World champion Thor Hushovd joined the breakaway on the mountainous Stage 13 of the Tour de France and engineered himself to a stage victory in Lourdes on Friday.
A victory by a sprinter on this 156km (97-mile) mountainous stage was probably not anticipated by many observers, especially as the route included the “above category” ascent of the Col d'Aubisque.
Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) retained the yellow jersey for another stage, finishing at the front of the peloton ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/15/another-tour-de-france-surprise-sprinter-wins-mountain-stage-13/
The Col d'Aubisque is the big challenge for Stage 13 of the Tour de France today, but it probably won't prove decisive since it's nearly 30 miles from the finish.
There are three climbs over the 156km (97-mile) route between Pau and Lourdes — a Category 3 and 4 summit and the “above category” Col d'Aubisque.
There is no mountain top finish, like Thursday. That final climb catapulted …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/15/day-2-in-the-pyrenees-for-stage-13-3d-tour-of-col-daubisque/
A series of attacks and counter-attacks behind the winning ride of Spain's Sammy Sanchez, left, changed the complexion of the Tour de France as it entered the Pyrenees on Thursday.
We may finally have caught a glimpse of the leading cyclists in the race after the mountain-top finish on Stage 12, a 211km (130-mile) bike race from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden that went over the Tourmalet for the 76th time in Tour de France history.
Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler showed us he has the heart to hold onto the yellow jersey on Bastille Day. He put in a similar performance the last time he held the yellow in 2004 ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/tour-favorites-reshuffled-in-first-mountain-stage-but-frenchman-retains-yellow/
Some would say that the Tour de France doesn't start until the peloton hits the mountains.
Well, that would be today, Stage 12, when the 177 remaining cyclists enter the Pyrenees.
They'll be greeted by one Category 1 and two above-category ascents, one a mountain-top finish on the 211km (130-mile) route from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden: La Hourquette d’Ancizan — Category 1; Col du Tourmalet — hors catégorie; and Luz-Ardiden — hors catégorie. ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/14/first-tour-de-france-mountain-stage-steeped-in-history-streetview-of-final-climb/
Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel went at it again in the final sprint in Stage 11 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, but this time Cavendish's lead-out companions were with him to clear the way to victory.
The “Manx Missile's” 18th career stage win at the Tour de France (his third this year) followed a narrow defeat in Stage 10 at the hands of former teammate and rival Greipel (Omega Pharma).
After the race, Cavendish said he had “redeemed” himself.
Meanwhile, France's Thomas Voeckler …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/13/former-teammates-now-rivals-face-off-in-sprint-sequel/
Mark Cavendish met his match on Tuesday when he was overtaken by former teammate Andre Greipel by less than a wheel length at the end of Stage 10 of the Tour de France.
The sprint followed a lumpy 99-mile stage from Aurillac to Carmaux that saw the sprinters struggle to stay with the peloton as Phillippe Gilbert set a torrid pace in the closing kilometers.
France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) survived easily in the yellow jersey …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/12/former-teammate-settles-score-at-tour-de-france/
Update: Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), left, earned the yellow jersey of the Tour de France on Sunday after surviving in a long breakaway that itself was not immune from a series of crashes that injured cyclists, causing at least five to abandon the race.
The Stage 9 victory went to Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank), another member of the 3-man breakaway.
That break comprised 5 cyclists — Voeckler, Sanchez, Sandy Casar (FDJ), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoliel) — when the most bizarre crash of the race occurred …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/10/lead-changes-at-tour-de-france-as-crash-carnage-continueszabriskie-vinokourov-van-den-broeck-among-victims/
A trio of sterling performances marked Stage 8 of the Tour de France on Saturday, the first day the peloton has battled in the mountains this year.
Let's start with Portugal's Rui Costa (Movistar), left. He joined a breakaway less than two miles into the 118-mile lumpy route from Aigurande and survived to the mountain-top finish at Super Besse-Sancy for his first Tour de France stage win.
After dropping his three companions in the breakaway on the final climb, Costa outlasted Phillippe Gilbert (Omega) …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/three-remarkable-feats-highlight-stage-8/
American cyclist Chris Horner did not start Stage 8 of the Tour de France on Saturday after spending the night in the hospital after his Friday bicycle crash.
The 39-year-old RadioShack team member from Bend, Oregon, was being held for observation after the crash because he suffered a concussion and was clearly disoriented after he was the last bicyclist to cross the finish line.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel left the following message ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/us-cyclist-chris-horner-is-out-of-tour-de-france/
Col de la Croix Saint-Robert
Many cyclists in the Tour de France peloton must be slightly relieved that the crowded, lowland farm roads are behind them as they attack some hills in Stage 8.
The 117-mile (189km) stage from Aigurande to Super-Besse Sancy is an ever-climbing route into the Massif Central.
It includes two Category 4 climbs, a Category 2 climb at Col de la Croix Saint-Robert and a Category 3 summit finish ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2011/07/09/stage-8-the-climbing-begins-view-of-col-de-la-croix/
Adventure Cycling Association Trail biking Rails to Trails Conservancy League of American Bicyclists
Recent Comments