16 seconds separates Siutsou
from Spilak
Spilak was one of the big favourites pre-race, but Siutsou has put up a great fight for the yellow jersey, mainly thanks to a successful attack on the 6th stage, where he gained more than 11 minutes on Spilak. Today will be the final showdown between the two of them, as it’s unlikely others will take part in the race for the overall win. 5 circuits in Sallanches, including 5 times of climbing Cote de Domancy will decide the winner, we can only cross fingers the strongest will win.
The riders are ready to roll, and the weather is decent. Not sunny, but luckily, it isn’t raining either. The bookmakers must fancy Spilak’s
overall chances on the final day of racing, as he has been made stage favourite, together with Bakelants Boasson Hagen
And after only 5 kilometers of racing, we have the first attack. It’s Camano
who starts the fireworks, and pre-stage favourite Hagen (B&O) follows him. Boasson Hagen
must feel he doesn’t stand any chance head-to-head with Bakelants, and fancy the breakaway instead. They’re companied by another strong puncheur, Hugenhaben
decides it’s time to try the early breakaway.
Their attacks forces a quick start to the peloton, as they don’t want Boasson Hagen to go away this early. His fellow countryman, Hushovd
makes the catch with 161 kilometers left.
Boasson Hagen
doesn’t give up that easy though, and fires another time. He’s followed by Rodriguez Camano Hugenhaben
meaning we’re having another extremely strong group up front. Their overall positions are 20th, 21st, 31st and 32nd, no way the peloton will allow them to ride away.
And indeed, no chance for Boasson Hagen
this time neither, Vesuvio chases strong, and catches them with 140 kilometers left. It looks like Uran
is told to work for Iglinski today, as it’s him who makes the catch.
Four riders try their luck next, and they start to co-operate 4 kilometers before the first intermediate sprint. The four riders are: Bertou Riblon Christensen Perez Sanchez
Christensen was the one who crashed out from the successful breakaway on stage 5, obviously he hopes for better luck today.
Hugenhaben Rosseler
really wants to be in the breakaway, and go after them. It’s the third time trying for Hugenhaben, but if you don’t try, you can’t succeed.
Kupfernagel Ghyselinck
join the front 6 aswell, giving us 8 out in front with 126 kilometers left of racing in this year's Criterium du Dauphine Libere.
And more riders want to join the fun. The breakaway is really attractive today it seems, Costagli Bontenackels
leads the chase for the breakaway, but they’re closely followed by Tiernan-Locke Taaramäe Poels
Hagen tried his luck, but wasn’t allowed, question is if Taaramäe can be allowed to stay out in front today. He’s 12th overall, 8’04 behind Siutsou.
But Pendleton’s really don’t want to jeopardize Siutsou’s
jersey on an early breakaway, and they catch them all with 117 kilometers left.
The rain has started to fall, but that doesn’t prevent more riders to attack. Rohregger Pavarin Rodriguez
hope to succeed, at least their acceleration gives them a minute lead back to the peloton.
Hugenhaben
isn’t happy at all, missing out on the breakaway, and he goes after them with 110 kilometers left, with 5 kilometers left of the first climb of the day.
Pavarin
takes 10 points for the polkadot jersey on the first climb. Rodriguez is 2nd Rohregger is 3rd.
This means there’s only 18 points left (6 points x 3), Plaza’s lead before today’s stage was 19 points down to Löfkvist, meaning his jersey is safe.
Taaramäe
seems to figure that the only way he can gain time today, is with an early attack, and he attacks, hoping to join the 4 strong riders up front.
He joins them with 102 kilometers left, and it looks like they, somewhat surprising, are allowed to stay out in front. Their lead is now 3’30.
Rohregger
leads the 5 front runners onto today’s first trip up Cote de Domancy. It’s a 3 kilometers long hill, which averages above 10%. It will be a real test for Siutsou, can he hold on to his jersey? The front 5 have a lead of 6 minutes taking on Cote de Domancy for the first time, it’s 76 kilometers to go.
Taaramäe
leads the breakaway over the top, and takes the 6 mountain points on offer, ahead of Hugenhaben Pavarin
They’ve extended their lead on the hill, now the gap is 6’20.
The peloton goes over the top, led by Warner Brothers Pearl Adidas Pendleton’s
They all have different interests for their pace setting. Pearl Adidas wants the stage win with Bakelants, Warner Brothers wants to make the race as hard as possible, to isolate Siutsou early, whil Pendleton’s paces to not give Taaramäe too much rope.
And the three teams really hammered it on the hill, only 55 riders are left in the peloton, and a couple of noticeable names are missing. Arroyo
was at the wrong side of a split again, and the same goes for Pedraza
1 kilometer away from the top of Cote de Domancy, at their 2nd circuit in Sallanches, the breakaway are still working well together, and all 5 contribute. Their gap is coming down though, and with 57 kilometers left, it’s 5’30.
When the peloton goes over Cote de Domancy for the 2nd time, the rain has started to hammer down, which could cause a dangerous descent. Also, their’s a split at the very front of the peloton. Talabardon
gave it everything he had on the climb, and he manages to give himself, his leader Spilak Faiers, Menchov & Siutsou Pinot & Phinney Coppel
an edge going into the descent. Unfortunately I miss that specific screenshot, but I hope you're alright, as the racing goes on!
And as the 8 riders who managed to slip away from the peloton starts their 3rd round of climbing Domancy, the peloton still hasn’t managed to catch them, chasing 40 seconds behind. And now, no other than Spilak
has decided to push the pace in his group. Siutsou
is well helped by both Faiers and Menchov though, so Spilak will need to pull something special out of the hat if he’s going to leave Siutsou behind.
Spilak
quickly manages to extend their lead with 20 seconds, meaning they’ve got a lead of a full minute down to the peloton. Bakelants
don’t want to let another opportunity for a stage win slip away, and he picks up the chase.
He’s joined by Hagen
and together they make contact with the 8 late escapers.
Rodriguez
leads the breakaway over Cote de Domancy for the third time, and they must fancy their chances for a stage win now. They’ve a lead of 5’11, and there’s only 40 kilometers left.
Uran
also manages to make contact with the 10 others that have sneaked away from the peloton, and he can take a well-earned drink for that.
Behind the group of Spilak Siutsou
an elite chase group has formed. Though, Dekker
realizes the danger, and tries to attack away from that chase group. Contador Amador
are chasing on his right.
Dekker
bridges the gap to Uran Coppel
But they’re still 50 seconds behind the yellow jersey’s group. Coppel got dropped when Uran made contact with that group, and Uran was unable to pass Coppel, meaning they both got dropped over the top of Domancy. It’s lucky for Dekker though, as he can hope for some help in the chase now.
Pavarin
takes on Cote de Domancy for the penultimate time up front. They’re riding very well, their gap is still 4’20 down to the yellow jersey.
Talabardon leads the group of the yellow jersey into the Cote de Domancy. There are 8 riders in the group, they’re: Talabardon & Spilak Faiers, Menchov & Siutsou Phinney Boasson Hagen Bakelants
It only takes Dekker
600 meters of climbing before he makes contact, and he drags Coppel Uran
with him in the process.
Kashechkin Contador Löfkvist Arroyo Amador Iglinski Plaza Pinot
follow next in another chase group. They start the hill 1’15 behind the other group, and Kashechkin
prefers to fight for the stage win instead of being down here, and he attacks. He’s followed by Amador
1 kilometer away from the top of the climb, Contador
makes contact with the group infront, thanks to his motoring, while the others behind him, struggle a bit more making the final move which will give them contact.
In front, Taaramäe
pushes the pace on the climb, and drops Pavarin Rohregger
And Taaramäe has no time waiting for them, he’s just riding on, hoping to gain as much time as possible on the other overall contenders.
Descending for the penultimate time, it’s Dekker
who leads the way for the chasers, he’s followed by 10 others, they’re: Bakelants Boasson Hagen Contador Spilak Phinney Amador Kashechkin Löfkvist Siutsou Iglinski
All others were dropped on the final hundred meters of the hill. This is the first time today Siutsou looks vulnerable, as he’s having no one to protect him now. Will Spilak be able to profit from that? It looks like he will need to gap him, as the first 3 riders are more than 4 minutes ahead of their group.
Taaramäe
attacks at once they start climbing Cote de Domancy for the final and decisive time. Hugenhaben Rodriguez
decide not to follow his attack, hoping their own rhythm will prove fast enough to stay with Taaramäe at the top of the climb. Ignore the other riders, they’re lapped.
Bakelants
leads the chasers at the bottom of Domancy. Notice Siutsou
he clearly knows who he should mark, he couldn’t be any closer to Spilak’s rear wheel!
Bakelants
launches his attack at the same place as Taaramäe tried his. 9300 meters away from the finish line in Sallanches, and only Boasson Hagen Dekker
try to follow.
8.9 kilometers left, and Spilak
makes his bid for the overall win! Siutsou
is immediately on his wheel, but he can’t quite match the acceleration of Spilak, and he sees him slip away.
Taaramäe
leaves the two others in the dust, Hugenhaben
follows closest, but he’s still 20 seconds behind, and Taaramäe only has 6800 meters left of descending before he’s the stage winner.
Bakelants Spilak Dekker
have managed to leave the others behind, and they’re pushing away, slowly but surely. Is this the moment of truth for Siutsou?
Phinney Contador
manage to make contact now, but Boasson Hagen Siutsou
are also coming close. Ignore the other riders, they’re lapped.
And look at this! Siutsou
is in the mix again, fighting his way back. Incredible fighting spirit! In the same moment, Dekker
attacks again, and he’s followed by Bakelants Spilak
Was Spilak only bluffing? Now, he’s flying again, looking to create a gap back to Siutsou, noch einmal!
Bakelants Spilak
continue their attack on the descent, which will really make it hard for Siutsou to catch up. 6500 meters to go, and Spilak holds the edge.
Taaramäe
wins the stage, after proving he was the strongest in the breakaway on the climb. He could very well sneak a top 5 in the overall ranking aswell. A huge victory for Carmeuse, is this the turning point of their season, where they start to gain places in the ProTour ranking?
Hugenhaben
is 2nd, a good day for him, after a pretty disappointing Dauphine Libere for his team, Sony Ericsson.
Dekker
managed to hold on over the top, and he’s together with Bakelants Spilak
The duo just behind is Phinney Contador
while Siutsou
is together with Boasson Hagen
just behind Phinney and Contador.
Rodriguez
takes third on the stage.
Pavarin
outsprints Rohregger
for 4th. But that’s not what the spectators are looking for. They’re looking up in the mountain, to see whether Siutsou has managed to descend like a superhuman, to catch Spilak, and save his jersey. From a long distance, it looks like 5 riders are really close….. Is one Siutsou one of them?
No, he’s not. Bakelants
edges Dekker
for 6th, and Spilak
follows right behind them, sure to not loose any seconds.
Phinney
arrives the finish line in 9th, ahead of Contador
And then comes Siutsou
A brave, brave ride from him, but it wasn’t meant to be, he crosses the line together with Boasson Hagen
They're less than a minute, but more than 16 seconds behind Spilak, which means Spilak defends his overall title in Dauphine Libere.
A lot of riders didn’t make the time limit on the tough, hilly, course they faced today. Only 130 riders finished, those who didn’t were:
Hampton, Tanguy Champion Casper, Sebright De Winde, Pinto Allonca Mottin, Lo Cicero Avelino, Nelson Butterfield Rodriguez Parra Sobota, Riber – Sellerbjerg Van Aelbroeck Rijntjes Hutarovich
A dramatic 8th stage concludes this year's Criterium du Dauphine Libere. Spilak takes the jersey with less than 30 seconds, the Belarusian fighter, Siutsou, holds on to a great 2nd place overall, while Phinney takes 3rd overall.
