Rodrigues wins in Mende.
16 July 2010
photo: AP Photo
Today ist´s again hot and it´s going to be a long stage. A stage of 210,5 km, going up and down hill, with a hard climb in the end.
While Charteau sprinted for the polka dot points, the peloton split and a group with 18 riders got away. 18 riders of 15 different teams. With good ranked riders, the Saxobank has to ride in the peloton. The 18 riders are: A. Vinokourov (Astana), A. Klöden (RadioShack), R. Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), S. Casar (FDJ), T. Hushovd (Cervélo), M. Aerts (Omeag Pharma-Lotto), K. Sivtsov (HTC-Columbia), M. Santambrogio (BMC), C. Barredo (Quick Step), A. Charteau (Bouygues), V. Kiryienka, M. Perget (both Caisse d'Epargne), C. Kern, A. Moinard, R. Pauriol (all Cofidis), G. Verdugo (Euskaltel), G. Bole (Lampre), R. Valls Ferri (Footon).
In the front of the peloton Saxobank is leading, the tempo is high, the peloton is stretched. The gap is getting a bit smaller. The group in the front is working well together and the tempo is also high its stretched. With Vino and Hesjedal in the front Saxo has to ride. Lampre is helping out because Hushovd is also in the leading group who is a thread to Patacchi in the green jersey. The average speed they peloton had was about 42 kph. And that is really fast for a stage like this.
In the leading group Charteau takes every polka dot point there is, Casar took it at one sprint but the other where for Charteau who has his polka dot jersey back from Pineau.
In the sprint for the green jersey Hushovd took the point and he has his green jersey back. After the sprint for the green jersey the four big names in the leading group go for the break away. Vino, Klöden, Hesjedal and Kyrienka are the four.
Hushovd and Kern dropped back from the leading group to the peloton. In the peloton Cervelo and Liquigas are helping in the frontlines. Cancellara is the man of Saxobank who road about 100km in the frontlines. The gap with the four leaders and the peloton reached a max of over 4 minutes. In between the peloton there still the 14 riders who used to be in the lead.
On the beginning meters of the last climb Hesjedal and Klöden are the first who have to let go of the leading group. And just a few meters before the climb the chasers are over taken by the peloton. While Armstrong has to let go of the peloton.
Vino and Kyrienka are the leading group. In the peloton the favorites are in the front. Vino jumps away of Kyrienka.
Rodrigues attacks and then Contador, Andy can't follow. Vino got overtaken by Contador and Rodriques. Contador and Rodrigues are the first one at the top and the two will sprint, Rodriques wins, Contador second and Vino is third. Andy loses 10 second to Contador and finish in 5th place. Vino wasn't happy with Contadors action.
Stage results:
1. Rodrigues
2. Contador
3. Vino
5. Andy Schleck
General Classification:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Contador
3. Sanchez
Green Jersey:
1. Hushovd
2. Patacchi
3. McEwen
Polka dot:
1. Charteau
2. Pineau
3. Moreau
White Jersey:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Gesink
3. Kreuziger
Grey Jersey:
1. Leipheimer
2. Vinokourov
3. Sastre
0 Comments