Friday, March 29, 2024

Le Tour de France 2009 – Stage 8: Andorre-la-Vieille > Saint-Girons, 176.5km

-

HomeDiariesLe Tour de France 2009 - Stage 8: Andorre-la-Vieille > Saint-Girons, 176.5km
Montpellier

Clever and strong, Luis Leon Sánchez won this afternoon in Stage 8 from Andorre-la-Vieille into Saint-Girons, adding this to his win at Paris-Nice earlier this year.

The stage today had three climbs, and began almost right away with the Port d’Envalira. Here, we saw lots of riders willing to give the race a shake, none more so than Sandy Casar, who jumped across to an earlier group of escapees then continued on ahead by himself to cross its crest first.

With groups forming and reforming until the third climb, the Col d’Agnès (12.4 km at 6.5 percent) some 40km before the finish in the valley, we saw a group of three riders, Sánchez (Caisse d’Epargne), Efimkin (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi) crest the summit first, and Casar getting back on to make four.

Andorre-la-Vieille
Luis Leon Sanchez wins stage 8.

Around four kilometres from the line, Efimkin attacked and looked very much like he’d stay clear and win the stage, but with 500 metres to go, the Russian (who never really got more than 100 metres in front) was caught by Sandy Casar.

Sánchez played it as if he was spent, and Casar went past, not realising that Sánchez had slotted onto his wheel, able to get a quick breather, before sprinting past him. Astarloza did enough for third place, a few seconds later.

Sánchez said afterwards;

“I knew Efimkin had no choice but to attack. I know him quite well because he used to be one of my teammates.

“He isn’t that fast a sprinter though, so I knew he was going to attack from a fair distance.

“I said to Astarloza and Casar that we had to work together to get him back, and once we had I needed a bit of luck. I know I have a decent sprint, so I was able to win.”

Sánchez also took over the role of leader of Caisse d’Epargne after team-mate Oscar Pereiro, citing poor form, and is now quite well positioned on the overall classification. He started the day at 4:10 down on race leader Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale), and was for a time the yellow jersey on the road, finishing today 11th overall on GC.

Meanwhile, Cervélo’s Thor Hushovd used his racing savvy and strong legs to move into the lead in the green points jersey competition by getting into the break and winning two intermediate sprints in front of George Hincapie, who was trying to take the points to protect Mark Cavendish’s lead.

Andorre-la-Vieille
Getting green was Thor’s mission for the day.

As soon as he won the second intermediate sprint, Hushovd sat up and waited for the peloton to catch him, job done for the day.

Le Tour de France
Tour 09 Stage 8 Map.
Andorre-la-Vieille
Tour 09 Stage 8 Profile

Tomorrow…

The Tour will wave goodbye to the Pyrénées tomorrow, in the ninth stage from Saint-Gaudens to Tarbes. The relative lack of distance will be compensated for with two of the most difficult climbs during three days of racing across the Pyrenees; the first-category Col d’Aspin before approaching the eastern side of the famous hors-category Col du Tourmalet at 90km.

After a long descent, the final 45km are down a long, wide-open valley to the finish in Tarbes.

* * *

Le Tour de France
Ed Hood

“Nocentini should savour his day in yellow,” said me — I got that one wrong, and now it’s looking like the “I-tal-an” (as Sean calls them) could be heading for quite a few days en jaune.

In fairness to myself, I don’t think the Pyrenees have been as hard as perhaps we expected; the ‘heads’ minds are very much on the last week, and that Saturday on the Ventoux, in particular.

I managed to get the work, driving and hospital visits completed in time to see the last hour of the stage.

Viktor doesn’t like him, but I have a soft spot for Sandy Casar, two years ago he saved the Tour for the French with a great stage win — the man wants to win so badly, and you have to admire that.

Andorre-la-Vieille
One of the main animators of the stage, Sandy Casar.

But he was up against Sanchez on top ‘Al Pacino method acting’ form; “I’m finished, I can’t come through!” the Spaniard pleaded as he shook his head, in best Belgian style – but like Brian Smith says; “he won’t get away with that again!”

Brice Feillu’s stage win on Friday was a good one and it was nice to see a young French rider in the climber’s jersey; but socks and shorts too? — when I first saw him and all those dots, I thought, “jeez, my eyesight is getting even worse!”

Talking about jerseys, ‘nice one’ by Hushovd to nick the green one from Cav — the wee Manxman won’t like that, and that can only be a good thing for those of us watching the race.

Wiggins is very impressive; but why ride on the front, yesterday? It’s down to AG2R and the Kazakh Happy Gang to do that — best save that energy for the Alps, Brad.

Again, to quote Brian Smith; “A lot of guys get carried away because it’s the Tour.”

The Observer does us proud again, today – as has the Guardian, all week; there are colour pics, race report, diary, stage analysis; it’s not L’Equipe, but it’s a world better than we used to get.

I’ve never been a Daily Record reader, but I well remember how they did Robert Millar proud, back in those heady Vuelta-leading days of the 80’s.

OK, I’m getting nostalgic, best go and write up those Scottish 50 championship interviews.  Ciao, ciao.

* * *

Al Hamilton

“Roar Contador. Attack and gain 21 seconds on the group of favourites, Nocentini, leader”. That was the head lines in this morning AS.

Andorre-la-Vieille
Roar Contador!

Alberto said “Ningun favorito atacaba, asi que decide hacerlo yo” – he thought that if none of the favourites were not attacking, then he should.

After the finish he said he was pleased with how it went, but the next stages in the Pyrenees are complicated and the climbs on Saturday are harder than Arcalis.

Evans is complaining that “Astana are controlling the race, they have four of the strongest riders in the Tour”.

Andorre-la-Vieille
Contador no siguio el plan, no esperaba que lo hiciera.

Armstrong was accused of sarcasm over the attack of “compañero” Contador in AS; “Contador no siguio el plan, no esperaba que lo hiciera” – he said “Contador’s plans were no secret, he couldn’t wait to go, it was no surprise to me”. Lance’s last statement; “El equipo no sera un problema”. Well if you say so Lance!

Nocentini was pleased to take the yellow jersey as it has been nine years since the last Italian to wear it, Alberto Elli in the Tour of 2000.

One of the headlines in Marca was a quote from Astana director, Johan Bruyneel “Contador y Armstrong tienen el mismo status”. So now they have the same status in the team? This seems to change from day to day and it looks as though it will have to be the legs that do the talking and if Bert shows the same speed he left the leaders yesterday then that might stop the in-house arguments.

Should be more action today as there are three hard climbs, the first is from the gun, ouch!

Mañana, Al.

Martin Williamson
Martin Williamson
Martin is our Editor and web site Designer/Manager. He concentrates on photography. He's been involved in cycle racing for over four decades and raced for much of that time, having a varied career which included time trials, road and track racing - and triathlons. Martin has been the Scottish 25 Mile TT and 100 Mile TT Champion, the British Points Race League Champion on the track, and he won a few time trials in his day, particularly hilly ones like the Tour de Trossachs and the Meldons MTT.

Related Articles

A Weekend in the Flatlands; Het Nieuwsblad 2013 and a Cancelled KBK

VeloVeritas and chums were over at the Belgian season opening Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne Brussels Kuurne semi-classics. Unfortunately the latter was cancelled but we still snapped away – here’s a selection of our favourite images from the weekend.

The Girvan 2007 – Day 2, Stage 3

Sunday stage on the The Girvan 2007 started at 12.01am in the Roxy, Girvan's answer to Stringfellows. We drank cocktails, there was Bobby Darrin on the sound system, and the talk with the Prada-clad lovelies was of moving to Saint Tropez for the Spring.The scent of Chanel filled the air. Na - you know what it was really like; but we only had three beers, so there are no war stories.

Giro d’Italia 2008 – Day 3: Stage 15: Arabba – Passo Fedaia/Marmolada

"The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay," Rabbie Burns must have had a premonition about the Giro when he wrote that. It should have been a short hop over the Pordoi Pass from the digs to the start at Arabba to Marmolada. The jobsworth policeman at the top of the Pordoi settled our hash though; "No, you stop now, road closed, no journalists, only team cars!" Aye, cheers pal, you'll soon get that job you want in the riot squad, bludgeoning students. Sorry..., I was ranting, wasn't I?

World Road Championships 2006 – Day 6: Postscript

It's 3.45 pm CET. I've been doing the tourist thing today. Salzburg is beautiful no-doubt, but it's a tad de-caffeinated, a good place to come with your girl but lacking that real-life' edge of say a Gent or a Lisbon. It's hard to find a proper bar but this one seems OK, complete with busty barmaid. World Road Championships 2006.

At Random

Giro d’Italia 2010 – Day Four, Nae Middle

Ciao from il Giro d'Italia 2010, amici! I was saying to Martin that I'm a bit worried, I've been wakening up feeling great - always a bad sign. The trouble with my usual Giro partner in crime, Dave being back in Scotia and suffering from Giro withdrawal symptoms (he's coming to le Tour, though) is that everything we write and photograph is subject to close scrutiny.

Copenhagen Six Day 2011 – Day Five, The Final Sort-Out Begins

It's the last day of school today; the six day circus goes to ground until October when-God willing-we head south to Grenoble with its blue skies, snow capped mountains, Follies girls, great bread and French riders who smile, shake your hand and give you a 'ca va?' every time they see you-they may not be fast but they're nice guys. It's unlikely there will be any surprises tonight, Alex and Michael are well in charge; I hope that Jens and Marc hold on to second-they deserve it.

Aldo Sassi – Our 2009 Interview with the Late, Great Coach

In these times devoid of racing it’s that much harder to produce content so we look back at work we’ve done in the past for inspiration. A decade ago I was fortunate to get an introduction from professional - and now DS with EF – Charly Wegelius, to the late, great, Aldo Sassi one of the most respected coaches of his generation.

Felix English – Scratch Race Winner at the Glasgow Track World Cup

Felix English gets embarrassed by the memory but he is one of the few men to beat Chris Hoy in a match sprint -back in 2010, in the 1/16th finals of the European Track Championships and now he’s popped back up as a World Cup winner again; in Glasgow he beat some very tasty opposition to take the scratch race.