Stage 9 News
Bad day on the Madeleine ruins Rogers's Tour
Sitting in tenth position going into the ninth stage of the Tour de France, Michael Rogers had good hopes of being able to defend his top 10 position. The Australian rider quickly found out he was facing a hard task as his legs didn't respond on the day's final Alpine challenge, the Col de la Madeleine.
Link:
Bad Day On The Madeleine Ruins Rogers's Tour | Cyclingnews.com
Alberto or Andy? Stage 9 of the Tour de France
Stage 9: Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (127 miles) - Frenchman Sandy Casar was first across the finish line one day too early - France's national holiday is Wednesday - but the story of the afternoon was happening just to his rear: Andy Schleck vs. Alberto Contador. Schleck attacked on the Col de la Madeleine, Contador answered and, after a breath-taking descent, they finished together just two seconds behind Casar and two others.
Link:
Bay Bikers: The Bay Area's bike blog : Alberto or Andy? Stage 9 of the Tour de France
Sandy Casar triumphs as Andy Schleck takes lead
Schleck and Alberto Contador, the two galacticos of modern day road racing, blew the Tour de France field apart on Tuesday when they put their leading rivals to the sword on the steepest part of the fearsome Col de la Madeleine. The race is yet to reach halfway but barring accidents or illness, one of these two will stand atop the podium in Paris later this month. They are a class apart.
Link:
Tour de France 2010, stage nine: Sandy Casar triumphs as Andy Schleck takes lead - Telegraph
Wiggins still aiming for high Tour finish
Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) again lacked the acceleration and pure climbing ability to go with Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck when the race exploded on the Col de la Madeleine. While the other two fought it out, often shoulder to shoulder, Wiggins fought his own battle to limit his losses and hang to the hopes of a top ten placing overall in this year's Tour de France.
Link:
Wiggins Still Aiming For High Tour Finish | Cyclingnews.com
Schleck and Contador in control
Two hundred and four dramatic kilometres later, Evans’ challenge had collapsed due to the effects of a fractured elbow, and two riders had emerged as the clear favourites for final victory in Paris. Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), first and second overall last year, danced clear on the cruel slopes of the Col de la Madeleine, opening a considerable advantage over their general classification rivals, then hurtled down towards the finish in Saint Jean de Maurienne.
Link:
Schleck and Contador in control - The Irish Times - Wed, Jul 14, 2010
Contador and Schleck focused on each other
The defending champion lies second in the overall standings, 41 seconds behind Schleck, the only one able to compete with the Spaniard. But the Luxembourg rider is likely to lose some ground in the final time trial, a 52-km effort that suits Contador. "My rival is Andy. I now have to stay in his wheel," Contador said after dominating all his rivals apart from Schleck in Tuesday's ninth stage.
Link:
Contador and Schleck focused on each other - Yahoo! Eurosport
Lance hangs in for team's sake
Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will embrace the role of ''super domestique'' for his RadioShack teammate Levi Leipheimer after his hopes of winning a record eighth Tour disintegrated on the first of two stages in the Alps. Speaking on Tuesday after Monday's rest day just before the Tour resumed with the second Alpine stage, Armstrong put on a defiant face against the misfortune that has enveloped his campaign.
Link:
Lance Armstrong
Leipheimer limits losses on Madeleine
Leipheimer initially tried to stay with Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) but wisely backed off and finished tenth in Saint Jean de Maurienne, at 2:07. He finished in the same time as Rabobank teammates Roberto Gesink and Denis Menchov, and Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), who had been in the day's long breakaway.
Link:
Leipheimer Limits Losses On Madeleine | Cyclingnews.com
Schleck grabs Tour lead as Evans runs out of steam
Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador emerged as the front runners for the Tour de France title after a gruelling 204.5km ninth stage in which world champion Cadel Evans dropped out of contention. While France's Sandy Casar claimed stage victory in St Jean de Maurienne, Schleck snatched the yellow jersey from Evans, who finished more than eight minutes off the pace after collapsing in the last big climb of the Alps, the Col de la Madeleine.
Link:
Schleck grabs Tour lead as Evans runs out of steam | Sport | Reuters
Cadel Evans's Tour de France turns to tears
CADEL Evans' Tour de France dreams ended in tears today after a disastrous Stage 9 which he rode with a broken arm. The world champion collapsed in the arms of teammate Mauro Santambrogio after limping across the line in 42nd place, surrendering the yellow leader's jersey to Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.
Link:
Cadel Evans's Tour de France turns to tears | Herald Sun
Contador happy to stay on Schleck's wheel
Alberto Contador believes he has moved one step towards his third overall win at the Tour de France after the last major Alpine stage. Despite being in second position, 41 seconds down on new race leader Andy Schleck, the Astana rider is optimistic. "This is a great day for us", said Contador in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. "We have created bigger gaps than expected."
Link:
Contador Happy To Stay On Schleck's Wheel | Cyclingnews.com
Broken Evans pays for his secret on final climb in the Alps
THE Tour de France dreams of Cadel Evans came to a crushing end on his first day in the yellow race leader's jersey. He bravely tried to defy the odds by racing with a fractured elbow that had been kept secret but lost more than eight minutes on the 204.5km ninth stage from Morzine to Saint Jean de Maurienne - and all chance of winning overall.
Link:
Broken Evans pays for his secret on final climb in the Alps
Sky crashes in on Wiggins' Tour ambitions
Bradley Wiggins swapped his Tour de France podium ambitions for hopes of a top ten finish after an epic day of racing Tuesday. The race's ninth stage was only the second day in the high mountains, but with four mountain passes including the 25.5km ascension of the Madeleine it lived up to it's expectations as a heartbreaker for some contenders. While Cadel Evans was arguably the day's biggest loser after he tumbled from first to 18th place and 7min 47sec off the pace of new leader Andy Schleck, Wiggins barely fared better than the Australian.
Link:
AFP: Sky crashes in on Wiggins' Tour ambitions
Cadel Evans plans to finish Tour de France despite fractured elbow
Deposed leader Cadel Evans rode the ninth stage of the Tour de France with a fractured left elbow, but the medical officer of his BMC team said Tuesday the Australian could still finish the race. Evans lost the yellow jersey and dropped down to 18th position in the overall standings — 7 minutes, 47 seconds behind new leader Andy Schleck— after finishing Tuesday's grueling 127-mile stage in 42nd place.
Link:
Cadel Evans plans to finish Tour de France despite fractured elbow - USATODAY.com
Schleck ready to match Contador
After ten hard days of racing in the 2010 Tour de France, the general classification is steadily taking shape, and the Alps have seen two young riders rise to the top: Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).
Link:
Schleck Ready To Match Contador | Cyclingnews.com
Schleck defiant as yellow jersey battle begins
Andy Schleck promised a duel of epic proportions with Alberto Contador in the Pyreneean stages of this year' Tour de France after defiantly taking the race lead on Tuesday. Schleck, a climbing specialist who rides for Saxo Bank, started the day 20sec down on overnight leader Cadel Evans but finished the tough ninth stage with the yellow jersey on his back for the first time in his career.
Link:
Schleck defiant as yellow jersey battle begins - Cycling - More Sports - Sports - The Times of India
Casar makes downhill finishes a speciality
Sandy Casar (FDJ) claimed his country's third stage win at the Tour de France as he outsprinted Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre) in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. It was the second time Casar has stood atop a Tour podium, the only other time being in 2007 in Angoulême after stage 18 although he's had a number of close calls.
Link:
Casar Makes Downhill Finishes A Speciality | Cyclingnews.com
Injured Aussie fades as Schleck takes over Tour's yellow jersey
Andy Schleck of Luxembourg captured the overall lead at the Tour de France at the end of a mountainous ninth stage won by French rider Sandy Casar. Schleck took the yellow jersey from Australia's Cadel Evans, who wore it for only one day, after finishing seventh in the stage, two seconds behind Casar and alongside two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador.
Link:
Schleck wears yellow jersey | Stuff.co.nz
Evans in tears as Tour dream shatters
The sight of Evans openly weeping, hanging on to a teammate for support at the end of the stage put a human touch to his stunning collapse in the saddle in the Alps. It was later revealed that Evans had ridden the entire mountainous stage with a fractured elbow. Evans suffered the break on Sunday on the road to Morzine in a crash on that also involved Lance Armstrong, before riding himself into the yellow jersey. He kept the injury secret.
Link:
Cadel Evans cracks in the mountains as elbow injury proves too much | The Australian
Tour Is Looking Like a Two-Man Race
With their top opponents falling by the wayside behind them, many moving slowly, as if in stuck in mud, Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador zipped to the finish line of Stage 9 of the Tour de France, nearly side by side. The cruel Alps, with their steep, unrelenting ascents, had not beaten those two riders. But others were not as lucky. Tuesday’s climbs, especially the seemingly never-ending Col de la Madeleine, had caused other top riders to crumble.
Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/sports/cycling/14tourdefrance.html
Fractured elbow shatters Tour hopes for Evans
Cadel Evans was close to tears as he sat on the steps of the BMC team bus and tried to explain what had happened during his miserable stage 9 of the Tour de France to team owner Jim Ochowicz and directeur sportif John Lelangue.
Link:
Fractured Elbow Shatters Tour Hopes For Evans | Cyclingnews.com
Kluge out of Tour with broken hand
Roger Kluge of Team Milram was not at the start of Tuesday's ninth stage of the Tour de France. The German was discovered to have broken a bone in his left hand in a crash on Sunday.
Link:
Kluge Out Of Tour With Broken Hand | Cyclingnews.com
How Lance Armstrong can still demonstrate greatness in defeat
Within seconds of Lance Armstrong crossing the finishing line on Sunday in 61st place and some 11 minutes behind the stage winner, I received a text message from a friend. “I love the Tour,” it said. “It’s like life – it gets everybody in the end.” A bit deep, but it certainly rang true. To his credit, Armstrong has kept the inevitability of age at bay until he is almost 39, but even he must now face the incontrovertible laws of nature.
Link:
Tour de France 2010: How Lance Armstrong can still demonstrate greatness in defeat – Telegraph Blogs
Madeleine is punishing and unforgiving
THE ride to the top of the Col de la Madeleine today is one hell of a climb. It is without doubt the hardest and toughest climbing stage in the Alps. With Cadel Evans in yellow, the big question for me will be how his BMC Racing team-mates will go about controlling the stage. When you throw in two category one climbs to the top of the Col de la Colombiere inside the first 40kms of this 204.5km stage, then the equally daunting Col des Saisies at more than 1,600m above sea level, this stage is shaping up as a real back-breaker
Link:
Col de la Madeleine is punishing and unforgiving | The Australian
Roche fully recovered after day of rest
FOLLOWING A sunny, tranquil rest day spent in the Morzine-Avoriaz area, Ireland’s Nicolas Roche will today begin the next stage of the Tour de France fully focused on riding strongly. The 26-year-old collapsed after Sunday’s tough mountain stage, pushing himself to the limit in order to fight for a final finishing position inside the top 15 overall. He felt that he recovered well from the dramatic moment and, after taking in a muscle-loosening ride yesterday, is fully set on fighting onwards on today’s second Alpine stage.
Link:
Roche fully recovered after day of rest - The Irish Times - Tue, Jul 13, 2010
Before the Stage
Contador is 'struggling'
Andy Schleck says he witnessed defending champion Alberto Contador in "difficulty" for the first time as the race entered the Alps. Saxo Bank team leader Schleck said he got a big morale boost by winning Stage 8. After a rest day, Aussie Cadel Evans leads Schleck by 20 seconds and Contador by 61 seconds.
Link:
Contador is 'struggling' - mirror.co.uk
Karpets abandons Tour
Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) has abandoned the Tour de France during the rest day at Morzine after fracturing a bone in the palm of his left hand. The Russian sustained the injury when he was among the fallers in the crash-riddled stage two to Spa last week. X-rays taken after the stage failed to show significant damage and Karpets continued in the race. However, he struggled in Sunday’s first full mountain stage, losing over twenty-one minutes and scans taken on the rest day revealed the true extent of his injury.
Link:
Karpets Abandons Tour | Cyclingnews.com
Alberto Contador admits admiration for Lance Armstrong
Alberto Contador, conqueror of Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France last year when they rode for the same Astana team, has admitted to feeling sympathy as well as admiration as he watched the seven-time champion struggle home nearly 12 minutes behind the leaders on Sunday. "When I saw (the stage) on television I thought about all the things he'd accomplished in his career," Contador, the reigning champion, said during the race's first rest day Monday. "He really had a lot of bad luck, but still you don't like to see a champion end up like that. I admire Armstrong, but maybe even more now than before."
Link:
Tour de France 2010: Alberto Contador admits admiration for Lance Armstrong - Telegraph
Schleck shines in the Alps
Andy Schleck stamped his authority on the Tour de France by attacking his main rivals at the end of a mountainous eighth stage and then outsprinted Samuel Sánchez for his first victory of the season. The Saxo Bank rider had been part of an elite nine-man group containing the likes of Alberto Contador, Ivan Basso Carlos Sastre and Cadel Evans on the final climb of the day, but followed Sánchez as he kicked inside the last kilometre, and then proved too strong for his Euskatel rival at the finish line in Avoriaz.
Link:
Sky Sports | Cycling | News | Schleck shines in the Alps
Kreuziger aiming to peak in Tour’s third week
A day after Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas-Doimo) was the first to attack Alberto Contador at this year’s Tour de France, the Czech rider admitted it wasn’t his smartest move. Yet Kreuziger is seventh on general classification, just 1:45 minutes down on race leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), after finishing fourth in Avoriaz, where he showed his willingness to animate the race’s mountain stages.
Link:
Kreuziger Aiming To Peak In Tour?s Third Week | Cyclingnews.com
Armstrong's Tour hopes dealt major blow
Lance Armstrong's Tour de France hopes have been dealt a major blow after he struggled in the Alps and was caught up in three crashes during an eighth stage won by Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.
Link:
The Associated Press: Armstrong's Tour hopes dealt major blow
Stage 9 Descent Could End More Tour Hopes
Bookmakers are offering free bets to new customers as Le Tour resumes with Stage 9 from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne after yesterday’s rest day. Riders had plenty to think about while resting yesterday in readiness for the main Alpine stage. Race favourite Alberto Contador will be expecting to claw back a few seconds on each mountain stage by attacking the summits to open gaps between himself and rivals Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans.
Link:
2010 Tour De France: Stage 9 Descent Could End More Tour Hopes | Freebets.com
Cadel Evans claims yellow jersey after Tour de France's eighth stage
CADEL Evans claimed the Tour de France yellow leader's jersey and Lance Armstrong's bid for an eighth win is over after an explosive eighth stage from Station du Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz today. World champion Evans recovered courageously from a fall only 7km into the 189km stage to wrest the overall lead from Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel.
Link:
Cadel Evans claims yellow jersey after Tour de France's eighth stage | Herald Sun
Sunderland expecting Tour showdown on Tourmalet
I'm sure the riders were looking forward to the first rest day of the Tour de France and they must all be hoping it really helps them after a tough first week. It's probably been one of the toughest first weeks in recent history of the Tour.
Link:
Sunderland Expecting Tour Showdown On Tourmalet | Cyclingnews.com
Nightmare day for Armstrong
Lance Armstrong's dream of an eighth Tour de France title is all but over after the seven-time champion endured a tumultuous day in the Alps on Sunday. Andy Schleck, the 2009 runner-up, won the 189-kilometre race to the summit-top finish at Morzine-Avoriaz but the day was more notable for the implosion of Armstrong, which allowed his general classification rivals - including new race leader Cadel Evans - to take full advantage.
Link:
The Press Association: Nightmare day for Armstrong
Trio of contenders emerge as Lance falters
The Tour de France is shaping up as a three-way race among leader Cadel Evans of Australia, defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain and Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. Evans leads Schleck by just 20 seconds after Schleck won the hardest stage so far on Sunday — a grueling Alpine trek where Lance Armstrong cracked.
"Getting the yellow jersey at the Tour is always something special," the 33-year-old Evans said on Monday's rest day in Morzine. "To swap the (world champion's) rainbow jersey for the yellow jersey is a rare feat that I've had the honor to experience."
Link:
Trio of contenders emerge as Lance falters - San Jose Mercury News
Hesjedal moves up to third in Tour de France
The Tour de France can be all about those split-second decisions, Victorian Ryder Hesjedal learned – as he advanced to third place overall in the seventh stage today. Hesjedal said he thought about breaking away in today’s race with the seventh-stage winner Sylvain Chavanel of France.
Link:
Hesjedal moves up to third in Tour de France
Evans in box seat, but rivals ready
CADEL Evans is content on playing a waiting game, with the yellow jersey at his mercy as the Tour enters its second week. The Australian is second overall at 1min 25sec behind Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel who stormed to his second convincing stage win of the race early yesterday (AEST), while most of the big guns are still alive.
Link:
Evans in box seat, but rivals ready | The Australian
Hesjedal seeks top ten overall in Tour
Canada's Ryder Hesjedal was able to enjoy the first rest day in the Alps as the best placed North American rider in the Tour de France. The lanky Canadian, who rode so aggressively and so well on the cobbles of stage three, is sixth overall, 1:11 behind Cadel Evans.
Link: Hesjedal Seeks Top Ten Overall In Tour | Cyclingnews.com
Team keen to move mountains for Evans
THE belief of Cadel Evans' teammates that they can play a major role in his bid to win the Tour de France could raise the eyebrows of those detractors who suspect he lacks the support needed. But ask Evans' wingman for the mountains, Steve Morabito, and he'll tell you their intent is anything but small talk.
Link:
Team keen to move mountains for Evans
Armstrong's Tour is over, but his story lives on
So, who arranged that Tour de France stage for Lance Armstrong — Floyd Landis? Was Armstrong’s bitter rival, former teammate and doping accuser watching from afar, pushing pins into an Armstrong voodoo doll, knocking Armstrong and his bike onto the ground, cruelly messing with the cycling icon?
Link:
Armstrong
Armstrong back in the saddle after crash
A day after his dreams of an eighth Tour de France victory had been all but ended, Lance Armstrong was back on his bike for a training ride as the riders enjoyed a rest day yesterday. The 38-year-old American, who had dropped to 39th in the overall standings after finishing the eighth stage 11min 45sec behind Luxembourg rider Andy Schleck, climbed up to the Col de Joux-Plane, where he had cracked in the 2000 Tour.
Link:
News - IOL Sport: Armstrong back in the saddle after crash
Wiggins ready to fight on for good overall result
The L'Equipe newspaper used the somewhat sarcastic headline "Wiggins, bye-bye podium" after he lost time on the climb to Morzine Avoriaz on Sunday. But on the first day, the Briton refused to admit his hopes of a possible good overall result were over in this year's Tour de France.
Link:
Wiggins Ready To Fight On For Good Overall Result | Cyclingnews.com
Armstrong: Obviously, the Tour is finished for me
There are two days in every great athlete's comeback that somehow still catch us by surprise. The day he announces it. And the day that removes any lingering doubts whether it was a good idea in the first place. Lance Armstrong suffered through one of the latter Sunday at the Tour de France. His comeback isn't officially over; the race still has two weeks left to run. But Armstrong would need a handful of younger, fitter rivals to all take a wrong turn — then stay lost for nearly 15 minutes — just to make up the ground he's already lost.
Link:
The Associated Press: Armstrong: Obviously, the Tour is finished for me
Seeing Armstrong suffer seals Moreau decision to retire
French cycling veteran Christophe Moreau said watching Lance Armstrong suffer in the Alps of the Tour de France helped in his decision to retire from the sport. The 39-year-old Caisse d'Epargne rider is one of the oldest cyclists still competing in the professional peloton and is currently racing the Tour de France where he is way off the pace in 68th overall.
Link:
Seeing Armstrong suffer seals Moreau decision to retire
Schleck confident after first week
Luxembourg's young star Andy Schleck currently sits in second overall after the first week of the 2010 Tour de France, trailing leader Cadel Evans by only 20 seconds. During the race's first rest day on Monday, Schleck talked with the press in the team hotel - appropriately named l'equipe [the team in French - ed.]. The leader of the Saxo Bank squad made clear that he is confident that the overall victory in this year's Tour de France is within his grasp.
Link:
Schleck Confident After First Week | Cyclingnews.com
The Alps are far from over for Tour riders
Rested after a day off, the Tour de France riders get back to serious climbing in the 209-km ninth stage to St Jean de Maurienne on Tuesday. With four classic Tour climbs, the Col des Saisies, Les Aravis, La Colombiere and the unrated, 25-km-long Col de la Madeleine, climbers will have ample chance to express themselves.
Link:
The Alps are far from over for Tour riders | Sports | Reuters
Contador says respect is key to Spanish success
Defending Tour de France champion Alberto Contador points to the respectful way he and fellow Spanish athletes are treated as a reason for their success in football, cycling and tennis. Spain won the World Cup for the first time Sunday, a triumph that follows on from Rafael Nadal winning Wimbledon to claim his eighth Grand Slam title. Contador is aiming to add to that legacy with a third Tour win when the race ends on July 25.
Link:
Contador says respect is key to Spanish success - Taiwan News Online
Sastre enjoying wide open Tour
Carlos Sastre, 2008 Tour de France winner, survived a challenging first week of the 2010 race - a hot one that was filled with crashes, cobbles and even some mountains. The 35-year-old Spaniard, enjoying a rest day on Monday, spoke at the Cervélo TestTeam's press conference in Morzine, France.
Link:
Sastre Enjoying Wide Open Tour | Cyclingnews.com
Contador Shrugs at Rivals' Stumbles
Sitting on the back porch of his Alpine hotel Monday, Alberto Contador did not appear to be fazed by the latest drama surrounding this year’s Tour de France. He donned a Spanish soccer jersey bearing his name and the No. 1 on the back, and juggled a ball with his feet for television crews in celebration of Spain’s World Cup victory Sunday against the Netherlands. He taped a Spanish public-service announcement, advising drivers to slow down and share the road with cyclists.
Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/sports/cycling/13tourdefrance.html
Armstrong's streak of good luck runs out at Tour
Back in the day, the other guy crashed or the other guy melted down or the other guy incurred the untimely mechanical issues. Lance Armstrong collected seven consecutive Tour de France yellow jerseys because he was head and shoulders stronger and more determined than anybody else in the race. But strength and determination wouldn’t have been enough. He also went 7-for-7 because he led a charmed existence, defying the cycling gods at every turn.
Link:
Armstrong’s streak of good luck runs out at Tour | Cycling | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
Basso counts on experience against Tour young guns
Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Doimo), 13th overall and 2:41 behind Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) on general classification at the first rest day, is looking for better results in the upcoming two thirds of the Tour de France. The 32-year-old Italian doesn't blame anyone but himself for the time lost on the cobblestones and predicts Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) will still be an important rider in this race.
Link:
Basso Counts On Experience Against Tour Young Guns | Cyclingnews.com
Bad day has Armstrong on ropes
LANCE Armstrong faces one of the biggest tests of his career after his hopes of winning a record eighth Tour de France evaporated on a day when he was caught in three crashes and had to watch a generation up to 10 years younger and led by Luxembourg's Andy Schleck ride off with the spoils.
Link:
Bad day has Armstrong on ropes
Gerrans out of Tour de France
Simon Gerrans (Sky) has been forced to abandon the Tour de France during the rest day in Morzine. The Australian was injured in a crash 7km into Sunday's stage to Morzine-Avoriaz. Although the Australian remounted and managed to finish the day in the autobus 32:34 down on stage winner Andy Schleck, x-rays today have confirmed that he broke his arm in the fall.
Link:
Gerrans Out Of Tour De France | Cyclingnews.com
Cadel Evans confident of yellow jersey defence
CADEL EVANS and his BMC teammates intend to defend his yellow jersey when the Tour de France resumes for the second of two Alpine stages on Tuesday. He has a 20-second lead over Andy Schleck and 61 seconds on Spain's defending Tour champion Alberto Contador. Fellow Australian Michael Rogers is 10th at 2 minutes 31 seconds.
Link:
Cadel Evans confident of yellow jersey defence
Evans won't see red over this yellow
NEW Tour de France leader Cadel Evans and his team have adopted fresh measures to ensure his campaign is not compromised by the hoopla that often comes with being the yellow jersey wearer - as it did for the Australian world champion when he wore it two years ago.
Link:
Evans won't see red over this yellow
Evans revels in rare honour
Cadel Evans (BMC) grabbed the overall lead at the Tour de France with a solid ride on the climb to Avoriaz on Sunday, and the World Champion was in relaxed mood when he spoke in Morzine this morning. It is the second time in his career that Evans has spent a rest day in the yellow jersey and the experience garnered in 2008 is standing him in good stead this time around.
Link:
Evans Revels In Rare Honour | Cyclingnews.com
Evans revels in yellow but road still long
CADEL Evans has done it again. By claiming the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey for the second time in his career in the Alps on Sunday, the 33-year-old Victorian has committed Australians to two more anxious weeks of nail-biting viewing of his pursuit. Evans, the reigning world road champion and No. 1-ranked rider, captured the hearts of Australians in 2007 when he said ''sorry'' for falling short of becoming the first Australian to win the tour when Spain's Alberto Contador beat him by 23 seconds.
Link:
Evans revels in yellow but road still long
Moinard to resume hostilities after rest day
The final man to be caught from stge eight's break on the climb to Avoriaz, Amaël Moinard was very disappointed to have missed an opportunity for the stage win but says he'll try again after the rest day if he has the legs to go again.
Link:
Moinard To Resume Hostilities After Rest Day | Cyclingnews.com
