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Saint-Brieuc
164.5 km
Sunday 6 July
The top 10 for the 164.5km stage from Auray to St-Brieuc is:
1. Thor Hushovd (NOR) C.A
2. Kim Kirchen (LUX) THR
3. Gerald Ciolek (GER) THR
4. Robbie Hunter (RSA) BAR
5. Erik Zabel (GER) MRM
6. Yury Trofimov (RUS) ALM
7. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB
8. Jimmy Casper (FRA) AGR
9. Martin Elminger (SUI) ALM
10. Leonardo Duque (COL) COF
This is the sixth stage win for Thor Hushovd. The winner of the green jersey in 2005 burst into the lead in the final 300m to take a fine win ahead of other sprint specialists.
Thor Hushovd has come around everyone and claimed the stage. He beat a Columbia rider, probably Cavendish.
Cancellara has bolted into the lead. He has less than 1km to go and is being chased by Pozzato.
Valverde is currently second wheel in the bunch. Is he shaping up to sprint for stage honors again? It appears so. they have Chavanel in sight and now Cancellara is lighting up the bunch.
Moreau and Voeckler have now been caught by the peloton. Caisse d’Eparnge is now leading the pursuit of Chavanel who refuses to give in.
Chavanel attacked with 2.8km to go. He has opened a gap on the three other escapees and is still looking strong. Lelay has been swallowed up by the peloton.
The four escapees are still holding on. With 3km to go, they lead by 12". Here comes an attack by Chavanel... he’s being chased by Voeckler.
Although the sprint teams are committed to catching the four escapees, Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler are holding onto a small advantage. With 3km to they are 25" ahead of a Quickstep-led peloton. The road is now starting to rise and the effort is showing on Moreau as he drives the break.
Sylvain Chavanel will get something for his effort today: he has just been voted the Most Aggressive rider in the stage.
The four escapees have just passed under the 5km to go banner. They have not attacked each other in the run-in to the finish but their advantage is shrinking... now just 30".
Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler are now 9km from the line and their advantage is just 40". Cancellara, true to Sunderland’s forecast, has started to position himself near the head of the peloton. But the teams in charge remain those of the sprinters: Credit Agricole (for Hushovd), Quickstep (for Steegmans), Liquigas (for Pozatto)... Caisse d’Epargne (for Valverde...?! Why not?).
A directeur sportif for CSC finished in the top 10 last time the Tour came to St-Brieuc. LeTour.fr recently spoke to him to get his thoughts on the stage. "It’s just like it was four years ago," said Scott Sunderland. "Back then there were crashes in the closing kilometers and I remember being annoyed to miss the move from Pozzato, so I decided: ’Stuff it, I’ll try my luck in the sprint.’"
And what about today? Does his team have ambitions for the win? "We’ll see how we go. The priority is to stay safe but Stuey has a bit of free rein to try his luck.
"It’s been a tailwind for a lot of the day but we swoop around with about 7km to go and then it’s headwind. We’ll see, it could also be a day for Fabian Cancellara."
The Caisse d’Epargne team is still taking responsibility at the head of the peloton. Although it has been joined by the likes of Quickstep, Silence-Lotto, and FDJ the team of the race leader is still doing its share of the work. Could it be that Valverde is aiming for a second successive stage win?
The Silence squad is now also sending its troops forward. It’s partially to keep Cadel out of trouble but McEwen has also said that he’s familiar with the finish and believes that it might be possible to use his strength to win another stage of the Tour.
We can also report that Johan Vansummeren, who crashed through the rear window of the Columbia team car during the opening stage yesterday, is still in the thick of the action despite the incident.
The peloton has just passed under the 20km to go sign. It is exactly 1’00" behind the four escapees.
Soler’s deficit to the peloton is now 1’05". Unlike yesterday when two team-mates, Cheula and Froome waited for the Colombian, today he’s riding to the finish on his own. At least Barloworld can enjoy the fact that one of their riders, Baden Cooke, is up near the front of the peloton. His girlfriend Kelly Lowe is at the finish of the stage, her first day at the Tour de France.
The Quickstep squad is now driving the peloton in pursuit of the four escapees. It’s only a matter of time, it would seem, before Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler are caught by the chase of the sprinters’ teams. Columbia is the latest squad to send their troops to the front. The bunch is now just 1’05" behind.
Soler is now on his own at the back of the stage. He has no team-mates with him and it appears that the injuries sustained in the crash yesterday is taking is toll.
With Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler now just 1’15" ahead of the peloton, the sprinters’ teams are starting to move forward. The latest to arrive up front are Quickstep and Credit Agricole... but here comes Liquigas too.
The four leaders have just passed under the 25km to go banner.
We can also report that Soler has been dropped by the peloton recently.
The four escapees are still all together but their advantage is shrinking. The latest check has Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler 1’25" ahead.
When the Tour last had a stage finish in St-Brieuc, Scott Sunderland finished ninth. This fact has prompted LeTour.fr to do some research into other former riders who are now calling the shots as directeurs sportif and find out who else was in the race four years ago. We can report that the next best DS in the seventh stage of 2004 was Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (now working for Euskaltel) who was 56th. Rolf Aldag (now working for Columbia) was 132nd and Erik Dekker (now DS at Rabobank) was last - 176th.
The average speed for the third hour is 39.4km/h. The average for the first three hours is 41.8km/h.
The leaders are still sharing the work at the front with less than 40km to go. The advantage of Moreau, Lelay, Chavanel and Voeckler is now 1’55".
The last time a stage of the Tour de France concluded in St-Brieuc, the winner was Filippo Pozzato. That was in stage seven of the 2004 edition. The top 10 was:
1. Filippo Pozzato (ITA) 204km in 4h31’34"
2. Iker Flores (ESP)
3. Francisco Mancebo (ESP)
4. Laurent Brochard (FRA) at 10"
5. SĂ©bastien Hinault (FRA)
6. Michele Scarponi (ITA)
7. Paolo Bettini (ITA)
8. Thor Hushovd (NOR)
9. Scott Sunderland (AUS)
10. Stuart O’Grady (AUS)
Of the four in today’s escape, the best placed that day was Voeckler (in 43rd). Moreau was 88th and Chavanel 100th.
With the peloton at the 116km mark, its deficit to the four leaders is 2’35".
The rider ranked second in both the general and points classifications, Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) turned 26 yesterday. The Belgian also claimed points in one of the intermediate sprints today which, in the past, would have put him ahead of Valverde but as there’s no time bonus this year it’s no longer the case.
The finish of stage two suits the perpetually aggressive rider who has been part of the FDJ team since the start of his pro career in 2002. (Next year he will join the Silence-Lotto team.)
In the last 10 minutes, Moreau has spent 42 percent of the time in the front of the escape group. His team-mate David Lelay 28 percent, Chavanel 18 percent... and Voeckler has missed a few turns of pace as he consults his director beside the team car.
David Lelay has only spent two racing days with the Agritubel team. He joined the team at the start of July and made his debut in the green, blue and white colors yesterday. The 28-year-old rider who was born in St-Brieuc is the current leader of the season-long French Cup series after having won both the Tour du Finistere and the Trophee des Grimpeurs this year.
Sandy Casar and one of his FDJ colleagues have come to the front of the peloton. They are now sharing the work with the Caisse d’Epargne squad, 2’55" behind the four escapees.
Lelay and Moreau have caught Chavanel and Voeckler. The four French riders have a lead on the peloton of 3’00" with 57km to go.
Chavanel and Voeckler are now just 40" ahead of Lelay and Moreau. The Caisse d’Epargne team is still responsible for the pacesetting at the head of the peloton with 61km to go and there doesn’t appear to be too much stress about the four Frenchman at the front.
The two leaders are back together again after the bike change for Voeckler. They are being pursued by Moreau and St-Brieuc local, David Lelay who made his debut for Agritubel only yesterday. The Agritubel riders are now just 50" behind the stage leaders.
At the sprint in Corlay, the points were won by:
1. Chavanel (COF) 6pts
2. Voeckler (BTL) 4pts - at 20"
3. Lelay (AGR) 2pts - at 53"
One of the stage leaders, Voeckler, has just stopped to change bikes. He is about 30 seconds behind Chavanel at the site of the final intermediate sprint.
Rain continues to fall but it’s more drizzle than the rain we saw on the approach to the Mur-de-Bretagne. Chavanel and Voeckler are about to contest the sprint for points in Corlay at the 103km mark. They are 3’45" ahead of the peloton but in between the leading pair and the main pack are two Agritubel riders, Lelay and Moreau.
With no more categorized climbs in the second stage, the current situation has Chavanel and Voeckler in the lead, 2’00" ahead of Moreau and Lelay and 3’30" ahead of the peloton.
The peloton passed the site of the fourth climb 3’27" behind Voeckler and Chavanel.
At the 96km mark, Moreau took third place points for the climb 2’00" behind Chavanel and Voeckler.
Moreau and Lelay attacked the peloton on the third climb. The two Agritubel riders are insisting with their move as they approach the top of the fourth ascent. And, at the head of the peloton, the Caisse d’Epargne squad is still in charge.
The leading pair had been sharing the workload evenly but in the last 10 minutes Chavanel has taken more responsibility. He has spent 67 percent of the last 10 minutes in the wind, giving Voeckler a little rest.
Voeckler has just led Chavanel over the top of the fourth climb, the cote de Saint-Mayeux (at 96km).
1. Sylvain Chavanel (COF) 4pts
2. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 3pts
3. Christophe Moreau (AGR) 2pts - at 3’00"
4. David Lelay (AGR) 1pt
Christophe Moreau and an Agritubel team-mate have attacked to take 3rd and 4th at the Mur-de-Bretagne. They passed the summit 3’05" behind the two escapees.
Voeckler was content to allow Chavanel to lead over the top of the Mur-de-Bretagne. Rain is now falling on the peloton which has the yellow jersey at the front. Oscar Pereiro is pushing Valverde who is putting on a long-sleeve yellow jersey.
Chavanel is leading Voeckler through the small path between the huge crowds that have assembled on the category-three Mur-de-Bretagne. They are 3’15" ahead of the peloton and are now about to contest the race for the four points for first place at the summit.
The last two times that the Tour has visited the Mur-de-Bretagne was in 2004 and 2006. The winners over the cat-3 climb were Pozzato and Calzati, respectively.
Chavanel and Voeckler are about to begin the ascent of the Mur-de-Bretagne. They have been sharing the workload evenly since joining forces at the 23.5km mark. Their advantage on the peloton is 3’25".
Jalabert is already back on his bike. He even had time to grab a feed and he’s now on his way back to the peloton after his fall.
There has been a crash in the feedzone involving a rider from the Agritubel team who got caught behind Frank Schleck as he grabbed his feedbag. The fallen rider is Nicolas Jalabert.
The leaders covered 42.6km in the second hour. The average for the first two hours in stage two is 43.7km/h.
The third climb of the day is the first cat-3 ascent this year, the Mur-de-Bretagne. Affectionately known as the "Alpe d’Huez of Brittany", this rise is only 1.5km long but it has an average gradient of 8.7 percent. The summit is at the 92km mark of today’s 164.5km stage.
The bunch has been controlled by the Caisse d’Epargne team since the 25km mark. They are still at the head of the peloton but there are a few riders from the Columbia team now moving forward. It seems that the sprinters’ teams are about to start collaborating to bring back Chavanel and Voeckler who are now 3’50" ahead.
The pace of the peloton is picking up and the deficit to the two escapees dropping. With 80km to go, the gap is 3’55".
LeTour.fr recently contacted Erik Breukink of the Rabobank team to get his thoughts on the stage. “I’m not a predictor so don’t want to say what wil happen but I can say that the two guys at the front now would normally come back before the finish because some teams will ride to set up a bunch sprint. The names are obvious… all the usual sprinters.
“The little hill before the finish will shake things up a bit and make it interesting but I don’t think it’s so steep that it will split the peloton.”
When it was suggested that the profile is one that suits Oscar Freire, the Dutch directeur sportif agreed but was quick to clarify: “It was even better yesterday but Oscar wasn’t in a position to win. He didn’t feel great. Today it’s not our intention to work to bring back the escape. We did that yesterday when we joined Credit Agricole and Caisse d’Epargne but today we’ll leave it to the others.
“What we want to do is look after Menchov and Freire, keep them safe and avoid any hassles. There is a lot of wind and it’s dangerous today.”
At the site of the second sprint, the rider wearing the green jersey led the peloton over the line to claim two points. The results of the sprint in Pontivy are:
1. Chavanel (COF) 6pts
2. Voeckler (BTL) 4pts
3. Gilbert (FDJ) 2pts - at 4’25"
At the site of the second intermediate sprint, Chavanel was allowed by Voeckler to take the six points for first. This pair is now 5’25" ahead of the peloton.
The maximum gain of the escape duo was 6’25" with 100km to go. They are now about 94km from St-Brieuc and the peloton is closing in, with the latest check showing the advantage to be 5’40".
The directeur sportif of Agritubel, a native of Saint-Malo (the site of the stage three start), knows the roads of the region where today’s stage is being contested. He was recently contacted by LeTour.fr to get his comments on what he believes will transpire today. "The presence of Geoffroy Lequatre in the breakaway yesterday was timely,” said Emmanuel Hubert of the stage to Plumelec. “We wanted him to be involved in the action but we also know that this kind of initiative does not always work. Then, Romain Feillu tried his luck, albeit a little too early, but he wanted to anticipate the surprise play, which can sometimes work. Alas, then he suffered a flat tire and was delayed, but anyway he would not have been able to hold off the best riders in the race.
”The stage today can be very hectic, and I think the wind will have a role. Surely something will happen… but I do not know what. In any case, the riders will have to be wary to avoid surprises. In the final, all scenarios are possible, and not just a sprint finish."
The roads have been dry for much of the stage but the skies are beginning to open up and rain is falling on the peloton which is now 6’35" behind Voeckler and Chavanel.
David Arroyo continues to swap off at the front of the peloton along with his Caisse d’Epargne colleagues. The field is currently over six minutes behind the two escapees who joined forces at the 23km mark as they attacked in the quest for climbing points.
Just before the Tour de France, the Italian component manufacturer Campagnolo released an early incarnation of is premier ensemble now called Super Record. It will be available to buy later this year and features an 11-speed rear cluster. The shape of the shifting/braking levers have been fully redesign for the first time in years and it can be seen on the bike of rider in the polka-dot jersey Thomas Voeckler.
The two men in the lead of the stage race for two French teams: Voeckler for Bouygues Telecom and Chavanel for Cofidis. But both are riding the same bike - supplied by French manufacturer Time.
The company is one of the pioneers of carbon-fibre frame production. The frames feature a unique headset configuration that is so refined that, for example, the headset bearings seat directly into the composite material, without the need for any aluminium cups.
Chavanel and Voeckler have pushed their advantage up to 5’05" as they pass through Melrand at the 56km mark.
“It’s a bit of a rollercoaster course at the finish," said Robbie McEwen when asked about the stage to St-Brieuc this morning. "I remember it from when Pozzato won in 2004; it’s pretty technical as you go through the town and then it’s a fairly gradual rise to the finish. There is a dip in the final kilometer just before the final run to the line. It’s good for a sprint but it’s a stage that also suits some guys who are willing to hit out early."
And what does he expect from the stage? "I’m feeling good but I’m not sure what to expect today. A lot is going to depend on what Caisse d’Epargne wants to do. I think their tactic is going to be to defend the lead so that Valverde can start the time trial [of stage four] as the last rider."
The peloton is now at the 46km mark with a deficit of 4’15" to Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voeckler.
The escapees covered 44.8km in the first hour of racing in stage two. They are now over four minutes ahead of the peloton.
Mark Cavendish has punctured recently. He has a new wheel and is now being helped to rejoin the peloton by his Columbia team-mate Adam Hansen.
At the 43km mark, the peloton was 4’00" behind the two escapees. David Arroyo (GCE) took the one point for third place at the second summit.
The winner of 12 stages (and three green jerseys) Robbie McEwen has just cruised back to rejoin the peloton after swapping bikes. In the past he would probably have had a few team-mate drop behind to ensure his prompt return but there was no need for that as the pace of the bunch is fairly calm now that Caisse d’Epargne has opted to take charge and let the escapees gain some time.
Voeckler and Chavanel are now collaborating well at the front of the stage. They have taken the points for the second climb with Voeckler leading the elder Chavanel brother to the top of the cote de Kergroix (43km).
Robbie McEwen has stopped at the back of the peloton to change bikes. Bart Leysen, the Silence-Lotto team mechanic, gave him a gentle push to get going again but there was not much stress about the need to swap machines.
Valverde’s team is now at the head of the peloton which is 3’00" behind Chavanel and Voeckler. This means that Chavanel is the virtual leader of the Tour de France. He began the stage ranked 66th, 31" behind the Spanish champion.
The escapees are 2’45" ahead of the peloton and have begun the second ascent which is 3km long (average gradient: 4 percent). The summit is at the 43km mark.
The first American winner of the Tour de France, Greg LeMond, is a guest in the car of the president of ASO Patrice Clerc for the second stage.
LeMond won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990.
The Caisse d’Epargne team is now at the head of the peloton. It’s an unspoken truce that the two escapees can push on with their effort without being challenged (for now). There are a number of riders in the peloton now opting to answer nature’s call. The last time check at the two escapees 1’05" ahead. That will soon be over two minutes and is likely to grow quickly for a while.
Voeckler and Chavanel are now 1’05" ahead of the peloton. The rider in the polka-dot jersey joined the French time trial champion in the lead of the stage as they crested the first climb of the day (at 23.5km). They are now near the 36km mark.
The French Federation has suggested to Radio Tour that it’s not necessary to announce time gaps for escape groups that are less than 30 seconds; thus the long delay in declaring the advantage of Chavanel and Voeckler. These two are now about 40" ahead of the peloton.
1. Sylvain Chavanel (COF) 6pts
2. Thomas Voeckler (BTL) 4pts
3. Robbie Hunter (BAR) 2pts - at 35"
Sylvain Chavanel has led Voeckler over the line for the intermediate sprint at Camors (28.5km). There was no battle for first place rather an acceptance that it would go to the Cofidis rider. The peloton has just reached the line 36" behind the escape pair.
Chavanel and Voeckler are now 30" ahead of the peloton. They are at the 28.5km mark and have 500m before contesting the first intermediate sprint.
The two riders who led over the first climb are now hanging out in front of the peloton with an advantage of about 100 meters. Voeckler and Chavanel are now beginning to cooperate in an attempt to establish and escape.
Sylvain Chavanel led Thomas Voeckler over the top of the first categorized climb of the stage.
The results are:
1. Chavanel (COF) 3pts
2. Voeckler (BTL) 2pts
3. Schroder (MRM) 1pt
The Bouygues Boys are still in charge as they try to lead Thomas Voeckler to the top of the first ascent. He is being marked by Bjorn Schroder of the Milram team.
The peloton has caught the three escapees at the 22km mark.
The first categorized climb of the second stage is the cote de Bieuzy-Lanvaux at the 23.5km mark. It’s a cat-4 rise that is 1.9km long with an average gradient of 4.1 per cent. Points are awarded to the first three at the top.
The peloton is now at the 20km mark. The pace is extemely rapid early in stage two and still no time gaps have been announced.
The German champion Fabian Wegmann has just done a strong turn at the front of the stage. The thinking probably is that if he can drop Chavanel the move will be allowed some leeway. There is a battle of French teams currently taking place with the Bouygues Boys determined to bring back the French time trial champion who was part of the escape that attacked in the first kilometer.
Alejandro Valverde has just moved forward and is now tucked in behind the riders from Bouygues Telecom who are intent on reeling in the three escapees. We still have no time gap from Radio Tour but can report that Wegmann, Fischer and Chavanel are insisting with their effort.
The bunch is being led by the Bouygues Telecom team. They are in pursuit of the three escapees, Wegmann, Fischer and Chavanel. Tucked in behind the blue squad at the head of the peloton are riders from the CSC team.
One rider involved in a crash yesterday was Mauricio Soler. He has a suspected fracture of his scaphoid bone but has taken the start today. The Colombian is hovering around the rear of the peloton.
Murilo Fischer (LIQ), Sylvain Chavanel (COF) and Fabian Wegmann (GST) continue to lead the stage. They are in Pluviger at the 13.5km mark but we have not been given a time gain on the peloton from Radio Tour. As soon as it’s mentioned, you’ll see it in a newsflash.
The rider who started the move, Danny Pate, is stuck in no-man’s land between the peloton and the leading trio.
There are four riders now in the lead of the stage. They are: Fisher, Wegmann, Chavanel and Pate who is just behind. The other escapees have surrendered and are about to be caught by the peloton.
The nine riders in the lead of the stage have an advantage on the peloton of 25".
The men who escaped in the first kilometer of the second stage remain in charge. Those involved are: Voigt (CSC), Fisher (LIQ), Gutierrez (GCE), Pate (TSL), Gomez (SDV), Wegmann (GST), Eisel (THR), Chavanel (COF), as well as one from Euskaltel and one from Credit Agricole.
We have had a few technical issues at LeTour.fr early in the second stage. Apologies for the coverage that has also included a few flashes in French. The issue has been rectified... and, now, back to the program!
This morning 36 riders from four teams were subjected to doping controls. The teams involved were: Lampre, CSC, Columbia and Saunier Duval. All are clear to start today’s stage with no abnormalities found.
Race radio is yet to confirm the names of those involved in the escape but we can tell you that Bernhard Eisel (THR), Jens Voigt (CSC), Fabian Wegmann (GST) and Danny Pate (TSL) are involved. The move was started by the Garmin rider. Also involved are men from Cofidis, Euskaltel and Caisse d’Epargne.
The attack by Pate continues. They are at the 2nd kilometer mark and eight riders have an advantage over the peloton. We await confirmation of the riders involved.
Danny Pate of the Garmin team was the first to launch an escape. He has been caught by six other riders including Wegmann (GST), Eisel (THR) and a few more. There are seven riders in the lead of the stage with others now trying to bridge the gap.
The official start time of the second stage is at 1.11pm. There are 179 riders in the race.
The peloton is currently in the neutral zone. There are drops of rain falling, the roads are wet and long sleeve and arm warmers are being worn by the riders.
As is often the case for road races, there is a brief neutral zone before the riders reach the site of the official start. Today, the peloton will cover 6.6km before Christian Prudhomme will wave the white flag from the race directorâs car to signal the beginning of the stage.
The 164.5km second stage of the 2008 Tour de France is scheduled to begin at 1.00pm.
The route takes the peloton from Auray near the south coast of Brittany to St-Brieuc at the north. It includes four categorized climbs â including the first cat-3 of the 95th edition â and three intermediate sprints. Conditions are dry at the start but the wind is strong and blowing from the south east again. There is a chance of rain and temperatures are not expected to rise over 20 degrees Celsius.
Live coverage of the stage will commence shortly.
