Jelle Vanendert, a Belgian rider with Omega Pharma-Lotto, won his first stage in his first Tour de France Saturday, attacking on the Hors Categorie climb up to Plateau de Beille and holding off Euskatel’s Samuel Sanchez, who beat Vanendert in a similar finish in Stage Twelve.
Vanendert attacked with seven kilometers left on the final climb of the stage, amid a flurry of attacks by the top General Classification contenders. Because the Belgian rider was far down the GC, no one chased him; he rode past FDJ’s Sandy Casar, the last remnant of a 24-rider break from early in the stage, and stayed ahead of Sanchez, who launched his own attack 3.5 km from the crest.
Vanendert also won the King of the Mountains jersey, snatching it from the shoulders of Sanchez by a mere two points. Vanendert, who turned pro a year ago, lost most of the season due to injuries. His first Tour de France shows he will be a name to watch for many years.
“It’s like a dream come true. After last year, when I didn’t race for seven or eight months because of two knee injuries, I think my career has now started,” he told letour.com.
“Winning at Plateau de Beille—it’s not bad, huh? Two mountaintop finishes: one time second, one time first—I’ve tried two times and luckily now I have two things: a prize jersey and a stage win, so I’m very glad.”
Contenders Attack
Behind Vanendert, the GC contenders dueled their way up the climb but couldn’t find any advantages. Leopard-Trek’s Andy Schleck took his turn attacking, after brother Fränk put in most of the assaults on Stage Twelve. BMC’s Cadel Evans launched an attack, and Ivan Basso of Liquigas tried to gain time by continually lifting the tempo; neither succeeded.
Alberto Contador rode better here than he did in Stage Twelve, when the Saxo Bank rider couldn’t keep the pace in the final kilometers. The three-time Tour winner never looked to be under pressure; still he did not erase any of the lead his competitors hold over him.
Ride of the day has to go to Thomas Voeckler, who clung to the leaders and the yellow jersey. The Europcar rider didn’t slip back at the end, as he had in Stage Twelve; instead, he rode on the wheels of the leaders, even taking turns at the front himself.
For Voeckler to match the pace of cycling’s premier climbers raises the question of how long he might keep the yellow. He certainly can’t time trial as well as Alberto Contador or Cadel Evans—according to the accepted wisdom, which also said he couldn’t climb as well.
Stage 14, filled with action, did not offer up any suggestion of who might have the edge on the rest; no clear favorite has emerged, and most of the top riders seem to have gotten stronger over the stages in the Pyrenees.
This is good news for cycling fans; it means the battles in the Alps will be just as epic.
Ride of the day has to go to Thomas Voeckler, who clung to the leaders and the yellow jersey. The Europcar rider didn’t slip back at the end, as he had in Stage Twelve; instead, he rode on the wheels of the leaders, even taking turns at the front himself.
For Voeckler to match the pace of cycling’s premier climbers raises the question of how long he might keep the yellow. He certainly can’t time trial as well as Alberto Contador or Cadel Evans—according to the accepted wisdom, which also said he couldn’t climb as well.
Stage 14, filled with action, did not offer up any suggestion of who might have the edge on the rest; no clear favorite has emerged, and most of the top riders seem to have gotten stronger over the stages in the Pyrenees.
This is good news for cycling fans; it means the battles in the Alps will be just as epic.
A Sprint Day, a Rest Day
Stage 15 is one for the sprinters; with only a single Cat 4 climb early in the day, it will have no impact on the General Classification. Since it is the last flat stage, look for the sprinters’ teams to run down the inevitable breakaways.
Monday is the final rest day before the Tour hits the Alps, which will hit back hard.
Monday is the final rest day before the Tour hits the Alps, which will hit back hard.
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