Kevin de Weert impressive in hard mountain stage
The ninth stage in the Tour de France was absolutely the hardest stage in the Alps. The Col de La Colombiere (1618 metres), the Col des Aravis (1487 metres), the Cols des Saisies (1660 metres) and the Col de La Madeleine (2000 metres) were on route. The summit of the final climb was on 32 kilometres from the finish in St. Jean-de-Maurienne. Jerome Pineau was in the early breakaway of 14 riders, trying to defend his mountain jersey. Pineau didn`t succeed in his plan, Charteau overtook his polka dot jersey. Kevin de Weert put down an impressive performance on the Madeleine, he climbed with the major contenders and finished in a 14th place.
Pineau wants polka dots
Jerome Pineau is wearing the polka dot jersey for over a week now and intends to keep this jersey till the end of the Tour in Paris. Today he was in the early breakaway, trying to defend his polka dot jersey. Pineau gathered several points at the first climbs of the day, which seemed enough to keep the jersey for another day. His compratiots Charteau en Moreau were also aiming for the polka dot jersey. On the Madeleine Pineau had to let go, while Charteau survived in the front with Casar, Sanchez and Cunego. Charteau took 40 points on the Madeleine, bringing his total on 85 points just like Pineau. Charteau will wear the jersey tomorrow, he finished first on the final climb.
De Weert impressive
On the Col de La Madeleine the battle between the major contenders really started. Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador attacked, leaving the rest in despair. Schleck and Contador pushed hard and took a really big advantage, in the final kilometres they even bridged the gap with the early escape group. Behind them Kevin de Weert rode an impressive stage. On the Madeleine he took his own tempo. De Weert was in a group with Wiggins, but felt strong and tried to jump to the group with Van den Broeck and Armstrong in front of him. De Weert bridged the gap quickly and after a perfect descent he finished in a 14th place.
"I am happy about my performance. I'm not a pure climber, so I had to take my own rhythm when Contador and Schleck accelerated on the Madeleine. I trained a lot to reach these results. I'll take the Tour day by day. For me everything is new now. It's like a dream come truth. The perfomances of Chavanel and Pineau in the first part of the Tour gave us confidence. Everybody in the team are doing their best. The atmosphere is extraordinary", De Weert commented after the stage.
Result stage 9
1. Sandy Casar (Fra)
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp)
3. Damiano Cunego (Ita)
14. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 2.50
51. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 13.21
58. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 15.19
83. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 25.56
92. Maarten Wynants (Bel)
102. Carlos Barredo (Esp)
114. Dries Devenyns (Bel)
170. Francesco Reda (Ita) 34.57
177. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel)
Overall classification after stage 9
1. Andy Schleck (Lux)
2. Alberto Contador (Esp) 0.41
3. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) 2.45
23. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 10.26
37. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 25.02
53. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 40.37
64. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 49.24
90. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 1:07.07
133. Maarten Wynants (Bel) 1:26.09
153. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) 1:36.26
171. Dries Devenyns (Bel) 1:47.24
175. Francesco Reda (Ita) 1:48.49
Points classification after stage 9
1. Thor Hushovd (Noo) 124 points
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) 114
3. Robbie McEwen (Aus) 105
10. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 69
59. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 15
69. Maarten Wynants (Bel) 12
81. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 10
82. Kevin de Weert (Bel) 8
116. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 2
146. Francesco Reda (Ita) 2
Mountain classification after stage 9
1. Anthony Charteau (Fra) 85 points
2. Jerome Pineau (Fra) 85
3. Christophe Moreau (Fra) 62
9. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) 36
35. Jurgen van de Walle (Bel) 6
44. Carlos Barredo (Esp) 2
Youth classification after stage 9
1. Andy Schleck (Lux)
2. Robert Gesink (Ned) 4.22
3. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) 5.11
29. Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) 1:36.26
Team classification after stage 9
1. Caisse d`Epargne
2. Radioshack 0.31
3. Astana 0.35
15. Team Quick Step 44.47