Boasson Hagen makes it two for Sky as Voeckler loses more time

Edvald Boasson Hagen wins, Tour de France 2011 stage 17

Edvald Boasson Hagen took his and Team Sky's second stage win of this year's Tour de France in Pinerolo this afternoon, but race leader Thomas Voeckler conceded more time in the overall standings.

Boasson Hagen was in the main break of the day and made his bid for glory towards the top of the final climb, the Cote de Pramartino, and managed to stay upright on the fast 8km run in to the finish.

Behind, Alberto Contador and Samuel Sanchez tried breaking clear on the descent, but were caught by the Schleck brothers and Cadel Evans within the final kilometre.

However Voeckler, who nearly fell on the early part of the downhill, ran wide and was unable to rejoin the favourites.

The maillot jaune, along with Ivan Basso, lost 27 seconds to their GC rivals.

Afternoon delight for Eddie Bos

Boasson Hagen won stage six into Lisieux, and was outsprinted by Thor Hushovd twenty-four hours ago.

Unsurprisingly, he was

pleased to take his second Tour stage as the race crossed the Italian border this afternoon.

"It was a really great day today," he said at the finish. "I was disappointed yesterday not to win win."

"I tried to get in the break again and the team did a great job to get me in it.

"It took a long time to happen but finally we went away. I felt great the whole day and got some extra power because I wanted to win and also from the fans on course," he added.

Escape group battles for glory

Boasson Hagen was one of 14 riders who escaped early on in the 179km stage.

Initially instigated by Sandy Casar (FDJ), Ruben Perez (Euskatel), Bauke Mollema, Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana), Dmitriy Muravyev (RadioShack), Andrey Amador (Movistar), Maciej Paterski (Liquigas), Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step),  Julien El Fares (Cofidis), Borut Bozic, Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) also made it across.

Their lead was consistent, although never soared above nine minutes as Casar was in the top 25 overall at the start of the day.

Behind, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) and his team-mates were happy to let the break go, particularly that left just one point for the peloton to compete for at the intermediate sprint at Villar-Saint-Pancrace, which Cavendish duly took.

The green jersey leader made it up the second category climb of the Col de Montgenevre and the harder ascent up to Sestrieres, and was only shelled out in the final 20km.

He made it to the finish safely, and barring a hiccup, should keep the points competition lead to Paris.

Euskatel blink first

Ahead, Perez jumped out of the leading group half-way up the climb of Sestrieres, and quickly amassed a 1-30 gap on the 13 chasers.

It looked good for the Spaniard until he got to the final climb, the Pramartino, which began with 16km remaining.

His lead had been whittled down to just 30 seconds, and a flurry of attacks from those behind meant he was soon within sight. Once caught, Chavanel was the first to put in a big dig, before Boasson Hagen followed and soon passed the Frenchman.

At the top of the climb, the Sky rider had a solid gap over his nearest chasers, who were now Hivert and Mollema.

Hivert ran wide early on the descent, but his efforts to stay upright didn't count for much as he fell just a handful of corners later.

Rabobank's Mollema ploughed on, but never looked like catching the lone leader. He eventually took second.



Contador goes again

After his time gains yesterday, Alberto Contador tested the Schleck brothers once again, attacking twice on the ascent.

Both moves were followed, although only Samuel Sanchez could stay with him when the Spaniard broke clear on the descent.

Voeckler ran wide on one corner and then overshot a left-hander, and was forced to head down someone's driveway to stay upright. Hivert, just minutes before, also had to take this escape road to prevent falling off again.

Boasson Hagen crossed the line, arms aloft and pointing to his sponsor's logo, but the real interest was behind.

The Schlecks and Evans were chasing down Contador and Sanchez, Basso was in another group behind and Voeckler after him.

As the Spanish duo rounded the final bend onto the finishing straight, the Schleck group caught up with them  - you could almost hear the relief from the brothers and the Australian.

Voeckler once again ensured his losses were minimal, but any talk of him holding on to Paris must surely be over, considering what lies ahead before the race finishes on Sunday.

Results

Tour de France 2011 stage 17; Gap-Pinerolo, 179km

1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky in 4-18-00

2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 40 sec

3. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ at 50 sec

4. Julien El Fares (Fra) Cofidis

5. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step all at st

6. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Astana at 1-10

7. Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas

8. Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) RadioShack

9. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Saur-Sojasun

10. Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM all at st.

Brits

70. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 12-36

154. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky at 14-15

165. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Cervelo

166. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad all at st.

General classification after stage 17

1. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar in 73-23-49

2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 1-18

3. Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard-Trek at 1-22

4. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard-Trek at 2-39.

5. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) Euskatel-Euskedi at 2-59

6. Alberto Contador (Esp) Saxo Bank-Sungard at 3-15

7. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 3-34

8. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3-49

9. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin Cervelo at 6-04

10. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Team Sky at 7-36

Brits

41. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 43-43

65. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Cervelo at 1-14-10

124. Mark Cavendish (GBr) HTC-Highroad 2-10-00

132. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky at 2-14-23

Geraint Thomas in early escape group, Tour de France 2011, stage 17

Geraint Thomas was in an early escape group

Peloton, Tour de France 2011, stage 17

Europcar head the bunch

Cadel Evans attacks, Tour de France 2011, stage 17

Cadel Evans attacks the contenders group

Thomas Voeckler and Jelle Vanendert, Tour de France 2011, stage 17

Thomas Voeckler and Jelle Vanendert

Edvald Boasson Hagen wins, Tour de France 2011 stage 17

Edvald Boasson Hagen takes his second 2011 Tour stage win

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Tour de France 2011: Teams, riders, start list

Tour de France 2011: Official start list

Tour de France 2011: Who's riding?

Tour de France 2011: Team guide

Tour de France 2011: Stage reports

Stage 16: Evans and Contador go on the attack as Hushovd wins in Gap

Stage 15: Cavendish takes fourth stage win in 2011 Tour

Stage 14: Vanendert surprises the favourites as Voeckler holds on

Stage 13: World champ Hushovd takes well deserved solo Tour win

Stage 12: Sanchez wins at Luz Ardiden as Frank Schleck gains on other contenders

Stage 11: Cavendish moves into green after winning in Lavaur

Stage 10: Greipel beats Cavendish in Tour stage 10 sprint

Stage nine: Sanchez conquers day of crashes and climbs

Stage eight: Costa wins first mountain stage of 2011 Tour

Stage seven: Cavendish wins but Wiggins crashes out of Tour

Stage six: Boasson Hagen takes Sky's first Tour de France win

Stage five: Cavendish wins in Cap Frehel

Stage four: Evans edges out Contador on the Mur-de-Bretagne

Stage three: Farrar sprints to first Tour victory in Redon

Stage two: Garmin win team time trial to put Hushovd in yellow

Stage one: Gilbert blasts to victory as Tour gets off to spectacular start

Tour de France 2011: Highlights videos

Stage 16 video highlights

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Stage 14 video highlights

Stage 13 video highlights

Stage 12 video highlights

Stage 11 video highlights

Video: Feeding the riders at the Tour

Stage 10 video highlights

Stage nine video highlights

Stage eight video highlights

Stage seven video highlights

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Stage five video highlights

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Stage four video highlights

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Tour de France 2011: Photo galleries

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Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2011 wallpaper gallery

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2011 team time trial training photo gallery by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team presentation by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team press conferences by Andy Jones

Tour de France 2011 team presentation by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2011: Live text coverage

Tour de France 2011 LIVE: CW's text coverage schedule

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Video: Thrills and spills at the Tour

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ITV4 Tour de France 2011 TV schedule

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Halfords banner animated

 

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