CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE:AFTER THE bunch pile-ups on stage one, the litany of wet-road crashes on stage two and the jarring of the cobblestones on stage three, the Tour de France peloton had a chance to recover yesterday on what was a straightforward day for the sprinting specialists.
At the end of a hot, mainly flat stage to the Cathedral city of Reims, veteran Italian galloper Alessandro Petacchi exploded from the pack, launching his sprint early and grabbing his second stage victory of the race.
The Lampre – Farnese Vini rider beat Julian Dean (Garmin Transitions) and 162 others to the line, celebrating the 46th Grand Tour stage win of his career in the Champagne region of France.
“Today, I proved I could win in all circumstances,” he said, savouring his triumph. “I’ve heard some comments saying that the victory in Brussels (on stage 1) was that of an ‘old man’, but this time I have received no advantage because of crashes of my rivals.
“With two wins, I could very well go home and consider that my job is finished. Taking two wins on the Tour de France is already exceptional. But I do not quite see things this way. I’m here to win stages, and I’ll keep trying to do just that.”
Nicolas Roche had no difficulties and could have aimed for a top-10 finish, but stuck to the plan announced before the start of the Tour and didn’t participate in the bunch gallop. He picked up high placings in similar situations last year, but with a top-15 finish being his main goal in the Tour, he opted to save energy for the days that really matter.
Rather than push forward, he rolled in 35th in the same time as Petacchi and race leader Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank).
“I am sticking to what I said before, keeping safe,” Roche said. “Okay, you have to still use energy to stay up near the front and avoid crashes, but going for the sprint means you’d have to concentrate a lot more and be focused. I prefer not to do the sprints on stages like this and instead save energy for the mountains, or for chasing a stage win.”
Like most of the peloton, Roche could feel the aching after-effects of Tuesday’s cobblestone sections on his body, the jarring vibrations leaving stiff arms and shoulders.
“I was a bit sore this morning from the cobbles yesterday,” he said, “but felt better as the stage went on.”
The discomfort felt by many underlined the bunch’s need for an easier day, and when five riders clipped away shortly after the start, there was little resistance.
Roche’s Ag2r La Mondiale team-mate Dmitri Champion, Iban Mayoz (Footon-Servetto), Nicolas Vogondy (Bbox-Bouygues Telecom), Francis De Greef (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) were thus able to build an advantage of over three minutes and remain clear for almost the entire stage.
However, the sprinters were determined to have their say, and with the HTC Columbia team of 10-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish driving things along, the move was hauled back three kilometres from the finish.
Cavendish has had a tough season, picking up just three pre-Tour wins compared to 13 last year. After missing out on stage one due to a crash, he was determined to show the peloton he was still the self-labelled fastest man in cycling.
Lead-out man Mark Renshaw ramped up the speed, but when the time came to launch the sprint it was Petacchi, Dean and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) who rocketed clear rather than the Manxman.
Cavendish slid back to an inglorious 12th, prompting a post-stage tantrum which saw him hurl first his bike and then his helmet to the ground.
In contrast, Roche was pleased with how things had gone. He remains in 11th overall, one minute 42 seconds behind Cancellara.
“I wanted to stay out of trouble,” he said. “It was a bit dangerous coming towards the end with a few roundabouts, but lucky enough it was really strung out with the tailwind. If there was a headwind it would have been much more dangerous.”
Cancellara also had a stress-free day and maintained his 23-second lead over the Welshman Geraint Thomas (Sky). The general classification contenders remain farther back, content too to make the most of a quieter day.
“I was happy today, as was my team. I think many other teams were pleased,” Cancellara said.
“We needed something like this after tough, hard, nervous, and stressful opening stages. We’ve spent a lot of energy and we need to recover a bit, because soon we’ll get to the Alps and that’s when another sort of music will play.”
The first big mountains rear up on Saturday and their siren will already be calling the climbers. Before then, today’s stage to Montargis and tomorrow’s leg to Gueugnon offer further chances to the sprinters.
Cavendish will try hardest of all, but his six stage wins of last year already seem a long way off.
Results and Standings
Yesterday’s Fourth Stage
(153.5km, Cambrai to Reims)
1. A Petacchi (Ita) Lampre 3hr 34min 55sec
2. J Dean (Nzl) Garmin)”
3. E Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky”
4. R McEwen (Aus) Katusha ”
5. R Hunter (Rsa) Garmin ”
6. S Turgot (Fra) Bbox”
7. JJ Rojas (Spa) Caisse ”
8. D Oss (Ita) Liquigas ”
9. T Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo ”
10. O Freire (Spa) Rabobank ”
11. G Ciolek (Ger) Milram ”
12. M Cavendish (Brit) HTC ”
13. B Bookwalter (US) BMC ”
14. S Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel ”
15. V Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse ”
Other: 35. Nicolas Roche (Ire) AG2R ”
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. F Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank 18:28.55
2. G Thomas (Brit) Sky +23
3. C Evans (Aus) BMC +39
4. R Hesjedal (Can) Garmin +46
5. S Chavanel (Fra) Quick-Step +1:01
6. A Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank +1:09
7. T Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo) +1:19
8. A Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana +1:31
9. A Contador (Spa) Astana +1:40
10. J van den Broeck (Bel) Omega +1:42
11. Nicolas Roche (Ire) AG2R) ”
12. J Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin +1:47
13. D Menchov (Rus) Rabobank) +1:49
14. B Wiggins (Brit) Sky ”
15. D Millar (Brit) Garmin +2:06
SPRINTERS
1. T Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo 80pts
2. A Petacchi (Ita) Lampre 70
3. R McEwen (Aus) Katusha 62
KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
1. J Pineau (Fra) Quick-Step 13pts
2. S Chavanel (Fra) Quick-Step 8
3. R Taaramaee (Est) Cofidis 8
