TDF Stage 11 - A Green Jersey Competition Hosted By Virgins

Stage 11 Map / Vatan → Saint-Fargeau - Image Credit: steephill.tv

TDF Stage 11 - A Green Jersey Competition Hosted By Virgins

This stage begins in Vatan and travels northeast to finish in Saint-Fargeau. Two categorized climbs enliven the proceedings, though they are unlikely to prove decisive in the end. This stage should end in a sprint. The final kilometer is slightly bowl-shaped, with a slight descent than a false-flat climb to the line. In the event of a headwind, timing the sprint correctly could prove tricky. Either way, it’s a finish for the fast men and an opportunity to chase points in the Green Jersey competition.

Stage 11 Profile / Vatan → Saint-Fargeau - Image Credit: steephill.tv

Both Vatan and Saint-Fargeau are Tour de France virgins. Neither town has ever hosted a Tour start or finish before this year. Vatan lies in the Champagne berrichonne, an open space of plainsland in central France. Also known as Septaine, this region is traversed by the Cher and Indre rivers and dotted with small villages and towns. Vatan is home to not much more than 2000 inhabitants.

Saint-Fargeau is similarly small, though it boasts a chateau dating from the tenth century. The Chateau de Saint-Fargeau holds annual festivals re-enacting events from its lengthy history, from knights in armor to American military vehicles from the Liberation. Saint-Fargeau is also known for its water-sports on the nearby lac du Bourdon.
(ht:steephill.tv)

So what we expect to witness today is pretty much the same as Stage 10, bumpy terrin with a couple of climbs that will not challenge the integrity of the peloton. Look to Team Astana to force Ag2r-La Mondiale to defend the Yellow Jersey by leading the Peloton except toward the end when the strong "SPRINT" teams will be working to place their riders in a good position to take the stage.

Of course, with things as tight as they are, there is always the potential to shuffle the deck a bit. Yesterday’s stage resulted in several riders being delayed by 15 seconds near the end of the stage and, at the end of yesterday, Tour officials had both Levi Leipheimer and Bradley Wiggins suffer the impact of that split. Leipheimer dropped from fourth on GC to fifth and Wiggins dropped from fifth to seventh. Tour officials have been busy overnight ... they have reconsidered and negated that 15 second split in yesterday's finish. That means that the GC results were not altered as they had been at the end of the day, yesterday.

We’ll be watching those GC positions today, but smart riding and radio communications being restored may keep the General Classification pretty much the same.

officials have also been discussing yesterday's radio ban. It appears that they UCI is poised to force a reversal of plans to ban them again on Friday's stage from Vittel to Colmar.

There was no change overall as Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R) kept the yellow jersey for another day and Team Astana now hold 2nd through positions on GC with Alberto Contador six seconds off the pace, Lance Armstrong another two second behind, with Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer tied at 54-seconds off the lead. Leipheimer lost a few seconds today, perhaps held up by a closing crash that took out a Katusha rider. /// "Riders were not happy being unable to listen," said Contador after the race. "It was dangerous. The race organizers wanted more spectacle but they got less. Cycling has changed--it's dangrious with so many car in the peloton. It was a pity for the public." He continued with, "On the other hand it was a flat stage so you could not expect a lot. But it would be better to do experiments in other races," he concluded. /// General Manager Johan Bruyneel agreed. "I understand the reason for no radios was to have more attractive racing and that's obviously not what happened. If that's what they wanted to accomplish it's been a failure and I just think it's a bad idea to go back twenty years and do something like this in the biggest race of the year. It took away a tool that everybody uses everyday." Caption and Image Credit: Team Astana

General Classification after Stage 10

1 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 39:11:04

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:06

3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:00:08

4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:00:54

5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana

6 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:01:00

7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:01

8 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:24

9 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:49

10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:01:54

This excerpted and edited primarily from VeloNews and may include other resources -

The weather today is again ideal for a bike race. It's sunny and about 23 degrees (C) - 73 degrees Fahrenheit - and very little wind.

2:05
CPelkey: At 55km, our two leaders - Johan Vansummeren (Silence-Lotto) and Marcin Sapa (Lampre) - are holding on to a lead of 4:30. That appears to be about as much rope as the peloton is willing to give them today.
2:06
[Comment From PJ ]
What Tour was decided by less than 15 sec and who was involved?
2:07
CPelkey: That would be the 1989 Tour de France, which was decided on an unusual final-day time trial into Paris. Greg LeMond trailed Laurent Fignon by 50 seconds at the start of the day, but completed the 24.5km time trial at a speed 58 seconds faster than Fignon, thus winning the Tour by the narrowest margin in history, a scant eight seconds.
----
2:16
[Comment From Lou ]
How does the new electronic shifters appear to be working or is anyone using them?
2:17
CPelkey: We haven't heard any complaints. Certainly the Skil Shimano team is using them.

The systems seem to be working quite nicely, too. Certainly much better than the first electronic shifting system that appeared in the peloton back in the mid-90s. Remember Mavic Zap? Our favorite moment was when one poor rider had his derailleur unexpectedly shift whenever he passed under high capacity electrical wires.
2:21
CPelkey: And, indeed, it looks like our two escapees did, in fact, hit the limit of the leash a few kilometers back. Now at 63km, their advantage has been trimmed to four minutes even.
2:25
CPelkey: At 67km, the gap has been pulled back to 3:45.
2:29
CPelkey:

The gap is coming down largely due to the efforts of the Columbia team, which seems intent upon delivering Cavendish to the line for another sprint win. It would be his eighth Tour de France stage win, which would tie him for the record of stage victories by a British rider.

Our own Brit-in-da-house, John Wilcockson looked at Cav's chances of matching - and eventually topping - the record set more than 30 years ago by Barry Hoban: http://velonews.com/article/95168
2:34
[Comment From Tom in Albany, NY ]
Who owns the record irrespective of country of origin?
2:35
CPelkey: Oh, that's an easy one. Eddy Merckx. He's got 34 stage wins to his credit. Next on the list is Bernard Hinault, at 28.
----
2:41
CPelkey: Garmin, Columbia and Ag2r have riders at the front of the peloton. The gap at 78km is 3:08.
----
2:55
CPelkey: Here is the official ruling from the Tour's race jury:

Moments after the review of the general classification was posted, Radio Tour announced that the jury has decided that the 15” that separated the first 52 riders from the second peloton will be void. This means that the top order of the general classification remains the same as it was before the 10th stage.

2:57
CPelkey: As our two leaders head to the feed zone, the gap is now 3:35.
3:00
Should the UCI reverse the no-radio rule for stage 13?
Yes
( 55% )
No
( 45% )
----
3:05
CPelkey: With 95km remaining in today's stage, our two leaders are 3:37 ahead of the peloton.
3:06
[Comment From IdahoMike ]
Do we have details about exactly what happened near the finish, and why the negation of the gap?
3:10
CPelkey: Yeah, it was a weird ruling to begin with.

If you look at the film, the gap between the back of the peloton and the next group was rather small. So commisaires decided that the gap was more than a second, meaning that the next group got a fresh time. The problem is that when there is a gap of more than a second, the timing is based on the front of the leading group ... meaning that while the Wiggins/Leipheimer group of 52 riders appeared to be just a second or two behind the group ahead, the were credited with a time that put them 15 seconds back.
3:12
[Comment From Jeremy Clarkson ]
Was the gap caused by the result of the Karpets crash?
3:13
CPelkey: It may have been, but Karpets was the only rider to go down in that one and the flow of the peloton didn't seem to slow going through that turn.
3:15
CPelkey: With 89km remaining, the gap has grown slightly to 3:30, probably a sign that the peloton has slowed a bit while they get lunch.
3:22
CPelkey: With 84km remaining, the gap is coming back down and is now 3:17.
3:25
CPelkey: The Ag2r and Columbia teams are doing the bulk of the work up front in the peloton right now.
3:29
Will the break stick?
Yes
( 4% )
No
( 96% )

3:31
CPelkey: And with 77km remaining, the gap is down to 3:00.
3:36
CPelkey: Today's finish in Saint Fargeau may present some issues for the pure sprinters. There's a bit of rise in the last kilometer. While the profile indicates that it only bumps up 32 meters in the last km, it sure feels like it's more than that.
----
3:39
[Comment From JR ]
Is this the way the TDF 09 is going to be this year - ie "unexciting"?
3:40
CPelkey: We have to agree that these first two weeks have been a little on the slow side at times, but honestly think the last week is going to be spectacular.
3:43
Who will win today's stage?
Cavendish
( 58% )
Hushovd
( 18% )
Farrar
( 12% )
Peirero
( 1% )
Boonen
( 4% )
Someone else?
( 6% )

3:44
[Comment From Bo Zo ]
I disagree with your (and everyone else's assesment of the tour not being decided until the end. I'll make you a gentleman's bet that by the end of stage 18, it will be apparent who the winner will be.
----
3:49
CPelkey: Word at the start is that a frustrated Tom Boonen, who hasn't contested a field sprint yet and has said this might be his last Tour de France, had a change of heart overnight and promised to try to win the stage today.
3:52
3:53
CPelkey: With 62km remaining, the Ag2r team is setting tempo and the gap is now 3:26.
----
4:01
CPelkey: Time for a mechanical repair. George Hincapie - riding his 14th straight Tour - is back at the team car for a quick adjustment.
4:02
CPelkey: efore the stage Columbia boss Bob Stapleton said his team's biggest concern is whether or not any other sprinters' teams will be willing to ride at the front to chase back today's breakaway, given Cavendish's success rate in field sprints.

While Columbia is up front today, it's Ag2r that seems to be doing the bulk of the chase work.
4:07
CPelkey: With 53km remaining, the gap is down to 2:22.
----
4:13
CPelkey: With 49km remaining in today's stage, the gap is now at two minutes.
4:16
CPelkey: Rabobank has moved to the front, too, now.
4:17
CPelkey: OUCH!
We Ryder just hit the deck.
4:18
CPelkey: Ryder Hesjedal is up.

Man, oh man... he touched a wheel. He flipped over his bike, but he seems okay.
----
4:25
CPelkey:

The leaders are 41km from the finish. They are 2:01 ahead of the peloton. We expect a catch at -- a guess here -- 15km to go.
----
4:31
CPelkey: Vrooom, vroom... the pace is picking up in the peloton.
Our two leaders are now 1:40 with 36km to go.
4:32
CPelkey: It's Columbia driving at the front of the peloton.

Nocentini is right up there... doing a fine job as the yellow jersey.
----
4:40
CPelkey: 30km to go and the gap is 1:26.
----
4:49
CPelkey: With 22km remaining, the gap is 50 seconds.
----
4:52
CPelkey: We have Columbia at the front of the peloton. Rabobank is also setting tempo. THe gap will be around 45 seconds at the 20km-to-go mark.
----
4:56
CPelkey: Columbia is doing the work up front. Garmin and Rabobank are also lending a hand.

The gap, with 16km is now 33 seconds.

Do I hear singing?
4:57
[Comment From Eric ]
Where's Astana?
4:58
CPelkey: Astana the team is tucked in behind the chasers... but still near the front.

[ALSO] Astana, the capitol city in Kazakhstan.
4:58
CPelkey: 15km to go and the gap is now down to 25 seconds.
----
5:05
CPelkey: Okay, we're gonna see a field sprint, folks.

10km to go, the gap is 19 seconds. It would take some sort of divine intervention to keep these two from being caught.... and we haven't seen the Jesus-Fan-Dude since the Tourmalet.
5:06
CPelkey: We have two finishing trains forming up. Milram and Columbia have both teams at the front.
5:08
CPelkey: 12 seconds. Tick, tick, tick...
5:08
CPelkey: 6.5km and it's nine seconds.
5:09
CPelkey: 6km... and it's no more than five seconds.
5:10
CPelkey: maybe 20 meters
5:10
CPelkey: And

5:10

5:10
CPelkey: Five kilometers to go and now we have a bike race.
5:12
CPelkey: With 3km to go, the peloton is flying tdown the road.
5:13
CPelkey: We have three finishing trains jockeying for position. Garmin, Columbia... Milram.
5:13
CPelkey: 2km to go
5:13
CPelkey: Hushovd is going to have to poach a ride on one of those trains.
5:13
CPelkey: Milram is really pushing the pace. Yeeeeeeehaw.
5:14
CPelkey: Final kilometer
5:14
CPelkey:

Columbia at the front...
5:14
CPelkey: Hitting the hill, Hincapie at the front.
5:14
CPelkey: Hushovd goes....
5:15
CPelkey: Farrar... comes up... but nope
5:15
CPelkey: Cavendish gets it.
5:15
CPelkey: Man, that boy has a kick....

Mark Cavendish (Columbia-HTC) wins again in France. Cavendish takes his eighth Tour de France stage win, equalling Barry Hoban's British record. Image Credit: AFP

5:16
CPelkey: Farrar gets second and it looks like Hushovd faded back to fifth. That means Cavendish will get that jersey to match his glasses.
5:17
[Comment From Tom ]
Darn that Wilcockson suckering me into thinking the hill might impede Cav a bit...
5:18
CPelkey: Yeah, that's just one of the manipulative tools we journalists use to generate interest.
5:21
CPelkey:

Preliminary results from Stage 11:

# 1. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - Htc, 192km in 4:17:55
# 2. Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream
# 3. Yauheni Hutarovich Francaise Des Jeux
# 4. Oscar Freire Rabobank
# 5. Thor Hushovd Cervelo Test Team
# 6. Leonardo Duque Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne
# 7. Gerald Ciolek Team Milram
# 8. Lloyd Mondory Ag2r-La Mondiale
# 9. William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Telecom
# 10. Nicolaï Trussov Team Katusha
# 11. Marco Bandiera Lampre - N.g.c
# 12. Serguei Ivanov Team Katusha
# 13. Joaquin Rojas Jose Caisse D’epargne
# 14. Daniele Bennati Liquigas
# 15. Kenny Robert Van Hummel Skil-Shimano
# 16. Tom Boonen Quick Step
# 17. Andréas KlÖden Astana
# 18. Cyril Lemoine Skil-Shimano
# 19. Filippo Pozzato Team Katusha
# 20. Angelo Furlan Lampre - N.g.c

5:24
CPelkey: Top ten after today's stage:

5:25
# CPelkey: 1. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale, 43:28:59
# 2. Alberto Contador Astana, at 0:06
# 3. Lance Armstrong Astana at 00:08
# 4. Levi Leipheimer Astana at 00:39
# 5. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream at 00:46
# 6. Andréas KlÖden Astana at 00:54
# 7. Tony Martin Team Columbia - Htc at 01:00
# 8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream at 01:24
# 9. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank at 01:49
# 10. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas at 01:54

Cavendish is likely to have inherited the green jersey too!

Tomorrow's Stage 12 - Thursday, July 16 - 211 km - Tonnerre → Vittel

Terrain Type: Hilly, but not mountainous. Breakaway country.

GC Importance: None, though the GC teams should keep an eye on the breakaways.

TDF Stage 10 - Bastille Day Breakaway From The Red City

Alberto Contador, Team Astana climbing the Col du Tourmalet on Stage 9 - Excerpted Q&A on rest day - Q: Armstrong has said yesterday that there was a little tension in the team. Do you feel alone? Contador: I have seen his statements, but for me there is no tension at all, I am very relaxed. /// Q:Do you feel alone? Is your principal opposition inside Astana? Contador: I do not feel alone at all, because I have around me people who completely support me in this Tour and that are being very important. In my team there are riders with many options and that are clear candidates, but I do not think about it either. There remains a lot of Tour to race and in any case, it's better that the victory remain in the team than goes anywhere else. /// Q: What will the situation be if Armstrong attacks in the mountain? Do you go to catch him or not? Contador: If Armstrong attacks I am not going to catch him. That will have to be done by others. Caption & Image Credit: Team Astana

TDF Stage 10 - Bastille Day Breakaway From The Red City

Today’s stage coincides with the French National Holiday, Bastille Day, on the 14th of July. We can expect to see the French teams and riders animating the stage from start to finish. Certainly, they have a chance to steal the day’s glory from the sprinters on this bumpy 194.5-kilometer ride from Limoges to Issoudun. But it will be far from easy, as the climbs all come early in the stage before it descends to a flat finish. Though the early kilometers favor the escape, the mostly descending finish shifts the advantage to the chase.

Stage 10 Map & Profile - Image Credit: steephill.tv

Limoges (famed for the production of porcelain) has hosted the Tour de France on 13 occasions. The city holds the nickname of la ville rouge, the Red City, because of its leftist political tradition. France’s main trades union, the Confédération générale du travail, originated in Limoges in the late 19th century. The stage finishes in Issoudun, and this year marks the first visit of the Tour to this town in central France.

As for a prediction for who will win this two-wheel epic when it reached Paris on Stage 21, July 26, 2009 now that we are through the first stages of mountains ... can not say, but there is a good bet that Team Astana may populate the podium.

Since 1976, there have only been five instances when riders from the same team have been on the final podium in Paris and the last time that happened was 13 years ago. Interstingly, Greg LeMond was involved in three of those:

* 1996 – Telekom 1st & 2nd – Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich
* 1986 – La vie Claire 1st & 2nd – Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault
* 1985 – La Vie Claire 1st & 2nd – Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond
* 1984 – Renault-Elf 1st & 3rd – Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond
* 1976 – GAN-Mercier 2nd & 3rd – Joop Zootemelk and Raymond Poulidor

Today's stage begins after a day of rest and will not be much more than a hilly ride through central France. This stage crosses terrain wrinkled with small climbs and bumps, but none of them should cause the sprinters’ teams too much difficulty.

From the start in Limoges, the first ten kilometers are mostly flat. The first categorized climb of the day summits at kilometer 12.5. The category 4 Côte de Salvanet climbs 1.8 kilometers at an average gradient of 4.5%. It’s a nice warm-up and should serve to send an early breakaway off the front.

There is space here for a breakaway to hide, but the sprinters’ teams should prove able to bring back the escape before the finish. At kilometer 122, there is a second intermediate sprint in the town of Aigurande. The final intermediate sprint comes with 27.5 kilometers to race in Saint-Aoüt. From there, the course descends, passing through Meunet Planches on the way to the flat finish in Issoudun.

There are a few sweeping corners on the way to the finish, and a right-hand bend just before the red kite. Then, it’s a straight shot to the line. The stage finishes on the boulevard Roosevelt and should be a day for the sprinters.
(ht: steephill.tv & VeloNews)

This excerpted and edited from VERSUS -

The outcome of the stage, or at least what the peloton is aiming for is quite obvious due to who is on the front. Most of the top sprinters' teams -- Columbia-HTC, Garmin-Slipstream, Lampre, Liquigas -- are on the front setting the pace.

The time gap seems to be fluctuating much more than usual.

Regardless of the opinion, this will make for an interesting stage that would otherwise be a nondescript 'transfer' stage.

Riders are always given course maps and profiles, but you can see the riders using them more, as they are no longer getting information in their ear (team radio communications were banned for this stage by race organizers).

Even with radios the peloton has had trouble doing this in the previous few stages.

The question is whether the peloton will be able to time the catch of a breakaway close enough to the finish to discourage counter-attacks -- but far enough to still catch all the break riders.

Le Tour... unplugged. Today is the first stage that is without radio communication between the riders and their team directors.
Reference Here>>

This excerpted and edited from VeloNews and other race broadcast resources -

12:40
CPelkey: We still have no indication that the Tour has backed off its position on radios today, despite the vehement objections of 15 of the 20 teams racing in the Tour.

12:41

1
CPelkey: Here's a shot of Rabobank's Grischa Niermann chatting with reporters at the start about the radio ban.

12:43

CPelkey: Johan Bruyneel and Jonathan Vaughters chat about the radio rule this morning.

12:46
CPelkey: Riders have passed the start. We have 171 riders in the peloton.

As they say, "you can't tell the players without a scorecard," so we've updated the roster sheet to reflect changes over the past week: http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/93739
12:49
CPelkey: You might wonder why reporters were glomping onto Niermann this morning. Perhaps this shot might show a little more of his small act of civil disobedience.

12:49

CPelkey: Neirmann was quoted as saying the radio ban is "bullshit," but despite that feeling, he started and is off riding the stage.

12:51
CPelkey: One item of VeloNews interest. Our friend and colleague, John Wilcockson was recognized at the start this morning for having covered 40 - yup, that's forty - Tours de France.
----
1:02
CPelkey: With the absence of rider radios today, we can imagine that riders will be paying closer attention to the "chalkboard man" on the motorcycle. The Tour has continued to rely on the chalkboard man to report time gaps to the peloton, despite the fact that riders have been getting more accurate information over their radios.
1:06
CPelkey: Mmmmmm... at 18km, the gap is up to 3:10.
1:08
CPelkey: While you suggest that the radio ban contributed to the rather rapid growth in the gap, but part of that may be due to ... less technological factors. There were several members of the peloton who needed to rid themselves of this morning's coffee before carrying on. Tradition dictates that the peloton will slow if a significant number of riders answer the call of nature at the same time.
1:16
CPelkey: At 22km, the gap is now 3:40. It looks like this one will stick for a while. None of these riders poses a threat on GC
1:18
CPelkey:
Rumors of a potential pre-stage strike due to the radio ban swirled around the start line, however those rumors turned out to be just that - rumors - as the pack rolled away and did so right on schedule.

Others suggested the majority of the peloton might simply neutralize the stage by riding tempo, however given that it’s Bastille Day, the likelihood of French riders and teams giving up the opportunity to win on the national holiday seemed unlikely.

Another possibility is that each team that is against the ban would put two riders at the front to neutralize a potential French breakaway attempt.... but as you can see, that doesn't appear to be the case either.

Garmin-Slipstream’s Christan Vande Velde said he could see both sides of the argument, but didn’t like the added danger of team directors driving in and out of the peloton to talk to their riders.

Tom Boonen said the speculation surrounding possible ways to act out against the radio ban was just another classic example of chaos at the Tour de France.

“Today should be a perfect opportunity for riders to make a statement and tell the race that the ban on radios is bullshit,” Boonen told VeloNews. “But of course it’s the Tour, and everyone has different interests, and nobody knows what’s going to happen. It’s just another crazy day at the Tour.”

Rabobank’s Grischa Niermann made his own statement by implanting a car radio antenna on the back of his Giro helmet, drawing scores of photographers at sign-in. Niermann also used the term “bullshit” when discussing the radio ban, telling VeloNews, “we’ve been racing with radios for 10 or 12 years. Why are we going back in time now?”

Niermann’s teammate, sprinter Oscar Friere, said normally today’s stage would be ideal for a field sprint, however given the unpredictability of racing without radios, as well as the possibility of a neutralized stage, he didn’t know what to expect.
----
2:07
CPelkey: Our four leaders are being kept on a relatively tight leash today.

At 57km, their advantage is just 2:38.
2:09
CPelkey: We still haven't seen Mr. Hood in the press room today.

Checking in on his latest Twitter updates (at http://twitter.com/EuroHoody) it seems he hasn't made an entry since yesterday, when his focus appears to have been on things non-journalistic:

"Time to get some "rest" in this rest day; I think there's a bottle of chilled rose somewhere calling my name."

2:11
CPelkey: Andy Schleck has just returned to the peloton after getting a wheel change. He flatted, but had no difficulty getting back into the field.
2:13
CPelkey:

The peloton is being led by a combination of Ag2r and Rabobank riders. Ag2r is obviously intent upon ensuring that Nocentini keeps the jersey, while Rabobank is probably interested in getting Oscar Freire to the line in a mass sprint. Of course, the three-time world champion has to get past Mark Cavendish and Thor Hushovd and Tyler Farrar if he wants a win today.
----
2:18
[Comment From Gary ]
I know that the bikes have a sensor attached for their time checks but what happens if the rider has to switch bikes during the ride? How time checked in that situation?
2:20
CPelkey: A few replacement bikes have sensors, too. The Tour keeps track of bike changes and those codes are typed into the computer. If a rider gets a bike without a sensor, the rider's finishing position is double-checked on film. That's one reason preliminary results go through a confirmation process before they are declared to be official.
2:22
CPelkey: The Quick Step and Lampre teams are now lending a hand in the chase. Quick Step may be hoping to give Tom Boonen a shot at a stage win today. He's been having all sorts of trouble this Tour and a stage win might get him back on track in the points competition.
2:28
CPelkey: Back at the 58.5km mark, the four leader crossed the top of the Côte de Bénévent-l'Abbaye.

1. Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano), 3 points
2. Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux), 2 points
3. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis), 1 point

That's the last ranked climb of the day and the three Cat. 4s have had no significant impact on the KOM contest. Martinez will keep the polka-dot jersey for another day.

2:28
CPelkey: At 68km, the gap has bumped back up to the 3:15 mark.
----
4:33
CPelkey: With 46.5km to go, the gap is at 1:42.

We could predict a catch somewhere after the 20km-to-go mark.
4:36
CPelkey: With 42km to go, the gap is 1:39.

It's still a good mix of riders at the front of the peloton.

4:38

CPelkey: Here's a look at the finish line.

4:40
[Comment From Pedalingsquares ]
How many kms from the finish do you think Ignatiev will give it a go?
4:41
CPelkey: You're right. Of the four, Ignatiev has done the least amount of work. He may be saving himself for a last frantic dash to the line. I'd still bet on a field sprint today, though.
4:45
CPelkey: Columbia is moving up. They are beginning to smell the finish line.
4:46
4:49
CPelkey: With 33km to go, the gap is 1:13.

It's a mix of Columbia and Rabobank riders at the front.
4:49
[Comment From Sean ]
I think Cavendish needs a cool nickname to be the best sprinter. I miss Robbie the Rocket McEwen.
4:50
CPelkey: Cavendish, who grew up on the Isle of Man, is know as the "Manx Missile." That's pretty cool, no?
4:52
CPelkey: Under a minute. Our leaders are 31km from the finish and now just 58 seconds ahead of the peloton.
4:52
CPelkey: Tick, tick, tick ...
4:53
[Comment From Guest ]
I saw that Bicycling magazine misquoted Cavendish once as the 'Man Missile' .... that drastically changes the moniker
4:54
CPelkey: That would have to rank as one of the cycling world's most unfortunate typos, yes.
4:57
CPelkey: Okay, our four leaders are now 26km from the finish. The gap is holding at 1:00.
4:59
CPelkey: The peloton is 25km from the finish. The gap has dropped to 45 seconds.
5:01
[Comment From Peter ]
Do the riders in the break away get regular reports on how far back the peloton is?
5:01
CPelkey: They also benefit from the Chalkboard Man ... who is delivering bad news to the four leaders.

22km to go, 40-second gap.
----
5:04
CPelkey: Carlos Sastre has pretty much accepted he won't be winning this year's Tour: "I am resigned? No. I am a realist. There's one team (Astana) that's clogging up the of the GC, holding up the race. This Tour didn't have the prerequisites for me to win again. The second week is tough enough and then the third week will decide everything. Whoever has the legs will win this Tour."
5:06
CPelkey: Arvesen is still hanging at the back of the peloton. We think he'll make it to the finish and we hope he's able to continue tomorrow.
5:08
CPelkey: With 16km to go, the gap is 41 seconds. If any of these guys want to win, one of them is going to have to make a move soon. You can see the peloton coming up fast.
5:10
[Comment From Steve ]
Is there a jersey for the current holder of the Lanterne Rouge?
5:10
CPelkey: No. No there is not.
5:13
CPelkey: Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux), Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) continue to hold off the chase.

They seem to have a bit of reserve in the tank after the moderate pace today. Are we gonna see a drag race?
5:13
[Comment From Westy ]
What is the Lanterne Rouge?
5:14
CPelkey: It is an honor given to the last rider on GC - the overall standings. The name is based on the red light on the back of a train.
5:14
[Comment From Brian ]
Don't they wear red numbers..?
5:14
CPelkey: No. That is awarded to the most aggressive rider.
5:17
CPelkey: With less than 8km remaining, the gap is in the 20-second range.
5:17
CPelkey: Actually, we're at 6.5km from the finish. Time to chase boys.
5:18
CPelkey: Twenty-one seconds, with 5.8km to go.
5:19
CPelkey: Columbia and Garmin are massing at the front.
5:19
CPelkey: Mmmmmm.... five km to go.
5:20
CPelkey: Garmin, Columbia and Quick Step are driving the chase. There are no attacks out of the front group.
5:20
CPelkey: Are these guys gonna make it? They still have 20 seconds with four kilometers to go.
5:21
CPelkey:

Ignatiev tries a dig. The others were expecting it, though.

3km to go, 12 seconds.
5:22
CPelkey: 2.5km to go, the gap is down to 11 seconds.
5:22
CPelkey: The roads are twisty here at the finish....

5:22
CPelkey: With 2km to go, the gap is seven seconds.

5:23
CPelkey: Caught
5:23
CPelkey: Crash on the turn... Karpets?
5:23
CPelkey: In the final km
5:23
CPelkey: Hincapie at the front
5:24
CPelkey:

Farrar is goin...
5:24
CPelkey: Cavendish and crew have control again
5:24
CPelkey: Cavendish charges ,.... and makes it look oh so very easy.
5:25
CPelkey: Wow he is good.

5:25
CPelkey:

It looks like by coming in second, Hushovd keeps the green jersey.

Farrar was third.
5:27
CPelkey: 1. Mark Cavendish (GB), Columbia-HTC
2. Thor Hushovd (N), Cervelo
3. Tyler Farrar (USA), Garmin-Slipstream.
5:29
[Comment From Matthew ]
Wow. not having radios changed everything!
5:29
CPelkey: Yeah, we noticed that, too.

5:30

CPelkey:

1. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - HTC, 194.5km in 4:46:43

2. Thor Hushovd Cervelo Test Team

3. Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream

4. Leonardo Duque Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne

5. Joaquin Rojas Jose Caisse D’epargne

6. Lloyd Mondory Ag2r-La Mondiale

7. Kenny Robert Van Hummel Skil-Shimano

8. William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Telecom

9. Daniele Bennati Liquigas

10. Saïd Haddou Bbox Bouygues Telecom

11. Gerald Ciolek Team Milram

5:32
CPelkey: As expected, there was no real impact on GC:
# 1. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale
# 2. Alberto Contador Astana, at 0:06
# 3. Lance Armstrong Astana at 00:08
# 4. Andréas KlÖden Astana at 00:54
# 5. Levi Leipheimer Astana at 00:54
# 6. Tony Martin Team Columbia - Htc at 01:00
# 7. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream at 01:01
# 8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream at 01:24
# 9. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank at 01:49
# 10. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas at 01:54

5:34
CPelkey: We're still waiting for KOM and points standings, but there is no change in ownership of either of those jerseys. Hushovd keeps the points jersey. Martinez keeps the KOM.

Tomorrow: Stage 11 - Wednesday, July 15 - 192 km - Vatan to Saint-Fargeau

TDF Stage 9 - Col du Tourmalet, Spinning Class On Steroids

A lone rider on the Col du Tourmalet. Image Credit: steephill.tv

TDF Stage 9 - Col du Tourmalet, Spinning Class On Steroids

A great, tactical, and very professional Tour de France has been shaping up in the previous eight days. Team rules take the day in the last day in Stage 9 - Saint-Gaudens → Tarbes - in the Pyrenees featuring a big climb up the Col du Tourmalet before a day off and a group of Stages in the middle flat of France before reaching the Alps, and a chance to create separation in about a week.

Col du Tourmalet from Luz Saint Sauveur in 3D, on Googleearth! Image Credit: climbbybike.com

It doesn't really make sense to waste energy needlessly when a team can control it's destiny with level headed tactics. Team Astana was content to have someone else wear, and some other team protect, the Yellow Jersey over the next several days while keeping their own strength up in the Peloton. No real attack, no real drama, just keep the Yellow Jersey in the group and take control of the Peloton when necessary so that no time is lost to the leader.

One can not blame Team Astana when they have three top riders just 6 seconds - Alberto Contador, 8 seconds - Lance Armstrong, and 39 seconds - Levi Leipheimer behind Rinaldo Nocentini and several days of flat stage work ahead ... with having the Yellow Jersey holding Team AG2R-La Mondiale (ALM) out in front to break the wind.

The Col du Tourmalet is situated in Pyrenees. Starting from Luz Saint Sauveur, the Col du Tourmalet is 19 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1404 heightmeters. The average percentage is thus 7.4 % and represents some of the toughest mountain cycling in Pyrenees. Image Credit: Patrick Giraud via Wikipedia

Today was a very pretty stage and one that shows the fanatic following of the event up the long climb to the top of the Col du Tourmalet. The crowds were not able to drive up the mountain a full day before the tour was due to visit, so one either had to drive in and stay overnight to camp out, or climb up to secure a vantage point and watch the 180 riders conduct their "spinning" class and maintain their position before going over the crest and on down the back of the mountain at 55 mph+ before another 50k of slightly downhill/flat cycling to the finish.

With no real changes in the General Classification in Stage 9 with today amounting to a real strenuous and long "Spinning Class" workout (slang - "on steroids") to end. The finish line presents the riders with an airplane ticket and a full day off before the tour resumes on July 14, 2009 with Stage 10 - Limoges → Issoudun - with 15 more days of battle to end through the streets of Paris.

Col du Tourmalet - One of the "big three" in the tour, together with the Aubisque and the Galibier. On its west side (Luz), the Tourmalet is a very regular climb at nearly 8%. Yet, it takes 18 km and 2 hours to reach the top at 2115 m. Image Credit: climbbybike.com

This end of stage entry excerpted and edited from VeloNews -

3:59
CPelkey: 31km to go.

Rabobank is setting tempo' at the front.
4:01
CPelkey: With 30km to go, the gap is now 2:40.

No way they're gonna stay out there.

We'll have to look through the archives to dredge up a stage that included the Tourmalet and ended in a freakin' field sprint.

Kinda sux.
4:04
CPelkey: One rider missing from the main field is points jersey leader Thor Hushovd.

We still can't figure out if Cavendish is in there, but reason would suggest that he is not.
4:06
CPelkey: The leaders are 26km from the finish. The gap is now 2:30.
4:07
CPelkey: The Rabobank and Caisse d'Epargne teams are setting tempo at the front of the peloton. The gap is being cut. We'll see if the two leaders hold on.
4:09
[Comment From Mr. Matt ]
How many riders are scored into the team competition?
4:10
CPelkey: The team competition is not based on overall GC. It's based on the times of each team's top three riders each day. That's why Ag2r - with riders in breaks these past two days - now leads the Team standings.
4:11
CPelkey: Our two leaders are 22km from the finish. They have been able to maintain the 2:30 gap.
4:16
VeloNews.com: Vande Velde: "didn't realize that wasn't part of their (Astana) plan"

Click link to view comment from C. Vande Velde - Flash Required / Mobile options coming soon.
4:16
CPelkey: These guys are doing a good job. They're holding their lead and have 20km to go.
4:16
[Comment From Peggy ]
Compare Lance's team this year to previous--team, strategy, standings. TY
4:18
CPelkey: Well, to start, the dynamic is quite different this time. Since his win in '99, he's never been in a situation where his leadership of the team is in doubt.
4:20
CPelkey: That's kinda cool.
The Liquigas and BBox teams are up front, not chasing, but allowing little gaps to develop in the chase. It's a nice example of how a team can disrupt a chase.
4:20
[Comment From Mtnbyked ]
What wheelset is Armstrong using today?
4:20
CPelkey: Heck, I dunno.
They look round.
4:22
CPelkey: With 14km to go, the gap is 1:59. The chase is making some progress, but will it be enough?
4:24
CPelkey: With 12km remaining, the gap is 1:45.

This is going to be tight. Caisse d'Epargne and Rabobank are setting tempo at the front.
4:25
[Comment From Mark ]
Will Lance win the ITT of put time into Contador?
4:27
CPelkey: Not sure. Do recall that Contador actually finished the Monaco time trial ahead of Armstrong. He's been working on his time trialing and continues to improve. The next TT is 40km, so the results may be quite different. Who knows? If I was good at predicting the future, I'd have bought Microsoft stock back in the '80s.
4:28
CPelkey: Our leaders are 9km from the finish. The gap is coming down now. 1:16.
4:28
[Comment From REG ]
All the Lance questions are annoying. There's 175 other riders in the race too
4:29
CPelkey: With 8km remaining, the gap is 1:10.
4:29
CPelkey: Caisse d'Epargne and Rabobank are driving hard. The effort to disrupt the chase hasn't had a huge impact.
4:30
CPelkey: Lots of road furniture in town here.
4:30
CPelkey: With 7km to go, the gap is 59 seconds.
4:31
CPelkey: 6km to go and the gap is 52 seconds.
4:32
CPelkey: The peloton includes all of the usual GC suspects, Sastre, Armstrong, Vande Velde, Contador ... no big players are missing.
4:32
CPelkey: Five kilometers to go.
The gap is 44 seconds.
4:34
CPelkey: Psssssssssssssss Andy Schleck has flatted. He's chasing and this happened outside of the 3km limit. He needs to chase.
4:35
CPelkey: Our two leaders are at 3.2km and have 41 seconds.
4:36
CPelkey: With 3km to go, the gap is holding.

Schleck is back, having been towed back to the field by Jens Voigt.
4:36
CPelkey: 2.5 km to go... 40 seconds.
4:36
CPelkey: 2km to go, and the gap is 39 seconds.
4:37
CPelkey: Liquigas is muddling up the chase a bit.
4:37
CPelkey: With 1.4 km to go, the gap is STILL 38 seconds.
4:37
CPelkey: Red Kite.
4:38
CPelkey: The two are still cooperating. Thaty will end in a couple of meters.
4:38
CPelkey: Pellizotti is trailing and not taking a pull.
4:38
CPelkey: Pellizotti attacks!
4:39
CPelkey: Chaaaaaaarge!
4:39
CPelkey: No he went to early
Pierrik Fedrigo (BBox) gets it
4:40
CPelkey: Freire gets the field sprint at about 35 seconds.
4:40
CPelkey: Well, nice move on Pierrik Fedrigo's part.
4:43
CPelkey: Well we have to credit Fedrigo and Pellizotti for at least doing their part from making this stage a complete embarrassment. A field sprint at the end of stage with the Tourmalet would be nuts.
4:45
[Comment From Sal Ruibal ]
hang in there CP. rest day coming up. woot woot
4:46
CPelkey: Ahhhh, Mr. Ruibal. Leave it to a member of the press corps to remind us that we get a day off tomorrow.
4:47
CPelkey: Tomorrow is, indeed, the first rest day of the Tour, folks. So we'll be back on Tuesday with Live Coverage of Stage 10.
4:49
CPelkey:

As you might have guessed, today's stage had very little impact on the GC picture:
# 1. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale
# 2. Alberto Contador Astana, at 00:06
# 3. Lance Armstrong Astana at 00:08
# 4. Levi Leipheimer Astana at 00:39
# 5. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream at 00:46
# 6. Andréas KlÖden Astana at 00:54
# 7. Tony Martin Team Columbia - Htc at 01:00
# 8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream at 01:24
# 9. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank at 01:49
# 10. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas at 01:54
# 11. Luis-leon Sanchez Caisse D’epargne at 02:16
# 12. Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - Htc at 02:21
# 13. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank at 02:25
# 14. Roman Kreuziger Liquigas at 02:40
# 15. Vladimir Efimkin Ag2r-La Mondiale at 02:45
# 16. Carlos Sastre Cervelo Test Team at 02:52
# 17. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi at 03:02
# 18. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto at 03:07
# 19. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - Htc at 03:16
# 20. Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha at 03:49

4:50
CPelkey: Today's stage results:
# 1. Pierrick Fedrigo Bbox Bouygues Telecom
# 2. Franco Pellizotti Liquigas
# 3. Oscar Freire Rabobank at 00:34
# 4. Serguei Ivanov Team Katusha at 00:34
# 5. Peter Velits Team Milram at 00:34
# 6. Joaquin Rojas Jose Caisse D’epargne at 00:34
# 7. Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto at 00:34
# 8. Geoffroy Lequatre Agritubel at 00:34
# 9. Alessandro Ballan Lampre - N.g.c at 00:34
# 10. Nicolas Roche Ag2r-La Mondiale at 00:34
# 11. Jérémy Roy Francaise Des Jeux at 00:34
# 12. Christophe Le Mevel Francaise Des Jeux at 00:34
# 13. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step at 00:34
# 14. Sébastien Minard Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne at 00:34
# 15. Brice Feillu Agritubel at 00:34
# 16. George Hincapie Team Columbia - Htc at 00:34
# 17. Andréas KlÖden Astana at 00:34
# 18. Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Telecom at 00:34
# 19. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas at 00:34
# 20. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi at 00:34

4:50
[Comment From Franz Lani ]
Where can we get the results complete for Stage 9 and overall standings?
4:50
CPelkey: We should have those posted momentarily.
4:55
CPelkey: While we won't be offering Live Coverage tomorrow, we will continue with Rest Day stories and news from press conferences.

Later today, our video crew will posting the latest edition of VeloCenter. It's usually up by 4:00 p.m. EDT.

They, too, will be working tomorrow producing a Rest Day edition of our daily reports on VeloNews.TV.
4:56
CPelkey: After the two big climbs today, the KOM picture has changed:
# 1. Egoi Martinez Euskaltel - Euskadi 78 points
# 2. Christophe Kern Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne 59 points
# 3. Franco Pellizotti Liquigas 55 points
# 4. Brice Feillu Agritubel 49 points
# 5. Pierrick Fedrigo Bbox Bouygues Telecom 49 points
# 6. Christophe Riblon Ag2r-La Mondiale 46 points
# 7. Sandy Casar Francaise Des Jeux 43 points
# 8. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi 38 points
# 9. Vladimir Efimkin Ag2r-La Mondiale 35 points
# 10. Rinaldo Nocentini Ag2r-La Mondiale 34 points

4:58
CPelkey: Today's stage didn't have much impact on the points race, though:
# 1. Thor Hushovd Cervelo Test Team 117 points
# 2. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - Htc 106 points
# 3. Joaquin Rojas Jose Caisse D’epargne 75 points
# 4. Gerald Ciolek Team Milram 66 points
# 5. Oscar Freire Rabobank 62 points
# 6. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 55 points
# 7. Tyler Farrar Garmin - Slipstream 54 points
# 8. Thomas Voeckler Bbox Bouygues Telecom 47 points
# 9. Franco Pellizotti Liquigas 47 points
# 10. Jérôme Pineau Quick Step 46 points

TDF Stage 8 - Three Climbs And Still 3 Sundays To Go

Image & Caption Credit: steephill.tv

TDF Stage 8 - Three Climbs And Still 3 Sundays To Go

This Tour de France held each year may well be the most epic human competition that exists in any sport, anywhere in the world. Imagine that we have already witnessed seven days of racing competition and we are now in the middle of race day number eight.

Today starts off with a category 1 climb and is followed by a long decent into a valley followed by two more climbs of a category 2 and a category 1 and another long decent to the end.

The day started with a breakaway of nine riders that included long time former teammate to Lance Armstrong, American George Hinacapi of Columbia-HTC and Team Saxo Bank's former Yellow Jersey rider, Fabian Cancellara. Other riders include Juan Antonio Flech (Rabobank), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2r), Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Sébastien Rosseler (Quick Step), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha).

The breakaway at one point led by as much as a little over 3 minutes.

The most important fact remains that the main contenders are in the peloton and all that needs to happen for the Yellow Jersey worn by Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale) to change riders is a separation to happen with the leaders that trail by only seconds - #2 Alberto Contador (Astana) at 00:06, #3 Lance Armstrong (Astana) at 00:08, and #3 Levi Leipheimer (Astana) at 00:39!

Team Astana remains in control on the last climb where we now begin coverage.

TDF Stage 8 Map and Profile. Today’s stage takes the riders 176.5 kilometres from Andorra La Vieille to Saint Girons, and is the second mountain stage of this year’s race. Three climbs feature – they are the Port d'Envalira (23.2km at 5.1 percent), topping out 23.5 km after the start, then the Col de Port (11.4 km at 5.5 percent, km 102) and the Col d'Agnès (12.4 km at 6.5 percent), which summits some 44 clicks before the finish in the valley. Caption Credit: CyclingNews / Image Credit: steephill.tv

This excerpted and edited by VeloNews with added material from various resources -

3:19
CPelkey: No, there is still the Category 1 Col d'Agnès, which starts at 120.1km, averages 6 percent over 12.4km and summits at 132.5km, 1570 meters above sea level.
From there it’s all downhill to the finish at Saint Girons, at an altitude of 425 meters.

As a reminder, the men in the break are:

1. Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank)
2. Juan Antonio Flech (Rabobank)
3. Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
4. George Hincapie (Columbia)
5. Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2r)
6. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux)
7. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
8. Sébastien Rosseler (Quick Step)
9. Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha)

3:23
[Comment From Craig ]
I suppose Hincapie is up front to support Cavendish if he can rejoin the peleton for a sprint?
3:25
CPelkey: Probably not, Craig. Hincapie did his best to mitigate Hushovd's impact on the points contest, but I doubt the Columbia team has a realistic expectation that Cavendish will be able to crest the summit of the final climb in time to rejoin.

Hincapie is up there in hopes of snagging a stage win.
3:32
CPelkey: The leading nine are now just 2:05 ahead of the peloton, with 59km remaining.
3:33
CPelkey: Our leaders are on the day's final climb, the Category 1 Col d'Agnès.
3:37
[Comment From Retired... ]
Why are people hating on Contador so much? Yesterday's attack sent a tough and somewhat selfish message to his team but if you're the best racer in the Tour, are you going to seize the moment or let your opportunity slip by? His legs fire like pistons, nobody can match his explosiveness.
3:39
CPelkey: It's an interesting team dynamic and fans tend to stake out positions based on their preferences. I happen to agree that at this point in their careers, Contador is probably the best climber on the team. Indeed, he's improved as a time trialist, too.
3:41
CPelkey: Cancellara has popped off the back of the break. He's struggling on.
3:48
CPelkey: There are attacks in the main field. Andy Schleck has made a dig. He's got Armstrong and Contador and most of the GC contenders on his wheel ... with the sole exception of Nocentini.
3:50
CPelkey: Schleck is still setting tempo at the front of the group. They are already sweeping up riders from the break.

Up front, Hincapie has been dropped. Astarloza, Efimkin and Sanchez are at the front.

3:51
CPelkey: Nocentini has been spit off the back under the pressure of the Schleck move.
3:52
CPelkey: Sandy Casar has fought back and rejoined the leading trio.
3:53
CPelkey: That GC group includes, Leipheimer, Contador, Vande Velde, Sastre, Menchov, Kreuziger, Schleck and Schleck, Martin, Wiggins.
3:53
CPelkey: It's bigger than that, but we're still working to ID these guys.
3:56
CPelkey: We see Evans in the mix. Karpets is in there, too. Kim Kirchen has rejoined that group.

We'll see a new rider in yellow tonight. Contador? Armstrong? Someone else?

CyclingNews (CN) - 1.
16:02 CEST - Kloden is on the front. This group appears to be getting larger.
2.
16:03 CEST - Yes, it's got a lot bigger. Nocentini is back up here, so he's protecting his jersey.. Stephane Goubert helped him get back by driving the pace.
3.
16:05 CEST (46.3km remaining from 176.5km)
______________
Situation
Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)
Favourites and yellow jersey group at 1:41

VeloNews (VN) - 4:01
CPelkey: Nocentini [Yellow Jersey] is suffering, but he's only about 35 seconds behind the GC group.
4:03
CPelkey: An update on Hincapie. He's caught between the four leaders and about a minute up on the GC leaders' group.
4:04
[Comment From Manuel in Nicaragua ]
All this excitement before the summit and it looks like they are going to end together thanks to the long down hill. BTW I figured out that the helmets are the new Giro Pro Light model
4:05
CPelkey: The 40+ kilometers of doownhill mean there will be significant regrouping, for sure. Indeed, Hincapie may be one rider that might rejoin the four leaders is Hincapie. He's only 25 seconds behind the leading four.
4:06
CPelkey: Nocentini has managed to fight his way back to othe GC group on a lull in the slope of the climb.
4:08
CPelkey: Efimkin is stepping up the tempo at the front, with about 1.6km before the the summit. Casar is the victim of that one.
4:09
CPelkey: Efimkin is working hard, but he can get rid of Sanchez and Astarloza.
4:10
CPelkey: The gap to our three leaders is now 2:20, with a few riders caught in the middle.
4:12
CPelkey: It's all Astana at the front of the GC group. The pace back there has moderated.

The leading three have crested the climb.

4:12
CPelkey: This is a view from the top of this climb, by the way.
4:13
CPelkey: Casar has summitted at 20 seconds.
Hincapie, by the way, is back in with the GC group.
4:15
CPelkey: The peloton, under the command of the Astana team, crested at 2:40.
4:15
CPelkey: It's a long way down. Up front, by the way, Casar is about to rejoin the leaders.
4:15
CPelkey: The descent off the final climb is very steep and very fast. Road surfaces are rough and speeds could hit triple-digits.
4:16
CPelkey: The break should be able to carry speed until about 20km, then there's a slight headwind coming into Saint-Girons
4:17
CPelkey: The final kilometers are lined with huge crowds. There's a major round-about with 2.5km, but with the pack all busted up, it shouldn't present too much danger.
4:18
CPelkey: he course sweeps left to the Salat river, with another round-about at -1km to go. From there, it's a mostly straight run to the line down the Avenue de la Resistance
4:24
CPelkey: Hey, hey correction.
Hincapie was NOT caught by the GC group. He's flying down the descent. He's trailing the four leaders by 1:10.

CN - 4.
16:21 CEST (36km remaining from 176.5km) - It's looking good for the break...they have 2'53 on this descent. Hincapie is chasing hard behind.
5.
16:22 CEST - He's low on the bike, pushing hard into the corners. Further ahead, Sanchez leads, with Casar hanging a little off the back of the other two. He took risks getting back up to them but now is content to take things a little handier.
6.
16:25 CEST - It's going to be hard for Hincapie, who is at 1'11 at this point. The Astana bunch is 2'53 back. All are on this long descent, which is fast and tree-lined.
____________
Situation
Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale), Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)
Favourites and yellow jersey group at 2:52

1.
16:26 CEST (31km remaining from 176.5km) - Hincapie looks like he is losing a bit of hope...he realises it's a tough task. The front four are rolling through nicely. Luis Leon Sanchez looks to be the strongest, although it's hard to tell.
2.
16:28 CEST - So, the final mountain is too far from the finish for the main riders to make the most of it... Hard to know why ASO includes profiles like this; it makes for good racing by those going for the stage win, but the race favourites don't give it everything.

VN -

4:25
CPelkey: Cheerleaders!
4:26
CPelkey: That was a photo from the start village this morning. Mr. Hood focuses on what interests him.
4:28
CPelkey: Our four leaders are gaining time on Hincapie... he's now 1:45 behind the four.
4:30
CPelkey: It's Astana at the front of the peloton. Nocentini is in there, too. He may well hold the jersey.

Our four riders are now 2:50 ahead of the main field.

4:31
[Comment From Steve ]
Is tomorrow a rest day?
4:32
CPelkey: Nope. Tomorrow is another biggie. Monday is the rest day. You will probably never see a grand tour with a weekend rest day. Those are great days for fans to get out and see the race for themselves.

CN - #
16:30 CEST (26km remaining from 176.5km) - Astana are leading things along...the other teams will hope they will wear themselves out as the race progresses.

Four riders remain up front - who will win? They've just over 25 kilometres to go, and surely won't be caught now.
#
16:31 CEST - Hincapie is now 2'21 down, 30 seconds ahead of the peloton. He's going to be caught very soon.
#
16:33 CEST (24.8km remaining from 176.5km) - Sure enough, Hincapie is caught.

20 km to go to the finish
______________
Situation
Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale), Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux)
Favourites and yellow jersey group at 2:40

VN - 4:41
CPelkey: They have 2:38 on the peloton. It's clear the winner will emerge from this group.

1. Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
2. Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2r)
3. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux)
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)


4:43
[Comment From Don Stewart ]
In the last 10 Km, what do you expect Astana tp do to get either Contador or Armstrong into the yellow jersey?
4:44
CPelkey: Astana really has no reason to take the yellow jersey. Nocentini is back in the peloton. He'll probably have the jersey tonight. His odds of keeping it after the Tourmalet tomorrow are slight.
4:47
4:52
CPelkey: 10km to go. The gap is now 2:13.
4:52
[Comment From Lewis ]
Will there be any change in the top 10 GC today?
4:53
CPelkey: It sure doesn't look like it.
4:57
CPelkey: With 6km remaining our leading four riders are 1:43 ahead of the field.
4:58
CPelkey: Efimkin is still hanging at the back of the group. He's a member of Nocentini's team, so he's really not obligated to pull.

He may be in the position to win today, which would be his second Tour de France stage win.
4:59
CPelkey: With 5km to go, the gap is 1:32.
They won't be caught.

CN - #
16:57 CEST - Casar is 30 years of age and a pro since 2000. He's been with Française des Jeux his whole career. In 2002 he was second overall in Paris-Nice and was heralded as the next big French rider, but never quite lived up to that early promise. He's had a good career, no doubt, but not spectacular.

#
16:59 CEST (5km remaining from 176.5km) - Sanchez is 25 and has a number of big results to his name, including overall wins in the Tour Down Under (2005), the Vuelta a Mallorca (2007) and this year's Paris-Nice. Last year he won both the Spanish time trial championships and stage 7 of the Tour de France.
#
17:00 CEST (4.7km remaining from 176.5km) - Astarloza goes! He clips away, followed by Casar. Sanchez gets up to him with Efimkin on his wheel. Efimkin now goes!
#
17:01 CEST - Efimkin was sitting on quite a bit, and he's gone! Casar saw him going, tried to get out of the saddle but his legs shouted 'non!'

The three are chasing now.
#
17:01 CEST (2.8km remaining from 176.5km) - He's got the head down and is riding strongly...

VN - 5:03
CPelkey: 1km to go, and he's got maybe 2 seconds.
5:04
CPelkey: Efimkin, is still powering on. Is he gonna hold 'em off?
5:04
CPelkey: Caught
5:04
CPelkey: Casar attacks
5:05
CPelkey: Sanchez comes around Casar. Astarloza third, Efimkin fourth.
5:06
CPelkey:

1. Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
2. Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux)
3. Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
4. Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2r)

5:06
CPelkey: Field sprint... doesn't look like Hushovd is in there.
5:06
[Comment From epicryd ]
Any time bonus left after 4th place today?
5:07
CPelkey: There are no time bonuses at all in this edition of the Tour.

CN - 17:08 CEST - Here's the bunch... looks like either Rigoberto Uran or Jose Joaquin Rojas Gill who takes the sprint, sitting up out of the saddle and celebrating the Caisse d'Epargne win... Nocentini is in the bunch, so he holds yellow...

Situation
Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R La Mondiale)
Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) at 5"

Favourites and yellow jersey group at 1:49

No Chance in the General Classification. Tomorrow, another Sunday down and more mountains - could be a day of separation led by Team Astana!