Let's start by introducing our Tour squad, you know by now of course that Andy Schleck will be leading the team. He has won a Grand Tour now and the Tour de Suisse maybe chance to get the Andy cannot stop being pistol whipped by El Pistolero thing out of the way.
The others well the presence of cobbles and lack of time bonuses makes it a nice one for Fabian Cancellara to lord it over everyone, though we are a bit concerned about that young German fella. Stuey O'Grady is good to have around and Jacob Fuglsang proved more than welcome in the Giro. Chris Anker Sorenson is our other pet project and we better throw him in there to ramp up the pressure on the climbs. We will give JJ Haedo a shot though he probably has no hope of landing a sprint. We decide to fill the rest of the team up with riders that can climb a bit Lund, Didier and Jorgenson fit the bill.
Anyway like a lot of others we avoid Dauphine and head over to the nuetral country for final preparations. The parcours for the Tour of Switzerland:
... are hilly, hilly and more hilly with a sprinkling of Time Trial and a mountain stage that will probably not even drop that old Radioshack team leader.
Stage one
It doesn't change the fact that this is a nice race to win, so you can imagine that we were most pleased the results from the opening stage.
Cancellara probably was not that shocking to kick everyones butt...
.... but for Schleck to go above and beyond by a Cancellara factor was really amazing.
(Hey it has a hill in and ones like that AI seems to screw up - I will not complain too loudly if you don't!)
The headlines is that it is Contador vs Schleck part 2 - not yet judgement day. Armstrong and his merry band are here and it is one of those prep races for Denis Menchov. Some people will get excited about Igor Anton and the wild cards look interesting with Ricco, Mosquera and Pozzovivo about.
Stage two then big mountain in the middle but big sprint at the end, it is possible some of those lardy sprinters didn't much previously mentioned mound and we had Footon grab one of their few glory moments in the season.
Stage three
It looks like someone is searching for some form here, either that or he doesn't like being domestique in the peleton. Vino is enjoying himself in the breakaways.
At the end it feels like the Tirrano Adriatico all over again as Kolobnev attacks the front runners.
But we get a bit more to the recent past as Andy Schleck reels in the Russian overtakes and takes a very nice stage win gapping those fools behind.
Looking at the stage results:
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
5h24'55
2
Alexandr Kolobnev
Team Katusha
+ 34
3
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
s.t.
4
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
5
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
6
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
7
Sergueï Ivanov
Team Katusha
s.t.
8
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
s.t.
9
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
10
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
11
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
12
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
13
Alberto Contador
Astana
s.t.
18
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
25
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
27
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
31
Filippo Pozzato
Team Katusha
s.t.
32
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
34
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
s.t.
39
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
43
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
47
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
s.t.
55
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 1'46
56
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
69
Ezequiel Mosquera
Xacobeo - Galicia
+ 2'22
72
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
+ 2'34
75
Riccardo Riccò
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'54
81
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
97
Stuart O'Grady
Team Saxo Bank
+ 5'30
98
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'38
110
Domenik Klemme
Team Saxo Bank
+ 7'46
119
Laurent Didier
Team Saxo Bank
+ 8'26
154
Juan José Haedo
Team Saxo Bank
+ 24'18
165
Brett Lancaster
Cervélo Test Team
+ 35'54
Andy did well to get away - still it is looking very rosy on GC.
Smowz wrote:
... are hilly, hilly and more hilly with a sprinkling of Time Trial and a mountain stage that will probably not even drop that old Radioshack team leader.
Love your jokes about RadioShack Good luck in Switzerland, stage 1 was already a good start.
Okay Andy has a handy lead, though it is a long route through to the final TT - most expecting fireworks on La Punt.
Stage four
Nice and easy day for the Saxobank boys, what was really fab was well Fab wins a sprint!
Stage five
Four stages and three wins, the knives are really out for the selfish Saxobank boys - a number of teams realise they have no chance of retribution on La Punt so they attack here. It is tactical - by that I mean I refuse to wast Saxobank whipping boys chasing down everything as Khailov takes the win on this hilly one.
Stage six
Saxo decide to do what Euskatel did at the Dauphine we are not fooling for the old you attack first and we counter trick (especially with Schleck's gearing) so we allow Oliver Zuagg some freedom. We do show some strength at the end but not enough quite to catch Zaugg who takes a nice win for him.
No-one really gets dropped here... the lack of attacks no doubt frustrating the organisors of this tour.
Stage:
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Oliver Zaugg
Liquigas - Doimo
6h31'09
2
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
3
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
4
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
5
Alberto Contador
Astana
s.t.
6
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
7
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
8
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
s.t.
9
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
10
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
11
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
12
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
13
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
s.t.
14
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
15
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
16
Ezequiel Mosquera
Xacobeo - Galicia
s.t.
17
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
s.t.
18
Haimar Zubeldia
Team RadioShack
+ 59
19
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'42
20
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
21
Robert Kiserlovski
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
22
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
23
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 2'29
24
Marcel Wyss
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
25
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
26
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 3'17
27
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
28
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
37
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
+ 4'33
45
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'33
46
Riccardo Riccò
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
51
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
+ 8'45
60
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
+ 9'13
61
Laurent Didier
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
74
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
+ 13'21
108
Stuart O'Grady
Team Saxo Bank
+ 27'05
125
Domenik Klemme
Team Saxo Bank
+ 38'17
150
Kirk Carlsen
Garmin - Transitions
+ 55'45
The presence of Tony Martin in this front group getting the press started on Ullrich comparisons.
GC:
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
25h23'16
2
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
+ 1'04
3
Alberto Contador
Astana
+ 1'12
4
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
+ 1'15
5
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
+ 1'16
6
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 1'19
7
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'20
8
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
9
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
10
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 1'22
11
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
s.t.
12
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Garmin - Transitions
+ 1'25
13
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 1'30
14
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
15
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 3'07
16
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 3'13
17
Robert Kiserlovski
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 3'16
18
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
19
Ezequiel Mosquera
Xacobeo - Galicia
+ 3'22
20
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3'52
22
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 3'56
23
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 4'40
24
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 4'41
29
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 5'56
30
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
+ 5'57
38
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 9'13
48
Riccardo Riccò
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 11'41
52
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 13'13
56
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
+ 13'24
58
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
+ 14'09
59
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
+ 14'14
92
Laurent Didier
Team Saxo Bank
+ 29'10
98
Stuart O'Grady
Team Saxo Bank
+ 34'35
113
Domenik Klemme
Team Saxo Bank
+ 53'08
Stage seven
So La Punt sucked from a spectators point of view, but suited us down to the ground. Even better when this stage that looked tricky on our race maps but another tame one saw Matty Goss show that his pedigree.
Stage eight
Tony Martin gave a press conference explaining his nickname was not Der Kaiser II and that he would just be happy with a stage win. Schleck calmly responds with saying Martin is seen as his major competitor in the TT. Contador points to the direction of France, whilst Lance Armstring is seen giving a briefcase to some UCI officials as a 'gift' whilst riding a helicopter.
Back in the real world Footon Serveto win another stage... hmm I thought we were back in the real world!
Stage nine
Time Trial time, it is quite a long one a good test I suppose for that horribly long one at the Tour.
Cancellara set the benchmark at 36 minutes and 14 seconds, Sparticus kinda phoned this one in though (daily form was not the bext neither was the 'direacteur sportif'.
Still it was still eight second quicker than well known GC Time Trial Giro-Vuelta former winner Denis Menchov 36.22 for blink and you miss him Russian.
Lance Armstrong shows that he clearly doesn't have 'it' anymore finishing 36 seconds slower than Menchov and 44 seconds behind Cancellara. The race of truth has found the Texan out. He mutters something about hammers and nails or something and everyone thinks what a tool!
Contador claims that he did not attack on La Punt to prove he could smoke 'everyone' (read his only real rival Schleck) in the time trial. This while happily gobbling up some specially prepared steak delivered from China by the Astana team chef. The bugger proves himself right with a formidable effort 27 seconds faster than Cancellara.
You may thing this would have given Berti a chance to do his pistol salute but not today - first Tony Martin has already gone faster. Berti you should have cracked Der Kaiser mark II - oops sorry Tony - on the one mountain the Swiss race allowed us.
Tony Martin sets 35.28, that is well 46 seconds faster than Cancellara in his home tour ... ouch. It also means that Andy Schleck has to finish in a time of 36.47 to win the Tour de Suisse. Thats the time that Lance Armstrong did - fortunately Andy Schleck even on a day when he is not feeling great manages to set a time of 36.18 and wins the Tour de Suisse.
Stage:
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
35'28
2
Alberto Contador
Astana
+ 19
3
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
+ 46
4
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 51
5
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
+ 53
6
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 54
7
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 56
8
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 1'01
9
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 1'03
10
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'09
11
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'15
12
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 1'18
13
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 1'21
14
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'26
15
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 1'30
21
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
+ 1'54
33
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
+ 2'24
36
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
+ 2'25
39
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
+ 2'30
47
Ezequiel Mosquera
Xacobeo - Galicia
+ 2'43
56
Stuart O'Grady
Team Saxo Bank
+ 2'54
66
Riccardo Riccò
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'02
71
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3'05
72
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
74
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'06
82
Domenik Klemme
Team Saxo Bank
+ 3'20
91
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
+ 3'25
103
Laurent Didier
Team Saxo Bank
+ 3'41
149
Joaquín Novoa
Cervélo Test Team
+ 4'42
So Andy Schleck manages to beat Alberto Contador on the eve of the Tour - lets celebrate a little and then try again!
Roturn/HuDCC: Andy has MO 85, HI 82 and TT 75 by the time of the tour, trouble is though he is beginning to look a bit tired. It'll be tricky by the time of the tour... speaking of which after a busy time (real life stuff + Man Game reporting) I will be bringing it to you.
Pelli, Alak: Yes it is was an nice race the Tour de Suisse - trying to put Tony Martin into difficulties and also beating Contador was a confidence boost ahead of the Tour.
So quick preview of the big race next post then...
I smile wryly as I see the winners podium - arrogant buggers the lot of them I say. Andy's father has just informed me of the project - that bald turncoat Nygard is involved too. That's it the lot of 'em, they are all going to go and after all I have done for them. Fabian has the cobbled triple crown to his name, Frankie Paris Nice and Fleche Wallonie. As for Andy well if after this anyone has any doubt that he is the best stage racer in the world and indeed the best mountain climber well we see.
For me I don't know whether I will even be in Saxobank anymore - Riis has texted in saying don't panic we have Contador... no way I am in the mood to direct the guy I have just tried to torture over the last three weeks!
I need to tell my story though so lets rewind back to Holland as we all had gathered for the big showdown... I recall then it was all smiles.
2nd July 2010: Rotterdam, Holland
Has Andy got it in his legs for three more weeks? I have just got off the phone with his father.. he thinks we have overdone it and he thinks my plans for next year are barmy. Some people just hate the romance of cycling. I agree though that this race the Tour is the most important, the world is watching and I have just seen a TV broadcast somehow writing off Andy's achievements this year.
He is the 'King' of Italy and Switzerland as I see it having beating the Italians in the Giro and beaten Contador and Oldstrong at Suisse. Here is our squad.
Cance and O Grady will try to make the first week hard. JJ is a bit of a wild card for the sprints, we have the excellent in the Giro Fuglsang and Chris Anker for the mountain support. Jorgenson, Didier and Lund should held as minor mountain helpers too.
We are going to have to make the mountains count and given Andy's season so far we have to try in the Alps and the Pyrenees to animate the race.
Big rival... you know his name and for some reason he gave his press conference with some mean looking bald guy in the background.
What the hell is Riis doing there? Anyway Contador will not be 60% here, he will be 100%, he has been building nicely for this and has not been inconvenienced by giving the Italians a good spanking in their home tour. Answering questions coolly about the recent Suisse disappointment - he says that was for training. Jerk. Seriously though he has politics to deal with in his own team strong as they are on paper.
Navarro, Vino, De la Fuente and Grivko should give Berti the help he needs and lets not forget he just won the Spanish TT championship so he will know he has a bit of time on Andy already.
That's it really then, surely it is Conta vs Andy... ah but what about these two wheelsuckers?
Actually thats a bit cruel on Sanchez, who has just won the Dauphine in fine style. Punchaer turned GT rider, he is like Andy much improved against the clock and given those punchy abilities could well be a threat kicking away at finishes. But one thinks that Vuelta style bonuses are required for riders like him to win a Tour. He has a usual crew of unpronouncable Basque men
Menchov on the other hand is a wheel sucker through and through. He will suck and suck mainly on teammate Gesinks wheel and then he will hope to keep Andy, Berti and Sammy close and blitz em in the TT. You could call him the Russian Indurain, but Denis has shown in the past a really fine last kilometer of mountain stage kick. One weakness, he tends to fall off and is a bit downhill. Rabo, have stupidly wasted a place on Brown, but Gesink, Moleema and Ardila are here:
Lets also mention Armstrong - I prefer like cyalogic to picture his superior teammates though... I give you the waterboys
Nice strong team from Radioshack, unfortunately they lack a strong leader who has any chance of winning at all. Due respect though Armstrong managed to win this thing seven times - you have to be motivated to put your body, through all the training and whatever else you have to do to win this thing that many times!
I was asked by representives of the British newspapers what I though of track Olympic champ Wiggins.
Seen here with Baldy Brialsford - the Dauphine was an expose of why Wiggins cannot win the Tour. He cannot live with the best on the climbs... his squad are not much help.
Boasson Hagen may get some stage wins though, he will have to beat on the flat Cavendish, Farrar, Petacchi and Boonan. Here are the rest of the riders:
roturn wrote:
Nice presentation. Like how strong the teams are
But where is Voigte?
Unfortunately you may recall Voigt was on hand to help Frank in the early season stage races + Ardennes and helping Andy to the Giro win. He is saved back for the post Tour races like San Sebastian (helping Andy), GP Plouey, Lombardy and races like that. Le Tour was bit too much for him.
We have a bittersweet feel in the camp right now. The opening prologue started it all as Sparticus won the great duel with Tony Martin in Rotterdam.
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
11'00
2
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
3
Alberto Contador
Astana
+ 5
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 10
5
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 13
6
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 17
7
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 19
8
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 21
9
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
+ 22
10
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 23
11
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
+ 24
13
Sylvain Chavanel
Quick·Step
s.t.
14
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Transitions
+ 25
15
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 31
It was great to see Fabian in yellow there, but behind the scenes Saxobank strategists were disappointed as Andy had lost a lot of time in this one. Looking at it from a GC favourites point of view...
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
11'00
3
Alberto Contador
Astana
+ 5
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 10
5
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 13
6
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 17
7
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 19
8
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 21
9
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
+ 22
18
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32
20
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 33
50
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 48
51
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
+ 49
81
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 58
85
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
+ 59
112
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Transitions
+ 1'09
It was Contador that was smiling the most in Holland.
After stage one went to the sprinters, with Boassen Hagen taking one for the Sky lot.
I put the boys to work on the hilly one - it wasn't enough to force the kind of selection I was looking for as Pozzato took a tight group sprint ahead of a clearly on fire Contador.
The only real headline was Van den Broeck having to withdraw which disappointed a lot of Belgians of course. Hammer and nail man Armstrong lost a minute or so, as did Der Kaiser mark II Tony Martin but that was it.
The cobbles on todays stage three did cause some problems, such as LL Sanchez crashing.
But once again in terms of causing a big selection we could not, everytime it looked as though Fabian was pulling away Andy looked weak so he had to pull back. It meant a sprint won by decent cobbler for a sprinter Tyler Farrar.
So after trying to pull this thing to bits for the last few stages we have possesion of the yellow jersey, but we still have Schleck well down on GC. We have to wait for the Alps, but at the moment Contador is looking very good indeed. Him and Vino were right there at all times on the cobbles.
JJ Haedo really is useless - when it comes to high quality sprints, he just hasn't the necessary energy or skills. He proudly informed me this morning he has a good contract with HTC Columbia for next season, well good for him and good riddence.
He managed ninth on the flat stage four won perhaps surprsingly by Cofidis's Sammy Dumoulin. We saw this guy in the Paris Nice, he was very competative there and one again here.
If JJ was poor on stage four, he was awful on the next one. Losing energy pathetically in the finale as we had to let O Grady sprint into the top 10. Edvald Boassen Hagen took his stage tally to two here. The Norwegian then showed his class by taking stage six as well - we set Fabian to sprint here and he produced an excellent second place!
So the Sky man is dominating the sprints as reflected in the points standings:
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Points
General
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
35
147
2
Filippo Pozzato
Team Katusha
10
119
3
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
16
119
4
Mark Cavendish
Team HTC - Columbia
26
118
5
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Transitions
14
109
6
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step
20
108
7
Fabian Cancellara
Team Saxo Bank
30
104
8
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
24
100
9
Daniele Bennati
Liquigas - Doimo
22
94
10
Gert Steegmans
Team RadioShack
17
94
11
Allan Davis
Astana
19
89
12
Gerald Ciolek
Team Milram
12
75
The alps were upon us, but we all knew that Stage sevens finish into Rousess would only weed out the ones that simply were not strong enough. Whilst there is the urge to try and get time back we decide to wait for the next day. However one favourite doesn''t and catches the last man of the break Lopez before the line.
Sammy Sanchez managed to get a gap too.
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h54'26
2
David López
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
3
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 54
4
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank
s.t.
5
Kim Kirchen
Team Katusha
s.t.
6
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
7
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
s.t.
8
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
9
Alberto Contador
Astana
s.t.
10
Sérgio Paulinho
Team RadioShack
s.t.
11
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
12
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
13
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
s.t.
14
Cyril Gautier
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
15
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
16
Thibaut Pinot
Française des Jeux
s.t.
17
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
18
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
s.t.
19
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
20
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
21
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
s.t.
22
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
24
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step
s.t.
25
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
26
Robert Kiserlovski
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
27
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
28
Sandy Casar
Française des Jeux
s.t.
29
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
30
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
31
Christophe Le Mével
Française des Jeux
s.t.
32
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
33
Daniel Navarro
Astana
+ 2'35
34
Christophe Kern
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
35
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
36
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
37
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
38
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
39
Thomas Voeckler
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
40
Carlos Barredo
Quick·Step
s.t.
41
Rémy Di Gregorio
Française des Jeux
s.t.
42
Christophe Moreau
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
43
Marco Pinotti
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
44
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
45
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
46
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
47
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
48
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
49
Rafael Valls
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
50
Rémi Pauriol
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
51
Rigoberto Urán
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
52
Sylvain Chavanel
Quick·Step
s.t.
53
Dimitri Champion
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
54
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
55
Pierre Rolland
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
56
Jakob Fuglsang
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
57
Oliver Zaugg
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
58
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
59
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
60
Juan Mauricio Soler
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
61
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
62
Fabian Wegmann
Team Milram
+ 4'35
63
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step
+ 4'59
64
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana
s.t.
65
Amaël Moinard
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
66
Johan Van Summeren
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
67
Cyril Dessel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5'39
68
Andriy Grivko
Astana
s.t.
69
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
70
Vasil Kiryienka
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
71
Lars Ytting Bak
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
72
David De la Fuente
Astana
s.t.
73
Eros Capecchi
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
74
Alexandr Kolobnev
Team Katusha
s.t.
75
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
s.t.
Which means the Euskutel man takes the yellow jersey.
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
32h51'33
2
Alberto Contador
Astana
+ 27
3
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 32
4
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 35
5
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 39
6
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 43
7
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
+ 44
8
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
+ 46
9
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 55
10
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'01
11
Kim Kirchen
Team Katusha
+ 1'04
12
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'06
13
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step
+ 1'07
14
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
15
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 1'08
16
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
+ 1'11
17
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 1'20
18
Christophe Le Mével
Française des Jeux
+ 1'31
19
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 1'52
20
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 2'04
21
Sylvain Chavanel
Quick·Step
+ 2'27
22
Carlos Barredo
Quick·Step
+ 3'02
23
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
+ 3'08
24
Christophe Kern
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3'10
25
Sandy Casar
Française des Jeux
+ 3'47
So we got to the big first real mountain stage:
Euskatel were under control and we left them too it over the top of the Ramaz... it became a little cagey on the Avoiraz climb as first Andy went and then Contador countered.
You could see Sanchez playing close order with wheelsucker men Menchov and Wiggins. It meant the break were going to take the stage to the delight of Cofidis who took stage win two with Moncoutie.
Behind we realised that Andy was not on a super strong day we had to wait of course that Conta man follows his late last 2km dash for the line. But race leader Sanchez would lose a little as would his shadows!
We get the feeling we are getting bogged down though and certainly not making the gains required. Sammy Sanchez still leads and the first mountain top finish has not garnered selective results.
The day to commerate the storming of the Bastille has proved the day, perhaps surprisingly that Andy Schleck has shown the world that Berti Contador can be beaten in this years tour.
Yesterday on the Col de la Madelaine Berti made his move on a stage we were rightly concerned about Andy's sdescending skills.
It was a tough day, but with the mountains mainly packed early it really was relatively gentle. But Contador made his attack show on the big HC climb.
Andy was right there but Berti had a gap over the top which he extended on the descent. As he reeled in the break and took a stage win a full minute clear of Andy. Sanchez, Menchov et al had also been distanced.
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Alberto Contador
Astana
5h51'07
2
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
3
Charles Wegelius
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
4
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 58
5
Thomas Rohregger
Team Milram
s.t.
6
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 1'23
7
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1'44
8
Kim Kirchen
Team Katusha
s.t.
9
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
10
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
11
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step
s.t.
12
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
13
Christophe Le Mével
Française des Jeux
s.t.
14
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
15
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
16
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Rémy Di Gregorio
Française des Jeux
s.t.
18
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
19
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank
s.t.
20
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
21
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
22
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
s.t.
23
Robert Kiserlovski
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
24
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
s.t.
25
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
s.t.
26
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
27
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
28
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
29
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
30
Daniel Navarro
Astana
s.t.
31
Rémi Pauriol
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
32
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
33
Marco Pinotti
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
34
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
35
Sandy Casar
Française des Jeux
s.t.
36
Cyril Gautier
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
37
Mauricio Ardila
Rabobank
+ 3'28
38
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
39
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
40
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
41
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
42
Sérgio Paulinho
Team RadioShack
s.t.
43
Christophe Moreau
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
44
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
45
Eros Capecchi
Footon - Servetto
+ 4'16
46
Carlos Barredo
Quick·Step
+ 5'20
47
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
48
Thomas Voeckler
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
49
Christophe Kern
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
50
Amaël Moinard
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
51
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
52
Jakob Fuglsang
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
53
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
54
Rafael Valls
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
55
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
56
Sylvain Chavanel
Quick·Step
s.t.
57
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
58
Johan Van Summeren
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
59
Linus Gerdemann
Team Milram
s.t.
60
Dimitri Champion
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
61
Cyril Dessel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
62
Pierre Rolland
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
63
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
64
Juan Mauricio Soler
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
65
Thibaut Pinot
Française des Jeux
s.t.
66
Vladimir Karpets
Team Katusha
s.t.
67
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
68
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
69
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
70
Alexandre Botcharov
Team Katusha
s.t.
71
Sylvain Calzati
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 8'00
72
Haimar Zubeldia
Team RadioShack
+ 8'24
73
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
s.t.
74
Andriy Grivko
Astana
+ 8'56
75
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
76
David López
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
77
Oliver Zaugg
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 9'28
78
Rigoberto Urán
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
79
Arkaitz Durán
Footon - Servetto
+ 10'00
80
Xabier Zandio
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
81
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step
s.t.
82
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
s.t.
83
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
84
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
85
Aitor Hernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
86
Arnold Jeanneson
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
87
Alexandr Kolobnev
Team Katusha
+ 11'12
88
Vasil Kiryienka
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
89
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
90
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana
s.t.
It meant that the Astana rival had the yellow jersey and the battle for the Yellow jersey was now well defined.
Spoiler
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Alberto Contador
Astana
43h35'45
2
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'39
3
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 1'51
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 2'11
5
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 2'13
6
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
+ 2'14
7
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 2'18
8
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 2'22
9
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
+ 2'23
10
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'45
11
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step
+ 2'46
12
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 2'47
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
+ 2'50
14
Christophe Le Mével
Française des Jeux
+ 3'10
15
Lance Armstrong
Team RadioShack
+ 3'31
16
Michael Rogers
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 3'43
17
Kim Kirchen
Team Katusha
+ 3'47
18
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
+ 4'01
19
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
+ 6'30
20
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank
+ 6'53
21
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
+ 6'58
22
Sandy Casar
Française des Jeux
+ 7'02
23
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 7'35
24
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 8'14
25
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
+ 8'23
But we had a plan to isolate Contador on stage 11:
These parcours not being dissimalar to that day that he lost the 2009 Paris Nice - it was text book stuff as we used Jacob, Fabian to full effect on the Noyer and when Andy put in the first accelleration only Sanchez, Berti and Menchov could follow.
On the last uncategorised dig, Andy managed to put in a final burst which none of the others could live with.
At this point I thought we could get the time back but I never dreamed the gap would expand as rapidly as it did. By the finish Andy had a full Two minutes and seven seconds. It was enough to put our young leader into yellow! Fantastic day we had the champers out tonight.
Well done in the last stage. Pulling back 2 minutes on that stage is impressive. This looks like the real Tour last year, Contador and Schleck in their own world.
Good luck in Switzerland, stage 1 was already a good start.
.
