Defending champion Alberto Contador couldn’t shake his multiple shadows on a dangerous descent in the Tour de France’s first day in the Alps, while yellow jersey holder Thomas Voeckler lost time to almost all the big contenders.
Contador made repeated attempts to break away from the challengers for his crown, hoping to emulate the gains that he made over brothers Andy and Frank Schleck a day earlier, but he finished alongside the brothers from Luxembourg, Australian Cadel Evans and Spain’s Samuel Sanchez.
Only Voeckler — who dropped back after several mistakes on the final descent — and Italy’s Ivan Basso lost time. Voeckler still holds the yellow jersey, but now he only has a lead of 1 minute, 18 seconds over Evans.
Photo: Reuters
“I tried to attack in the downhill because I wanted to gain some seconds and instead I lost some, but that’s my style, to try,” Voeckler said. “It’s a pity, because I saw that Contador, Evans and the Schlecks finished together. If I’d taken fewer risks, I would have finished with them.”
The 17th stage, 179km across the Alps from Gap to the Italian town of Pinerolo, was won by Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen. It was his second victory of the race and it made up for his loss to compatriot Thor Hushovd a day earlier.
Boasson Hagen completed the stage in 4 hours, 18 minutes. Bauke Mollema of the Netherlands was second, 40 seconds back, with Sandy Casar of France winning the sprint for third.
Photo: Reuters
“I didn’t want to lose this race today,” Boasson Hagen said.
Boasson Hagen praised the large contingent of Norwegian fans that has been supporting him and Hushovd throughout the race.
“It’s really great to see all the Norwegian flags and Norwegian people around the course. It gives some extra power,” he said.
Second place went to Mollema after Frenchman Jonathan Hivert crashed on the perilous final descent of the Pramartino. Hivert got back on his bike and came in ninth.
The results put Evans in an increasingly strong position. The almost two minutes that the Australian has over Contador could prove decisive.
“I’ve got a good advantage over Alberto now, but Alberto has shown in years gone by what he can do when he’s really at his top,” BMC rider Evans said.
Still, there are plenty of other potential challengers.
Voeckler has held his lead far longer than even he expected, but this year’s Tour is one of the most open in years, with seven possible victors lined up behind him. Evans, the Schleck brothers, Contador and Italians Damiano Cunego and Basso are separated by less than two-and-a-half minutes.
The strength of the riders will really be put to the test when they ride back into France, tackling three major climbs and ending with a 22.8km climb of the Col du Galibier.
Andy Schleck — who finished second to Contador a year ago after many days of mountain battles — said he expects it to be “the stage of the Tour.”
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