Tour de France Stage 15 Review

The day started on a somber note where the riders observed a moment of silence for the spectator who was killed yesterday. Following, the race was under way one rider short—Tom Boonen did not start today due to intestinal problems. Once the road passed the neutral start section, however, the proverbial gloves came off!  Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) and Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) duked it out on the first two categorized climbs of the.  On both the Cote du Rafour and Col des Etroits, it was the Liquigas rider who bested Martinez, further expanding his lead in the polka dot jersey competition.

By the 159.9km remaining mark, a break-away of 8 riders had formed:  : Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Silence), Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel), Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne), José Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d’Epargne), David Moncoutié (Cofidis), and  Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox).  A few minutes later, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin), Christophe Kern (Cofidis), Amael Moinard (Cofidis), and Simon Spilak (Lampre) bridged the gap to the break. About 10 kms later, Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel), David Millar (Garmin), and white-jersey wearer Tony Martin (Columbia) joined the escape group.  This group lasted until the next climb where Kern outsprinted Pellizotti and Martinez for the points. Using the descent of the climb, Hesjedal broke away and opened up a gap of nearly a minute and a half to the peloton.  As he was pulling away, the peloton captured Millar, Martinez, Kern, Arroyo, Pellizotti, and Martin. Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) then decided to have a go at bridging to the break, launching a counter attack.  Thus, the breakaway became Jurgen Van Den Broek (Silence), Astarloza, Cancellara, Gutierrez, Moinard, Moncoutie, Fedrigo, and Spilak with Hesjedal off the front.  Hesjedal was caught around 130kms to go, and 4kms later, Flecha was able to meet up with the group, creating a break-away of 10. This break was eventually able to push its lead to around 4 minutes.  This gave Astarloza the yellow on the road.

At the feed zone, Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R) abandoned following a nasty crash a few days ago. Finally, around 21km left, Spilak launched a move off the front of the break while Liquigas started to pull hard on the front of the peloton, reducing the break’s advantage to half relatively quickly.  The break started to cat-and-mouse itself and struggled to get organized. Then, at the base of the climb, Liquigas, Saxo Bank, Garmin, and Astana cranked up the speed, ripping the peloton to pieces.  Van Den Broek and Astarloza bridged to Spilak while the “peloton” was reduced to most of the GC guys.  Shortly thereafter, the flurry of attacks caught the remainder of the break….Then, the action fans have been waiting for…Contador attacked!! Only Andy Schleck tried to bridge to him, but the Spaniard 2007 winner was just too strong for the young Luxembourger to reach him. Wiggins tried to launch an attack, but it was marked closely by Frank Schleck.  Frank then pulled off the front to try to bridge a gap to his brother.  Wiggins and Nibali bridged to Frank.  Moments later, Sastre reached this group with Evans.  Kloden continued to pace Armstrong.  Then, with his traditional pistol salute, Contador crossed the line in first followed by young Andy Schleck.  Andy gained enough time to pull on white. Finally we have a play out of all the serious contenders……

Thank goodness there’s a rest day tomorrow…the riders sure are going to need it!  But, Tuesday will certainly be another huge and hard test for the riders as they once again head into the Alps.

Chaos Prediction?
Well, let’s just say a hammer has to come down sometime….it might as well be Tuesday!

Stage 15 Final:
1.    Alberto Contador (Astana)            5h 03’58”
2.    Andy Schleck (Saxo)                +0.43
3.    Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)            +1.06
4.    Frank Schleck (Saxo)                +1.06
5.    Bradley Wiggins (Garmin)            +1.06
6.    Carlos Sastre (Cervelo)            +1.06
7.    Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto)            +1.26
8.    Anderas Kloden (Astana)            +1.29
9.    Lance Armstrong (Astana)            +1.36
10.    Kim Kirchen (Columbia)            +1.55

GC After Stage 15:
1.    Alberto Contador (Astana)            63h 17’ 56”
2.    Lance Armstrong (Astana)            +1.37
3.    Bradley Wiggins (Garmin)            +1.46
4.    Andreas Kloden (Astana)            +2.17
5.    Andy Schleck (Saxo)                +2.26
6.    Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R)            +2.30
7.    Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)            +2.51
8.    Tony Martin (Columbia)            +3.07
9.    Christopher LeMevel (FdJ)            +3.09
10.    Frank Schleck (Saxo)                +3.25

White Jersey
1.    Andy Schleck (Saxo)
2.    Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)

Green Jersey:
1.    Thor Hushovd    (Cervelo)            218 pts.
2.    Mark Cavendish (Columbia)            200 pts.

Polka Dot Jersey:
1.    Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)            109 pts
2.    Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel)            101 pts

By: Jamie Naragon

Seven women started the U23 race, which is still pretty small but the category is getting more competitive each year. The race course starts at 9,000 feet and goes up at a 20% grade for a little while. It’s the kind of climb that pretty much destroys you each time up. Eventually it levels, at bit, switchbacks through some trees, goes up some more, hits a fire road before a dusty singletrack descent to the bottom. It was the kind of bumpy that had my calves on the verge of cramping and left me with some sore triceps. Fun stuff really.

I didn’t race with the pro women today, which was a relief because everyone looked miserable on the start climb. Instead, I watched TJ ride to a second place finish in the men’s single speed race. I can’t imagine not having gears on that course. Well, I’m planning on a good short track tomorrow, so I better get some sleep. For the best race coverage, check out CyclingDirt.org.

Go to the Source – choleforsman.missingsaddle.com

Rahsaan Bahati takes a few minutes to talk about his racing, history & things that keep him moving fast on the bike.

Go to the Source – twojohnspodcast.missingsaddle.com

Special Guest: Saxo Bank’s Bobby Julich

The Tour has just started & the Two Johns are ready with their analysis so far and predictions for the future.  John G proclaims himself the seer of the Tour & we both offer up our picks for the coming weeks- and that includes tabloid-esque drama & intrigue on the level of a spanish soap opera.

Bobby Julich joins us again to talk about the Tour & life after racing.

John G. give quick recap of the Hyde Park Blast effort & we dive into this week’s feedback with special guest on Skype , Curtis Z. of Missing Saddle:  We get asked, again,  What’s that she says?  Ya-Bone-Eh?  Is the Gentleman Roadie of Portland for real?  Gentleman Roadie responds- ‘I know you won’t beleive it, but it is all true’, is the worlds all that?, some many saddles- so much discomfort, Britsh David has tamp-will travel, Rotor Q-Rings- what do you know?  Not much, youngsters not putting trash in its place,  a bike for every purpose- tt or road?, bibs over jersey guy spotted across the pond, roadies are elitist meanies- that’s why I am a multisporter & more!  This week’s selected listener feedback gets a pair of socks & slipstreams by Defeet.

Go to the Source – twojohnspodcast.missingsaddle.com

GC

Best Young

Best Climber

Best Sprinter

Highest placed Frenchie

Bastille Day winner

First team with doping positive

In the meantime occupy yourself with this.  uhn tiss, uhn tiss…

Go to the Source – twojohnspodcast.missingsaddle.com