HIGHLIGHTS FROM STAGE 15
Written by on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 in Latest News.
A brief look at the 95th Tour de France yesterday: Stage: A 113.7-mile trek from Embrun to the Italian ski resort of Prato Nevoso, with an uphill and rainy end. Winner: Simon Gerrans of Australia won after escaping from the pack in a four-man breakaway, clocking 4 hours, 50 minutes, 44 seconds to beat Spain’s Egoi Martinez by 3 seconds, with U.S. rider Danny Pate third, 10 seconds behind. Yellow jersey: Frank Schleck of Luxembourg takes the yellow jersey from Cadel Evans by attacking the Australian in the final 500 yards. Schleck leads Bernhard Kohl of Germany by 7 seconds and Evans by 8 seconds. Down and out: Oscar Pereiro, who was declared the winner of the 2006 Tour after Floyd Landis was stripped of the title for doping, withdrew after breaking his left shoulder when he crashed over a guard rail during a sharp turn. Mark Cavendish, a sprinter who won four stages in this race, pulled out before a day of mountain racing. His team said he was fatigued and the Alps posed too huge an obstacle. Cavendish will now concentrate on next month’s Olympics. Quote of the day: “We choose the race – or at least make it hard and place the pressure on, because we have the strongest team.” – Bjarne Riis, director of Schleck’s CSC team. Next stage: After today’s rest day, the second of the Tour, the race resumes tomorrow with a 97-mile stage from Cuneo to Jausiers, crossing back into France with two more major – and lengthy – climbs: the 13.3-mile Lombarde pass and the 15.8-mile Bonette-Restefond summit. – The Associated Press
Original post by AFP and software by Elliott Back
