BBOX Doubles, Nocentini Jaundice - 96th Tour de France Stage 9

With the Col d'Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet prominently featured on the 160.5 km Stage 9 from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes, fireworks among the top contenders was highly anticipated.

But as the kilometers clicked by and the race unfolded, it became painfully obvious that the big guns of the peloton would remain holstered. None ventured to attack, nor feign interest in doing so. In fact, the pace up the monstrous Tourmalet was slow enough that most believed the sprinter's autobus had summitted with the waifish climbers.

Instead, the excitement came from a pair of breakaway companions who had to dig deep in the final kilometers to hold off a hard rushing peloton.

Pierrick Fedrigo (BBOX Bouygues Telecom) out sprinted Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) to take the victory ahead of a peloton that slowed sufficiently in the narrow run in of Tarbes. Fedrigo's triumph gave BBOX Bouygues Telecom a pair of wins, and the country of France a trio, in this year's Tour.

Oscar Freire (Rabobank), a three-time World Champion, would cross the line as the best of the rest for third place.

Stage 9 Results
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
2. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
3. Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank

No movement in the General Classification occurred despite Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) flatting in the final kilometers of the run into Tarbes. The ever attentive Jens Voigt was able to tow his teammate up to the back of the fleeing peloton in order to prevent any time gaps.

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) remained in yellow, and looks like a great bet to defend the jersey up until Alps.

General Classification After Stage 9
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

Jersey Leader's After Stage 9
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale


Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team


Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi


Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC



Next: Rest Day - Limoges; Stage 10 - Limoges to Issoudun (160.5 km)
A classic sprinter's profile...the battle for the maillot vert renews.