The peloton wasted no time shaking up the GC on the first mountain stage of the Tour de France.
As a seven rider break, including Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Rider Martin Velits, was caught on the Category 1 finishing climb La planche des Belles Filles, a select group of riders emerged. Of those riders was race winner Christopher Froome (Sky ProCycling), who came around an attacking Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) on a steep gradient that surpassed 20% in the final 250 meters. Bradley Wiggins (Sky ProCycling) was also in that group and took 3rd. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) was not far behind.
"We were there from the beginning, all of the guys that were supposed to try for the breakaway," Martin Velits said. "20 kilometers after the start we went through the town and I was in the front and I knew it was maybe a good moment. So I went behind I think Albasini. I promoted the breakaway with Albasini. There were a couple of other guys behind us. We had immediately a gap, so we tried to pull everything to stay away. It was good. When we saw that they were catching us on the last climb, that they were behind, we didn't really go full gas anymore on the hill. But it was hard from the beginning. For me, though, it was special to be in the breakaway. It's not easy to make a break in the Tour, and it's my first time in the Tour."
Sylvain Chavanel, however, could not keep pace on the 8.5% average gradient climb, which had ramps of 11%, 13%, and 14% before the brutal wall of a finish. He was 3rd in the GC going into the stage, +07" back from yellow jersey wearer Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan). By the end of the stage, Wiggins took over the GC lead from Cancellara, and Chavanel fell to 14th, +2'22" back.
Chavanel said the finishing climb did not quite play to his strengths.
"I knew that it would not be easy to maintain my position today," Sylvain Chavanel said. "The climb was really steep, it was perfect for the climbers. I'm not a real climber. I can defend myself on the mountains, but on different kind of parcours. Anyway, I'm satisfied about my race, and how I have interpreted the climb. It wasn't easy today."
Tony Martin again survived the stage, and continues to battle toward his first goal of competing in the time trial on July 9.
"In the last days I arrived at the end of the peloton watching the others," Tony Martin said. "Today was the first time I was able to ride a little more to the front. I was waiting for this first test on the climb to see how my hand would react. It was hard and I had pain. I hope that tomorrow it will be better
Levi Leipheimer said the efforts prior to the climb were taxing on the legs.
"Already before the final climb started there was a small climb before it, and I felt like I was at my max there," Levi Leipheimer said. "I couldn't jump out of the corner and hold the wheel. At the bottom of the climb it was already splitting up and I wasn't at the front. I just didn't feel like I had the power today. Just felt like a bad day. I hope it's my only one. You know it's the first big climb of the Tour. We were really blazing towards it, super fast. It was aggressive, a lot of stop and go, accelerating. That kind of killed my legs."
Peter Velits said he did what he could through the final kilometers.
"I started the climb really good and in good position, so it was perfect," Peter Velits said. "In that way I did everything good. But then I went with all the best climbers in the last one and a half kilometers or so, and I just exploded. I was at my limit. I was on the limit, then I stayed on the limit even when I went slower. Maybe, because it was the first hard climbing, that I just have to get used to the really hard climbing. We will see other days."
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