TOUR DE FRANCE 2007: SOLER GOES SOLO TO WIN STAGE NINE

Mauricio Soler Tour de France 07 stage 9

published 17 July 2007

Click here to view video highlights of this stage

Colombia?s Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) stole the spotlight from the big names in the Tour de France in Briancon, attacking on the legendary Galibier climb and winning alone in Briancon. The 24 year-old gave Barloworld their first stage win in the Tour with an aggressive ride and joined the growing number of young riders showing their talent in this year?s Tour de France.

Behind Soler, the battle for the yellow jersey also exploded on the steep slopes of the second half of the Galibier. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d?Epargne) blew the lead group apart with four strong attacks and left Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) behind. Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank) and most of the other joined Valverde, including Andreas Kloden of Astana but Vino was in serious trouble and it was clear Kloden is now the new protected leader in what has been dubbed 'Team Borat'.

Discovery Channel?s Yaroslav Popovych and Vladimir Gusev had attacked in a clever early tactical move but were passed by Soler and swept up by the leaders on the long descent to Briancon and Valverde sprinted to take second place on the stage, 38 seconds behind Soler. Rasmussen was just behind and kept the yellow jersey but Valverde made it clear he is now the big over all favourite by moving up to second place at 2-35. Fellow Spaniard Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval) is third overall at 2-39, with Cadel Evans (Predictor) fourth at 2-41. Alberto Contador, also of Discovery Channel, took the white jersey after a strong ride. He was fourth on the uphill dash to the line and is now fifth overall at 3-08.

Charly Wegelius (Liquigas) finished the tough stage to Briancon in 41st place at 6-44 despite being stung by a bee and admitting he felt like he had fallen out of a plane when he crashed on stage eight. Fellow Brits David Millar (Saunier Duval), Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis) and Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) were all part of the large gruppetto that finished at 28-51. Millar was 144th, with Wiggins and Thomas in 163rd and 164th place. With the Alps behind them they can now either lick their wounds and recover on the flat stages across the south of France or join the attacks in the attempt to win a stage.

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