Master Of His Domain

The name Cyril [pronounced SEER-el] gets its origins from Greece and means “master” or “lord.”

In winning today’s 157km Stage 16 from Cuneo to Jausiers, Frenchman Cyril Dessel (AG2R – La Mondiale) proved that he was more than “master of his domain” as the Tour returned to French soil after a brief respite in Italy yesterday.

The 33-year old bested two Hors Categorie climbs [including the highest peak in this year’s event] and a bevy of breakaway companions in what was arguably the hardest stage in this year’s Tour.

"It makes me incredibly happy," ... "The tactic was to try to join a breakaway" said a jubilant Dessel afterward.

A former yellow and polka-dot jersey wearer [2006], Dessel claimed his first ever Tour de France stage after being sidelined by health problems in 2007.

Results
1 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
2 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

Where Have You Gone Christian Vande Velde?
Although today’s Versus’ coverage of Stage 16 began at an ungodly 330AM for those of you on the West Coast, you’ll get no tears of sympathy from me.

In fact, I’m a bit envious of you during Tour time.

At about the time that those in the Pacific Time zone are in the throes of the debate of whether to begin getting ready for work or sit and wait out the finish of the day’s stage, I am already at work.

As I am usually parked in front of a computer, I can liberally bounce from work document to live internet coverage of the race. But today [and most certainly tomorrow], was especially difficult on me.

With our nation’s lonely collective eyes turned to American Tour hopeful Christian Vande Velde (Garmin – Chipotle), the Chicagoland native momentarily “disappeared” [from the internet that is] during Stage 16. Well after the finish, his time losses were revealed but no online publication provided any reason for it.

Did he blow up on a climb, did he have a mechanical, did he crash?

Of course I eventually found out that he left his climbing legs somewhere on the ascent of the Cime de la Bonette-Restefond and then likely lost his Tour chances when he crashed on the backside of the mountain, but it took awhile.

That said I can’t wait to NOT watch the ascent of L'Alpe - d’Huez tomorrow.

Frank Schleck (CSC-Saxo Bank) retains the maillot jaune for another day, while two of the better time trialists who sit in the top 6, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Christian Vande Velde both lost time.

General Classification After Stage 16
1 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank
2 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner 0.07
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto 0.08
4 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank 0.49
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 1.13
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 3.15
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia 3.23
8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.11
9 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 4.38
10 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale 5.23

Next: Stage 17 - Wednesday, July 23 - Embrun - L'Alpe d'Huez (210.5km). The definitive mountain stage of this year’s Tour. Can CSC put some time into Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) before the final ITT? Can Menchov and Vande Velde reclaim some of their losses?


More:
NYT - Schleck Maintains Lead Through Tough Alpine Stage
L’Equipe - Cyclisme -TDF - Dessel a «retrouvé la confiance»
Velonews - Vande Velde crashes, loses time

Photo: AP Photo/Christophe Ena