Riblon Wins While GC Leaders Mark Each Other

The Progress Report
The 184.5km 14th stage of the 2010 Tour de France began at 12.07pm. There were 175 riders at the sign on with no overnight abandons. The first stage in the Pyrenees had two intermediate sprints – in Mirepoix (at 51.5km) and Campagne-sur-Aude (102km) but the real features of the stage were the two climbs in the final 50km. The first is rated ‘Hors Category’ Port de Pailheres’ – a 1.5km long ascent with the top a the 155.5km mark, and the second the final climb to Ax-3 Domaines (category-one, 1.5km from the finish).

RadioShack Police Early Escapes
There was an attack in the opening kilometer by Knees (MRM). He was joined by 11 other riders including Voigt (SAX), Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Champion (BTL) but at 9km six of the escapees retreated to the peloton leaving only Thomas (SKY), Zabriskie (GRM), Brutt (KAT), Moinard (COF) and Gutierrez (GCE) up front. RadioShack led the chase and Gutierrez lamented and quit his attack. With a lead of 25”, five counter-attackers set off in pursuit. At the 24km mark Vaugrenard (FDJ), Riblon (ALM), Van de Walle (QST), Rolland (BTL) and Auge (COF) caught the four leaders. At 32km, they were 6’45” ahead of the peloton. The average speed for the first hour was 44.6km/h. At the sprint line in Mirepoix, the peloton was 9’00” behind the nine escapees.

Port de Pailheres
At the base of the first climb the peloton was still led by Astana, with Sky and Saxo Bank also near the head of the bunch that was 4’05” behind the nine escapees. Valls Ferri (FOT) was the first to attack the peloton on this climb. Up front Vaugrenard and Auge were dropped early. Riblon, Van de Walle and Moinard led the stage.
Sastre and Gustov attacked the peloton. Riblon was on his own at the front of the stage with 2km to climb. At the top Riblon led Moinard by 37”; Van de Walle by 1’30”; Valls Ferri, Sastre and Kiryienka by 1’55”. Charteau attacked the peloton in the final kilometer of the climb and was 2’20” behind Riblon at the top. Cunego was at 2’40” and Moreau and Garate at 2’45”. The peloton crested the top at 3’10” and Evans was at 3’55”.

Riblon Races On To Fine Stage Win
On the descent of the Pailheres a group of five formed in pursuit of Riblon – Sastre, Cunego, Valls Ferri, Kiryienka and Van de Walle. Moinard never gave up his chase of the stage leader and, with 10km to go he was just 10” behind but he would never get near Riblon again as the AG2R rider realized this was his chance to win a stage of the Tour. He attacked the final climb and had the benefit of the rivalry between Schleck and Contador who marked each other so much that they allowed rivals like S. Sanchez, Menchov, Gesink and Rodriguez to race ahead of them.
The Astana team led the yellow jersey’s peloton on the early slopes of the climb and this caused riders like Kreuziger, Basso and Leipheimer to lose contact with an elite group. Five kilometers from the finish, Contador was the only Astana rider left and he would attack twice before the finish – both times Schleck and Menchov were able to respond… and, seeing that he couldn’t gain time on the yellow jersey he allowed others to race ahead but both Contador and Schleck paced themselves into a group with GC rivals before the finish. By then, however, Riblon was over the top and raced onward to his first victory in the Tour de France. He had only seven pro victories before today, including a stage of the Rud du Sud in Luchon (site of tomorrow’s stage finish) but now he’s a stage winner of the Tour de France.
Andy Schleck finished fourth in a group that was 1’08” behind Riblon and, although he lost 14” to Menchov and Sanchez, he maintained his lead over Contador and will wear the yellow jersey in stage 15.