With the high mountains out, the boys from Saunier Duval – Scott have certainly come out to play taking the first two stages in the Pyrenees. This time around, it was super-gregario Leonardo Piepoli who would emerge victorious on the top of the Hautacam, while teammate Juan Jose Cobo cheered him on from behind to claim second.
Surprisingly, today’s victory was a Tour first for 36-year old Italian climbing specialist. In his 13 years as a professional, he had never won a stage in the Tour de France, despite a 10th placed finish the year after he turned pro.
Best Laid Plans
Early on, it looked as if CSC-Saxo Bank had played its cards to perfection with Fabian Cancellara in the break and Jens Voigt and Kurt Asle Arvesen driving the yellow jersey group, which also included teammates Carol Sastre, and the brothers Schleck, up the slopes of the Tourmalet.
Only a select group could maintain the blistering pace set by CSC. Most notably left behind in their wake were pre-race favorite Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre). Neither was able to catch back up to the leaders even on the descent of the Tourmalet as once Cancellara was caught, he and Voigt upped the tempo once again to further distance the lead group from its chasers.
In the end, all the work would help launch the elder Schleck, Frank, who would match Piepoli and Cobo pedal for pedal up the Hautacam. Unfortunately, the virtual leader on the road would falter in the closing kilometers to see not only the stage go to Saunier Duval – Scott but also his maillot jaune chances slide to Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) by one second.
It Happened One Day On The Tourmalet
For most, it was a huge surprise to see pre-race Tour favorites, Valverde and Cunego blow up on the penultimate climb and not factor into the finale. But the Triple Crankset knows all too well the tortuous ascent [and descent] of the Col du Tourmalet.
Jonathan Vaughters, Director Sportif of Garmin-Chipotle, was asked by Cyclingnews what he thought of the Col du Tourmalet:
"I have ridden both sides and they are not that different," he said. "This side is straighter, more of a straight shot. It is one of the hardest climbs out there, even harder than Hautacam. It depends a lot on the tempo of the Tourmalet to know what will happen on the Hautacam."Although the ascent is mostly straight at an average slope of 9.5%, the road really kicks up at various locations until you reach the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up.
From La Mongie, a series of switchbacks gets you to the summit, which is adorned with a bar/restaurant and the famed statue of Octave Lapize, the Frenchman who first summited the Tourmalet in the 1910 Tour de France.
Sweet Home Chicago
While the Point Root Beer International Cycling Classic is forefront on the minds of most of the cyclists in or around the Midwest this week, Chicagoland must surely be rejoicing tonight as Lemont native Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Chiptole presented by H30) has ridden himself well into contention for a podium spot in Paris.
Vande Velde, an excellent time trialist who once rode with US Postal, Liberty Seguros, and CSC, persevered through the wave of attacks on the slopes of the Hautacam to finish in a group with the great climbers, Sastre and Ricardo Ricco, and Tour favorite Evans. He currently sits in third, 38 seconds back of Evans. Although there is a long way to go until the Champs-Ellysees, Vande Velde chances and confidence will only grow stronger as we get deeper into the Tour.
Results
1 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott
2 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
3 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank
General Classification After Stage 10
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto
2 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
6 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Columbia
8 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Scott
9 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Scott
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
Next:
Rest Day 1 - Tuesday, July 15 - Pau
Stage 11 - Wednesday, July 16 - Lannemezan – Foix (167.5km)
More:
Velonews - Evans in yellow as Piepoli wins atop Hautacam
Telegraph.co.uk - Tour de France: Leonardo Piepoli claims stage ten win as Cadel Evans takes yellow jersey
Il Messaggero.it - Tour de France, Piepoli vince la decima tappa Evans nuovo leader in classifica generale
Photos: AP/Laurent Rebours (top); Leonard Basobas, Steve Klein, and Amber A. (middle).
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