Team RadioShack finally has something to crow about after domestique Sergio Paulinho won Stage 10 of the Tour de France on Wednesday.
The Portuguese cyclist was part of a 6-man breakaway that led most of the 111-mile race from Chambery to Gap over four climbs.
Andy Schleck remained in the yellow jersey, as the rest of the peloton finished about 15 minutes later, content to hear whether one of the two Frenchmen in the breakaway could win on Bastille Day. Neither could.
The 30-year-old Paulinho is an unlikely hero for the RadioShack team, but with Lance Armstrong locked in 31st place, 17:22 out of first place, the only other bright spot has been Levi Leipheimer shooting for a possible podium spot in Paris.
Considered a climbing specialist, Paulinho was a member of the Astana team in 2008 and 2009. He helped Alberto Contador pick up a yellow jersey last year, and team boss Johan Bruyneel lured him away to RadioShack for 2010.
Paulinho beat Russian cyclist Vasili Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) in a sprint finish, while the other four members of the breakaway straggled in ahead of the peloton. Paulinho and Kiryienka had jumped away from them in a series of attacks about 15 miles from the finish.
Thursday's Stage 11 is a 114-mile route from Sisteron to Bourg les Valence. There is one climb (category 3) about midway.
Top 10 overall
1. Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador, Astana – :41
3. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltel Euskadi – 2:45
4. Denis Menchov, Rabobank – 2:58
5. Jurgen Van den Broeck, Omega – 3:51
6. Levi Leipheimer, RadioShack – 3:59
7. Robert Gesink, Rabobank – 4:22
8. Luis-Leon Sanchez, Caisse d'Epargne – 4:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, Katusha – 5:08
10. Ivan Basso, Liquigas – 5:09
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