Fedrigo Earns Another Stage Victory

The Progress Report
The Tour exits the Pyrenees but not before taking in one of the mythical climbs; the imposing 2,115m high Col du Toumalet which was at the 90km mark of the 160.5km stage from St-Gaudens to Tarbes in the foothills of the mountain range. The official start of the ninth stage was at 12.33pm. There were 172 riders at the sign on. Before the ‘hors category’ ascent, the peloton had to climb the cat-one col d’Apsin with the summit at the 60.5km mark. The three intermediate sprints were in Sarrancolin (41.5km), Lau-Balagnas (125.5km) and Lourdes (139km).


4 Riders Establish Escape: Armstrong Gets Animated
The attacks began immediately at the start of the stage. By the third kilometer 12 men had a slight lead on the peloton, they were: Haussler (CTT), Voigt (SAX), Pate (GRM), Riblon (ALM), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Auge (COF), Duque (COF), Righi (LAM), Fedrigo (BBO), Devolder (QSI), Fothen (MRM) and Geschke (SKS). Then Liquigas chased until Pellizotti was able to cross the gap to the leaders. After that Astana and Euskaltel took control of the peloton, appearing keen to reel in the escapees. Voigt caused a split in the lead group at the 22km mark and only Pellizotti, Duque and Fedrigo could follow and they were 15” ahead of the main bunch. Armstrong (AST) accelerated out of the peloton and Nocentini (ALM) was right on his wheel and this effectively quelled the attacks early in the stage. Nine of the original escape group were caught at 25km. The average speed for the first hour was 48.4km/h.

Col d’Apsin
The four escapees arrived at the foot of the first climb 5’05” ahead of the peloton that was controlled by the AG2R team. Ten Dam (RAB), Martinez and Txurruka (EUS), van den Broeck (SIL), Goubert (ALM) and Paulinho (AST) attacked the peloton early on the col d’Aspin. Up front, Duque was dropped with 4km to climb. The counter-attacking group was joined by Karpets (KAT), Garate (RAB) and Moncoutie (COF). Pellizotti led over the summit. His trio was 1’50” ahead of Duque, 2’45” ahead of the counter-attacking group of eight and 3’30” ahead of the peloton.

Col du Tourmalet
Pellizotti attacked with 10km to climb. Voigt didn’t follow move. Duque, in the meantime went back to the peloton. Bouet (AGR) attacked with about 10km to climb and with 7km to climb, the group of eight – Van Den Broeck, Paulinho, Martinez, Txurruka, Voeckler, Ten Dam, Garate and Moncoutie – was at 3’15”, Bouet at 3’35” and the peloton was at 4’35”. AG2R had five riders at the front of the peloton from mid-way up the Aspin to La Mongie (at 85.5km). The two leaders were 2’40” ahead of Garate and six other counter-attackers at the top; Txurruka was 10th over the top, at 3’05”; Voigt 11th at 4’00”, Bouet 12th at 4’47” and the peloton at 5’05”.
Ten Dam crashed early on the descent and would (eventually) concede his place in the escape. He was caught by the peloton 60km from the finish.
The peloton caught the seven counter-attackers 40km from the finish when the advantage of Pellizotti and Fedrigo was 3’40”.

Chase Fails To Catch Two Leaders
Caisse d’Epargne did the most work at the front of the peloton after the descent of the Tourmalet. Fedrigo led Pellizotti over the line at the second intermediate sprint and the peloton was behind by 3’00”. Rabobank joined the Spanish team at the head of the peloton and Columbia also gathered near the head of the peloton. In Lourdes, Fedrigo collected first-place points for the intermediate sprint. The peloton was 2’30” behind. Caisse d’Epargne and Rabobank dominated the chase. With 10km to go, the advantage of the leaders was 1’15”; 7km to go – 50”. Andy Schleck punctured with 4.8km to go in the stage but was able to return to the peloton before the finish thanks to the assistance of Voigt.

Fedrigo Earns Another French Stage Victory
The two escapees shared the pace for almost the entire stage. They were part of the attacks that started in the first 10km and were able to hold off the peloton by 34”. Fedrigo came to the front with about 2.5km to go and remained their until Pellizotti attacked him about 350m from the finish line. The Italian led around the final turn but the Frenchman powered past him in the final 100m to take his second stage victory in the Tour de France (after winning in Gap in 2006).
Freire (RAB) led home the peloton and Contador and Nocentini finished 23rd and 24th, respectively. The AG2R rider will wear the yellow jersey again when the Tour resumes after the first rest day.