Feillu & Nocentini The Big Winners On Big Mountain

The Progress Report
The longest stage of the 2009 Tour de France, a 224km journey from Barcelona to the lofty heights of Arcarlis in Andorra, began at 11.10am. There were 177 riders at the start. On the menu were five climbs, including the first true mountains of the 96th edition. Points for the polka-dot jersey were awarded at: the cat-4 cote de Montserrat (32km), cat-3 Port de Solsona (97km), the first cat-1 ascent in 2009 – the col de Serra-Seca (127km), the Port del Comte (136.5km) and finally, the ‘hors category’ ascent to Arcalis at 2,240m high. Although this is a mountain stage there were still three intermediate sprints. They were in Solsona (105km), Andorra-la-Velle (196km) and La Cortinada (207.5km).

Attacks Begin Early
At the 8km mark Martinez (EUS), Riblon (ALM) and Gutierrez (GCE) attacked. A group of 20 chased after them at 12km. Included in the counter-attack were: Gomez Marchante, Popovych, Larsson, Voigt, Txurruka, Arrieta, Dupont, Nocentini, Moncoutie, Devolder, Moreau, Calzati, Brice Feillu, Knees and Velits and Geschke. The counter-attack was caught at 21km but Gutierrez’s trio continued alone. Six men – Nocentini (ALM), Kuschynski (LIQ), Kern (COF), Pineau (QSI), B. Feillu (AGR) and Frohlinger (MRM) instigated a chase at 24km. They caught the leading three at 34km. When the peloton arrived at the site of the first climb (32km) it was 5’45” behind. The average speed for the first hour was 45.1km/h. The bunch allowed the advantage to increase: 7’20” at 40km; 12’10” at 50km; 14’20” at 55km. This was the maximum gain. Astana then came to the front of the bunch. The peloton arrived at the foot of the Port de Serra-Seca 11’35” behind Nocentini’s group. The Italian was the best placed on GC of the nine escapees before the start of the stage (ranked 32nd, 3’13” behind Cancellara).

Col de Serra-Seca & Port del Comte
There were no attacks in the lead group on the third climb. Riblon led the escapees over the 1,160m pass. At the top, some in the bunch were forced to stop because the crowds had spilled onto the road and made it difficult for the riders to find a way through. The peloton was 12’00” behind at the top. All nine Astana riders were on the front of the main bunch between the third and fourth climbs. Riblon attacked for points again at the top and became the virtual leader of the climbing classification. The peloton reached the top 11’40” behind the nine escapees. Joly (FDJ) quit the Tour at the 160km mark.

Feillu Takes A Fine Stage Win
On the approach to the final climb, there was a crash around 26km to go involving Leipheimer, Cavendish, Delage and a few others. They all remounted their bikes and caught the peloton before the final climb. At the 25km to go mark, the bunch was 8’30” behind. Kuschynski was the first rider dropped from the lead group (as soon as they reached the final ascent). The peloton was led by Astana all the way to the foot of the Arcalis ascent and was 6’00” behind with 10km to go. Cancellara stayed with the Armstrong group until 7km to go.
Feillu attacked the lead group with 5.5km to go. He would hold on to his lead all the way to the finish and give Agritubel its second stage win in the Tour de France. He is the debut Tour for the brother of last year’s yellow jersey-for-a-day, Roman.

Nocentini The First Italian Leader Since 2000
The Astana team controlled the group of favorites for the whole final climb. They dropped Cancellara around the 7km to climb mark. The first to attack this elite group was Evans (SIL) who launched his bid with 3km from the line. He was caught and then Van Den Broeck (SIL) attacked. This prompted a big reaction from Contador who charged ahead of all other and went past the Belgian like he was standing still. The champion of the 2007 race finished ninth in the stage but fell six seconds shy of taking the yellow jersey. This honor goes to Nocentini who finished the stage in fourth place.