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Hushovd takes points as green jersey battle heats up

July 14, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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Cervélo’s Thor Hushovd (NOR) picked up more points Wednesday as the fight for the green jersey heated up along with temperatures in the 179 km 10th stage from Chambéry to Gap.

Hushovd finished second in the day’s first intermediate sprint to snag four points and then crossed the line 11th to snag 10 points to defend the green jersey. Hushovd leads archrival Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) 138-131, with Robbie McEwen (AUS) third with 116.

“It was horrible today. It was very hard again today. The heat made the stage twice as hard. I suffered like everyone else,” Hushovd said. “The big battle for the green jersey started today, now every point matters. We will have to battle every day like this. I have to grab points when I can. I am going to try to win another stage. That would be the best way to gain points. It will be a real battle all the way to Paris.”

Sergio Paulinho (POR) won out of a breakaway while Andy Schleck (LUX) retained the race leader’s jersey as the main pack finished 14:19 back. Cervélo’s Carlos Sastre (ESP) finished safely in the main pack to slot into 16th overall at 7:13 back.

"After yesterday's beating, today's stage was more or less a relax day between the 'roosters that are in this corral,' because everyone was truly tired," Sastre said. "The start was very fast and there was a strong headwind, which delayed the day's main breakaway from forming. For the rest of it, it was a hard stage, with a lot of heat. The peloton decided to take it easy, because not only was it hard, it was pretty hilly as well. Tomorrow we have a stage more or less tranquil before we enter the mountains once again."

With finish-line points still up for grabs down to 20th place, the sprinters battled for the bunch sprint, with Mark Cavendish (GBR) leading the pack with ninth, Petacchi 10th and Hushovd 11th.

The 97th Tour continues Thursday with the 184.5 km 11th stage from Sisteron to Bourg-lès-Valence. The stage features one minor climb in the first hour before a rolling approach toward the finish line. It will likely be the last chance for the sprinters before the Tour turns into the Pyrénées this weekend.

“Tomorrow there should be a sprint. There will be sprints in Bordeaux and Paris, so it could be the last chance before the Pyrénées,” said Cervélo sport director Jean-Paul van Poppel. “The fight for the green jersey could come down to the final stage in Paris. The final week is very hard and that is better for Thor. He gets through the mountains the best of all the sprinters.”

Tour de France Stage 10 Results: Chambéry > Gap 179.0 km

1^st	Sergio Paulinho (POR)	5:10:56	34.54 km/h (21.46 mph)
2^nd	Vasili Kiryienka (BLR)	s.t.
3^rd	Dries Devenyns (BEL)	+1.29
4^th	Pierre Rolland (FRA)	s.t.
5^th	Mario Aerts (BEL)	+1.33

10^th	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	+14.19
42^th	Daniel Lloyd (GBR)	s.t.
47^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	s.t.
64^th	Andreas Klier (GER)	s.t.
72^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	s.t.
140^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	+15.47
147^th	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	s.t.
170^th	Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU)	s.t.

General Classification after Stage 10:

1^st	Andy Schleck (LUX)	49:00:56	39.84 km/h (24.76 mph)
2^nd	Alberto Contador Velasco (ESP)	+0.41
3^rd	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (ESP)	+2.45

16^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	+7.13
37^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	+21.58
137^th	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	+1.28.06
153^th	Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU)	+1.36.55
160^th	Daniel Lloyd (GBR)	+1.41.28
162^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	+1.41.57
171^st	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	+1.48.34
178^th	Andreas Klier (GER)	+1.56.25

Points Classification after Stage 10:

1^st	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	138
2^nd	Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)	131
3^rd	Robbie Mcewen (AUS)	116

80^th	Brett Lancaster (AUS)	12
93^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	7
115^th	Volodimir Gustov (UKR)	2
145^th	Jeremy Hunt (GBR)	2

2 responses for this Entry

THY says:

July 15, 2010

Boasson Hagen didn't sprint yesterday, an good indication that he won't compete for the green points jersey..

André Krotil says:

July 14, 2010

We all have to give tribute to the team and what they are going through. Not only the distance every day but also the heat. My favorite for the green jersey Thor Hushoud first and Edvald Boason Hagen as second.

Regards from André

A Norwegian cycling fan