Sanchez wins 9th stage, Vinokourov crashes out
Source: Agencies |
July 11, 2011, Monday
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SPANISH rider Luis Leon Sanchez won yesterday's crash-marred ninth stage of the Tour de France after forming part of a long breakaway in the mountains.
Frenchman Thomas Voeckler finished second, and took over the race leader's yellow jersey from Thor Hushovd.
Veteran Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov abandoned the race after crashing near the halfway point of the 208-kilometer trek from Issoire to Saint-Flour in the Massif Central.
Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha was hit by a television car late on, and took down Dutch rider Johnny Hoogerland with him as he flew sideways off his saddle. Both got up and continued the stage.
Defending champion Alberto Contador fell early on, but the Spaniard was unharmed and rode on.
The 32-year-old Voeckler once defended the yellow jersey for nine days during the 2004 Tour, but he could not match Sanchez as he turned out of a corner and accelerated in the last 300 meters.
Frenchman Sandy Casar finished third, and all three had been part of a breakaway early in the stage.
Flecha and Hoogerland had also formed part of the same early break, but their chances of a stage victory ended with about 36 kilometers to go when a Tour TV car swerved into Flecha's side. Neither rider appeared badly hurt.
Hushovd had worn the yellow jersey since his Garmin-Cervelo team won last Sunday's team time trial, but the sprinter looked tired as he rolled over the line several minutes behind Voeckler.
This year's Tour has already seen several spectacular crashes, but none as wild as yesterday.
Vinokourov, who has said he will retire from cycling at the end of the season, was caught in a heavy crash that sent him and about 30 other riders tumbling like a house of cards. Several other riders retired as well, including Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck.
American David Zabriskie was also hit in the crash and pulled out with a broken wrist. Two of his teammates, Briton David Millar and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, fell off their bikes but continued the race, Garmin-Cervelo sports director Lionel Marie said.
Belgian Frederik Willems also pulled out with a collarbone fracture.
Frenchman Thomas Voeckler finished second, and took over the race leader's yellow jersey from Thor Hushovd.
Veteran Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov abandoned the race after crashing near the halfway point of the 208-kilometer trek from Issoire to Saint-Flour in the Massif Central.
Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha was hit by a television car late on, and took down Dutch rider Johnny Hoogerland with him as he flew sideways off his saddle. Both got up and continued the stage.
Defending champion Alberto Contador fell early on, but the Spaniard was unharmed and rode on.
The 32-year-old Voeckler once defended the yellow jersey for nine days during the 2004 Tour, but he could not match Sanchez as he turned out of a corner and accelerated in the last 300 meters.
Frenchman Sandy Casar finished third, and all three had been part of a breakaway early in the stage.
Flecha and Hoogerland had also formed part of the same early break, but their chances of a stage victory ended with about 36 kilometers to go when a Tour TV car swerved into Flecha's side. Neither rider appeared badly hurt.
Hushovd had worn the yellow jersey since his Garmin-Cervelo team won last Sunday's team time trial, but the sprinter looked tired as he rolled over the line several minutes behind Voeckler.
This year's Tour has already seen several spectacular crashes, but none as wild as yesterday.
Vinokourov, who has said he will retire from cycling at the end of the season, was caught in a heavy crash that sent him and about 30 other riders tumbling like a house of cards. Several other riders retired as well, including Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck.
American David Zabriskie was also hit in the crash and pulled out with a broken wrist. Two of his teammates, Briton David Millar and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, fell off their bikes but continued the race, Garmin-Cervelo sports director Lionel Marie said.
Belgian Frederik Willems also pulled out with a collarbone fracture.
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