Riblon solo to an incredible stage win.
18 July 2010
photo: Reuters
Today the stage will bring us to one of the highes point of the Tour. A hot day with some nasty climbs.
With Geraint Thomas (Sky), Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Transitions), Benoït Vaugrenard (FDJ), Pavel Brutt (Team Katusha), Amaël Moinard (Cofidis), Christophe Riblon (AG2R), Jurgen Van De Walle (QuickStep), Pierre Rolland (Bbox) and Stephan Auge (Cofidis) in the lead, Astana in is in chase in front of the peloton. There is a high tempo and the peloton is stretched. The leading group had a maximum gap of 10 minutes, with Astana in the lead the gap gets smaller fast.
The 9 in front got the break at the very start of the race. In the beginning they were joined by some riders of Saxo and Rabo, but these riders were called back by their team.
As they approach the first climb of the day (Port de Pailheres, hors category) the gap between the leading group and the bunch got back to 5:41min. Dutch television commentator, and former professional cyclst Maarten Ducrot called the climb "the road to Mordor", a hard, steep climb, 8 to 9%, with passages of 14-15%. In the Peloton the favorites placed themselves in front, to have a good position as they begin the climb. Astana, Sky and Rabobank are in front.
The leading group begin the climb. Augé is the first one to let go of the group, having done his job. In the bunch the first riders have to let go as well, including a lot of Saxo riders, hoping to survive the day. The party started. Valls (Footon) is the first one to attack from the peloton. Sastre is the next one who jumps away with Gustov his team mate.
In the front group Riblon, Monaird and v.d. Walle are the last one of the original leading group that survive and they are in the lead. From the peloton Kyrienka jumps away. Andy still had one rider with him, Chris Anker Sorensen, the man who won a incredible mountain stage in the giro is the one who takes the lead in the peloton. Armstrong has to let go early in the climb. This isn't his Tour, he fell 8 times this Tour, something never happened when he still was the Boss.
In the front Gustav has to let go of Sastre and v.d. Walle has to let go of the leading group. Andy goes to the back in the peloton to get some water for Chris and himself. In no time he is back in the wheel of Contador.
Monaird is the last one in the leading group who can't follow Riblon. Riblon is alone in the lead.
In the peloton the next attack comes from the man in the polka dot jersey, Charteau and Cunego follows him.
Back in the front Sastre joins Valls and Riblon is the first one to reach the top, while Wiggens has to let go in the peloton. Kyrienka joins Sastre and Valls just before they reach the top. Charteau get his point for the jersey and from the peloton Moreau take a little jump to get some point also.
The downhill is dangerous, the tarmac is melted and Beloki is someone who can tell you how dangerous that is. Cunego flies downhill and joins Sastre, Charteau takes it easy downhill, he just made the jump for the points.
Vino leads the peloton going down. Monaird gets close to Riblon but gets a bit too short. But they are the first one to start the last climb the Ax 3 Domaines, steep from the beginning. This is the climb where some of the big names have to let go in the peloton. And Sastre jumps away from Cunego, Valls had to let them go and gets overtaken by the peloton.
Andy and Contador stick together, they only have eyes for each other. The peloton is a small group with all the favorites together. When Contador attacks Andy and Mentjov follow him. On their way up they passes Sastre and Cunego. And not much later Monaird is the next one who is thank and left behind.
Contador tries to get away again but with Andy in his wheel and Mentjov following them. The big party has started, the favorites are attacking each other. Andy is bluffing in Contadors wheel. The others go, with Gesink in the lead for Mentjov, He can try to jump away of the group, Samuel Sanchez tries to follow him.
Riblon attacked from the beginning of the stage and he is the first one who finished. He wins a incredible way the stage.
Mentjov and Sanchez sprints to see who is going to be second, that is Mentjov, Sanchez is third and Andy who got back with Contador to the chasing group finished fourth.
Gesink will move up a spot in the GC because Leipheimer had to let go of the group early in the climb and is upside down on his bike crying for his momma.
Stage results:
1. Riblon
2. Mentjov
3. Samuel Sanchez
4. Andy Schleck
General Classification:
1. Andy Schleck
2. Contador
3. Sanchez
Green Jersey:
1. Patacchi
2. Hushovd
3. Cavandish
Polka dot:
1. Charteau
2. Pineau
3. Monreau
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. Vino
3. Sastre
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