Dessel's Double Coup!

Stage Details _ Three climbs: Col d’Osquich (category-3 at 50.0km), Col de Soudet (‘Hors Category’ at 101.5km) and the Col de Marie-Blanque (category-1 at 148.0km). _ Intermediate sprints: Larceveau (at 37.5km) and Laguinge (at 74.5km). _ Weather conditions: Overcast but little chance of rain with temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius in the air and 26 degrees at road level for the start of the stage. _ Number of starters: 169 riders – the overnight retiree is Laurent Brochard (BTL). _ Official start time: 12.29pm. _ _ The Progress Report _ _ Attacks Begin Immediately… _ As soon as the flag fell to signal the start of stage 10, Hernandez (EUS) attacked the peloton. He was joined by O’Grady (CSC), Calcagni (LIQ) and Vansummeren (DVL). They peloton quickly reeled in this move. The attacks in the first 10km were all reeled in by the peloton which was brought to a halt by protesters at the 7km mark. Chavanel (COF) was the first to establish a reasonable lead with a solid attack at the 10km mark. After 30km, Chavanel led Martinez (DSC), Vandevelde (CSC), Sinkewitz (TMO), Calzati (A2R), Zberg (GST), Flecha (RAB), Horner (DVL), Merckx (PHO), Arroyo (CEI), Halgand (C.A), Lopez Garcia (EUS), Moncoutie (COF), Joly (FDJ), Velo (MRM), O’Grady (CSC) and Carlstrom (LIQ) by 17” and the peloton by 30”. Chavanel was caught at the 34.5km mark. The numerous attacks were all caught before the 1st sprint. _ _ ‘The Escape’ Established… _ At the 40.5km mark, 15 riders were in the lead by 15”. The men involved were: Voigt (CSC), Dessel (A2R), Posthuma (RAB), Steegmans (DVL), Bennati (LAM), Vasseur (QSI), Hushovd (C.A), Isasi and Landaluze (EUS), Moreni (COF), Rinero (SDV), Da Cruz (FDJ), Quinziato (LIQ), Sprick (BTL) and Mercado (AGR). At 44km, they led the peloton by 45”. Hushovd & Steegmans were dropped on the first climb. The average speed for the 1st hour was 46.1km/h. At the summit (50.0km) the bunch was 1’25” behind. At 56.5km, 2’00”; at 64km, 4’30”… The average speed for the 2nd hour was 41.5km/h. _ _ Col de Soudet… _ The peloton arrived at the case of the Col de Soudet 9’25” behind the 13 leaders. Mercado attacked and was marked by Dessel. At the top of the Col de Soudet the points were won by: 1. Dessel; 2. Mercado at 5"; 3. Landaluze at 30"; 4. Rinero at 50"; 5. Isasi at 1’15"; 6. Vasseur - at 2’20"; 7. Moreni at 2’20"; 8. Sprick at 3’35”; 9. Bennati at 5’15”; 10. Da Cruz at 5’15”… the peloton was led by T-Mobile at 9’50”. Mayo was dropped early on the Col de Soudet. The average speed for the 3rd hour was 31.2km/h. The peloton was 10’50” behind in the valley between the 2nd and 3rd climbs. _ _ Col de Marie Blanque… Dessel Claims Polka-Dot Prize _ The peloton was 10’20” behind the seven stage leaders at the start of the 3rd climb. Mercado attacked with 7km to climb. He was chased down by Dessel. At the top of the 3rd climb, the order was: 1. Dessel 30pts (double normal points allocation, because the final ascent is ranked category-one); 2. Mercado at same time; 3. Landaluze at 25"; 4. Rinero at 1’05"; 5. Moreni at 1’05"; 6. Isasi at 2’25"; 7. Vasseur at 2’25"; 8. Rasmussen at 8’43”… the peloton crested the summit 9’10” behind Dessel _ _ Dessel Descends Into Yellow… _ Mercado and Dessel led all the way from the final summit. Landaluze got to within six seconds but couldn’t close the gap. With 25km to go, he ceased his real chase. At that point, the peloton was 9’35” behind. Mercado followed Dessel in the closing kilometres and jumped into the lead with 300m to go and won a close sprint to win the stage. Honchar finished in 56th place in the middle of the peloton that was 7’23” behind the stage winner. Dessel’s second place means he will wear the yellow jersey in stage 11.