Carlos Sastre wins the yellow jersey!
Carlos Sastre (born 22 April 1975 in Madrid) won the 17th stage of the Tour de France, which ended at the summit finish of L'Alpe d'Huez, and took the overall lead in the race. The Spaniard went clear on the final ascent to take the last of three Alpine stages.
It started at Embrun and covered 210.5 kilometers, including the climbs of the Galibier and the Croix de Fer. Today's stage is one of the most celebrated mountain tests in the tour and includes 21 hairpin bends on the final ascent.
It was the last chance for climbing specialists to improve their overall standing in this year's race.
Sastre crossed the finish line in 6 hours, 7 minutes, 58 seconds, followed 2 minutes 3 seconds later by Samuel Sánchez and Andy Schleck. Then came Alejandro Valverde and Frank Schleck, 2:13 off the lead, with Cadel Evans in a group 2 seconds further back.
Stage 17 result
1. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC 6hr 07min 58sec
2. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) EUS - at 2min 03sec
3. Andy Schleck (LUX) CSC at 2min 03sec
4. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) GCE - at 2min 13sec
5. Frank Schleck (LUX) CSC - at 2min 13sec
General classification after stage 17
1. Carlos Sastre (ESP) CSC
2. Frank Schleck (LUX) CSC +1min 24sec
3. Bernhard Kohl (AUT) GST +1min 33sec
4. Cadel Evans (AUS) SIL +1min 34sec
5. Denis Menchov (RUS) RAB +2min 39sec
The final decision will be reached next saturday in the stage against the clock.
Posts
Looks like SPain is really doing well in sports this year, huh?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, mi amigo!
Yeah... but Cadel evans is very good against clock, so wait until Paris....
ReplyDeleteRafa
...I think it's been a brilliant tour this year - some very exciting finishes... and Mark Cavendish took the four stages...! Going to be a good Olympics (I hope!) :o))
ReplyDeleteGood to see a Spaniard in the yellow Jersey Rafa :-) How about Mark Cavendish? ...4 stage wins....amazing sprinter, I think he has the potential to be one of the very best sprinters in the World, reminds me of the great Irishman Sean Kelly.Cycling gets very little TV coverage here in the UK which is a great shame. Cavendish has now withdrawn to focus on the Olympics, but next year the teams will be fighting over him I think!
ReplyDeleteRight then, now to take a look at the latest battle!
Regards,
Lee.
Steve and Lee
ReplyDeleteI think that Cavendish is the new Zabel, but I expect that Oscar Freire will win in Olympics!
Regards
Rafa