Riblon wins but Schleck stays ahead
Source: Agencies |
July 19, 2010, Monday
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CHRISTOPHE Riblon took the first Pyrenees stage of the Tour de France yesterday, leading the field from the first few kilometers to a solo victory high in the mountains. Andy Schleck held on to the leader's yellow jersey in a stage that failed to separate the major contenders.
It was the first Tour de France victory for the 29-year-old Frenchman and the biggest win of his career.
He broke away in a small group in the first 30 kilometers of the race, but slipped away from the last of that group on the major climb of the day - the Port de Pailheres. Riblon held his lead over the top and down the long descent to the climb up to the ski resort of Ax-3 Domaines.
He finished in 4 hours, 52 minutes, 43 seconds - 54 seconds ahead of Denis Menchov of Russia and Samuel Sanchez of Spain.
Schleck finished fourth at 1:08 back, in a group that also included his closest rival and defending champion, Alberto Contador of Spain. The pair stuck together throughout the 184.5-kilometer 14th stage from Revel.
The result meant that Menchov and Sanchez were left free to go in the final kilometers and take a handful of seconds off the leading pair.
Overall, Sanchez is now 2:31 behind Luxembourg's Schleck and Menchov is 2:44 adrift.
It was the fourth French win of the Tour de France this year and delighted the crowd, who in past years have struggled to find home success to celebrate.
The 15th stage takes the peloton from Pamiers to Bagneres de Luchon today and looks the most lenient of the four Pyrenees stages.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's team manager said yesterday the seven-time Tour winner had deliberately lost time to save energy for a new goal: A stage victory.
RadioShack boss Johan Bruyneel said a flat tire, several crashes and general "bad luck" early in the three-week race put Armstrong out of contention.
Ahead of the start of four punishing stages in the Pyrenees, the American had lost time to the Tour leader for four straight days. No official explanation immediately was provided by the team.
"That's definitely on purpose," Bruyneel said before the 14th stage yesterday. "Now that he's not in contention for the general classification anymore, you try to save strength. And one of these days he may try to get in the breakaway - and he needs all the freshness he has to try to win a stage."
Armstrong lost time in the first Alpine ride, into Morzine-Avoriaz, then lost more to two-time champion Contador and Schleck in the second. After that, Armstrong was "not a threat anymore" to the leaders, Bruyneel said.
"But of course it's better if you're 20 minutes down than if you're 12 minutes down" if a rider wants to win a stage, Bruyneel added.
It was the first Tour de France victory for the 29-year-old Frenchman and the biggest win of his career.
He broke away in a small group in the first 30 kilometers of the race, but slipped away from the last of that group on the major climb of the day - the Port de Pailheres. Riblon held his lead over the top and down the long descent to the climb up to the ski resort of Ax-3 Domaines.
He finished in 4 hours, 52 minutes, 43 seconds - 54 seconds ahead of Denis Menchov of Russia and Samuel Sanchez of Spain.
Schleck finished fourth at 1:08 back, in a group that also included his closest rival and defending champion, Alberto Contador of Spain. The pair stuck together throughout the 184.5-kilometer 14th stage from Revel.
The result meant that Menchov and Sanchez were left free to go in the final kilometers and take a handful of seconds off the leading pair.
Overall, Sanchez is now 2:31 behind Luxembourg's Schleck and Menchov is 2:44 adrift.
It was the fourth French win of the Tour de France this year and delighted the crowd, who in past years have struggled to find home success to celebrate.
The 15th stage takes the peloton from Pamiers to Bagneres de Luchon today and looks the most lenient of the four Pyrenees stages.
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong's team manager said yesterday the seven-time Tour winner had deliberately lost time to save energy for a new goal: A stage victory.
RadioShack boss Johan Bruyneel said a flat tire, several crashes and general "bad luck" early in the three-week race put Armstrong out of contention.
Ahead of the start of four punishing stages in the Pyrenees, the American had lost time to the Tour leader for four straight days. No official explanation immediately was provided by the team.
"That's definitely on purpose," Bruyneel said before the 14th stage yesterday. "Now that he's not in contention for the general classification anymore, you try to save strength. And one of these days he may try to get in the breakaway - and he needs all the freshness he has to try to win a stage."
Armstrong lost time in the first Alpine ride, into Morzine-Avoriaz, then lost more to two-time champion Contador and Schleck in the second. After that, Armstrong was "not a threat anymore" to the leaders, Bruyneel said.
"But of course it's better if you're 20 minutes down than if you're 12 minutes down" if a rider wants to win a stage, Bruyneel added.
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