As an Australian watching the 2007 Tour de France my focus is largely on Cadel Evans and his progress from stage to stage. My Cadel-centric summary continues with Stage 17 of the 2007 Tour de France.
The Stage
Stage 17 is 188.5km long from Pau to Castelsarrasin and should be a relief for the field after the last few stages. Although it's a flat stage there are 5 Category 4 climbs and a Category 3 climb, but none of them should cause anyone any trouble. The details of the climbs :
At 23km - Côte de Baleix, 1.4km Cat. 3 climb;
At 54km - Côte de Villecomtal, 3.7km Cat. 4 climb;
At 59.5km - Côte de Miélan, 1.4km Cat 4 climb;
At 63.5km - Côte de Sainte-Dode-aux-Croix, 2.0km Cat. 4 climb;
At 72.5km - Côte de Theux, 1.4km Cat. 4 climb;
At 169.5km - Côte de la Montagnère, 1.4km Cat. 4 climb.
There are 2 Sprints in the stage coming at the 44.5km mark and the 146.5km mark.
The Highlights
It only took until the 5km mark before the first break of the day was established with 8 riders attending. A few familiar faces among this lot : The riders in the move that began at the 5km mark are: Jens Voigt (CSC), Martin Elmiger (A2R) , Daniele Bennati (LAM) , Daniele Righi (LAM), Markus Fothen (GST), Manuel Quinziato (LIQ), Matteo Tosatto (QSI), David Millar (SDV).
Up the first climb they go with a lead of 1'20".
The points at the first climb were won by:
1. Matteo Tosatto (QSI) 4pts
2. Jens Voigt (CSC) 3pts
3. Markus Fothen (GST) 2pts
4. Daniel Righi (LAM) 1pt
By the time the break reached the first intermediate sprint of the day they had stretched their advantage out to 2'05".
The points for the sprint at the 44.5km mark were won by:
1. Manuel Quinziato (LIQ) 6pts/6"
2. David Millar (SDV) 4pts/4"
3. Martin Elmiger (A2R) 2pts/2"
The peloton was being driven by 3 teams by this time - Francaise des Jeux, Bouygues Telecom and Credit Agricole and by the top of the 2nd climb the margin was cut back to 1'30".
The points for the 2nd climb of the 17th stage were won by:
1. Markus Fothen (GST) 3pts
2. Matteo Tosatto (QSI) 2pts
3. Martin Elmiger (A2R) 1pts
The points at the top of the third climb - the Cote de Mielan (59.5km) were won by:
1. Markus Fothen (GST) 3pts
2. Matteo Tosatto (QSI) 2pts
3. Martin Elmiger (A2R) 1pt
The points at the top of the fourth climb - the Cote de Ste-Dode-aux-Croix (63.5km) were won by:
1. David Millar (SDV) 3pts
2. Daniel Righi (LAM) 2pts
3. Daniele Bennati (LAM) 1pt
While Caisse d'Epargne were at the front of the peloton they kept the break's lead down to around the 2 minute mark. No idea why they were bothering to keep the break in check with no sprinter of note in their team.
The points for the 5th climb at the Cote de Theux (at 72.5km) were won by:
1. David Millar (SDV) 3pts
2. Daniele Righi (LAM) 2pts
3. Markus Fothen (GST) 1pt
At around the 85km mark Denis Menchov (Rabobank) stepped off his bike and abandoned the Tour de France.
Discovery Channel take over the head of the peloton with absolutely no intention of catching the escapees and the lead begins to grow quickly blowing out to around the 8 minute mark. At this point things steady and that lead is maintained.
The points for the 2nx intermediate sprint at the 146.5km mark were won by:
1. Daniele Bennati (LAM) 6pts/6"
2. Jens Voigt (CSC) 4pts/4"
3. Martin Elmiger (A2R) 2pts/2"
Jens Voigt punctures with 25km to go and drops around 25" behind the 7 other escapees. Within 3 minutes he reintegrates into the group.
At the top of the Cote de la Montagnere (169.5km), the points were won by:
1. Jens Voigt (CSC) 3pts
2. Daniele Bennati (LAM) 2pts
3. Markus Fothen (GST) 1pt
Look out boys! When Jens Voigt is in a break away you've got to make sure you're ready to cover his moves. Righi and Quinziato were shaken loose first up the final climb and then Voigt attacked again and Millar and Tosatto were the next to go. The lead group is now down to 4 riders but notably the Lampre sprinter Daniele Bennati is still there.
With 10km to go the leading 4 of Voigt, Bennati, Elmiger and Fothen are ahead of the chasing 2 by 1'00" and ahead of the peloton by 9'00".
Down to 4km to go and Jens Voigt makes another attack hoping to shake Bennati loose but Bennati is too vigilant and chases him down.
Cat and mouse down the final kilometre as everyone's trying to force Bennati to the front so they can follow his wheel. Finally Fothen goes for home and Bennati jumps all over him before casually pulling out around him and cruising in to win the 17th stage.
The General Classification now officially changes with everyone moving up a spot. Alberto Contador has the yellow jersey and the podium is now decided. It just comes down to what the final order will be.
Top 10 for Stage 15
| 1 |
Daniele Bennati |
|
LAM |
04:14:04.000 |
00:00:00.00 |
| 2 |
Marcus Fothen |
|
GST |
04:14:04.000 |
00:00:00.000 |
| 3 |
Martin Elmiger |
|
A2R |
04:14:04.000 |
00:00:00.000 |
| 4 |
Jens Voigt |
|
CSC |
04:14:04.000 |
00:00:00.000 |
| 5 |
David Millar |
|
SDV |
04:16:45.000 |
00:02:41.000 |
| 6 |
Matteo Tossatto |
|
QSI |
04:16:47.000 |
00:02:43.000 |
| 7 |
Manuel Quinziato |
|
LIQ |
04:17:24.000 |
00:03:20.000 |
| 8 |
Daniele Righi |
|
LAM |
04:1:24.000 |
00:03:20.000 |
| 9 |
Tom Boonen |
|
QSI |
06:25:48.000 |
00:02:27.000 |
| 10 |
Sebastien Chavanel |
|
FDJ |
06:25:48.000 |
00:02:27.000 |
The Contenders - GC Top Ten
| Pos |
Name |
Team Code |
Gap |
| 1 |
Alberto CONTADOR |
DSC |
00:00:00.000 |
| 2 |
Cadel EVANS |
PRL |
00:01:53.000 |
| 3 |
Levi LEIPHEIMER |
DSC |
00:02:49.000 |
| 4 |
Carlos SASTRE |
CSC |
00:06:02.000 |
| 5 |
Haimar ZUBELDIA |
EUS |
00:06:29.000 |
| 6 |
Alejandro VALVERDE |
GCE |
00:10:18.000 |
| 7 |
Kim KIRCHEN |
TMO |
00:11:36.000 |
| 8 |
Yaroslav POPOVYCH |
DSC |
00:12:50.000 |
| 9 |
Juan Mauricio SOLER HERNANDEZ |
BAR |
00:13:31.000 |
| 10 |
Mikel ASTARLOZA |
EUS |
00:13:42.000 |
Check all the details of the entire stage.
The Jerseys
Yellow (Leader's) Jersey : Alberto Contador (Discovery)
Green (Sprinter's) Jersey : Tom Boonen (Quickstep)
Polka Dot (Climber's) Jersey : Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld)
White (Youth) Jersey : Alberto Contador (Discovery)
Team Leaders : Discovery Channel
