Category — Le Tour

Brussels to Spa

Distance: 201 kilometers.

Sylvain Chavanel of the Belgian team Quick Step had a rather nice ride. He won the stage, the yellow jersey by 2 minutes 57 seconds, the green jersey for sprinters, the red numbers for combative, the yellow numbers for advancing his team to first, and is second for the polka dot jersey. He is too old for the white jersey. Yes, a rather good day.

Jérôme Pineau of Quick Step won the polka dots, and Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre will be wearing the green, although he is in second place, because Chavanel can only wear one color.

Current Standings:

1 Chavanel Sylvain (Fra-QST-131) [yellow/red numbers]
2 Cancellara Fabian (Sui-SAX-013)
3 Martin Tony (Ger-THR-115)[white]
4 Millar David (GBr-GRM-057)
5 Armstrong Lance (USA-RSH-021)
6 Thomas Geraint (GBr-SKY-039)
7 Contador Alberto (Esp-AST-001)
8 Leipheimer Levi (USA-RSH-025)
9 Boasson Hagen Edvald (Nor-SKY-036)
10 Gerdemann Linus (Ger-MRM-141)
11 Bookwalter Brent (USA-BMC-123)
12 Brajkovic Janez (Slo-RSH-022)
13 Rogers Michael (Aus-THR-118)
14 Plaza Molina Ruben (Esp-GCE-168)
15 Klöden Andréas (Ger-RSH-024)
16 Vinokourov Alexandre (Kaz-AST-009)
17 Kreuziger Roman (Cze-LIQ-044)
18 Sanchez Luis-Leon (Esp-GCE-161)
19 Evans Cadel (Aus-BMC-121)
20 Grivko Andriy (Ukr-AST-003)

Selected Others:

27 Hesjedal Ryder (Can-GRM-054)
31 Pineau Jérôme (Fra-QST-135)[polka dot]
34 Roche Nicolas (Irl-ALM-081)
157 Petacchi Alessandro (Ita-LAM-208)[wearing green]

Rotterdam to Brussels

Distance: 223.5 kilometers

01 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 5hrs 19mins 38secs [yellow jersey]
02 Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC – Columbia at 0.10secs [white jersey]
03 David Millar (Gbr) Garmin – Transitions at 0.20
04 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack at 0.22
05 Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Sky Professional Cycling Team at 0.23
06 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana at 0.27
07 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Transitions at 0.28
08 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack at same time
09 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team at 0.32
10 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram at 0.35
11 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team at same time
12 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini at same time
13 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack at same time
14 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC – Columbia at same time
15 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne at 0.36

38 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampe [green jersey]
192 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step [red numbers]

Radio Shack is wearing the yellow numbers as the lead team.

Note: I’m still building the spreadsheets to deal with 195 riders, as three are already withdrawn, one before the start and two from injuries in the rain during the Prologue.

This might be the last Tour that Lance Armstrong rides in but he is doing it to make a number of points, all personal, and to extract some revenge.

As this is a French event the ceremonial start tomorrow will take place in… Rotterdam… which the last time I looked was in the Netherlands. The first stage, on Sunday, will be from Rotterdam to Brussels… which is in Belgium, but closer to France than the Netherlands.

Given that the Netherlands national football team advanced to the World Cup semi-finals today, I’m not sure if there will be too many people in Rotterdam in any shape to watch a bicycle race.

The race still ends in Paris, which is still in France, so there is some connection.

I will once again follow the race, but with no great detail until after the World Cup. Fortunately the French national football team had a total meltdown, so the French will probably be interested after it gets to France.

Mark Cavendish took his sixth stage win, and still ends up without the green jersey, and in 131^st place. Fumiyuki Beppu of Japan won the red numbers for the final stage.

The Final results:

Yellow Jersey: Alberto Contador of Spain
Green Jersey: Thor Hushovd of Norway 280 points
Polka Dot Jersey: Franco Pellizotti of Italy 210 points
White Jersey: Andy Schleck of Luxembourg
Super Combative: Franco Pellizotti of Italy
Team: Astana
Final Rider: Yauheni Hutarovich of Belarus

The Final Standings:

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 85:48:35 [yellow jersey]
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +04:11 [white jersey]
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +05:24
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +06:01
5. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +06:04
6. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +06:42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +07:35
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +12:04
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZ/Liquigas) +14:16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +14:25

Selected others after the fold.

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Juan Manuel Garate of Spain took the last stage before the parade into Paris tomorrow, barring some disaster today’s results will be the final ranking.

Tony Martin won the red numbers, and the overall award for combativeness is the one award that is in question, as the jerseys seem to be firmly in place.

The Current Standings:

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 81:46:17 [yellow jersey]
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +04:11 [white jersey]
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +05:24
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +06:01
5. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +06:04
6. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +06:42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +07:35
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +12:04
9. Roman Kreuziger (CZ/Liquigas) +14:16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +14:25
11. Mikel Astarloza (E/Euskatel) +14:44
12. Sandy Casar (F/Francaise) +17:19
13. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/Катюшa) +18:34
14. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) +20:45
17. Carlos Sastre (E/Cervelo) +26:21

Selected others after the fold.

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Mark Cavendish of the Isle of Manx took his fifth stage in this year’s Tour, the first time that’s happened since Lance in 2004, and became the Briton with the most stage wins ever. Even with this win he rides at 128^th and is 25 points behind Thor Hushovd in the battle for the green.

Leonardo Duque of Colombia picks up the red numbers for his attacks on the stage.

The Current Standings:

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 77:06:18 [yellow jersey]
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +04:11 [white jersey]
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +05:21
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +05:36
5. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +05:38
6. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +05:59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +07:15
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +10:08
9. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +12:37
10. Mikel Astarloza (E/Euskatel) +12:38
11. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/Катюшa) +13:36
12. Roman Kreuziger (CZ/Liquigas) +14:08
13. Sandy Casar (F/Francaise) +14:37
14. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) +15:27
15. Carlos Sastre (E/Cervelo) +17:23

Selected others after the fold.

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As expected Alberto Contador of Spain won the individual time trials, as he is much better suited to individual events than working with his team.

None of the jerseys changed hands as yellow and white were the only ones in contention on the stage, and the red numbers weren’t awarded because it was an individual event.

The Current Standings:

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 73:15:39 [yellow jersey] stage 18 winner
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +04:11 [white jersey]
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +05:25
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +05:36
5. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +05:38
6. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +05:59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +07:15
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +10:08
9. Mikel Astarloza (E/Euskatel) +12:36
10. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +12:41

Other selected riders below the fold:

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Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, a country that same size as Okaloosa County, has taken stage 17 and moved up to third, just behind his brother, Andy. The current green jersey wearer, Thor Hushovd, scored the red numbers for combative riding.

None of the jerseys changed hands, but Tony Martin has slipped back to 50^th place and Yauheni Hutarovich of Belarus has replaced Kenny Robert Van Hummel as the last rider. Van Hummel withdrew with two other riders shrinking the field to 158.

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 72:27:09 [yellow jersey]
2. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +02:26 [white jersey]
3. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +03:25 stage 17 winner
4. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +03:55
5. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +04:44
6. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +04:53
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +05:09
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +08:08
9. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +09:19
10. Mikel Astarloza (E/Euskatel) +10:50

Selected others below the fold:

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Mikel Astarloza of Spain made his move at exactly the right moment and flew in to take stage 16 that ran through portions of the Swiss, Italian and French Alps. Franco Pellizotti of Italy scored major points in the climbs and picked up the red numbers for his efforts.

Cadel Evans was in good shape until the final climb, but slipped back. His slip was nothing compared to Tony Martin who had worn the white jersey and was in the top ten for almost the entire race to this point, he’s back at 34 after a terrible day.

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 67:33:15 [yellow jersey]
2. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +01:46
4. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +02:17
5. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +02:26 [white jersey]
6. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +02:51
7. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +03:09
8. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +03:25
9. Carlos Sastre (E/Cervelo) +03:52
10. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +03:59
11. Mikel Astarloza (E/Euskatel) +04:38 stage 16 winner

More after the fold

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Alberto Contador took the stage, the yellow jersey, his team, Astana, took the yellow numbers, and the times spread out first to last from two hours to three.

Simon Spilak of Slovenia grabbed the red numbers as the Tour entered the Alps, while the Schleck family of Luxembourg celebrates Andy taking the white jersey and Frank moving into the top ten.

Carlos Sastre of Spain, last year’s winner, has moved up to 11^th place, showing he isn’t out of it, despite a major time disadvantage from the team time trials early on.

1. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) 63:17:56 [yellow jersey]
2. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +01:46
4. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +02:17
5. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +02:26 [white jersey]
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) +02:30
7. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +02:51
8. Tony Martin (D/Team Columbia) +03:07
9. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +03:09
10. Frank Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +03:25
11. Carlos Sastre (E/Cervelo) +03:52
12. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +03:59
13. George Hincapie (US/Team Columbia) +04:05
14. Cadel Evans (AUS/Silence) +04:27

Selected others below the fold.

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Sergei Ivanov of Russia took the stage, with Martijn Maaskant of the Netherlands grabbing the red numbers, but two new names entered the top ten: George Hincapie at 2 and Christophe Le Mevel at 5. A break-away couldn’t be reeled in. The leaders are tired and the loss of Levi is really being felt.

The jerseys were static, but AG2R regained the yellow numbers of the leading team.

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) 58:13:52 [yellow jersey]
2. George Hincapie(US/Team Columbia) +:05
3. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) +:06
4. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +:08
5. Christophe Le Mevel (F/Francaise) +:43
6. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +:46
7. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +:54
8. Tony Martin (D/Team Columbia) +01:00 [white jersey]
9. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +01:24
10. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +01:24

More below the fold.

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Heinrich Haussler of Germany took the stage and the red numbers with some impressive hustle on a day filled with changes and rain.

Update: Levi Leipheimer of the US didn’t start the stage; he had been running in fourth place overall. [I’ve learned that he broke his wrist in a minor crash at the end of stage 12.]

Franco Pellizotti took back the polka dot jersey from Egoi Martinez, and Thor Hushovd retrieved the green from Mark Cavendish.

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) 53:30:30 [yellow jersey]
2. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) +:06
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +:08
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +:46
5. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +:54
6. Tony Martin (D/Team Columbia) +01:00 [white jersey]
7. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +01:24
8. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +01:49
9. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +01:54
10. Luis-Leon Sanchez (E/Caisse) +02:16

Selected Others:

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Nicki Sorensen of Denmark had a very busy day: he won the stage, took the red numbers, and moved his team, Saxo Bank, to a 34 second lead in the team standings.

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) 48:27:21 [yellow jersey]
2. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) +:06
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +:08
4. Levi Leipheimer (US/Astana) +:39
5. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +:46
6. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +:54
7. Tony Martin (D/Team Columbia) +01:00 [white jersey]
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +01:24
9. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +01:49
10. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +01:54

Selected Others:

18. Cadel Evans (AUS/Silence) +03:07
26. Nicki Sorensen (DEN/Saxo) +04:38 [red numbers]
40. Egoi Martinez (E/Euskatel) +10:20 [polka dot jersey] 88 points
51. Nicolas Roche (IRE/AG2R) +16:45
65. David Millar (GB/Garmin) +28:18
117. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo) +1:04:32
132. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) +1:13:54 [green jersey] 200 points
166. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (NED/Skil) +1:59:32 [red lantern]

From the BBC Cycling results and the official results sites.

Mark Cavendish takes his fourth stage win and retakes the green jersey from Thor Hushovd. Johan Van Summeren of Belgium was awarded the red numbers for the stage. The center of the top 10 did some re-ordering, but there was no break-away to shake things up. AG2R is maintaining its 3 second lead over Astana for the teams.

1. Rinaldo Nocentini (I/AG2R) 43:28:59 [yellow jersey]
2. Alberto Contador (E/Astana) +:06
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) +:08
4. Levi Leipheimer (US/Astana) +:39
5. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) +:46
6. Andréas Klöden (D/Astana) +:54
7. Tony Martin (D/Team Columbia) +01:00 [white jersey]
8. Christian Vande Velde (US/Garmin) +01:24
9. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) +01:49
10. Vincenzo Nibali (I/Liquigas) +01:54

Selected Others:

18. Cadel Evans (AUS/Silence) +03:07
47. Egoi Martinez (E/Euskatel) +15:30 [polka dot jersey]
50. Nicolas Roche (IRE/AG2R) +16:45
65. David Millar (GB/Garmin) +28:18
109. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/Lotto) +57:49 [red numbers]
120. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervelo) +1:04:32
134. Mark Cavendish (GB/Team Columbia) +1:13:54 [green jersey]
170. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (NED/Skil) +1:59:32 [red lantern]

From the BBC Cycling results and the official results sites.