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Saint-Étienne
173.5 km
Wednesday 11 March
VANDEVELDE Christian (GRM)© Presse Sports
VANDEVELDE Christian (GRM)© Presse Sports
Christian Vandevelde avenged a painful start to Paris-Nice when he won the 173.5-kms fouth stage of Paris-Nice on his own on Wednesday.
The Garmin-Slipstream team leader, whose team-mate Bradley Wiggins did not start, attacked 20 km from the classic finish line on the cours Fauriel in St Etienne to score one of the most significant victories in his long career.
Fifth in the Tour de France last summer, Vandevelde had crashed heavily in the opening time trial in Amilly, losing most of his chances for final victory.
The 32-year-old rider from Illinois lifted the gauntlet to win with a 14 seconds lead over Jonathan Hivert (Skil Shimano) and Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre).
Sylvain Chavanel retained his race leader yellow jersey but the Frenchman, caught off his guard in the last climb on a blistering attack by Alberto Contador, now only leads Spain’s Juan Manuel Garate by six seconds overall.
Himself surprised by Chavanel the previous day, first stage winner Contador set the record straight and is now back in 4th in the overall standings, 36 seconds behind.
Jittery start
Two climbs early in the stage accounted for a very nervous start with several attempts, all unsuccessful. At the top of the Cote de Cheval Rigon (Km 18), Aitor Hernandez (Euskaltel) was first ahead of polka-dot jersey holder Stephane Auge. David Moncoutie (Cofidis) tried his luck by attacking in the second climb, Col du Beau Louis (Km 30) before being reined in.
The pace in the peloton (42.1 kph in the first hour) was too fast for some 15 riders, including Auge, who lost touch and spent the day chasing. At kilometre, a split-up trapped some leading names, like third-placed Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabbank).
Seven break away
The first serious break finally took shape at kilometre 67, when Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) surged, followed by Nicolas Roche (AG2R), Christian Vandevelde (Garmin), Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Caisse d’Epargne), Aleksandr Kolobnev (Team Saxo Banck) , Tony Martin (Columbia) and Xavier Florencio (Cervelo). Their lead reached two minutes at kilometre 94.
Vandevelde won the first sprint in St Galmier ahead of Martin and Dumoulin, who was first at the top of the Cote de St Bonnet les Oules (km 119) and the following climb in St Heand (km 125.5).
Vandevelde goes
While Moreno Fernandez lost touch with the bunch, riders from Bbox Bouygues Telecom raised the pace and more split-ups took place. Dumoulin scored four more points on the Cote de la Croix Blanche (km 142.5). In the descent, Christophe Le Mevel (FDJeux) Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues) and Geoffrey Lequatre (Agritubel) chased behind the six breakaways.
Vandevelde took the second sprint of the day and kept the momentum to attack with 20 kms to go. Only Roche reacted and tried to counter-attack before being caught by Le Mevel, Lequatre and Rolland.
Contador strikes back
The four were reined in on the last climb, the Cote de la Rochetaillée (km 167), when Alberto Contador, rid of his yellow jersey by Sylvain Chavanel the previous day, attacked in turn. The first stage winner reached the summit 18 secs behind the American while Chavanel was 48 seconds adrift.
Vandevelde crossed the line on his own, 14 seconds ahead of Jonathan Hivert (Skil Sjimano) and Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre), in a group comprising Contador, Frank Schleck and Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank).
Chavanel cahsed in the descent to salvage a slim six seconds lead over Garate overall, while Contador shot back to 4th, 36 seconds behind, in the same time as Juan Antonio Flecha.
VANDEVELDE Christian (GRM)© Presse Sports
"I never intended to do anything like that today. It was crazy day, very aggressive at the front, and in a day like this it is better to be in the front. I crashed in the prologue, I’ve got bruised on mys skin and I told myself I didn’t want to crash again so I joined the right break. I realised I was pretty strong in the group. With 20 kms to go, there was a little gap and I just went," said the American, who dedicated his victory to his new-born child.
"My daughter was born almost two months ago and I’ve only seen her for like four days so far. She’s coming from Spain on Friday," he added.
"My form is a bit of a surprise. I’m very happy with how feel right now. I don’t know about the long term, I’m happy with my day today. Now I’m going to try and help David Millar who has been targeting this race for a while now."
Chavanel retained the yellow jersey but with a slim six seconds lead over Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank)
France’s Jonathan Hivert (Skil Shimano) was second and Italy’s Mirco Lorenzetto (Lampre)was third
Christian Vandevelde (Garmin-Slipstream) wins the 173.5-kms 4th stage of Paris-Nice.
The American leads a group of four riders including Contador by 20 seconds. But the peloton is close.
Km 167: Cote de la Rochetaillée (3rd cat)
1. Vandevelde
2. Contador 18 secs behind
3. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) 40 secs behind
Chavanel group 48 seconds behind.
Every morning before the start, Bernard Hinault gives his view about the day’s stage and the riders to keep an eye on:
I did not think Contador would react that early. I believed he would wait for the Montagne de Lure. The positive side of his move was that he recovered a little bit of time rather easily and rapidly from Sylvain Chavanel. On the other hand, we could see that he had no team-mate left to help him out. In Friday’s stage, he will need support at the foot of the Montagne de Lure.
In my opinion, he meant to impress the rest and vowed to test his own strength on a rather lenient climb. He also wanted to identify his real rivals. He already knows that Chavanel does not have the means to react. But he has now the full list of those who were able to stay with him in the finale and who will be the ones to watch from now on.
Every day before the start, Bernard Hinault gives his views about the day’s stage and the riders to keep an eye on.
Sylvain Chavanel played it really well yesterday. He didn’t ask himself any questions and attacked at the right time. He was right to go for both the stage win and the yellow jersey: what’s won is won. If I were his sports director, I would ask myself whether it’s worth defending the jersey. But after all, why not? Unless he’s improved dramatically, I can’t see how he can keep it in the Montagne de Lure. But he can keep enjoying it for a couple of days. At Quick Step, they must be pondering the chances of Seeldrayers, who took over the young rider’s white jersey. I don’t know him but I was told he was a good climber. Maybe he’s the one they’re going to opt for to challenge Contador!
