Well what about that? On today’s first of the Alpine mountain stages we had two races on the go. One involving the four men at the head of the race, so far up the road that long before the final climb we knew they would hang on for the win. None of them were overall threats and so were allowed to fight it out between themselves. Remember this was a stage the sprinters teams were never going to even attempt to close down. But while that was going on, minutes down the road and onto the final climb the Tour de France was taking shape, or in many ways, losing shape.

Cadel Evans finally showed signs of weakness while nobody showed signs of brutal strength. Indeed, it was possibly the most clear sign in decades that these guys might well be riding clean. All were suffering, all looked vulnerable at times and some like Andy Schleck, riding his ass off for his older brother in CSC, continually went out the back, only to climb back to the front to set the pace a little and fall away. When the riders looked at each other to see who would make the next move, Schleck Jnr would ride back onto them again, go straight to the fore and up the pace again.

It hurt everyone and even the first of the ‘big contenders’ crossing the line did so because he found that little bit extra in the last kilometre when at other times he looked to be suffering.

There were no supermen today and it made it all the more better.

People often asked would a clean tour take away from the spectacle of watching super human efforts up mountain stages at crazy speeds while others around the legend cracked? Well today we seen that, no this wasn’t the case. We seen the riders suffer properly.

The best part about it? This was a category 1 climb. What is it going to be like on Tuesday when they hit even bigger mountains and then again on Wednesday when the legs are dying for a rest but have to go over 4 peaks concluding with the Alp d’Huez?

Six men now sit within a minute of new Yellow Jersey leader Frank Schleck. They will all be looking at each other, all attacking one another, yet at the same time cautions not to completely blow their own chances. This is the most open tour in modern history and it is going to make for fascinating viewing following tomorrows rest day.

As for winning the stage itself, that honor did indeed go to one of the four men who sprung the early attack. He was Australian Simon Gerrans, not the Aussie we expected to be first to the top of the climb. While one of the four cracked on the final climb Gerrans kept within 15 yards of Egoi Martinez and Danny Pate at all times as they tried to break one another. When they started looking at each other in the final kilometre, it gave Gerrans the time he needed to compose himself, find his legs and make one final dash at the line for the win.

OSCAR CRASHES OUT

In other Tour news, the 2006 Champion by default, Oscar Pereiro crashed out in the stage breaking his shoulder and leaving his requiring surgery. The Spaniard who was sitting in the top 20 overall with hopes of still breaking into the top 10 crashed down an embankment on a twisty and fast descent. In reality it was very lucky that Oscar didn’t end up more seriously hurt than he was but he will be still dissapointed that his tour has ended so suddenly. Pereiro became famous in cycling circles when in 2006 he became the default winner of the Tour after the winner on time, Floyd Landis tested positive for banned substances.

Category: Pro Road Racing » Cadel Evans, Frank Schleck, Simon Gerrans, Tour de France |

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