Reda attacks in Pyrenees, De Weert moves up in GC
The second stage in the Pyrenees was spectacular from the start. Several riders tried their luck for the day`s breakaway, but the peloton didn`t want to co-operate and reeled everybody back in. Jerome Pineau also tried to launch an early breakaway in order to gain some points for the polka dot jersey, but he was caught quickly. Just after 90 kilometres the peloton let a group of 10 riders go. Team Quick Step was also present in the front group with Francesco Reda.
The lead of the 10 escapees went up quickly, on the summit of the Col de Portet-d`Aspet the gap was already 7,5 minutes. On the next climb, the Col de Ares, the gap increased to 10 minutes. The escapegroup then reached the final climb of the day, the Port de Bales (hors category). The group splintered after an attack of Thomas Voeckler. The French champion was countered by Ballan and Vansummer. Reda was dropped and went on in his own rhythm. Just before the summit he was caught by a group with Contador, Menchov and Sanchez, whom left Schleck behind whom was troubled with a mechanical defect.
In the mean while Voeckler was defending his gap in the descent to Bagneres-de-Luchon. He took a well deserved win in this 15th stage. Reda did a good job keeping up with group Contador during the descent of the Port de Bales. Almost three minutes behind stage winner Voeckler he finished in a 6th place. More than a minute later team mate Kevin de Weert finished 20th. De Weert did a perfect job on the Port de Bales hanging in there with the major contenders. With 3 kilometres to go on the final climb he dropped from that group, but with Armstrong, Sastre, Rodriguez and Klöden he fought back and limited his loss. They finished only 1 minute and 18 seconds behind the group Contador/Reda.
"I like the Pyrenees more then the Alps. It moves up gradually in the Pyrenees, this suits me better. My cold is improving day by day, I felt a lot better then yesterday. Hopefully I will recover a little more the next days. I have now entered the top-20 of the GC, it`s like a dream come true for me. It did it before in the Vuelta, but this is the Tour we`re talking about", said the new number 18 of the overall classification.
Result stage 15
1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra)
2. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) 1.20
3. Aitor Perez (Esp)
6. Francesco Reda (Ita) 2.50
20. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 3.08
34. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 5.44
86. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 19.39
88. Maarten Wynants (Bel)
90. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 24.01
99. Dries Devenyns (Bel)
110. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 26.04
111. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) 28.40
Overall classification after stage 15
1. Alberto Contador (Esp)
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) 0.08
3. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) 2.00
18. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 14.07
28. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 30.09
56. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 1:22.07
63. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 1:29.47
71. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 1:33.11
120. Maarten Wynants (Bel) 2:26.02
115. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) 2:28.59
141. Dries Devenyns (Bel) 2:40.42
145. Francesco Reda (Ita) 2:43.59
Points classification after stage 15
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 187 points
2. Thor Hushovd (Noo) 185
3. Mark Cavendish (GB) 162
16. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 73
60. Dries Devenyns (Bel) 22
61. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 19
78. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 15
87. Maarten Wynants (Bel) 12
91. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 12
92. Francesco Reda (Ita) 12
113. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 4
Mountain classification after stage 15
1. Anthony Charteau (Fra) 115 points
2. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 92
3. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) 82
13. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 47
27. Dries Devenyns (Bel) 29
32. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 22
46. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 12
58. Francesco Reda (Ita) 5
Youth classification after stage 15
1. Andy Schleck (Lux)
2. Robert Gesink (Ned) 4.53
3. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) 7.50
22. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) 2:28.51
Team classification after stage 15
1. Radioshack
2. Caisse d`Epargne 4.27
3. Rabobank 17.23
8. Team Quick Step 52.38