Charteau goes on Pyrenean romp

Anthony Charteau (Europcar) outmanoeuvred Vasil Kiryenka (Movistar) in the final kilometre at Cauterets to win stage two of the Route du Sud and move into the overall lead.

After the front group had already been whittled down to 36 riders following the ascent of the Col d’Aspin, the big attacks came on the Col du Tourmalet. 7km from the summit, Julien Loubet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) put in a dig, bringing Charteau, Kiryenka, Sergio Pardilla (Movistar) and John Gadret (Ag2r-La Mondiale) with him.

Shortly afterwards, Charteau and Kiryenka pressed clear with the Frenchman leading over the summit. Behind, a strong chase group had formed, featuring Ag2r duo Gadret and Hubert Dupont, as well as Davide Rebellin (Miche-Guerciotti).

Charteau and Kiryenka held only 20 seconds of an advantage at the top of the Tourmalet, but they dovetailed their efforts wonderfully on the descent to stretch that lead out to two minutes at the base of the final climb to Cauterets.

In spite of a fierce pursuit behind, the duo had enough in hand to fight out the stage win between them, as their collaboration only came to an end with a little over a kilometre to go.

Underneath the red kite, Kiryenka launched a searing attack, but Charteau managed to close him down and the Tour de France king of the mountains then came around the Belarus rider to claim a fine victory. Rebellin led the chase group home 47 seconds later, outsprinting Sandy Casar (FDJ).

“I’m very relieved,” Charteau said afterwards. “At the Tour of Luxembourg two weeks ago, I started to have good legs, but the route didn’t suit me. This stage was an objective, so I’m very satisfied.”

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