psycholist wrote:
> All I see so far is that he won the stage, but Moreau won the GC.
>
> Anyone have more details to share?
The stage ended on the pretty Mediterranean coast in Sete with two climbs
of the redoubtable Mont St. Clair. Armstrong, Azevedo, and Euskaltel's
Eigo Martinez (who should be paid attention to) made their move on the
peloton at the bottom of the first ascension and quickly made separation.
Well-launched, Armstrong accelerated, Azevedo dropped, and Martinez hung
on. The pair crested together, about 24 seconds ahead of Moreau who was in
yellow (Moreau held the GC with a 12 second lead over Ekimov and 27
seconds over Iker Flores--Ekimov was in Moreau's wheel on the climb).
Armstrong and Martinez flew down the back side of the Mont and came around
for the final climb. At the bottom Brochard attacked the Moreau group, as
is his wont: he's won this climb a couple of times before, including two
years ago when the race was called the Midi Libre. Meanwhile, with 500
meters to go, Armstrong stood up on the pedals and accelerated again,
dropping Martinez. He finished with a 10 or 12 second gap on Martinez and
Brochard who nipped Martinez in the last 50m for 2nd. Moreau finished
about 40 seconds back, with Ekimov still on his heels. Moreau held on to
the GC with the same gap with which he started the day. Armstrong showed
some pop in his legs.
