Stage 15 of the Tour de France from Limoux to Montpellier saw Mark Cavendish make it four wins in this year’s edition and take a stranglehold on the green jersey points competition.
It was yet another demonstration of the strength of the HTC Highroad Team and the rare sprinting prowess of Mark Cavendish.
Despite attempts by the peloton to disrupt their rhythm in the last few kilometres, the HTC road train kept their focus and did not panic. With less than a kilometre to go the race to the finish became a forgone conclusion.
There was Mark Renshaw at the head of the race with Cavendish in tow powering to the finish. Cavendish came off Renshaw’s wheel and launched his sprint. Despite the best efforts of Tyler Farrar, he held on for yet another victory.
Cavendish has now recorded 19 stage wins. He sits seventh in the all-time list. Andre Darrigade has the most wins by a sprinter with 22. Eddie Merckx recorded an incredible 34 stage wins.
Cavendish’s HTC Highroad Team will disband if a new headline sponsor is not found. But, regardless of where he ends up, as long as Cavendish stays healthy, he should break Darrigade’s record to become the most successful sprinter in tour history.
The yellow jersey contenders kept themselves out of trouble and finished with the peloton. They were all given the same time.
For Cadel Evans he heads into tomorrow’s rest day in a very good place. None of his rivals were able to dent his confidence after three days in the Pyrenees.
They know all know they have to make time on him on Thursday and Friday when the tour goes over the high peaks of the Alps. If they don’t, they will be handing the yellow jersey to Cadel Evans on a plate come next Saturday’s time trial.
The tour resumes on Tuesday as it heads into the foothills of the Alps with a 162.5km stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Gap 162.5km. It’s all uphill with a category 2 climb just before the finish and 11.5km descent to the finish.
The stage profile suggests the winner will be found in a breakaway. Hopefully, Simon Gerrans can find himself in the decisive escape group that will contest the finish at Gap.
Stage 15 Results
1. CAVENDISH Mark HTC – HIGHROAD 4h 20′ 24″
2. FARRAR Tyler TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
3. PETACCHI Alessandro LAMPRE – ISD 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
4. OSS Daniel LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
5. ROJAS Jose Joaquin MOVISTAR TEAM 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
29. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
41. SCHLECK Andy TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
43. CONTADOR Alberto SAXO BANK SUNGARD 4h 20′ 24″ + 00′ 00″
Overall Standings
Rider Team Time Gaps
1. VOECKLER Thomas TEAM EUROPCAR 65h 24′ 34″
2. SCHLECK Frank TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 65h 26′ 23″ + 01′ 49″
3. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 65h 26′ 40″ + 02′ 06″
4. SCHLECK Andy TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 65h 26′ 49″ + 02′ 15″
5. BASSO Ivan LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 65h 27′ 50″ + 03′ 16″
6. SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 65h 28′ 18″ + 03′ 44″
7. CONTADOR Alberto SAXO BANK SUNGARD 65h 28′ 34″ + 04′ 00″
8. CUNEGO Damiano LAMPRE – ISD 65h 28′ 35″ + 04′ 01″
Green Jersey Standings
Rider Team Points
1. CAVENDISH Mark HTC – HIGHROAD 319 pts
2. ROJAS Jose Joaquin MOVISTAR TEAM 282 pts
3. GILBERT Philippe OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 248 pts
4. HUSHOVD Thor TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 192 pts
5. GREIPEL André OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 170 pts
Schtumpy
Guest
James, regarding the lead out trains, HTC have stacked the team to most efficiently tackle this part of the race. Tony Martin does a ton of work at the front as you'd expect of a world class time trialler and the timing is such that Renshaw, a brilliantly fast sprinter in his own right, has Cav primed to launch his own unbeatable speed as close to the line as possible. If they get it right, which doesn't always happen, he is too close for Farrar, Greipel or Petacchi to slip stream him. But to make that timing right, they can't afford the luxury of having one of their workers behind Cav. On the other hand, Cav has shown himself good enough in previous tours to grab the wheel of another sprinter, notably Hushovd or Petacchi, if his own train breaks down. He thinks very fast, much like McEwan had to, when things don't go according to plan. And his finishing burst is simply in another league to every other sprinter on the road.
Schtumpy
Guest
Agreed Art. The pressure is on Cadel to limit his losses to the Schlecks. It's on the Schlecks to distance themselves from Cadel. And it's on Contador to attack and find a significant victory, most probably on Friday on the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez. Voeckler did a marvelous job to hang tough on the Pyrenees but the Alps should be beyond him as they always have been in the past. Still too early to rule out Ivan or Sammy though....
jameswm
Guest
It's tough to mark both Schlecks when they go the 1-2 on you. Cadel has to follow Voeckler or Contador's wheel, but Voeckler will eventually drop off. I guess Cadel like everyone else is assuming the Alps will eventually take their toll on Thomas. Cadel won't need to attack him unless he's still 2 mins ahead going into the Alpe d'Huez. Cadel's ideal will be to remain within 20 secs of one of the Schlecks going in to the TT, with Contador behind him. It's possible Cadel will follow Andy and they leave frank behind, leaving Cadel in the lead in the Alps! I don't think much will happen tues and wed. Thurs and fri's mountain top finish and the following day's TT make for a brutal 3 days. Still about 6 in it.
Problem is Mid that Contador needs to make up serious time on Cadel. If Contador has been foxing and he does have something left in the tank after the Giro, then he has to blow both Evans and Schlecks away.
Midfielder
Guest
Art Watching Cadel to date he has been impressive in the mountains to date and me thinks he and Contador may will work together at times to counter the Schlecks...
Mid - I don't think Voeckler will be able to go with the big boys when the cracks start whipping in The Alps. I'd say Cadel is more concerned with the Schlecks and Contador. This is not to downplay Voeckler's performance so far this tour. He has ridden out of his skin.
Thanks Tom for the Dauphine stats - very insightful
Jimbo
Guest
Good summary Brian. Cadel's focus needs to be primarily on marking the Schlecks. Although he is on paper a much better TTer than both of them, as seen in the 2007/8 tours with Contador and Sastre respectively, men often grow the proverbial third leg in yellow and hold on in the time trial. Cadel shouldn't rely on pulling more than a few seconds out of the Schleck brothers in the time trial, especially considering his weaker team and the higher workload that will entail.
Midfielder
Guest
Art What about VOECKLER he sits with a two minute lead ... if he can hold on in the mountains can Cadel claw back two min in the time trial...
Tom
Guest
TT is same course as Dauphine libere from June. Some results of note: 1 MARTIN Tony 21 HTC - HIGHROAD 55' 27" 6 EVANS Cadel 71 BMC RACING TEAM 56' 47" + 01' 20" 7 THOMAS Geraint 126 SKY PROCYCLING 57' 03" + 01' 36" 40 VOECKLER Thomas 131 TEAM EUROPCAR 58' 45" + 03' 18" 135 BASSO Ivan 91 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 1h 01' 43" + 06' 16"
Good summary, Brian. This is how most people see it. A time trial straight after smashing themselves on Alpe d'Huez. Can't see everyone performing to their maximum, though.
Brian
Guest
I agree its too early for Cadel to worry about Voeckler. In the Alps the Schleck's, Contador & Basso will all try and break Evans, Voeckler and each other. When they do Cadel needs to stay as close as possible, and within those clims Voeckler will lose more time to everyone. I agree in the unlikely event of a miracle Voeckler could hold on to 2 minutes in the TT. Certainly at this stage I would be more concerned about losing time to either Schleck. Andy TT last year was very good and I would not be confiedent of Cadel wiping off anymore than 20-30 seconds from them in the TT. To win I would tip the fitter Schleck at this stage, closely followed by Cadel. Anything possible but I think its long odds on Contador, Basso or Voeckler.
Jimbo
Guest
The ascent of the Plateau de Beille was actually very slow; none of the main contenders sustained an attack for any period of time. Certainly Contador absolutely must go for it in the Alps, and Basso, the brothers Schleck and Evans will follow him. I would put down Voeckler's remaining in yellow to the relatively slow ascent, and I would predict that the climbing will take its toll on him and he will lose yellow in the Alps, where the main contenders will have more of a crack.
jameswm
Guest
A couple of thoughts. - why dn't Farrar or Greipel's teams put the same sort of train in place that HTC do? They set Cav up so well for the sprint and all the others seem to do is sit on his wheel. It isn't working? - why don't HTC put another rider on Cavendish's wheel? This would stop Cav's rivals taking that spot. - is Cadel really going to make up 2 mins on Voeckler on the TT? I'd be very nervous about that. The maillot jaune goes last and its wearers have often found that bit extra. It's happened to Cadel before. I agree though that the Schlecks need to take time off Cadel because he'll put over a minute on them in the TT. - Contador must be either hanging in there or waiting for the Alps. He needs to take time off Cadel, Voeckler and the Schlecks before the TT. - I've been wondering why Cadel doesn't attack but I guess there's no point. The only one he wants to attack and take time off right now is Voeckler. Thurs and Fri's mountain top finishes will determine it