Post-Stage Thread
Sylvain Chavanel attacked out of a somewhat placid group of climbing royalty to seize the last stage before the Alps, and the yellow jersey to boot. Chavanel, a French classics stud riding for the Belgian Quick Step machine, has given the home fans something to really cheer about: his second stage and a second turn in the leader's jersey. Last time the joy ride only lasted 24 hours, and this time will probably be no different. But his teammate Jerome Pineau made more lasting progress in his own classification play, the KOM competition, and looks to hold the polka dot jersey for a while. Pineau joined the first breakaway of the day and scooped up maximum points.
Stage results:- Sylvain Chavanel, Quick Step
- Rafael Valls Ferri, Footon Servetto, at 0.57
- Juan Manuel Garate, Rabobank, at 1.27
- Thomas Voeckler, Bbox Bouygues, at 1.40
- Mathieu Perget, Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
- Daniel Moreno, Omega Pharma, s.t.
- Pierrick Fedrigo, Bbox Bouygues, at 1.47
- Ryder Hesjedal, Garmin-Transitions, s.t.
- Ruben Plaza, Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
- Eros Capecchi, Footon Servetto, s.t.
General Classification:
- Chavanel
- Cadel Evans, BMC, at 1.25
- Ryder Hesjedal, Garmin-Transitions, at 1.32
- Andy Schleck, Saxo Bank, at 1.55
- Alexandre Vinokourov, Astana, at 2.17
- Alberto Contador, Astana, at 2:26
- Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Omega Pharma, at 2:28
- Nicholas Roche, AG2R, at 2:28
- Johan Van Summeren, Garmin, at 2:33
- Denis Menchov, Rabobank, at 2:35
KOM competition:
- Jerome Pineau, Quick Step, 44 points
- Chavanel, 36
- Perget, 28
Young rider:
- Schleck
- Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas, at 1.15
- Valls Ferri, at 1.44
- Robert Gesink, Rabobank, at 2.07