Thor Hushovd, considered a sprinter, proved he can climb as well, attacking a breakaway one-third of the way through Stage 13 of the 2011 Tour de France and hanging on over the Hors Categorie Col d'Aubisque to win the stage.
“The plan with the attack was actually to get through a small advantage so I could do my own rhythm up there,” Hushovd told Versus. “I knew riders like Moncoutie wanted to attack and when he attack I could not follow—I think I did a good move there, and my tactic worked out perfectly.”
The Garmin-Cervelo rider, who wore yellow for the first week of the Tour, attacked the breakaway at the foot of the Col d’Aubisque, pushing himself up the 16.4 km climb. Jeremy Roy caught him on the steepest portion of the climb, and David Moncoutie of Cofidis passed him a few kilometers later.
“The plan with the attack was actually to get through a small advantage so I could do my own rhythm up there,” Hushovd told Versus. “I knew riders like Moncoutie wanted to attack and when he attack I could not follow—I think I did a good move there, and my tactic worked out perfectly.”
The Garmin-Cervelo rider, who wore yellow for the first week of the Tour, attacked the breakaway at the foot of the Col d’Aubisque, pushing himself up the 16.4 km climb. Jeremy Roy caught him on the steepest portion of the climb, and David Moncoutie of Cofidis passed him a few kilometers later.
Hushovd didn’t quit. He caught Moncoutie on the descent and led the Cofidis rider in a chase of the leader.
Hushovd asked the Cofidis rider to help with the pursuit, but Moncoutie seemed less than eager to chase down his fellow Frenchman.
“I said, ‘Come on, let us get try to get him together.’ He workled a lttle bit but I had to do big work for myself,” Hushovd explained. “I said, ‘I am going to give everything. If it works, it’s perfect; if, not, I tried.
The big Norwegian rode down Roy 2.3 km from the line. Roy had given all; he couldn’t even cling to Monoutie over the final distance, and finished third.
The big Norwegian rode down Roy 2.3 km from the line. Roy had given all; he couldn’t even cling to Monoutie over the final distance, and finished third.
Jeremy Roy deserves an award for excellent efforts frustrated. The FDJ rider started the break with a solo attack 50 km into the stage. Within a couple of kilometers, nine riders had joined him, including sprinters Thor Hushovd and Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre.
It seemed the sprinters were in it for intermediate sprint points; but to everyone’s surprise, both Hushovd and Petacchi stayed away from the peloton to the end.
Roy, who has been in almost every break since the start of the Tour, has ridden a quarter of the Tour ahead of the peloton, and has yet to win a stage. Today it seemed his relentless attacks would finally bear fruit; how cruel to be crushed just a few minutes from victory.
The peloton ignored the break once it was established. The General Classification contenders saved themselves and decided to save their legs for Stage 14, with its six categorized climbs and Hors Categorie mountaintop finish. Here, the final stage in the Pyrenees, the GC hopefuls will have to attack and defend.
Though the Tour will cover several very hard stages in the Alps, only two, Stages 18 and 19, offer real chances for GC contenders to crack their rivals. The top riders cannot afford to lose any time in Stage 14; nor can they afford to pass up the opportunity to open gaps on their rivals.
Thomas Voeckler remains in yellow; if he can hang on through Stage 14, he might keep the maillot jaune for several more days.
It seemed the sprinters were in it for intermediate sprint points; but to everyone’s surprise, both Hushovd and Petacchi stayed away from the peloton to the end.
Roy, who has been in almost every break since the start of the Tour, has ridden a quarter of the Tour ahead of the peloton, and has yet to win a stage. Today it seemed his relentless attacks would finally bear fruit; how cruel to be crushed just a few minutes from victory.
The peloton ignored the break once it was established. The General Classification contenders saved themselves and decided to save their legs for Stage 14, with its six categorized climbs and Hors Categorie mountaintop finish. Here, the final stage in the Pyrenees, the GC hopefuls will have to attack and defend.
Though the Tour will cover several very hard stages in the Alps, only two, Stages 18 and 19, offer real chances for GC contenders to crack their rivals. The top riders cannot afford to lose any time in Stage 14; nor can they afford to pass up the opportunity to open gaps on their rivals.
Thomas Voeckler remains in yellow; if he can hang on through Stage 14, he might keep the maillot jaune for several more days.
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