Andy the Tourmalet King wins his second stage

22 July 2010

photo: AFP

Ultimate chaos at the top of the Col du Tourmalet. Trucks got stuck in the mud. Bad weather is going to make it difficult today. D-day of the General Classification riders. We go from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet a ride of 174km.

They are starting the stage in dry weather. From the start 7 riders break away Marcus Burghardt (BMC Racing Team), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Remi Pauriol (Cofidis), Kristjan Koren (Liquigas-Doimo ), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) and Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)). In no time the seven riders have a gap of 1.24 minutes. Astana controls the peloton.

30 km after the start there is a crash Euskatel riders on the ground. Samuel Sanchez stays on the ground for a long time. The number 3 in the GC doesn't look good. But as hard as he is, he gets back on his bike. Contador tells the peloton to slow down, to wait on Sanchez. Sastre attacks. Matti Breschel was standing beside his bike, got a new wheel and got back on his bike. Sanchez gets back in the peloton with help of his team mates.

Sastre and his team mate Konovalovas, ride in between the leading group and the peloton. Astana and Saxobank are leading the peloton now. Jens Voigt who went down two days ago is wrapped in bandage, Voigt is Voigt and is on his bike, determent to reach Paris this year.

As the leading group is starting the climb of the Marie Blanc, a climb of the 1 category, it's still dry but the roads are very wet. Going down there a some drops of rain. The all come down save, in the leading group as well in the peloton.

Sastre is not getting any closer to the leading group. He already lost his team mate in the climb and now is swimming in between the two groups. The leading group is working well together. The max. gap they had was over 9 minutes.

The next climb is also a climb of the first category and is the Col du Soulor. Starting the climb the gap between the leading group and the peloton is getting smaller en is about 7 minutes. In the peloton Lotto, Saxobank and Astana are working in the front lines and riders in the back have to let go. Gepetto's are formed and they need to get home safe.  Going up the mountain the riders got their heads in the clouds more and more. It's a dangerous decent with the fog, bad sight and sheep on the road . But as they go down the clouds stay on top of the mountains and the sight is getting better. Matti Breschel who had to let go of the peloton on the climb is leading the peloton when they are going down. The peloton is catching up with Sastre and the leading group.

Rabobank and Saxobank are leading the peloton as they approach the Col du Tourmalet. With the work of Breschel and Boom the peloton is stretched. The pace is high.

Sastre gets over taken by the peloton. He is in the back of the peloton and has difficulty to stay with the peloton.

The leading group  is begins  to climb the Col du Tourmalet and they have a gap of a bit less than four minutes. With Breschel still in the front lines of the peloton, Sastre has to let go of the peloton.

What is Andy's plan, he looks fresh in is still surrounded by team mates.  Boasson Hagen is the first one who has to let go of the leading group. Kolobnev attacks and Flecha has to let go. Kolobnev and Bourghart lose the others.

Meanwhile in the peloton the Saxobank is getting in position.  O'Grady, Fuglsang, Chris Anker Sorensen and Cancellara are leading the peloton and Basso has to let go. The story tells us that Basso is not feeling well.

Andy looks heel relaxed. How he is standing in his paddles. Riders have to let go in the back, the old Moreau is one of them. The gap with the leading group is getting smaller and smaller. Cancellara did his work and is parked, he has to survive the rest of the stage.

Kolobnev and Bourghard are attacking each other and Kolobnev wins the battle and is gone.
Contador is alone. The lost his team mates and is in Andy's wheel.  Andy still has Fuglsang who is leading the peloton an d makes the gap smaller with Kolobnev. But don't forget Mensjov who is in the wheel of Contador and rides easy. Barredo attacks and Andy goes!!

Contador is in his wheel. Mentsjov and Rodrigues who could follow him for a meter has to let go. The two overtaken Bourghard.

The two are off and they can see the Russian rider and over take him. Behind them is a group with S. Sanchez, Mentsjov, Hesjedal, Rodrigues, Gesink , Horner and van der Broeck.

With 8km to go Contador is still in Andy's wheel. Andy leads. They are in the clouds again. The two have a gap of 1.05 minutes.  Gesink is leading the chase group. And the gap is getting bigger. Sanchez is in the last wheel in the chasing group.

Andy still leading and it doesn't look like that Contador isn't breaking. Andy attacks again and the two are talking, Andy is keeping up the tempo. Andy is drooling and shouts something at Contador. Contador Attacks and the party is starting. Andy is in his wheel. If you look in Andy's eyes, there is a saying in Dutch, if looks could kill.  Andy gets a flag against his head and sees some naked man running beside him. A lot of people beside the road, running and screaming to support their favorite, one day this will go wrong.

They are on the part where the steepness is about 9%. With 1k to go Andy is still leading. The road is small, if Contador wants to attack he can't pass. Andy did what he promised he attacked, but couldn't lose Contador.

As Shimms in the fog, Andy wins the stage.

Stage Results:
1. ANDY SCHLECK
2. Contador
3. Rodrigues

General Classification:
1. Contador
2. Andy Schleck
3.S. Sanchez

Polka dot:
1. Charteau
2. Moreau
3. Andy Schleck

Green Jersey:
1. Hushovd
2. Petacchi
3. Cavandish

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. Horner
2. Leipheimer
3. Klöden

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