Ever heard of Yuri Trofimov? Neither had we before Friday, but the Russian?s solo win over the Joux-Plane in the Dauphine bodes more than well for this first year professional.
Just 24 years old and in his rookie season as a pro with Bouygues Telecom, Trofimov was the last survivor from a day long break of eight on the Dauphine?s stage five.
As the eight ground up the Joux-Plane, Trofimov kept a steady pace and a cool head, ignoring a frantic charge by fellow Russian Vladimir Efimkin (Ag2R) that fizzled out almost as quickly as it had started.
Trofimov then changed the pace just enough to force his most persistent pursuer Juan Jose Cobo (Saunier Duval-Scott) to sit up and let him go, just before the summit.
A former MTB U-23 World Champion, Trofimov - who has never ridden in the Alps as a road-racer before - then stayed in control on the nerve-janglingly perilous descent to Morzine.
Despite slowly losing time all the way, Trofimov was still 18 seconds ahead of two far better known riders Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) and race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse D?Epargne) at the finish. A remarkable ride for a Russian who had never ridden before in an Alpine road-race, let alone the Dauphine, before this June.
But Trofimov?s fine lone effort was overshadowed by a major power struggle behind between the race favourites, which saw Cadel Evans oust Levi Leipheimer (Astana) for second place behind Valverde.
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Leipheimer stayed with the Australian and Spaniard until around half-way up the Joux-Plane climb as it switchbacked relentlessly upwards between Alpine pastures and woodland.
Then a sudden acceleration by Paris-Nice leader Robert Gesink (Rabobank) - by far the strongest rider on the climb even if he lost it slightly on the descent (don?t forget he?s only 22) - left the American reeling.
Sensing Leipheimer was in trouble, Valverde and Evans joined forces to pile on the pressure on the American, a Daupine winner back in 2006.
Come the finish, Leipheimer had lost 1-06 to the duo. If Evans and Valverde ride anything like that again in the Tour, you can bet on them making the running in the Pyrenees and Alps three weeks from now when there are bigger fish to fry.
Of the other big names for the Tour, after a long illness Michael Rogers (High Road) turned in a remarkably strong ride for a second day running, finishing in the same time as Leipheimer. Spain?s invisible Tour de France man, Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel-Euskadi) took an impressive fourth place, at 23 seconds, but CSC?s Tour leader Carlos Sastre was a below-expectations 23rd, 2-13 down on Trofimov.
?It?s tomorrow [233 kilometres long and with the Croix de Fer and Toussuire climbs] that really matters though.? Evans, visibly pleased at such a strong mountains ride, said afterwards. ?That?s a real Tour stage.?
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