Contador jumps into lead
Source: Agencies |
March 12, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWICE Tour de France champion Alberto Contador seized control of the Paris-Nice race when he snatched a solo win in the 173l5-kilometer fourth stage from Maurs to Mende to lead a Spanish 1-2-3 yesterday.
The Astana rider attacked the pack in the final ascent to Mende and beat compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez by 10 seconds.
"It was a difficult day. I was not sure what the best tactics were but I tried and I made the difference. I am satisfied," Contador said.
The Spaniard experienced a tough start to the race in gusty winds, freezing temperatures and a crash that left him bruised on Monday.
Contador, who cracked in the penultimate stage of the race last year, snatched the yellow jersey from German Jens Voigt and now leads Valverde by 24 seconds, with Czech Roman Kreuziger in third place 25 seconds off the pace.
A group of seven led by France's Jerome Pineau broke away early in the stage and built a gap of four minutes and thirty seconds.
But the Saxo Bank and Astana teams stepped up a gear as the peloton caught the fugitives around 15 km from the line. As expected, Contador made his move midway through the ascent to Mende.
The Astana rider attacked the pack in the final ascent to Mende and beat compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez by 10 seconds.
"It was a difficult day. I was not sure what the best tactics were but I tried and I made the difference. I am satisfied," Contador said.
The Spaniard experienced a tough start to the race in gusty winds, freezing temperatures and a crash that left him bruised on Monday.
Contador, who cracked in the penultimate stage of the race last year, snatched the yellow jersey from German Jens Voigt and now leads Valverde by 24 seconds, with Czech Roman Kreuziger in third place 25 seconds off the pace.
A group of seven led by France's Jerome Pineau broke away early in the stage and built a gap of four minutes and thirty seconds.
But the Saxo Bank and Astana teams stepped up a gear as the peloton caught the fugitives around 15 km from the line. As expected, Contador made his move midway through the ascent to Mende.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
