee Uran fights hard but the wind buffets him back to the peleton. An 89-man group now prepares to take on the uphill finish.
Gilbert, Contador, and Pellizotti shoot off before we can begin! Not for the first time today, Moerenhout is caught off guard in the bunch, but Tankink helps him launch a counter move.
Gilbert streaks off into the distance and soars to the victory and likely race leadership.
Somewhat stupidly, we have told Moerenhout push on after Gilbert. He is caught and crosses the line empty in 8th place, alongside the frantic Maillot Jaune of Voeckler.
Comment
Despite making 15 seconds on the peleton, Moerenhout's 8th place is snatched by Pelizotti by a single second. Still, we would be happy to retain this placing as we head into Nice for the race finish tommorow.
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 4h40'08
2 Alberto Contador ASTANA + 21
3 John Gadret AG2R LA MONDIALE s.t.
4 Franco Pellizotti LIQUIGAS + 32
5 Damien Monier COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE s.t.
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
7 Jonathan Hivert SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
8 Koos Moerenhout RABOBANK + 52
9 Thomas Voeckler BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM s.t.
10 Juan José Cobo FUJI - SERVETTO s.t.
GC
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 27h40'39
2 Thomas Voeckler BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM + 38
3 Alberto Contador ASTANA + 53
4 John Gadret AG2R LA MONDIALE + 54
5 Juan José Cobo FUJI - SERVETTO + 1'27
6 Jakob Fuglsang TEAM SAXO BANK + 1'48
7 Jurgen Van den Broeck SILENCE-LOTTO + 1'49
8 Franco Pellizotti LIQUIGAS + 1'59
9 Koos Moerenhout RABOBANK + 2'00
10 Jonathan Hivert SKIL - SHIMANO + 2'30
