Tour de France - Gilbert wins as Contador suffers

Sat, 02 Jul 15:52:00 2011

Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert took victory in a crash-ridden opening stage of the Tour de France on Mont des Allouettes.

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The 28-year-old Belgian, whose extraordinary winning run stretches back to April, finished in a time of four hours, 41 minutes and 31 seconds, 0:03 ahead of BMC's Cadel Evans, with Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) a further three seconds back in third.

Reigning champion Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) was held up in a huge crash that decimated the peloton eight kilometres from the finish line, and eventually rolled in 1:20 off the pace.

Britain's yellow jersey hopeful Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) were was caught up in another crash, though will not lose time, as the incident occurred just inside the final three kilometres.

The dramatic finale was in stark contrast to the first part of the stage, and for a long while it had seemed we were in for one of the least eventful opening Tour stages in years.

Europcar's Breton rider Perrig Quemeneur initiated the first attack of the tour, and once Francaise des Jeux's Jeremy Roy and Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) had jumped onto his rear wheel, the peloton immediately eased off, content to let the trio go.

The Garmin-Cevelo and Omega Pharma-Lotto teams ensured their lead never grew above the seven-minute mark on an unusually quiet, and largely pedestrian, opening Tour stage.

Indeed the only real moment of drama in the opening few hours - save for a nasty fall from which Jurgen Van de Walle (Omega Pharma-Lotto) recovered well - came at the intermediate sprint in Avrille, where Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) won the sprint in the peloton ahead of Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) to snap up valuable points in the green jersey competition.

The three leaders were finally caught with 18 kilometres remaining as the Omega Pharma-Lotto team steadily increased the pace in the peloton, following a long stretch on the front from the Garmin-Cervelo duo of Dave Zabriskie and Julian Dean.

Arrivée Tour de France

With eight kilometres to go and the peloton closely packed, an Astana rider collided with a roadside spectator, bringing down over a dozen other riders, and holding up many more in behind.

While Evans, Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Frank Schleck (Leopard-Trek), Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer (both Radioshack) had positioned themselves toward the front of the peloton, Contador and Andy Schleck had not, and he was forced to grind to a halt and pick a slow path through the carnage ahead.

Though the Saxo Bank team immediately took up the chase, the relentless pace of the Europcar and Omega Pharma-Lotto squads at the head of the first peloton saw the gap widen.

Fabian Cancellara (Leopard-Trek) took advantage of a dip in pace to launch an attack just over a kilometre from home on the fourth-category Mont des Allouettes, but Gilbert immediately latched onto his wheel, before powering clear to take another impressive victory.

Evans emerged from the chasing group to take second, while Hushovd brought home the rest of the group.

Stage result:

1. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium/OmegaPharma-Lotto) 4hrs 41m 31s"

2. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) +3"

3. Thor Hushovd (Norway / Garmin) +6"

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar)

5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto)

6. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky)

7. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / RadioShack)

8. Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis)

9. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

10. Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Highroad)

General Classification:

1. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium/OmegaPharma-Lotto) 4hrs 41m 31s"

2. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) +3"

3. Thor Hushovd (Norway / Garmin) +6"

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar)

5. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto)

6. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky)

7. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / RadioShack)

8. Rein Taaramaee (Estonia / Cofidis)

9. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

10. Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Highroad)

Michael FitzGerald / Eurosport

Comment 57 - 76 of 76

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  1. On the 'thats racing' theme - if AC hadn't­ been in the wrong place in the peloton at 8Km this­ wouldn't be an issue - maybe the American was right­ ...... he still has a bit to learn.

    From RiChArD, on Sun 3 Jul 22:02

  2. A cat.4 finish with a 3km ruling ........ don't try­ to explain the rules people - they'll have changed­ by tomorrow then again the day after.

    From RiChArD, on Sun 3 Jul 21:58

  3. That's racing! Get on with it, there's plenty­ more stages and it just means there's going to be­ more action for us to enjoy!

    From RiChArD, on Sun 3 Jul 21:57

  4. @Axle to Grind I dont understand what u are saying?­ what did Phil Liggot pick up on? u sayin the 2nd crash­ was caused on purpose to delay the 1st crash even more?­ Sorry i cant make out what the theory is..

    From stesalmon73, on Sun 3 Jul 17:56

  5. @jbandbetsymac the rule is suspended for uphill­ finishes in the tour but the officials decided the hill­ wasnt steep enough to let the rule stand

    From stesalmon73, on Sun 3 Jul 17:49

  6. Did anyone see the rat face cheat contador beeing­ jeered.

    You can fool some of the people all of the­ time, and all of the people some of the time, but you­ can not fool all of the people all of the time.

    From billcarson127, on Sun 3 Jul 17:15

  7. Bobcha, why the peleton not wait, that is very bad­ English, go back to school. But there again your­ postings are always in dreadful English.

    From tuggo, on Sun 3 Jul 16:04

  8. GO CONTADOR!!!!

    From Rares, on Sun 3 Jul 15:42

  9. What is unfair is that Cadel, made a huge effort to­ take time on rivals but Andy Schleck was able to­ coast to the line over 1'20 later ( behind­ Contador) and yet lose only 6' courtesy of the 3km­ rule. Thay should supsend this rule for uphill finishes­ as they did in the Giro.

    From john, on Sun 3 Jul 15:07

  10. Schleck said he wouldn't wait should something­ happen to AC, payback is a %#^+!£ Alberto. Hope that­ teaches you to not attack on a mechanical and then lie­ by saying you didn't know it was a mechanical.­ Justice served today. I'm looking forward to­ seeing how AC will make up the time he lost today and­ what he is going to lose tomorrow in the TTT. He will­ be forced to make moves early and often in the­ Pyrennes.

    From thyroid_1, on Sun 3 Jul 12:49
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Why the peloton not wait Contador and Sanchez, like­ last year everybody wait Schleck bros?

    Tomorrow is­ possible to AC have -2 minute gap

    From Bobcha, on Sun 3 Jul 11:45

  12. hey we have 3 weeks don't we?

    From Ijan, on Sun 3 Jul 9:13

  13. Interesting. Every pro Contador comment here on this­ cycling thread , has without exception, been thumbed­ down . There is some serious censorship going on here .­ Guys, grow up, eh

    From Paula, on Sun 3 Jul 7:38

  14. as other noted, this article contains a major mistake,­ A Schleck was not caught in the first fall, but in the­ second (within the 3 minute mark), not only is the­ information in this article false, it also shows that­ the writer doesn't understand cycling. you'r­ fired :)

    From Martin Scheffer, on Sun 3 Jul 6:51
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Not much of a surprise as regards Gilbert, he`s having­ a fantastic year. Contador has 3 long weeks to get time­ back time. Lots more fireworks yet.

    From Kris Morris, on Sun 3 Jul 5:22

  16. That means A Schleck must have been in the leading­ group and not caught up in the 8km crash? Eurosport­ editors.

    From Axle to Grind, on Sun 3 Jul 5:15

  17. Well it sucks if you get tied back cause of a crash but­ that happens. It's just the beginning and so much­ can happen. Great day for Evans but i dont think his­ BMC Squad can do anything in tomorrow TTT. Andreas­ Klöden will be in Yellow come tomorrow night.

    From oh80_us, on Sun 3 Jul 5:11

  18. Mistake - from last comment. I think the second crash­ at

    From Axle to Grind, on Sun 3 Jul 5:09

  19. Mistake - from last comment. I think the second crash­ at

    From Axle to Grind, on Sun 3 Jul 5:08

  20. Looks like Gilbert was able to see Bus driver Wim after­ all for the package! Can't fool me.

    From Chris, on Sun 3 Jul 4:55
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