France?s Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) finally won a stage of the Tour de France on Friday after going on the attack for a total of 423km during this year?s race.
Chavanel is considered one of the most talented French riders in the peloton but had never managed to win a Tour stage but finally got one thanks to a carefully planned strategy and then beat Jeremy Roy (Francaise des Jeux) in the charge to the line.
Chavanel was in tears after his win and dedicates his tears and victory to his family who were at the finish. He has won stages at Paris-Nice, the Tour of the Mediterranean, Tour of Catalogne this year, plus the Fleche Brabanconne and À travers la Flandre semi-classics, and has finally silenced his critics who claimed he was over-hyped and over paid just because he was often the best Frenchman in the bunch.
EMOTIONAL MOMENT
It was the second stage win for Cofidis in this year?s Tour de France but the Quick Step team will enjoy the benefits next year after signing Chavanel for the next two seasons.
?It?s a very emotional moment for me. My family is here at the finish and so I really wanted to win,? he said.
?I?ve always wanted to win a stage at the Tour. This is the seventh win of my career but I?ve never got one at the Tour until now. I wasn?t sure I?d win, I?m not as a fast as my bother Sebastien, but I kept working hard during the break and didn?t make the same mistake Barredo made yesterday by attacking in the finale. I waited for the sprint and just hoped I had enough strength to win.?
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Gerald Ciolek (Columbia) brought home the bunch, 1-13 behind Chavanel, beating Erik Zabel (Milram), Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) and Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) but the sprinters knew they had missed out on winning the stage. They sprinter?s teams tried to chase Chavanel and Roy in the final part of the stage but far too little and left it far too late. Barloworld put all four of their riders left in the front and then Columbia, Liquigas and Quick Step did some work but the bunch sat up in the final kilometres when they realised the break would stay away.
Oscar Freire was only 11th at the finish but kept the green jersey. He has a total of 244 points and is 42 ahead of Erik Zabel. The German sneaked away to pick up two points during the stage but has little chance of snatching the sprinters jersey from Freire before the end of the Tour.
SATURDAY TIME TRIAL IS RACE OF TRUTH
Carlos Sastre (CSC) and his rivals for overall victory finished safely in the bunch as their thoughts turned more and more to Saturday?s decisive time trial.
The time gaps remained the same with Frank Schleck (CSC) second at 1-24, Bernhard Kohl (Gerolsteiner) third at 1-33 and Cadel Evans (Silence) fourth at 1-34. Denis Menchov (Rabobank) is fifth at 2-39, with Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) sixth at 4-41.
In theory any of the top three can win the Tour de France - and any of the top six can finish on the final podium in Paris. The 53km time trial from Cerilly to Saint-Amand-Montrond really will be the race of truth and decide who wins the 2008 Tour de France.
TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE 19 RESULTS 1. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
2. Jeremy Roy (Fra) FDJeux at same time
3. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Columbia at 1m 13secs
4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
5. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
6. Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis
7. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
9. Robert Forster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10. Julian Dean (NZ) Garmin-Chipotle all at same time
British
20. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Chipotle at 1m 13secs
134. Chris Froome (GB) Barloworld at 3m 8secs
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 19 1. Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank
2. Frank Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank at 1m 24secs
3. Bernhard Kohl (Ger) Gerolsteiner at 1m 33secs
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto at 1m 34secs
5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank at 2m 39secs
6. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Chipotle at 4m 41secs
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 5m 35secs
8. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5m 52secs
9. Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Ag2r at 8m 10secs
10. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Ag2r at 8m 24secs
Stefan Schumacher was again in the early break, but was reeled in
Carlos Sastre: will he be wearing yellow after Saturday's TT?
David Millar
Jeremy Roy and Sylvain Chavanel
Sylvain Chavanel and Jeremy Roy
Milram chase the break to try and set up Erik Zabel for a sprint finish
Carlos Sastre
All photos by Graham Watson
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: STAGE REPORTS
Stage 18: Burghardt shows that Columbia can win without Cav
Stage 17: Sastre wins on Alpe d'Huez, takes lead
Stage 16: Dessel wins
Stage 15: Schleck takes lead in the Alps
Stage 14: Oscar Freire wins in Digne-les-Bains
Stage 13: Cavendish takes fourth win
Stage 12: Cavendish makes it three
Stage 11: Arvesen wins
Stage 10: Evans takes yellow jersey by one second
Stage nine: Ricco wins in the Pyrenees
Stage eight: Cavendish wins again in Toulouse
Stage seven: Sanchez takes action-packed stage
Stage six: Ricco storms to win
Stage five: Cavendish takes first Tour win
Stage four: Schumacher wins TT and takes race lead
Stage three: Dumoulin wins stage from break
Stage two: Hushovd wins chaotic sprint
Stage one: Valverde wins
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: NEWS
Schlecks' father's car searched
Analysis: tactical battle on L'Alpe d'Huez [stage 17]
Schleck promises to attack main rivals
Schleck ready to defend Tour lead [stage 15]
Rest day news round-up [July 21]
Saunier Duval riders: "We are honest"
Cavendish talks to Cycling Weekly after quitting Tour
Schleck savours first ever Tour de France jersey [stage 15]
Comment: Why Cav is right to go home today
Cavendish pulls out of the Tour
Barloworld to end cycling sponsorship
Ricco speaks on Italian television
Cavendish joins the all-time greats
Saunier Duval sack Ricco and Piepoli
Tour bosses say fight against doping continues
Ricco denies doping at the Tour
Saunier Duval pull out of Tour
Tour's top ten changes
Ricco positive for EPO at Tour
Analysis: Tour de France rest day summary
Cavendish battles through Pyrenees
Evans suffers but takes yellow jersey [stage 10]
Analysis: Hautacam shakes up 2008 Tour
Ricco silences critics with solo attack in Pyrenees [stage nine]
Cavendish talks about his second stage win [stage eight]
Beltran heads home but doubts remain about other Tour riders
David Millar: the dope controls are working
Manuel Beltran tests positive for EPO at the Tour
Comment: How the Tour rediscovered its spirit
Doping back in Tour de France headlines
Millar: close but no cigar in Super-Besse [stage six]
Super-Besse shows form of main contenders [stage six]
Millar to go for yellow [stage six]
Team Columbia's reaction to Cavendish's win [stage five]
Cavendish talks about his Tour stage win
Tour comment: Why Evans should be happy [stage four]
Millar: Still aiming for Tour yellow jersey [stage 4]
Who is Romain Feillu?
Cavendish disappointed with stage two result
Millar too close to Tour yellow jersey
Stage 2 preview: A sprint finish for Cavendish?
Millar happy after gains precious seconds in Plumelec
Valverde delighted with opening Tour stage win
Comment: Is Valverde's win a good thing for the Tour?
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