Freire Gets There In First!

The Progress Report _ The 194.5km 14th stage of the 2008 Tour de France, from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains, began at 12.22pm. There were 158 riders in the race with no overnight retirees. The temperature at the start was hot with the temperature in the air 30 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees at road level. There was virtually no breeze at the start and blue skies and bright sunshine were the feature of the day. There were two intermediate sprints – the first in Saint-Remy-de-Provence (at 37km), the second in Oraison (145km) – and two categorized climbs on an undulating course. The ascents were both ranked category-four: the cote de Maine (at 128.5km) and the col de L’Orme (9.5km from the finish). _ _ Fastest Start So Far This Year _ At the 5km mark, Stijn Devolder (QST) attacked and prompted the first escape of the day. He was followed by 20 others: O’Grady (CSC), Oroz and Txurruka (EUS), Garcia-Acosta and Gutierrez (GCE), Eisel (COL), Quinziato (LIQ), Bono (LAM), Bonnet (C.A), (ALM), Haussler (GST), Gonzalo Ramirez and Lelay (AGR), Tankink (RAB), Sprick and Voeckler (BTL), Velo (MRM), Casar and Sebastian Chavanel (FDJ), Frischkorn (GAR). They reached a maximum gain of 1’00” at the 30km mark. After Devolder won the first intermediate sprint the front group started attacking each other and at 41km four succeeded in breaking free. Devolder and 16 others returned to the peloton but then started lighting up the action again. _ Cofidis and Silence-Lotto chased until the 50km mark when Devolder’s group was caught. Then Quickstep insisted on chasing down the escape. The average for the first hour was the fastest so far this year: 52.5km/h. At 60km with Casar, Tankink, Gutierrez and Bonnet had a lead of 30” but then a truce was called and all the counter-attacks ceased. At the 64km mark, the advantage blew out to three minutes. Jalabert (AGR) abandoned in the feedzone. _ _ Keeping the Escape Honest _ The maximum gain of the quartet was 6’50” at the 85km mark. The sprint teams them came to the front of the peloton: first Liquigas, followed by Columbia and Milram. The average speed for the second hour was 45.2km/h. At the 95km mark, the advantage dropped to 5’05”. When the advantage dropped to three minutes (at the 105km mark), the peloton appeared content to keep things that way. That’s roughly how it stayed although there were times when the gains dropped lower because of the strong tailwind. The average for the third hour was 42.5km/h. The lead dropped steadily: 2’35” at 142km, 1’25” at 151km… Liguigas, Bouygues and Milram were responsible for the chase. _ _ Gutierrez’s Bid Falls Short… _ With 28km to go, Gutierrez attacked. Bonnet was the first to crack. With 23km to go, the Spaniard led Casar and Tankink by 20”, Bonnet by 35” and the peloton was at 1’05”. Bonnet was caught 23km from the line, Casar and Tankink swallowed up just before the 20km to go banner when Gutierrez led by 45”. At 10km he was caught. _ _ Chavanel Tries Again: But Freire Claims Victory! _ Kreuziger (LIQ) led Kohl (GST) and Andy Schleck (CSC) over the final summit. Cavendish was dropped with about one kilometer to climb on the Col de L’Orne. Valverde and Evans were near the front but on the descent it was Sylvain Chavanel (COF) who insisted on trying his luck again. He never gained much more than a 100m advantage; he led from about 7km to go and was caught just before the 2km to go banner. The Milram and Columbia teams dominated the head of the peloton and despite attacks from an Euskaltel rider who led Valverde in second-wheel under the ‘Flamme Rouge’ a bunch sprint ensued. _ Feillu was the first to really open up his sprint (with 500m to go) but he was swallowed up when Schumacher hit his turbo button. Zabel then tried his luck but he couldn’t hold off the charge by the green jersey hit the front in the final 100m and Freire finally got the stage win he so desired. _ Cadel Evans finished 28th in the stage and will keep the yellow jersey for the 15th stage.