After a hard-earned rest day on Tuesday, last night saw the peloton enter the Jura Mountains for stage ten, the first of the high mountain stages at this year’s Tour de France.
The 194.5km journey from Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine featured three categorised climbs, most notably the hors category Col du Grand Colombier – the middle climb on the stage – a 17.4km ascent with an average gradient of 7.1%.
The bookend climbs were the category two Cote de Corlier and the category three Col de Richemond.
It was important for Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) to continue riding positively, following what proved to be a difficult stage nine time-trial for the Australian.
The stage’s long descents suited Evans – a former mountain bike rider – and fourth-placed Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale), who both excel when the roads angle downwards.
But it was breakaway survivor Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) who was victorious in front of an adoring home crowd.
The effervescent Voeckler, holder of the yellow jersey for 10 days during last year’s Tour, now leads in the King of the Mountains classification having been first to the summit of the final two climbs.
On a stage when Evans seemed likely to attack first, it was Nibali who made the move on the Grand Colombier descent. The Shark was aided by a “yo-yo” move from teammate Peter Sagan, who initiated the early morning breakaway, but his advantage did not last.
Australian workhorse Richie Porte (Sky Pro Cycling) helped reel in Nibali on the final climb of the day, while keeping Sky team leader Bradley Wiggins in prime position.
Evans’ supposed pilot fish in the mountains, white jersey holder Tejay van Garderen, was again a non-factor, languishing at the back end of the peloton on the day’s major climb.
Quite some time in the making, the main breakaway on the stage was at first a 25-man group including Australians on Orica-GreenEDGE Matt Goss and Simon Gerrans.
Among those who joined Goss and Gerrans were Voeckler, green jersey holder Sagan, Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank), Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan).
The pace set by Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and the other climbers in the break on the Col du Grand Colombier formed an exclusive lead group from which Sanchez attacked.
A downhill specialist, Sanchez would have to have felt confident in his ability to consolidate a lead on the technical descent.
Only Scarponi, Voeckler and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) remained to chase the Spaniard. They succeeded, establishing a four-man leading group with a winning advantage over the main field.
But wait. Here comes Jens!
Make that a five-man leading group.
Having dropped away on Grand Colombier, the 40-year-old veteran somehow made his way back to the leading group of four on the Richemond descent.
It was the perfect example of Voigt putting his favourite catchphrase into action: “Shut up legs!” You would have heard no complaints had the father of six won the stage.
The only mover and shaker in the top 10 overall was Jurgen Van Den Broek (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step). The 29-year-old made three short-lived attempts to get off the front on Grand Colombier, keen to claw back lost time.
He tried again near the top of the Col de Richemond and it finally stuck. By stage end, the Belgian had pulled back 32 seconds.
Earlier, Sagan and Goss – first and second in the points classification respectively – were the two primary combatants at the intermediate sprint point in Béon.
Sagan jumped early, but Goss reigned in the Slovakian to take maximum points ahead of Belarus road champion Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-Big Mat).
In doing so, the Tasmanian pulled back five points on Sagan, who still leads by 27 in the fight for green.
Tomorrow’s stage from Albertville to La Toussuire includes the second of three summit finishes at this year’s Tour.
The final climb to the finish is an 18km category one drag that should sort the contenders from the pretenders.
Cadel Evans must make a move.
Tour de France Stage 10 Results
Rider, Team, Points
1. VOECKLER Thomas, EUROPCAR, 04h 46′ 26″
2. SCARPONI Michele, LAMPRE-ISD, 04h 46′ 29″ + 00′ 03″
3. VOIGT Jens, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 04h 46′ 33″ + 00′ 07″
4. SANCHEZ Luis Leon, RABOBANK, 04h 46′ 49″ + 00′ 23″
5. DEVENYNS Dries, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 04h 46′ 56″ + 00′ 30″
6. CASAR Sandy, FDJ-BIG MAT, 04h 49′ 10″ + 02′ 44″
7. MARTINEZ Egoi, EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI, 04h 49′ 10″ + 02′ 44″
8. ROLLAND Pierre, EUROPCAR, 04h 49′ 10″ + 02′ 44″
9. VAN DEN BROEK Jurgen, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 04h 49′ 10″ + 02′ 44″
10. FOFONOV Dmitriy, ASTANA, 04h 49′ 18″ + 02′ 52″
Tour de France Points Classification
Rider, Team, Points
1. SAGAN Peter, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 232
2. GOSS Matthew Harley, ORICA-GREENEDGE, 205
3. GREIPEL Andre, LOTTO-BELISOL, 172
4. CAVENDISH Mark, SKY PRO CYCLING, 129
5. PETACCHI Alessandro, LAMPRE-ISD, 109
Tour de France KOM Classification
Rider, Team, Points
1. VOECKLER Thomas, EUROPCAR, 28
2. KESSIAKOFF Fredrik, ASTANA, 21
3. SCARPONI Michele, LAMPRE-ISD, 21
Tour de France Overall Standings
Rider, Team, Time, Gaps
1. WIGGINS Bradley, SKY PROCYCLING, 43h 59’ 02″
2. EVANS Cadel, BMC RACING, 44h 00’ 55″ + 01′ 53″
3. FROOME Christopher, SKY PRO CYCLING, 44h 01’ 09″ + 02′ 07″
4. NIBALI Vincenzo, LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE, 44h 01’ 25″ + 02′ 23″
5. MENCHOV Denis, KATUSHA, 44h 02’ 04″ + 03′ 02″
6. ZUBELDIA Haimar, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 44h 02’ 21″ + 03′ 19″
7. MONFORT Maxime, RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, 44h 03’ 25″ + 04′ 23″
8. VAN DEN BROEK Jurgen, OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK-STEP, 44h 03’ 50″ + 04′ 48″
9. ROCHE Nicolas, AG2R LA MONDIALE, 44h 04’ 31″ + 05′ 29″
10. VAN GADREREN Tejay, BMC RACING, 44h 04’ 33″ + 05′ 31″
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
Rolland needs to learn to TT to have a chance at a GC title, I doubt he will get chance to train for this at Europcar, he needs to be at a better team that can afford for him to do training camps rather than race everywhere they are getting invited to.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
On Cadel's strategy to combine with Nibali, that could also involve the likes of Menchov and possibly even Van den Broeck in the future combining with Evans to help thwart Team Sky, if Van den Broeck gains more time. However, it will be very interesting to see what Cadel's tactics are tonight. I think tonights stage is a golden opportunity for Cadel to gain time on Wiggins. Do you guys agree?
Justin Garrett
Guest
Wiggins looks great and is well supported. Last year BMC couldn't get it right but Cadel was simply amazing on his own. Seems BMC can't take another trick again this year, but this time I fear Cadel might be in trouble and really needs to use the desent to try and make up some time over the next few nights
Justin Curran
Roar Rookie
I was a bit disappointed that Cadel did not go with Nibali on the descent last night. We saw Contador and Evans take over 1 minute out of Andy Schleck on a descent last year. I fear it might have been an opportunity lost. Evans obviously thought the time was not right. But he must know that there are not too many more opportunities.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Ha ha - yep. Riders in the break collude with one another and roll turns. Same thing
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
There was a funny moment during last night's SBS coverage of the stage when one of the commentators, I think it was Phil, mentioned that collusion is against UCI rules. He then went on to describe an acceptable method - it was the definition of collusion.
Des Cairns
Guest
I totally agree with you're comment about VDB's attacks, there was no comparison between the powerful one that worked and the other unsuccessful attempts.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Spot on - completely agree.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Cadel needs about 4 minutes to account for final TT. I will write about it in more detail in my own article - but I think there is a bit of a one-two combo going on from Nibali and Cadel. Nibali attacked and Sky had to bust their guts to reel him back in. Cadel just sat on Wiggins. I wonder if Cadel and Nibali have devised (and they have spoken) that they need to break the Sky team down and wear out Wiggins support and then look to Isolate him.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I know that DanMan below thinks exactly that Des! Tonight is crucial for Cadel. Crucial. Cadel is a tempo rider up the climbs. He has some punch going uphill but, like Ivan Basso, he is more of a grinder. I really hope he can get off the front on tonight's stage. It's the type of gamble he must takle. I'd rather see him try and lose a chunk of time than sit in second place without making a real, sustained effort to claw back time on Wiggins. Rolland is one to watch as a GC contender at future Tours I think - he's still young, but give him a few more years under his belt. VDB must keep attacking - some of his moves last night were unconvincing, but he proved that persistence can pay off. 32 seconds is a good slice of time to get back.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I have only positive things to say about our man Thomas. He's great for cycling and deserves all the success he earns.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Thanks Eric, appreciate it. Voeckler is a breakaway artiste and crowd favourite. He's one of those guys that you just have to like. Super attacking, cheeky and often underestimated - all hallmarks of an amazing entertainer on the bike. Jens will outlive us all. I tend to agree with you on the last point, but it is the Tour. Those types of things do actually happen. Cadel will attack up both remaining summit finishes I think. Side note - is it not disappointing how few summit conclusion there are to stages this year? Something feels missing.
DanMan
Guest
I have the feeling that Cadel was happy to see Nibali, Van Den Broek, Roland attack as Sky did the hard yards to chase while Evans saved himself for tonight's stage. If he doesn't attack big time today though I fear for a very predictable boring tour.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
It certainly is a difficult equation for Cadel Evans at this point. Only two summit finishes remain at this year's Tour and I would say he needs upwards of a two-minute lead over Wiggins before the final time-trial if he is to defend his Tour title. Descents are sufficient for getting back handfuls of seconds here and there...but Evans needs big time. I think the BMC plan starts with a huge attack on tomorrow's climb to the finish and again on stage 17 with the summit finish to Peyragudes. Tejay van Garderen may need to pull something out of nowhere, but as we have seen Cadel seems happy to go it alone on the big mountain passes. But really, who can say Darryl? If anyone can do it, it's Cadel.
Des Cairns
Guest
Good to see Vockler get the much deserved win on last nights stage, i think he would have been very upset if he hadn't considering all the work he had done. It was also nice to see some riders from different teams (Rolland and VDB) working together against sky juggernaut. On the subject of Cadel, does anyone think that he might have been saving it for the mountain-top finish in tonight's stage? It seems to me that this would be a stage to put time into Wiggins if he does in fact have the legs... Although i'm not convinced he does. Thoughts?
RemMonster
Roar Rookie
poor cadel cant do it alone needs a team like sky to push the pace, if only he had a better attack he could easily put pressure on wiggins and change the constant relaxed face of his!
George
Guest
I had predicted for Voeckler to take a few stages this year so I was glad to see him pull through today. He might just win one or two more before the tour is over.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
Another impressive wrap Kit, like the line about Voeckler's effervescence. Love seeing big Jens up the front, he'll be a huge loss to the sport when he retires (which will probably be when he turns 60, judging by his current longevity). Both Cadel and Nibali do seem to lack the answers required to deal with Sky, I'm not sure that anything other than an accident or stroke of luck can open up this race.
Darryl Kotyk
Roar Pro
So what do you think, Kit....what's going through Cadel's mind right now? What strategy do you think BMC has to take a stab at the yellow jersey? There has got to be a plan of attack, but I just can't seem to figure it out myself.