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Stage 8 Review

By Paul Sherwen
On the face of it today was an atypical mountain stage in the Pyrenees with a long breakaway of guys that had already lost time getting clear and surviving to the finish.
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MMR Stage 8

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About Stage 9: Saint-Gaudens > Tarbes

SAINT-GAUDENS
Saint-Gaudens is one of those Pyrenees towns whose name rings a bell with cycling fans. Some of the greatest mountain stages in Tour history finished there, such as in 1955, when Louison Bobet donned the Yellow Jersey and kept it on for the rest of the race, eventually becoming the first man to win three Tours de France in a row. After a start in Saint-Gaudens in 1976 Lucien Van Impe took a more than three-minute lead over Joop Zoetemelk, taking a firm option in Saint-Lary-Soulan on the final victory.

TARBES
The Tour is true to Tarbes, where starts have taken place several times in recent years. The race is back in 2009 for the finish of the last Pyrenees stage. The finish line has not been drawn in the prefecture of the Hautes-Pyrénées for over 50 years. In 1951 it was the stage where Wim Van Est, wearing the Yellow Jersey, plunged into a ravine after crossing the Aubisque Pass. The fall cost him the overall lead, but not his life. “What God is watching over Wim Van Est?” asked L’Equipe.

Saint-Gaudens - Tarbes, 160km

By Frankie Andreu
The riders will be happy but nervous today. It’s the last day in the Pyrenees but it’s a monstrous short day full of climbing.
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City Facts
SAINT-GAUDENS
• 11-time stage-town
• Population 12,000
• Sub-prefecture of Haute-Garonne (31)
TARBES
• 11-time stage-town
• Population 51,000
• Prefecture of Hautes-Pyrénées (65)
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Lance Armstrong is Back

By Bob Roll
The final day in the Pyranees provided us with a great day of racing and provided the peleton with another chance at a breakaway. The breakaway was successful containing two very strong cyclists, Pierrick Fredrigo and Franco Pellizotti.
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Map My Ride Challenge

Tour de France Podcast 3

By JoE Silva
In this edition of the Tour Podcast, JoE Silva checks in with veteran Tour photographer and author, Graham Watson.
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Newsflashes - Stage 09

16:42:03 - The Top 10 In Stage Nine

The Bbox Bouygues Telecom team has earned its second stage victory in the 2009 Tour. The top 10 in the ninth stage is:

1. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) BBO - 160.5km in 4h05'31" (39.223km/h)

2. Franco Pellizotti (ITA) LIQ at same time

3. Oscar Freire (ESP) RAB at 34"

4. Sergeuei Ivanov (RUS) KAT at 34"

5. Peter Velits (SVK) MRM at 34"

6. Jose Joaquim Rojas (ESP) GCE at 34"

7. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) SIL at 34"

8. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) AGR at 34"

9. Alessandro Ballan (ITA) LAM at 34"

10. Nicolas Roche (IRL) ALM at 34"

16:40:39 - Fedrigo Gives Bbox It's Second Stage Win This Year

Fedrigo took the lead with 2,500m to go and remained ahead of Pellizotti until the Italian attacked with 350m to go. Pellizotti led out of the final turn (with 240m to go) but Fedrigo muscled his way into the lead in the final 50 meters to take the second victory for his team in this year's Tour.

16:40:11 - Freire Leads Peloton Home

Freire has led the peloton home about 35" behind Fedrigo.

16:38:54 - Fedrigo Takes Another Win!

Fedrigo has won his second Tour de France stage. He sprinted past Pellizotti in the final 50m after the Italian attacked him with 350m to go.

16:38:12 - 1km To Go...

Fedrigo still leads the stage. Pellizotti has not done a turn for over a kilometer. One of these riders is going to win the stage in Tarbes. They have been at the front of the stage for over 150km.

16:37:01 - Fedrigo Leading

Fedrigo is leading for the second-last kilometer. Pellizotti is right on his wheel and these two are likely to battle it out for stage honors. They have a lead of 40" on the peloton that is now being led by a mix of Caisse d'Epargne, Liquigas and Rabobank riders.