The Progress Report
There has been plenty of anticipation about the penultimate stage of the 2009 Tour de France. From the moment the route was announced last October, the 167km journey from Montelimar to Mont Ventoux has been recognized as the pivotal day of the 96th edition. The official start of the 20th stage was at 11.52pm. There were 156 riders at the start; Amets Txurruka – the winner of the Fighting Spirit award in 2007 – and his Euskaltel team-mate Alan Perez Lazaun were outside the time limit in stage 19. The intermediate sprints were in Les Pilles (48km) and Mormoiron (138.5km). The stage featured five climbs: the cote de Citelle (cat-3 at 14km), col d’Ey (cat-3 at 65.5km), col de Fontaube (cat-4 at 87km), col des Abeilles (cat-3 at 121.5km) and one of the most feared ascents in cycling, the ‘hors category’ 1,912m ‘Giant of Provence’ Mont Ventoux for the grand finale. A howling wind (up to 110km/h) at the top of the mountain meant that the riders had other challenges beyond the steep incline on the climb.
13 In Initial Move
At the 3km mark, 13 riders escaped the peloton. The men involved were: Roulston (CTT), Garate and Posthuma (RAB), Martin (THR), Riblon (ALM), Kuschynski (LIQ), Geslin (FDJ), Dumoulin (COF), Righi (LAM), Bonnet (BBO), Bouet (AGR), Lemoine and Timmer (SKS). They were chased by Perez Moreno (EUS), Gutierrez (GCE) and Delage (SIL). At 6km the 13 were 30” ahead of the counter-attack and 1’00” ahead of the peloton which was controlled by Astana. At the top of the first climb, the chasing trio was 48” behind, the peloton at 2’50”. The chasing trio joined the front group at the 25km mark when the peloton was at 3’50”. After an hour, the leaders were 7’00” ahead. The average speed for the first hour was 43.3km/h. At the 60km mark, the peloton was 9’20” behind. The maximum gain of the escape was 10’35” (at 78km). That’s when the Saxo Bank team sent its troops to the front. The average speed for the second hour was 39.1km/h.
Astana Lead Bunch To Foot Of Ventoux
The Astana team came to the front of the peloton after the fourth climb (121.5km) when the escapees were 8’15” ahead. With 30km to go, the pace of the peloton caused it to split. The GC favorites were all represented in the first group (of 41 riders) and as it reached the site of the second sprint it was 6’25” behind. Sastre (CTT) was caught in the second peloton that was 30” behind with 25km to go. At the base of the climb, the yellow jersey’s peloton had 24 riders – including the top 12 of the general classification. They were 4’05” behind the escapees. Garate started the attacking action with 19km to go. He was joined by Martin and Riblon (momentarily). The rest of the escape was reeled in early on the climb.
Attacking Assault From Andy
The yellow jersey’s group at the base of the climb included the top 12 of general classification but an attack from Frank Schleck with 14km to go thinned it down dramatically to a group that included: Contador, Armstrong, Van Den Broeck, Andy Schleck, Wiggins, Kreuziger and Nibali. Pellizotti and Karpets were the first to be dropped but the polka-dot jersey would return before the 10km to go mark. Then came the assault of Andy Schleck! The champion of Luxembourg was the dominant rider of the elite GC group on the final ascent. He attacked a total of eight times on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. Each time Contador was able to follow without hesitation. Others from the group would come and go but the white and yellow jerseys were inseparable! Everywhere Andy went, Alberto was sure to go…
Garate Wins The Stage: Contador Claims The Tour
Despite the attacking antics in the yellow jersey’s group, the two stage leaders – Garate and Martin – were able to hold off the chase. Pellizotti was resurgent and attacked Contador’s group as soon as he caught them again. But the King of the Mountains was unable to reel in the two early escapees. Garate attacked Martin twice but the German was able to catch him both times but on the final turn, the Spaniard disposed of him and claimed Rabobank’s first stage win of the 2009 Tour. In the final 500m Pellizotti was caught by the yellow jersey’s group and although Contador appeared to be riding within himself, he didn’t surge ahead of the white jersey at the finish. Andy claimed third place with the same time as Contador who punched their air as he crossed the line. Armstrong finished 22” ahead of Wiggins and sealed his third place overall. Contador will wear the yellow jersey for the parade stage to Paris tomorrow.
