Leapfrog is the name of the game – 2010 Tour de France

July 13, 2010

Stage 9 in the 2010 Tour de France was the most difficult so far in terms of categorized climbs and pack splitting. It showed that not even the yellow jersey on Cadel Evans’ back could keep him in the lead. And it made very clear how well Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador were riding this season.

My hope is that my previous thoughts that the pack was all together is not a pipe dream. But watching Andy and Alberto joust up the steepest slopes so far in this grand tour, the rest of the cyclists might just be kids playing a man’s game.

Even Lance – who put in a heroic effort today and pulled himself back into the race…a little* – didn’t stay with the leaders. *No real hope of him getting on the podium but he might actually crack the top 10 if he rides this way all the way home.

So here’s where we stand after Stage 9. These are the top guys in the stage and then I’ll give you the new shaken standings overall in my next post.

ALSO – if you’re in the Boston area, there’s a Tour de France breakfast at Redbones BBQ in Somerville, MA tomorrow morning. It runs from 9AM to noon and is wildly popular each year. (They do two of these each Tour.)

I plan to attend. If you want more details, go see WithJeff and click on the calendar at the top of that blog.

Now for the top racers in the stage today (and I’ve made it plain text so you can read it more easily…

CASAR Sandy
62
FDJ
5h 38′ 10″

SANCHEZ Luis-Leon
161
CAISSE D’EPARGNE
5h 38′ 10″
+ 00′ 00″

CUNEGO Damiano
201
LAMPRE – FARNESE
5h 38′ 10″
+ 00′ 00″

MOREAU Christophe
166
CAISSE D’EPARGNE
5h 38′ 12″
+ 00′ 02″

CHARTEAU Anthony
153
BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM
5h 38′ 12″
+ 00′ 02″

CONTADOR Alberto
1
ASTANA
5h 38′ 12″
+ 00′ 02″

SCHLECK Andy
11
TEAM SAXO BANK
5h 38′ 12″
+ 00′ 02″

SANCHEZ Samuel
181
EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI
5h 39′ 02″
+ 00′ 52″

RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin
77
KATUSHA TEAM
5h 40′ 17″
+ 02′ 07″

LEIPHEIMER Levi
25
TEAM RADIOSHACK
5h 40′ 17″
+ 02′ 07″