Tour de France 2009

Stage 21 – Into Paris

dperry1ma — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:26:19 +0000

Standing	Rider	Rider number bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	CAVENDISH Mark	71	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	4h 02′ 18″
2.	RENSHAW Mark	78	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
3.	FARRAR Tyler	53	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
4.	CIOLEK Gerald	182	TEAM MILRAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
5.	HUTAROVICH Yauheni	104	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
6.	HUSHOVD Thor	6	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
7.	ROJAS Jose Joaquin	117	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
8.	BANDIERA Marco	132	LAMPRE – N.G.C	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
9.	BENNATI Daniele	92	LIQUIGAS	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
10.	BONNET William	143	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
11.	MONDORY Lloyd	86	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
12.	LEQUATRE Geoffroy	178	AGRITUBEL	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
13.	TRUSSOV Nicolaï	168	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
14.	LEMOINE Cyril	191	SKIL-SHIMANO	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
15.	DUQUE Leonardo	124	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
16.	LANG Sebastian	13	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
17.	TOSATTO Matteo	158	QUICK STEP	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
18.	DE JONGH Steven	154	QUICK STEP	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
19.	CANCELLARA Fabian	33	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
20.	ARASHIRO Yukiya	142	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
21.	HADDOU Saïd	145	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
22.	ROSSELER Sébastien	157	QUICK STEP	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
23.	SABATINI Fabio	96	LIQUIGAS	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
24.	POZZATO Filippo	167	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
25.	O’GRADY Stuart	35	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
26.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
27.	CHAVANEL Sylvain	151	QUICK STEP	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
28.	LANCASTER Brett Daniel	8	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
29.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
30.	FRÖHLINGER Johannes	184	TEAM MILRAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
31.	VAN SUMMEREN Johan	18	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
32.	KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr	94	LIQUIGAS	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
33.	PEREZ MORENO Ruben	67	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
34.	FLECHA Juan Antonio	43	RABOBANK	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
35.	VAN AVERMAET Greg	16	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
36.	VANDENBERGH Styn	169	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
37.	FREIRE Oscar	44	RABOBANK	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
38.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
39.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
40.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
41.	DEAN Julian	52	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
42.	HAUSSLER Heinrich	5	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
43.	IVANOV Serguei	165	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
44.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
45.	KNEES Christian	185	TEAM MILRAM	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
46.	VANOTTI Alessandro	98	LIQUIGAS	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
47.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
48.	PINEAU Jérôme	156	QUICK STEP	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
49.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″
50.	BALLAN Alessandro	131	LAMPRE – N.G.C	4h 02′ 18″	+ 00′ 00″

Lanterne Rouge

dperry1ma — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:48:26 +0000

FdJ rider Yauheni Hutarovich will be honored as the Lanterne Rouge of the 2009 Tour de France. The Belarussion champion will finish roughly 4 hours and 15 minutes behind Contador.

Alan Perez Lezaun

dperry1ma — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:15:19 +0000

Tip of the hat to Euskaltel – Euskadi rider Alan Perez Lezaun who will not get a chance to finish in Paris today solely because he went back to try and help Eu-Eu rider Amets Txurruka get back into the race in Stage 19. The duo struggled to catch up with the peloton and finished outside the limit.

Stage 20 – Mont Ventoux

dperry1ma — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:06:25 +0000

Juan Manuel Garate out ran Tony Martin to win the stage, both riders having survived as the last remnants of a nearly all-day breakaway. A great ride for both Garate and Martin, who appeared spent in the earlier Alpine stages but hung tough today. The rest of the breakaway, which had numbered up to 19 riders at one point, was swallowed up by the GC leaders in the final kilometers of Mont Ventoux’s brutal slopes.

Andy Schleck could not out run Alberto Contador, and sacrificed substantial attacks in the final 10 km to try and lead his brother Frank to an attack on Armstrong’s lead. Frank Schleck however didn’t have the energy to out run Armstrong, who was hanging tough despite being unable to match the younger Schleck’s attacks. One rider who had no trouble at all matching Andy Schleck was Alberto Contador who rode confidently on Schleck’s tail and even lent support to Armstrong once it was clear that the younger Schleck posed not threat to his GC lead of over 4 minutes. In the end it was Schleck, Contador, Armstrong and Schleck, followed by the LLiquigas trio or Kreuziger, Pellizotti and Nibali, with an exhausted Bradley Wiggins bringing up the rear but squeezing out enough speed to avoid surrendering his 4th overall to the elder Schleck.

Kreuziger’s tough ride pulled him into the top 10 of the overall, displacing Eu-Eu’s Mikel Astarloza who appeared to struggle today. Pellizotti’s ride also deserves Kudo’s; his King of the Mountains title was never in doubt today, but he honored the polka dot jersey with a tough ride and an attack at the top of Mont Ventoux. Egoi Martinez picked up 17 points on the earlier climbs in the day but finishes 61 pts behind Pellizotti in the final accounting of the King of the Mountains.

	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	GARATE Juan Manuel	45	RABOBANK	4h 39′ 21″
2.	MARTIN Tony	76	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	4h 39′ 24″	+ 00′ 03″
3.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 39′ 59″	+ 00′ 38″
4.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	4h 39′ 59″	+ 00′ 38″
5.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	4h 40′ 02″	+ 00′ 41″
6.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 40′ 04″	+ 00′ 43″
7.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	4h 40′ 07″	+ 00′ 46″
8.	PELLIZOTTI Franco	91	LIQUIGAS	4h 40′ 17″	+ 00′ 56″
9.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	4h 40′ 19″	+ 00′ 58″
10.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 40′ 24″	+ 01′ 03″
11.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 41′ 00″	+ 01′ 39″
12.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	4h 41′ 03″	+ 01′ 42″
13.	RIBLON Christophe	88	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 41′ 08″	+ 01′ 47″
14.	POSTHUMA Joost	48	RABOBANK	4h 41′ 17″	+ 01′ 56″
15.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 41′ 47″	+ 02′ 26″
16.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 41′ 55″	+ 02′ 34″
17.	BOUET Maxime	172	AGRITUBEL	4h 42′ 03″	+ 02′ 42″
18.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 42′ 05″	+ 02′ 44″
19.	RIGHI Daniele	136	LAMPRE – N.G.C	4h 42′ 24″	+ 03′ 03″
20.	CALZATI Sylvain	173	AGRITUBEL	4h 42′ 36″	+ 03′ 15″
21.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	4h 42′ 36″	+ 03′ 15″
22.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 42′ 41″	+ 03′ 20″
23.	GOUBERT Stephane	85	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 42′ 41″	+ 03′ 20″
24.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	4h 43′ 44″	+ 04′ 23″
25.	ANTON Igor	62	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 43′ 58″	+ 04′ 37″

Stage 19 – Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas

dperry1ma — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:06:15 +0000

	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	CAVENDISH Mark	71	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	3h 50′ 35″
2.	HUSHOVD Thor	6	CERVELO TEST TEAM	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
3.	CIOLEK Gerald	182	TEAM MILRAM	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
4.	VAN AVERMAET Greg	16	SILENCE – LOTTO	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
5.	FREIRE Oscar	44	RABOBANK	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
6.	PINEAU Jérôme	156	QUICK STEP	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
7.	BEPPU Fumiyuki	192	SKIL-SHIMANO	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
8.	ROCHE Nicolas	89	AG2R LA MONDIALE	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
9.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
10.	MAASKANT Martijn	55	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
11.	LEQUATRE Geoffroy	178	AGRITUBEL	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
12.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	3h 50′ 35″	+ 00′ 00″
13.	IVANOV Serguei	165	TEAM KATUSHA	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
14.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
15.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
16.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
17.	MARTIN Tony	76	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
18.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
19.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
20.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
21.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
22.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
23.	LANG Sebastian	13	SILENCE – LOTTO	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
24.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
25.	GOUBERT Stephane	85	AG2R LA MONDIALE	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
26.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
27.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
28.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
29.	LARSSON Gustav	34	TEAM SAXO BANK	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
30.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
31.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
32.	VERDUGO Gorka	69	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
33.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
34.	KNEES Christian	185	TEAM MILRAM	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
35.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
36.	MARTINEZ Egoi	64	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
37.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
38.	URAN Rigoberto	119	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
39.	LLOYD Matthew	14	SILENCE – LOTTO	3h 50′ 39″	+ 00′ 04″
40.	WILLEMS Frederik	99	LIQUIGAS	3h 50′ 47″	+ 00′ 12″
41.	GERDEMANN Linus	181	TEAM MILRAM	3h 50′ 47″	+ 00′ 12″
42.	HINCAPIE George	74	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	3h 50′ 47″	+ 00′ 12″
43.	MONFORT Maxime	77	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	3h 51′ 07″	+ 00′ 32″
44.	LEFEVRE Laurent	146	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	3h 51′ 20″	+ 00′ 45″
45.	BALLAN Alessandro	131	LAMPRE – N.G.C	3h 51′ 45″	+ 01′ 10″
46.	MINARD Sébastien	127	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	3h 51′ 50″	+ 01′ 15″
47.	DUPONT Hubert	84	AG2R LA MONDIALE	3h 51′ 50″	+ 01′ 15″
48.	CALZATI Sylvain	173	AGRITUBEL	3h 51′ 50″	+ 01′ 15″
49.	BONNET William	143	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	3h 51′ 50″	+ 01′ 15″
50.	ROULSTON Hayden	9	CERVELO TEST TEAM	3h 51′ 50″	+ 01′ 15″

Stage 18 – Individual Time Trial

dperry1ma — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:57:39 +0000

OK, Lance fans… that last shred of hope that we had about Lance dominating a stage and coming back to challenge Contador? In the words of Cubs fans ‘Wait til next year’. Whatever doubts remained about Alberto Contador’s dominance this year are gone, long gone.

Personally, I was rooting for Fabian Cancellara today…this is exactly the kind of event he loves; a time trial with enough of a hill to take the starch out of the undisciplined riders. And early on, it really looked like it might be another stage win for Cancellara as the top riders came it behind his time, one after another. Katusha rider Mikhail Ignatiev’s brave ride early also deserves huge kudos. There is no way to overestimate how much easier it is for the late riders to peg the effort to the times of the early leaders. Ignatiev had none of the that going for him and still delivered what was very nearly the best ride of the day. Alberto Contador played his yellow jersey advantage perfectly and mapped his ride to Cancellara’s times perfectly, finishing a scant 3 seconds ahead of the Swiss rider’s time. But let’s not underestimate how tough matching Cancellara’s time trial performance can be…Every other top GC rider tried and not one rider following Cancellara could come withing 30 seconds of his performance; Wiggins and Millar did well, but only Contador could do better.

On to Mont Ventoux, the last real challenge in this year’s Tour…. 2nd and 3rd are still in doubt.

Lance pulls hard during Stage 18 in Annecy

Stage	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	48′ 30″
2.	CANCELLARA Fabian	33	TEAM SAXO BANK	48′ 33″	+ 00′ 03″
3.	IGNATIEV Mikhail	164	TEAM KATUSHA	48′ 45″	+ 00′ 15″
4.	LARSSON Gustav	34	TEAM SAXO BANK	49′ 03″	+ 00′ 33″
5.	MILLAR David	56	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	49′ 11″	+ 00′ 41″
6.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	49′ 13″	+ 00′ 43″
7.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	49′ 14″	+ 00′ 44″
8.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	49′ 15″	+ 00′ 45″
9.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	49′ 24″	+ 00′ 54″
10.	ZABRISKIE David	59	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	49′ 32″	+ 01′ 02″
11.	MARTIN Tony	76	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	49′ 34″	+ 01′ 04″
12.	EVANS Cadel	11	SILENCE – LOTTO	49′ 44″	+ 01′ 14″
13.	MONFORT Maxime	77	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	49′ 49″	+ 01′ 19″
14.	CHAVANEL Sylvain	151	QUICK STEP	49′ 50″	+ 01′ 20″
15.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	49′ 58″	+ 01′ 28″
16.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	50′ 00″	+ 01′ 30″
17.	CLEMENT Stef	42	RABOBANK	50′ 07″	+ 01′ 37″
18.	GRABSCH Bert	73	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	50′ 08″	+ 01′ 38″
19.	ROGERS Michael	79	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	50′ 08″	+ 01′ 38″
20.	KIRCHEN Kim	75	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	50′ 12″	+ 01′ 42″
21.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	50′ 15″	+ 01′ 45″
22.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	50′ 18″	+ 01′ 48″
23.	BRUSEGHIN Marzio	133	LAMPRE – N.G.C	50′ 30″	+ 02′ 00″
24.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	50′ 30″	+ 02′ 00″
25.	POSTHUMA Joost	48	RABOBANK	50′ 35″	+ 02′ 05″
26.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	50′ 36″	+ 02′ 06″
27.	GERDEMANN Linus	181	TEAM MILRAM	50′ 41″	+ 02′ 11″
28.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	50′ 43″	+ 02′ 13″
29.	TERPSTRA Niki	186	TEAM MILRAM	50′ 44″	+ 02′ 14″
30.	LANG Sebastian	13	SILENCE – LOTTO	50′ 47″	+ 02′ 17″
31.	VANDBORG Brian	97	LIQUIGAS	50′ 48″	+ 02′ 18″
32.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	50′ 56″	+ 02′ 26″
33.	FOTHEN Markus	183	TEAM MILRAM	51′ 02″	+ 02′ 32″
34.	HINCAPIE George	74	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	51′ 04″	+ 02′ 34″
35.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	51′ 04″	+ 02′ 34″

Stage 17 – Day of the Schlecks

dperry1ma — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:31:20 +0000

A fantastic demonstration of teamwork by the Schleck brothers as they attacked the Grand-Bornand. Only one problem…they couldn’t shake Alberto Contador.

	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 53′ 54″
2.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	4h 53′ 54″	+ 00′ 00″
3.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 53′ 54″	+ 00′ 00″
4.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	4h 56′ 12″	+ 02′ 18″
5.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	4h 56′ 12″	+ 02′ 18″
6.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	4h 56′ 21″	+ 02′ 27″
7.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 57′ 01″	+ 03′ 07″
8.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	4h 58′ 03″	+ 04′ 09″
9.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 58′ 03″	+ 04′ 09″
10.	PAURIOL Rémi	129	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	5h 00′ 04″	+ 06′ 10″
11.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	5h 00′ 04″	+ 06′ 10″
12.	MONFORT Maxime	77	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
13.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
14.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
15.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
16.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
17.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
18.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	5h 00′ 06″	+ 06′ 12″
19.	GOUBERT Stephane	85	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 00′ 09″	+ 06′ 15″
20.	ARRIETA Jose Luis	82	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 00′ 13″	+ 06′ 19″
21.	CHAVANEL Sylvain	151	QUICK STEP	5h 00′ 55″	+ 07′ 01″
22.	MINARD Sébastien	127	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
23.	LLOYD Matthew	14	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
24.	CALZATI Sylvain	173	AGRITUBEL	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
25.	SASTRE Carlos	1	CERVELO TEST TEAM	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
26.	HESJEDAL Ryder	54	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
27.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	5h 01′ 41″	+ 07′ 47″
28.	ARROYO David	112	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 01′ 44″	+ 07′ 50″
29.	IVANOV Serguei	165	TEAM KATUSHA	5h 02′ 24″	+ 08′ 30″
30.	LOOSLI David	135	LAMPRE – N.G.C	5h 02′ 48″	+ 08′ 54″
31.	KNEES Christian	185	TEAM MILRAM	5h 02′ 48″	+ 08′ 54″
32.	BARREDO Carlos	152	QUICK STEP	5h 02′ 48″	+ 08′ 54″
33.	DUPONT Hubert	84	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 02′ 48″	+ 08′ 54″
34.	ROLLAND Pierre	148	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	5h 02′ 48″	+ 08′ 54″
35.	URAN Rigoberto	119	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 02′ 52″	+ 08′ 58″

Stage 16 – Bourg-Saint-Maurice

dperry1ma — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:36:23 +0000

A crazy day filled with breakaways, chases, a crash and a comeback.

Perhaps the biggest news of the day was the crash and injury of Jens Voight, one of the finest riders and teammates on the Tour year after year. Jens was moving fast only the final descent when his bike seemed to jump sideways flipping him face first onto the road with tremendous force. He was immediately taken to medical care and is reportedly banged up but expected to recover fully. Having told one of my kids yesterday that Jens Voight is exactly the kind of competitor and teammate they should emulate, it’s hard to imagine feeling worse about losing any rider on the tour. Thoughts and prayers going out to Jens tonight.

The backdrop to the crash was a day filled with repeated attempts at breakaways, high speed attacks and higher speed descents. In the end a breakaway lead by Pierrick Fedrigo, Franco Pellizotti and Mikel Astarloza succeeded and lead to an Astarloza stage win, and loads of KotH points for Pellizotti. The lead group got 8 men across the finish almost a minute ahead of the GC overall leaders, but the action in the first chase group was also outstanding.

Contador and Andy Schleck lead the Yellow Jersey chase group which had over 30 riders well into the last climb, but an attack with 7 km to go by Schleck split the group and dropped a number of top riders includin Evans and Armstrong. Armstrong however surged back from the second chase group and captured the lead chase group in the final 2 km of the climb, dashing the hopes of several riders looking to replace Armstrong on the podium.

	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 14′ 20″
2.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 14′ 26″	+ 00′ 06″
3.	FEDRIGO Pierrick	144	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 14′ 26″	+ 00′ 06″
4.	ROCHE Nicolas	89	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 14′ 26″	+ 00′ 06″
5.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 14′ 26″	+ 00′ 06″
6.	MOINARD Amaël	128	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	4h 14′ 26″	+ 00′ 06″
7.	PELLIZOTTI Franco	91	LIQUIGAS	4h 14′ 31″	+ 00′ 11″
8.	GOUBERT Stephane	85	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 14′ 31″	+ 00′ 11″
9.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
10.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
11.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
12.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
13.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
14.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
15.	URAN Rigoberto	119	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
16.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
17.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
18.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
19.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
20.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
21.	KIRCHEN Kim	75	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
22.	LEFEVRE Laurent	146	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
23.	TROFIMOV Yury	149	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
24.	SASTRE Carlos	1	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
25.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
26.	ANTON Igor	62	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 15′ 19″	+ 00′ 59″
27.	ZABRISKIE David	59	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	4h 15′ 34″	+ 01′ 14″
28.	TEN DAM Laurens	49	RABOBANK	4h 17′ 36″	+ 03′ 16″
29.	GOMEZ MARCHANTE Jose Angel	3	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 17′ 36″	+ 03′ 16″
30.	PAURIOL Rémi	129	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
31.	KNEES Christian	185	TEAM MILRAM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
32.	VOECKLER Thomas	141	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
33.	MINARD Sébastien	127	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
34.	GERDEMANN Linus	181	TEAM MILRAM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
35.	IVANOV Serguei	165	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
36.	PEREZ MORENO Ruben	67	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
37.	LOOSLI David	135	LAMPRE – N.G.C	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
38.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
39.	DUPONT Hubert	84	AG2R LA MONDIALE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
40.	SPILAK Simon	139	LAMPRE – N.G.C	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
41.	POPOVYCH Yaroslav	27	ASTANA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
42.	ROLLAND Pierre	148	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
43.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
44.	ROY Jérémy	107	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
45.	PASAMONTES Luis	116	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
46.	EVANS Cadel	11	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
47.	ZUBELDIA Haimar	29	ASTANA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
48.	CHAVANEL Sylvain	151	QUICK STEP	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
49.	GUSTOV Volodymir	4	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
50.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
51.	HORRACH Joan	163	TEAM KATUSHA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
52.	BARREDO Carlos	152	QUICK STEP	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
53.	WEGELIUS Charles	19	SILENCE – LOTTO	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
54.	FEILLU Brice	174	AGRITUBEL	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
55.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
56.	CUESTA Inigo	2	CERVELO TEST TEAM	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
57.	PAULINHO Sergio	26	ASTANA	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″
58.	VOGONDY Nicolas	179	AGRITUBEL	4h 18′ 15″	+ 03′ 55″

Stage 15 – Verbier the Decider

dperry1ma — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:25:01 +0000

Wow! What a finishing kick by Alberto Contador. The riders are still coming in, but the pretenders are gone. Contador ran away from the pack, Schleck, Wiggins and Sastre held on and Armstrong faded. There are still a lot of mountains left, but it is hard to imagine anyone passing Contador on any one of those climbs. Lance looked particularly vulnerable, as he could not match Contador’s kick with 5km to go and only just clung to the GC 2nd.

Standing	Rider	Rider number bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	5h 03′ 58″
2.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 04′ 41″	+ 00′ 43″
3.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	5h 05′ 01″	+ 01′ 03″
4.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 05′ 04″	+ 01′ 06″
5.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	5h 05′ 04″	+ 01′ 06″
6.	SASTRE Carlos	1	CERVELO TEST TEAM	5h 05′ 04″	+ 01′ 06″
7.	EVANS Cadel	11	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 05′ 24″	+ 01′ 26″
8.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	5h 05′ 27″	+ 01′ 29″
9.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	5h 05′ 33″	+ 01′ 35″
10.	KIRCHEN Kim	75	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	5h 05′ 53″	+ 01′ 55″
11.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	5h 06′ 04″	+ 02′ 06″
12.	MARTIN Tony	76	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	5h 06′ 11″	+ 02′ 13″
13.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	5h 06′ 11″	+ 02′ 13″
14.	MONFORT Maxime	77	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	5h 06′ 21″	+ 02′ 23″
15.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	5h 06′ 30″	+ 02′ 32″
16.	ANTON Igor	62	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	5h 06′ 31″	+ 02′ 33″
17.	VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	17	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 06′ 31″	+ 02′ 33″
18.	VELITS Peter	187	TEAM MILRAM	5h 06′ 34″	+ 02′ 36″
19.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 06′ 34″	+ 02′ 36″
20.	GOMEZ MARCHANTE Jose Angel	3	CERVELO TEST TEAM	5h 06′ 34″	+ 02′ 36″
21.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	5h 06′ 39″	+ 02′ 41″
22.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	5h 06′ 39″	+ 02′ 41″
23.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	5h 06′ 39″	+ 02′ 41″
24.	LLOYD Matthew	14	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 06′ 50″	+ 02′ 52″
25.	FEILLU Brice	174	AGRITUBEL	5h 07′ 12″	+ 03′ 14″
26.	KERN Christophe	126	COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	5h 07′ 12″	+ 03′ 14″
27.	GOUBERT Stephane	85	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 07′ 12″	+ 03′ 14″
28.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	5h 07′ 15″	+ 03′ 17″
29.	ROLLAND Pierre	148	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	5h 07′ 22″	+ 03′ 24″
30.	BOUET Maxime	172	AGRITUBEL	5h 07′ 34″	+ 03′ 36″
31.	TXURRUKA Amets	68	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	5h 07′ 41″	+ 03′ 43″
32.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	5h 07′ 41″	+ 03′ 43″
33.	GUSTOV Volodymir	4	CERVELO TEST TEAM	5h 07′ 41″	+ 03′ 43″
34.	TROFIMOV Yury	149	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	5h 07′ 41″	+ 03′ 43″
35.	DUPONT Hubert	84	AG2R LA MONDIALE	5h 07′ 52″	+ 03′ 54″
36.	HINCAPIE George	74	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	5h 08′ 04″	+ 04′ 06″
37.	SORENSEN Chris	37	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 08′ 04″	+ 04′ 06″
38.	GERDEMANN Linus	181	TEAM MILRAM	5h 08′ 04″	+ 04′ 06″
39.	CHAVANEL Sylvain	151	QUICK STEP	5h 08′ 04″	+ 04′ 06″
40.	SORENSEN Nicki	38	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 08′ 08″	+ 04′ 10″
41.	KNEES Christian	185	TEAM MILRAM	5h 08′ 08″	+ 04′ 10″
42.	CANCELLARA Fabian	33	TEAM SAXO BANK	5h 08′ 12″	+ 04′ 14″
43.	MOREAU Christophe	171	AGRITUBEL	5h 08′ 18″	+ 04′ 20″
44.	HESJEDAL Ryder	54	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	5h 08′ 21″	+ 04′ 23″
45.	FEDRIGO Pierrick	144	BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM	5h 08′ 36″	+ 04′ 38″
46.	CALZATI Sylvain	173	AGRITUBEL	5h 08′ 41″	+ 04′ 43″
47.	WEGELIUS Charles	19	SILENCE – LOTTO	5h 08′ 56″	+ 04′ 58″

Stage 14 into Besancon – Hincapie’s Big Move

dperry1ma — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:57:21 +0000

But the big news of the day was Hincapie, who started the day only 5′ 25″ out of the lead, and with the breakaway upwards of 8 minutes ahead at times during the stage, assumed the virtual overall lead. However, a furious pace set by the AG2R riders in the peloton during the final 50km pulled the bunch back within 5’20 of the breakaway group so George finished the day in second by a scant 5 seconds. Contador and Armstrong lost no time and remain 6 and 8 seconds back respectively.

Heartbreaking to watch the interview with Hincapie afterwards as the realization the AG2R assault had robbed him of a once in a lifetime opportunity at the Yellow Jersey.

	Rider	bib	Team	Time	Gaps
1.	NOCENTINI Rinaldo	87	AG2R LA MONDIALE	58h 13′ 52″
2.	HINCAPIE George	74	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	58h 13′ 57″	+ 00′ 05″
3.	CONTADOR Alberto	21	ASTANA	58h 13′ 58″	+ 00′ 06″
4.	ARMSTRONG Lance	22	ASTANA	58h 14′ 00″	+ 00′ 08″
5.	LE MEVEL Christophe	106	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	58h 14′ 35″	+ 00′ 43″
6.	WIGGINS Bradley	58	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	58h 14′ 38″	+ 00′ 46″
7.	KLÖDEN Andréas	23	ASTANA	58h 14′ 46″	+ 00′ 54″
8.	MARTIN Tony	76	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	58h 14′ 52″	+ 01′ 00″
9.	VANDE VELDE Christian	51	GARMIN – SLIPSTREAM	58h 15′ 16″	+ 01′ 24″
10.	SCHLECK Andy	31	TEAM SAXO BANK	58h 15′ 41″	+ 01′ 49″
11.	NIBALI Vincenzo	95	LIQUIGAS	58h 15′ 46″	+ 01′ 54″
12.	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	118	CAISSE D’EPARGNE	58h 16′ 08″	+ 02′ 16″
13.	MONFORT Maxime	77	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	58h 16′ 13″	+ 02′ 21″
14.	SCHLECK Frank	36	TEAM SAXO BANK	58h 16′ 17″	+ 02′ 25″
15.	KREUZIGER Roman	93	LIQUIGAS	58h 16′ 32″	+ 02′ 40″
16.	EFIMKIN Vladimir	81	AG2R LA MONDIALE	58h 16′ 37″	+ 02′ 45″
17.	SASTRE Carlos	1	CERVELO TEST TEAM	58h 16′ 44″	+ 02′ 52″
18.	ASTARLOZA Mikel	61	EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI	58h 16′ 54″	+ 03′ 02″
19.	EVANS Cadel	11	SILENCE – LOTTO	58h 16′ 59″	+ 03′ 07″
20.	KIRCHEN Kim	75	TEAM COLUMBIA – HTC	58h 17′ 08″	+ 03′ 16″
21.	KARPETS Vladimir	161	TEAM KATUSHA	58h 17′ 41″	+ 03′ 49″
22.	FEILLU Brice	174	AGRITUBEL	58h 17′ 48″	+ 03′ 56″
23.	CASAR Sandy	101	FRANCAISE DES JEUX	58h 17′ 50″	+ 03′ 58″
24.	ZUBELDIA Haimar	29	ASTANA	58h 18′ 06″	+ 04′ 14″
25.	POPOVYCH Yaroslav	27	ASTANA	58h 18′ 12″	+ 04′ 20″
26.	GERDEMANN Linus	181	TEAM MILRAM	58h 18′ 12″	+ 04′ 20″
27.	SORENSEN Nicki	38	TEAM SAXO BANK	58h 18′ 30″	+ 04′ 38″
28.	BOTCHAROV Alexandre	162	TEAM KATUSHA	58h 18′ 52″	+ 05′ 00″