Cavendish: Another Win In A Growing Tally

The Progress Report
The itinerary for the 178km ‘transitional’ stage from Bourgoin –Jallieu to Aubenas – included three categorized ascents, the cat-4 cote de Culin (6.5km), cat-4 cote de la forêt de Chambaran (40.5km) and the cat-2 col de l’Escrinet (162km). There were 158 riders at the sign on and the official start was at 12.54pm. The intermediate sprints were in Le Rival (33km) and Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban (141km).

Evans Into An Escape
There were early attacks but it wasn’t until the 9km mark that any real advantage was gained. By the 15km mark, 20 men were in the lead of the stage. They included seven former stage winners. The group was composed of Evans (SIL), Popovych (AST), Millar (GRM), Perez Moreno (EUS), Kirchen (THR), Arrieta, Riblon and Roche (ALM), Bennati (LIQ), Arroyo, Gutierrez and Sanchez (GCE), Duque (COF), Spilak (LAM), Chavanel and Barredo (QST), Trussov and Vandenbergh (KAT), Lequatre (AGR) and Hivert (SKS). At 27km they were 1’20” ahead but Milram, Bbox and Rabobank led the chase until the end of the first hour. The average speed was 44.7km/h. Then Astana moved to the front of the bunch and by 47km the advantage of the 20 escapees was 1’50”. Rabobank had five riders at the front of the bunch for 50km and the maximum gain of 2’50” at the 85km mark. The average for the second hour was 48.6km/h.

Duque Breaks Up Lead Group
At the 110km mark, Duque attacked the lead group. He was chased down by Millar, Popovych, Arrieta and Gutierrez and, despite a frantic pursuit by the others, the quintet forged ahead and led by 50” at the 120km mark (the peloton was at 1’50”). The 14 remnants of the escape group were caught by the Rabobank and Milram-led peloton at the 128km mark when the five were ahead by 1’25”.
The five conceded their advantage and, just after the second intermediate sprint (at 141km) were caught but Duque continued on alone. At the 142km mark he was 20” ahead of the peloton that was still led by Rabobank. The Colombian was eventually reeled in at the 146km mark. The average speed for the third hour was 48.7km/h.

Peloton Splits On Final Climb
A number of riders were dropped on the final ascent including the Pellizotti in his polka-dot jersey but all the GC leaders were in the front group. With 25.5km to go, Lefevre (BBO) attacked but never gained much of a lead. With 21.5km to go, Ballan (LAM) surged ahead of the peloton and under the 20km to go sign he and Lefevre led the peloton by 18”. The two late escapees worked up a maximum gain of just 20” but were caught with 1,200m to go.

Cavendish Claims A Fifth Stage Victory
The Milram team controlled the pursuit of Ballan and Lefevre but with three kilometers to go the Columbia team came out of the shadows of the blue team and took responsibility for the capture. Hincapie peeled off just after the ‘flamme rouge’ and then Martin took over the lead-out duties for Cavendish. The Brit was forced to start his sprint relatively early but he had the speed, power and cunning to hold off all challengers and win a fifth stage in this year’s Tour!
Lance Armstrong was the only rider in the top 10 overall to finish with the same time as Cavendish (12th) so he increased his advantage over the likes of Wiggins and Frank Schleck. Contador finished 24th and will wear the yellow jersey in stage 20.