Aussie In, Aussie Out

At first glance, Simon Gerrans’ (Credit Agricole) boyish looks belie his 28 years of existence. The braces that are revealed when he smiles add further to the perception that Gerrans may not be a day over the age of 17 when Australian cycling great, Phil Andersen, encouraged him to pick up the sport.

Yesterday, the rider from Melbourne lived up to his promise and looked every bit the part of a Tour veteran in achieving a personal milestone, winning his first Tour de France stage.

Gerrans and breakaway companions Egoi Martinez (Euskatel – Euskadi) and Danny Pate (Garmin – Chipotle) went toe-to-toe all afternoon over the 183km of Stage 15 from Embrun to Prato Nevoso, Italy. But it was Gerrans who had saved enough in his tank and sprinted away in the closing kilometers of the uphill finale.

Results
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole
2 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
3 Danny Pate (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30

Immediately behind the lead trio, the battle for the yellow jersey took on epic proportions as Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) finally succumbed to the numerous body blows landed by a multitude of contenders and teams.

CSC – Saxo Bank walked the walk and delivered on their promise to attack, attack, attack as Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck, and Carlos Sastre took turns softening up the tough Australian. Frank Schleck ended up providing the biggest blow by finishing 9 seconds ahead of Evans to take the yellow jersey.

General Classification After Stage 15
1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.07
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.08
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0.38
5 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 0.39
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.49
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 2.48
8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 3.36
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.11
10 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.34

Next: Rest Day 2 - Monday, July 21 - Cuneo
Stage 16 - Tuesday, July 22 - Cuneo – Jausiers (157km)


More:
Melbourne Herald Sun - Simon Gerran Soars To New Heights In Alps
Sydney Morning Herald - Evans Mellow About Losing Yellow
International Herald Tribune - In Alps, the 'real' Tour de France to Begin

Photo: Reuters