Frenchman Thomas Voeckler of team Europcar has always been known as an opportunistic rider. In 2004, he took a flyer and for his efforts grabbed the yellow leader's jersey and didn't give it up for more than a week. On Sunday's 9th stage of the 2011 Tour de France from Issoire to Saint-Flour in the Massif Central, Voeckler went on a breakaway with several other riders including Spaniard Luis Sanchez, the eventual day's winner, Frenchman Sandy Cesar, Holland's Johnny Hoogerland, and Spain's Juan Antonio Flecha.
Voeckler, starting the day only 1 minute and 29 seconds behind leader Thor Hushovd of team Garmin, took over the leader's jersey after making the break work with Sanchez and Cesar, two perfect companions. Hoogerland and Flecha suffered an odd crash, which landed Hoogerland catapulting into a barbed wire fence. That left the break with three riders and Voeckler in the most opportunistic overall position. The successful breakaway shook up the general classification for the first time in a week. For his efforts, Sanchez landed himself in second place overall with Cadel Evans, Frank and Andy Schleck residing between third and fifth place, respectively.
On yet another rugged day of shorter, steeper climbs, Garmin finally gave up the chase with about 40 kilometers remaining. A choice most likely was made on the road on how hard to take up the final chase to catch the break. With the Pyrennes and Alps still looming, it made sense to save a few protected G.C. riders like Christian Vande Velde and even Ryder Hesjedal. It ended an amazing run by Thor Hushovd and his Garmin support crew.
One thing is for certain, the French as well as organizers ASO are always happy when one of their countrymen are leading Le Tour. From that standpoint, all is good in France tonight.
WHAT'S AHEAD: After a rest day Monday, the Pyrennes loom on the horizon, where the real fireworks will begin. Contador looks more strained on climbs than perhaps ever before, while the Schlecks and team Leopard Trek have remained upright while racing to profection. HTC-Highroad's Tony Martin has maintained a solid presence in the top 10 and is silently sitting at 6th place overall. All this while while laying down the hammer within five kilometers in the set up for teammate Mark Cavendish's two stage wins this past week. German Andreas Kloden of team Radio Shack is another rider whose consistency is paying off, however, his team strength due to crashes, has dwindled. Jakob Fuglsang of team Leopard Trek is riding fantastic and remains as a card the team can play around the Schlecks.
Stage 10: Tuesday's stage from Aurillac to Carmaux keeps the race in rolling territory. It remains a good day for a rider like Voeckler to retain the jersey. Team Garmin can catch its breadth at the back of the peloton for a day or two and give its G.C. riders a chance to recuperate for the Pyrennes later in the week. The opportunistic riders like Sandy Cesar will keep pressing, perhaps in hopes of taking a run at the KOM jersey. There will be several 'roulers' (riders that favor the rolling terrain and smaller mountains) that will take a run at the stage. FDJ's Christophe Riblon of France is one of many riders on French teams that may take up the charge. The overall general classification contenders should be content to sit in for two more days biding time for the Pyrennes. Expect the always aggressive Euskaitel-Eusadi team and either Ruben Moreno or Egoi Martinez to get into a breakaway. France's Jerome Pineau of Quickstep, Sky's Rigoberto Uran of Colombia, Vacansoleil-DCM's Bjorn Leukemans are among others in position to grab the opportunity in a the right breakaway. Any rider without a big name between seven and 12 minutes down with good legs and can climb may be good candidates to get into a break on what should be another unpredictable stage. Expect Voeckler, however, to remain in yellow at least two more days.
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