Latest News

Sastre rides in the mountains; Hushovd defends green

July 22, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

Comments (1)

Cervélo TestTeam’s Carlos Sastre (ESP) went on the attack in the final mountain stage across the Pyrénées in Thursday’s decisive 174 km 17th stage from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet.

Andy Schleck (LUX) won the stage and Alberto Contador (ESP) secured the yellow jersey in a hard day of racing over three high-altitude climbs in rain, fog and cold.

Cervélo was intent on getting Sastre into the day’s main breakaway. A group of seven peeled away in the opening eight kilometers and Cervélo sent Daniel Lloyd (GBR) and Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) off the front to heighten the pace. Sastre then pulled clear ahead of the base of the day’s first major climb at the Cat. 1 Col de Marie-Blanc at 59.5 km.

Sastre clawed within just over one minute over the top of the Marie-Blanc, but ceded ground to the breakaway group on the flats heading toward the day’s second climb at the Cat. 1 Col du Soulor at 117.5km.

Sastre was caught in “no man’s land,” behind the breakaway and ahead of the main pack. He was eventually reeled in with 24 km to go near the base of the Col du Tourmalet. He finally crossed the line 72nd at 16:48 back and slotted into 21st at 25:50 back.

“For me, it was a day to enjoy being on the bike. I was motivated to try today,” Sastre said. “I was lucky to be able to count on a teammate (Ignatas Konovalovas) to help me, who’s given everything since the race began. I tried, but I didn’t have the legs to catch the breakaway up the road. Today’s stage gave me something more than a victory.”

With the GC favorites and lean climbers taking center-stage, it was a day of survival for many in the peloton.

Cervélo’s Thor Hushovd (NOR) finished safely within the time limit to defend his green points jersey and remains 191-187 ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (ITA).

Friday’s run into Bordeaux will prove decisive in the final battle for the green jersey.

“Today wasn’t so bad for me. I went into the ‘gruppetto’ quite early and kept a steady pace without expending too much energy. The breakaway went away very fast, so there was no hope of challenging for the first intermediate sprint. It was an epic stage up the Tourmalet, but I don’t see very much of the race from where I am riding,” Hushovd said. “I am coming out of the Pyrénées stronger. I have the green jersey on my shoulders and I don’t want to give it up. Bordeaux will be a sprint and I have to be very attentive. The best way to defend the jersey would be to win the stage. The team is very strong and I know they will help me all the way to Paris.”

The 97th Tour continues Friday 198 km 18th stage from Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux. The first of two intermediate sprints comes after hilly terrain at 29.5 km that could play into Hushovd’s favor. There are no rated climbs and the sprinter teams will likely collaborate to reel in a breakaway to set up a mass gallop to the line.

Tour de France Stage 17 Results: Pau > Col du Tourmalet 174.0 km

1^st	Andy Schleck (LUX)	5:03:29	34.40 km/h (21.38 mph)
2^nd	Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP)	s.t.
3^rd	Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP)	+1.18
4^th	Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)	+1.27
5^th	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (ESP)	+1.32

45^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	+9.02
72^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	+16.48
134^th	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	+30.05
139^th	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	s.t.
148^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	+30.17
151^st	Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU)	+30.26
152^th	Daniel Lloyd (GBR)	+30.35
171^st	Andreas Klier (GER)	+33.14

General Classification after Stage 17:

1^st	Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP)	83:32:39	39.37 km/h (24.46 mph)
2^nd	Andy Schleck (LUX)	+0.08
3^rd	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (ESP)	+3.32

21^st	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	+25.50
35^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	+1.07.09
111^st	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	+3.09.37
134^th	Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU)	+3.26.45
160^th	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	+3.57.27
164^th	Daniel Lloyd (GBR)	+3.58.23
165^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	+4.00.18
168^th	Andreas Klier (GER)	+4.11.55

Points Classification after Stage 17:

1^st	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	191
2^nd	Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)	187
3^rd	Mark Cavendish (GBR)	162

75^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	16
94^th	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	12
97^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	8
122^th	Daniel Lloyd (GBR)	4
126^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	2