Voeckler Leads Despite Hushovd Win

Voeckler battles in Stage 12

He spent seven days in the lead of the 2011 Tour de France but vowed to win a stage of the race while wearing the world champion’s rainbow jersey and today Thor Hushovd confirmed his versatility. 

He paced himself to perfection, fighting hard to get into an escape group that took a long time to establish, then managing the mountains of the Pyrenees and then timing his finishing surge like the true professional he is. He has become the second Norwegian winner of a stage of the 98th Tour, and given his Garmin-Cervélo team its third win this year. 

It is Hushovd’s ninth victory in the Tour de France that has included success in a time trial (the prologue in 2006), sprint wins, escapes victories, and triumphs on the pave of stage three last year. But there were two kings of the Tour in Lourdes – the stage winner and the new leader of the climbing classification, the perpetually aggressive Jeremy Roy. 

Before today Roy had spent 560km of the 2,127km raced in the opening 12 stage in escape groups. He was the man who finally broke the tight grip of the peloton as it raced away from Pau and towards the col d’Aubisque. 

He led over each of the three categorized climbs of the 152.5km 13th stage and very nearly hung on to give France it’s first stage win. That’s not yet happened but the host nation now has three riders in three of the four prize jerseys: Roy in polka-dots, his team-mate Arnold Jeannesson in the white jersey, and Voeckler in the ‘maillot jaune’.

The sun was shining at the start of the 152.5km 13th stage of the 2011 Tour de France. There were 174 riders at the sign on with Geert Steegmans (QST) the non-starter and Denis Galimzyanov (KAT) outside the time limit in stage 12. The official start of the stage from Pau to Lourdes was at 1.29pm. The itinerary took riders over three climbs: the cat-3 cote de Cuqueron (43.5km), the cat-4 cote de Belair (65km) and the 16.4km ascent of the col d’Aubisque (a hors categorie climb that peaked at 110km).

It was a fast start with lots of attacks early, including one involving Gilbert (OLO) but nothing was allowed to gain any advantage until after the first hour of racing. Chavanel (QST), was one of the early aggressors but he wasn’t given any leeway. Over the first climb, Roy (FDJ) went on the attack again – after having already spent 560km of the first 12 stages in escape groups – and he took the two points at the top. 

The average speed for the first hour was 49.1km/h and it was the constant pursuit of escapees that prompted it to be so fast. Eventually, at the 60km mark, Roy was joined by nine others: Tjallinghii (RAB), Hushovd (GRM), Fofonov (AST, Boasson Hagen (SKY), Pineau (QST), Moncoutie (COF), Petacchi (LAM), Bak (THR) and Gusev (KAT). Europcar then quelled the peloton and, by 65km the 10 led by 4’20”.

Kloden (RSH) was dropped early and eventually abandoned around the 30km mark. Other retirees before the midway mark were Boom (RAB) and Isaichev (KAT). The escapees rolled over the line for the intermediate sprint with Boasson Hagen taking 20 points ahead of Moncoutie. Meanwhile, Voigt (LEO) crashed in the feedzone and then Gilbert (OLO) tried to sneak ahead to take 11th place in the sprint but he was chased down by HTC and Movistar riders. Rojas outsprinted Cavendish for 11th place, 4’05” behind the escape.

At the base of the col d’Aubisque Hushovd attacked the lead group. He was chased by Roy and Tjallingii. The peloton arrived at the foot of the climb with a deficit of 6’00”. The lead group splintered: Moncoutie and Boasson Hagen joined forces and then came the remnants of the escapees. Delage (FDJ) attacked the peloton on the early slopes of the HC climb and, later, so did Mollema (RAB), Bouet (ALM). With 14km to climb, the counter-attacker were at 5’50” and the peloton – led by Europcar – was at 6’40”. 

Halfway up the climb, Roy dropped Hushovd. With 7km to go to the top this was the situation: Roy led by: 15” to Moncoutie, 30” to Hushovd, 50” to Boasson Hagen, 55” to Gusev, 1’30” to Pineau and Bak, 1’46” to Petacchi, 2’25” to Tjallingii... 6’20” to Bouet and Mollema and 7’20” to the peloton. With the first six over the top of the col d’Aubisque this is the situation: 1. Roy 20pts, 2. Moncoutie 16pts - at 55", 3. Hushovd 12pts - 2’05", 4. Gusev 8pts - 2’35", 5. Pineau 4pts - 3’55", 6. Bak 2pts. Boasson Hagen was also 3’55" behind... then came Petacchi (at 5’50”) and Mollema along with Vanendert (OLO) at 6’30”. The peloton was led over the top by Voeckler 8’00” behind Roy.

The riders had to ride over the col du Soulor before descending to the finish in Lourdes. Roy increased his lead before cresting the last peak: 1’20” to Moncoutie, 145” to Hushovd... 6’35” to Boasson Hagen, Pineau and Bak. Gilbert (OLO) attacked the peloton with 33km to go and joined Mollema on the run in to Lourdes. Roy earned enough points to overtake Sanchez in the climbing competition but his advantage over Hushovd and Moncoutie dwindled in the dying kilometers of the stage: 35” with 15km to go, 16” with 10km to go, 12” with 5km to go... and then there was a moment of hesitation in the chase, or so it seemed...

When we saw the surge from Hushovd with 3km to go, it was clear that he was just biding his time. He attacked Moncoutie with such ferocity that it took only 800m to catch Roy. With 2.2km to go, the world champion was in the lead. Roy faded in the finale and was overtaken by Moncoutie who finished 10” behind the first (road race) world champion to win a stage of the Tour since Oscar Freire claimed a sprint win early in the 2002 edition. This was Hushovd’s ninth victory in the Tour de France (including the prologue of the 2006 race). He has won a time trial world championship (as an under-23 rider) and a prologue of the Tour. He has won in sprints and escapes. He has won on the pave... and now he has won in the mountains. 

Voeckler finished 17th in the same time as the peloton that was led home by Rojas (7’37” behind Hushovd). 

The Frenchman will wear the yellow jersey in stage 14.