Schleck wins key Tourmalet stage
Source: Agencies |
July 23, 2010, Friday
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ANDY Schleck won the most prestigious stage of this year's Tour de France, but defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain was right on his shoulder yesterday to virtually guarantee a third title.
Schleck knew he needed to pick up time on Contador in the 17th stage, and tried to break away with 10 kilometers left of the climb up the legendary Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees.
But Contador followed immediately and the two men completed the final kilometers of the stage almost side by side, in a stark representation of the two-rider battle that has been the story of this year's Tour.
They completed the 174 kilometers from Pau to the peak of the Col du Tourmalet in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds. Contador retained his eight-second lead over his Luxembourg rival in the overall standings.
Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez, who pulled away from the rest of the chasing group and finished on his own, 1 minute, 18 seconds back in third.
Schleck and Contador braved fog and rain, as well as the flags of supporters hitting them in the face during the climb.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on the top of the mountain to greet them.
"The image of Alberto and Andy side by side was a great image of sport," the president said. "Alberto may win, but Andy will win next year."
Earlier, the 2008 champion Carlos Sastre made a valiant attempt to make up the more than nine minutes separating him from Contador, breaking out alone in search of the lead group after 25 kilometers, aided by his teammate Ignatas Konovalovas, who dropped back from the leaders.
But he was never able to bridge the gap, and was caught by the peloton just before the start of the Tourmalet. He later slipped further back.
Anthony Charteau of France finished in 27th place having done enough to guarantee he would be the overall winner of the polka-dot jersey for best climber.
In a lighter moment, on the second climb of the day, the Col du Soudor, the peloton was briefly disrupted by a group of sheep which crossed the road just as the riders arrived. No rider fell but several were forced to brake hard and stop.
Schleck knew he needed to pick up time on Contador in the 17th stage, and tried to break away with 10 kilometers left of the climb up the legendary Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees.
But Contador followed immediately and the two men completed the final kilometers of the stage almost side by side, in a stark representation of the two-rider battle that has been the story of this year's Tour.
They completed the 174 kilometers from Pau to the peak of the Col du Tourmalet in 5 hours, 3 minutes, 29 seconds. Contador retained his eight-second lead over his Luxembourg rival in the overall standings.
Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez, who pulled away from the rest of the chasing group and finished on his own, 1 minute, 18 seconds back in third.
Schleck and Contador braved fog and rain, as well as the flags of supporters hitting them in the face during the climb.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on the top of the mountain to greet them.
"The image of Alberto and Andy side by side was a great image of sport," the president said. "Alberto may win, but Andy will win next year."
Earlier, the 2008 champion Carlos Sastre made a valiant attempt to make up the more than nine minutes separating him from Contador, breaking out alone in search of the lead group after 25 kilometers, aided by his teammate Ignatas Konovalovas, who dropped back from the leaders.
But he was never able to bridge the gap, and was caught by the peloton just before the start of the Tourmalet. He later slipped further back.
Anthony Charteau of France finished in 27th place having done enough to guarantee he would be the overall winner of the polka-dot jersey for best climber.
In a lighter moment, on the second climb of the day, the Col du Soudor, the peloton was briefly disrupted by a group of sheep which crossed the road just as the riders arrived. No rider fell but several were forced to brake hard and stop.
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