Cavandisch wins third Tour stage
15 July 2010
photo: AP Photo
Today the Tour brings us from Sisteron to Bourg-Lès-Valence. They say it could be a stage for the sprinters, with just one climb of the third category, it's going downhill from that point. With some bumps here and there. It's a hot day again about 35 degrees.
Just like other stages we saw this Tour, the attack was early in the beginning, Prudhomme, was half way dropping the flag or three riders took off. Anthony Geslin (FdJ), Stephane Auge ( Cofidis) and Jose-Alberto Benitez (Footon).
Behind them in the peloton al the sprinters team have one man in the frontlines. And they play with the three riders. They keep the gap around 1.44 minutes.
It's one of the stages where nothing happens. The three in the front know they will be overtaken in the last kilometers and then the sprinters will finish it. The peloton is in a chatty mood, Andy has fun with Contador and Cancellara with Basso. It's hot, and the tempo is low, Andy told yesterday that he drank 15 bidons. So is drinking, cooling and chatting in the peloton. And recovering from the hard days in the Alps.
So If you missed today stage you only missed the end.
23 km before the finish the leaders are overtaken. And Saxo is taking the lead and stretches the peloton, the wind is from the side. In the back riders from the Astana had to let go. Vino takes Contador in his wheel and brings him to the front. Cancellara is in the front and in the back riders definitely have to let go.
Rabobank has his train next to Saxobank. To banks take the lead in the last 10k. Contador is in Andy's wheel. With about 60km per hour, Chavanel takes the jump together with Popovich, and now it's the turn for the sprinters and the Saxo has left the front. HTC Colombia is chasing and get the two riders back. Its Lampre agains, Sky and HTC Comobia.
It's up to the sprinters. With a very nasty turn in the last kilometer, Rendshaw gives a head bang to a lampre guy and Cavandish is the strongest one and wins, Patacchi is second and Farrar is third.
Stage results:
1. Cavandisch
2. Patacchi
3. Farrar
65. Andy Schleck
General Classification:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Contador
3. S. Sanchez
Green Jersey:
1. Patacchi
2. Hushovd
3. McEwen
Polka dot:
1. Pineau
2. Charteau
3. Moreau
White Jersey:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Gesink
3. Kreuziger
Grey Jersey:
(this is a jersey we are dedicating to Jens Voigt, who said once in a interview that he would like to add the grey jersey for rider older than 35, they have to work harder then the younger riders, it doesn't go that easy andy more when you are old, he said)
1. Leipheimer
2. Vinokourov
3. Satre
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