Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has had quite the eventful week at the 2012 Tour de France. Below is a summary of what has been happening thus far, as well as the current classification.
Tony Martin and Jerome Pineau both had unfortunate crashes in Stage 1. While Jerome has been able to continue, Tony fought through a fractured scaphoid until the 41.5km Stage 9 time trial on Monday. He announced on Tuesday his decision to abandon the tour. Below is a video where Tony further explains his decision.
Peter Velits has been consistently finishing high in the classification, including a Top 10 finish in the Stage 9 time trial on Monday, and a third place finish at Stage 3. Sylvain Chavanel was as high as third in the GC early in the race, and also was fifth in the Stage 9 time trial amongst all of the top GC contenders.
Levi Leipheimer has been taking it day by day, and finished 20th in a surprisingly challenging mountain stage (Stage 8) that decimated the peloton. Kevin de Weert was a protagonist in that stage, escaping with more than 20 riders and attempting to stick with a smaller group that eventually produced the day's stage winner.
Dries Devenyns was a top finisher in Stage 1, placing 10th.
The current race classification is as follows:
General Classification after Stage 9:
| 1st | Bradley Wiggins (GBR) | 39:09.20 | |
| 2nd | Cadel Evans (AUS) | +1.53 | |
| 3rd | Christopher Froome (GBR) | +2.07 | |
| 16th | Sylvain Chavanel (FR) | +8.18 | |
| 19th | Levi Leipheimer (US) | +8.34 | |
| 20th | Peter Velits (SK) | +8.44 | |
| 42nd | Kevin De Weert (BE) | +24.02 | |
| 87th | Martin Velits (SK) | +37.33 | |
| 92nd | Tony Martin (DE) | +38.48 | |
| 96th | Dries Devenyns (BE) | +39.32 | |
| 114th | Bert Grabsch (DE) | +43.21 | |
| 115th | Jerome Pineau (FR) | +44.00 | |
Don't forget to watch the first of three Tour de France videos by OPQS, download our magazine, and get our "I Like #OPQS" tattoo Sylvain Chavanel has been spotted wearing at the Tour. Also follow the team at @opqscyclingteam for the latest updates!