Freire Wins Again!

Stage details: _ No climbs. _ Three intermediate sprints: Le Barp (at 25.5km), Parentis-en-Born (72.0km) and Saint-Girons (128.0km). _ Weather conditions: 27 degrees Celsius in the air and 44 degrees at road level. _ Number of starters: 170 – no retirements on the rest day. Official start time: 1.36pm _ _ The Progress Report _ _ The Early Moves _ There were a number of early attacks – from the usual suspects like Coyot (COF) and Joly (FDJ) – but it wasn’t until Knees (MRM) attacked at the 7km mark that a time check was announced. After 2km on the attack he led by 12”. Beneteau (BTL) and Auge (COF) set off in pursuit and caught the stage leader at the 17km mark. The peloton was at 2’30”. Beneteau led Auge and Knees over the line at the first intermediate sprint and the peloton was behind by 4’05”. The best-placed of the escape was Knees who started the day in 45th, 5’09” behind Honchar (TMO) in the general classification. The peloton was led by T-Mobile but the advantage of the three escapees continued to grow: 5’35” at 33.5km, 7’00” at 39km… the average speed for the first hour was 46.3km/h. The maximum gain of the escape was 7’50” at the 59km mark. _ _ Sprint Teams Cooperate With Pursuit… _ T-Mobile received assistance from Lampre, Credit Agricole and Quickstep at the 65km mark and the advantage of the escapees slowly began to drop. Beneteau claimed first place at the intermediate sprint at the 72km mark; at this stage the peloton was 7’05” behind. The average speed for the second hour was 44.7km/h. The trio led the peloton by 5’50” at the 89km mark; 4’50” at 111km… Beneteau also claimed first-place at the third intermediate sprint at the 128km mark. The peloton was behind by 3’50”. _ _ Knees Lights Up The Escape… _ With 32km to go and the deficit of the peloton down to 3’20”, Knees attacked the lead group. He was quickly chased down by Beneteau and Auge. The peloton was intent on reeling in the escape. It was 2’30” behind with 25km to go; 2’00” with 20km to go; 1’30” with 15km to go; 50” with 10km to go… there was a crash involving Dumoulin (A2R), Wegmann (GST) and Lopez Garcia (EUS); they all got back on the bikes. Knees tried another two attacks in the closing 10km but with 5km to go, the peloton was just 18” behind. The escape ended with 3.5km to go. _ _ Freire Wins Again…! _ The Liguigas and Quickstep teams controlled the peloton in the final two kilometers. O’Grady launched an escape with 1,800m to go but a bunch sprint concluded the final stage. Oscar Freire rode the perfect finale to hold off a late charge by McEwen who had to dive from the right of the road to the centre to get passed Zabel and Boonen who claimed third and fourth. _ Honchar finished 32nd with the same time as the stage winner. He will wear the yellow jersey in stage 10.