Triple Crankset: Flight of the Contador - 96th Tour de France Stage 15

Monday, July 20, 2009

Flight of the Contador - 96th Tour de France Stage 15

The air of anticipation surrounding yesterday’s Stage 15 of the 96th Tour de France was duly justified. It would be the first major sorting out of the top contenders, and finally provide a substantial argument in the ongoing debate of who is the “strongest” rider on Team Astana.

An early break of twelve riders provided the early excitement as the Swiss National Champion, Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) was in the mix to take the first Alpine stage of this year’s Tour, which just happened to finish on Swiss soil.

But it would be the group behind, containing all the heavy pre-race favorites that would build up an already anxious race into an unadulterated frenzy. The methodical humming pace set in the early kilometers would crescendo into the sounds of factory level machinery at the base of the final climb as teams jockeyed for position to launch their leaders.

Most boisterous among them was Team Saxo Bank. Jens Voigt, the big and tireless German one-man breakaway, was sent immediately to the front. Voigt gritted and mashed his way up the lower slopes to Verbier shedding all the would be contenders and unprepared to the side. Once Voigt red-lined, an up-the-road Cancellara grabbed the Saxo Bank reigns and emptied any remaining reserves.

The selection complete, it was left up to team leader, Andy Schleck, to reach for the brass ring.

But Alberto Contador (Team Astana) had other plans.

Bridled since Stage 7 and overwhelmed by the daily barrage of inquires into team dynamics, the boyish-faced Contador had patiently waited for this day to do as his body intended; to ride uphill, and fast.

Unlike the remaining contenders, the 26-year-old Spaniard, already winner of all three Grand Tours, seemed unaffected by the frenetic pace set up the early portions of the climb. So with a simple kick to his pedals, he surged effortlessly forward. He would ride without much measure of those around him, all seemingly "on the rivet," instead focusing on his own rapid rhythm and the prize waiting ahead, the maillot jaune, which had eluded him since 2007.

Contador would cross the line forty-three seconds ahead of Andy Schleck and one minute and three seconds in front of Vicenzo Nibali (Liquigas).

Stage 15 Results
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

In Hot Pursuit
Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) is an anomaly. He is not supposed to be here, in the top ten of the General Classification, let alone in the top three of the Grande Boucle. But there he sits, nine seconds behind second placed Lance Armstrong and one minute and forty-six seconds from leader Alberto Contador.

The 29-year-old Brit, a two time Olympic Gold medalists in the Pursuit (2004, 2008) and owner of 6 World Championships on the pines (Pursuit in 2003, 2007, and 2008; Team Pursuit in 2007 & 2008, and Madison in 2008), Wiggins is without question the revelation of this year’s Tour.

His body slimmed and his focus solely on the road, Wiggins is more than just a casual threat to claim victory in Paris. If he and Garmin-Slipstream can take back some time in the next few days, Wiggins could be looking at the Individual Time Trial, a discipline similar to the Pursuit, in Annecy to decide his fate.

Realistically, Lance
ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, son to legendary American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author Dick Schaap, caught up with Lance immediately after Stage 15. 'Nuff, said.

General Classification After Stage 15
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 63:17:56
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana - 0:01:37
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:01:46
4. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana - 0:02:17
5. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:02:26
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale - 0:02:30
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 0:02:51
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC - 0:03:07
9. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux - 0:03:09
10. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:03:25

After taking the race lead on Stage 7, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) finally relinquished the maillot jaune today. He would finish a more than respectable 19th place on Stage 15 and now slots into 7th on the General Classification. Likewise, Columbia - HTC's Tony Martin gave way to Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) in the Best Young Rider's Classification. Martin had been in the maillot blanc since Stage 1.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 15

Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana

Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team

Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Rest Day in Verbier; Tuesday, Stage 16 - Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (159 km)
A dog day afternoon for the 96th Tour de France as the riders tackle the Grand and Petit Col du Saint Bernard climbs.