Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) solos to victory in Pinerolo, the Norwegian's second win of the Tour. (Image credit: AFP)
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) were caught just before the finish line and sprint it out with their GC rivals in Pinerolo. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) and Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank) at the finish in Pinerolo. (Image credit: Sirotti)
IMG_4476 - The local Tibetan people wave to the cyclist (Image credit: Sirotti)
Sandy Casar (FDJ) edged Julien El Fares (Cofidis) for third place. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) finished alone in second place, 40 seconds down on stage 17 winner Edvald Boasson Hagen. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Young rider classification leader Rigoberto Uran (Sky) negotiates the tricky final descent. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Fränk Schleck (Leopard Trek) handles a tight turn on the descent to Pinerolo. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) began the final descent with his GC rivals, but would lose contact after over-shooting a turn. (Image credit: Sirotti)
IMG_4476 - The local Tibetan people wave to the cyclist (Image credit: Sirotti)
Fearless descenders Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Sungard) tried to put time into their GC rivals. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) (Image credit: Sirotti)
Frank Schleck pushes the pace. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) put in some probing attacks (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Thomas Voeckler has to chase the favourites. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Andy Schleck keeps an eye on Alberto Contador (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) works hard to stay on the road. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The race heads deep into the Alps. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) stayed in contact with his GC rivals on the final climb, but came to grief on the descent and lost time. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) leads the yellow jersey group near the summit of the final climb. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) attacked the peloton in the latter portion of the stage and finished between the break and the field. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Ruben Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) reached the final climb alone in the lead, but would be caught and dropped by his breakaway companions on the ascent. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana) on the Côte de Pramartino. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Sandy Casar (FDJ) and Julien El Fares (Cofidis) were members of the 14-man break which splintered on the final climb. (Image credit: Sirotti)
French champion Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) leads the pursuit of Boasson Hagen. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) rides alone in the lead on the day's final climb, the Côte de Pramartino. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Christian Vande Velde paces Garmin-Cervelo teammate Tom Danielson on the Côte de Pramartino. (Image credit: Sirotti)
The large breakaway split up on the climb of the Pramartino (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Jonathan Hivert (Saur Sojasun) goes ass over tea kettle on the descent. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
After his off-road excursion, Voeckler lost time back with Ivan Basso and Tom Danielson. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek) made sure Contador's downhill attack didn't result in time gains. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM) get the time gap (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Nicolas Roche (AG2R) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil DCM) in the break (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Thomas Voeckler was pushing the boundaries of control to follow Contador and Sanchez. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Now that the Tour has left France the weather cleared up nicely. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Rigoberto Uran (Sky) retained the best young rider's jersey. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) lost time to his GC rivals on stage 17, but still remains in the overall lead. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) dons the yellow jersey with assistance by 5-time Tour champion Bernard Hinault. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) celebrates his second Tour stage win. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Stage 17 winner Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) on the podium. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) chased furiously to regain contact with his GC rivals after he rode into a car park on the final descent, but he fell short. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Tour leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) lost time on the day's final descent and finished in 28th place. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Fränk Schleck (Leopard Trek) leads in a group of GC favourites, 4:26 behind stage winner Boasson Hagen. (Image credit: Sirotti)
One day after finishing runner-up to compatriot Thor Hushovd, Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) goes one better to win in Pinerolo. (Image credit: Sirotti)
The descent of the Pramartino was a little bit crazy. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) enjoys his second trip to the podium in this Tour de France. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) holding onto the green jersey. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Yuri Trofimov (Katusha) leads Gilbert on the descent to Pinerolo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Cervelo) leads Pierre Rolland on the descent of the Pra Martino (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Samuel Sanchez and Alberto Contador put the pressure on during the descent to Pinerolo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) tried to light things up on the descent, but nearly came to grief on a left turn. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Ivan Santaromita (BMC) was the last domestique with Cadel Evans. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) on the descent to Pinerolo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Jonathan Hiver (Saur Sojasun) was chasing Boasson Hagen with Bauke Mollema when he lost control on the descent of the Pra Martino (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
IMG_4476 - The local Tibetan people wave to the cyclist (Image credit: Sirotti)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) bounced back from the disappointment of his second-place finish at Gap on Tuesday to take victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France at Pinerolo. Race leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) conceded more ground to his overall rivals on the sinuous final descent of the Pramartino after Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) had created panic in the yellow jersey group.
Already a sprint winner at Redon in the opening week, Boasson Hagen showcased his considerable climbing talents by clinically disposing of his breakaway companions on the stage's final climb, and then holding his nerve on the sharp plunge into Pinerolo to finish 40 seconds clear of Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), while Sandy Casar (FDJ) took the sprint for third place.
"I wanted to win this stage because I was so close yesterday," a delighted Boasson Hagen said after the finish. "I'm really happy. Yesterday's stage is almost forgotten now."
While Boasson Hagen's victory was straightforward in its execution, it was another day of panic and confusion among the overall contenders. A second consecutive sharp climb and treacherous descent combination just before the finish saw Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) again on the offensive.
The Spaniard softened up his rivals with two jabs on the way up the Pramartino, and then he went for the jugular by throwing himself into the descent in the company of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). At one point, the pair threatened to repeat their gains of yesterday over the Fränk and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek), but Cadel Evans (BMC) led a measured chase to bring the bulk of the contenders, including the Schlecks, back together inside the finishing straight.
Indeed, it was a good day all around for Evans: not only did he break even with Contador, he narrowed his deficit to yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) to 1:18 after the Frenchman misjudged a bend on the descent and was unable to chase back on.
Afterwards, the Australian explained that he was on Andy Schleck's (Leopard Trek) wheel when Contador launched his move over the top of the climb. "I think Voeckler put in the first attack and then Contador went," Evans said. I got caught behind Andy and I just couldn't get around him. They [Contador and Sanchez] had a bit of a gap, but fortunately we were able to close it on the flat."
Boasson Hagen picks his moment
Boasson Hagen was part of a 14-man break that formed 60km into the day's stage, after a number of moves had been snuffed out. He jumped clear with Mollema, Casar, Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil-DCM), Julien El Farès (Cofidis), Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana), Andrei Amadaro (Movistar), Maciej Paterski (Liquigas-Cannondale), Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) and Dmitriy Muravyev (RadioShack) on the Côte de Sainte-Marguerite.
The leading 14 quickly established a sizeable advantage over the ascent of Sestrières, where a trio of chasers Kevin De Weert (Quick Step), Nicolas Roche (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM) launched a doomed attempt to bridge across. Although Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) jumped clear 4km from the summit of Sestrières and led by 43 seconds at the foot of the Pramartino, he was caught by his erstwhile companions as the road pitched upwards.
Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) launched the first telling attack with 4.5km to go on the final ascent, but when he looked around, he saw that Boasson Hagen was inexorably stalking him up the climb. Less than a kilometre later, the Norwegian put in a wholehearted acceleration of his own and instantly opened a decisive gap. Thereafter, the 24-year-old retained a solid tempo to the summit and enjoyed a seamless descent to secure a victory that underlined his precocious class.
"I don't like a lot of attacks, it's better with one pace," Boasson Hagen said of his decision to punch his way clear of his companions. "I saw Chavanel attack so I had to close that down. I didn't want to stop because the attacks would start again, so I just kept going and nobody followed. On the downhill, I did it in training and I knew it, I knew I could go quite fast and nobody could catch me."
Contador puts the cat amongst the pigeons
Though a richly evocative name in cycling history, Pinerolo was never likely to witness an epic victory in the mould of Fausto Coppi's swashbuckling triumph there during the 1949 Giro d'Italia. Instead, the overall contenders of the 2011 Tour de France allowed the early break to build its advantage up to over 8 minutes. They then stayed together on the day's main obstacle, the first category climb to Sestrières, all too aware that the subsequent 40km-long descent would almost certainly nullify any gains.
The détente was to end on the second category Pramartino, however. Although just 6.7km in length and 6% in gradient, its positioning just ahead of the final plunge to Pinerolo offered it a strategic value on a par with Tuesday's final climb of the Col de Manse. And as was the case on Tuesday, it was Alberto Contador who seized the initiative on the way up the climb. The Spaniard, all too aware that time is running out if he is to win this Tour, launched the first of two testing accelerations 3km from the summit, but on each occasion Andy Schleck succeeded in leading the rest of yellow jersey group back up to the Spaniard.
Schleck and his brother Fränk even took over the forcing themselves on a number of occasions, but it was fascinating to view the contrast in styles with Contador. While the Spaniard was fiercely committed to his attacks, the Schlecks' moves were tentative at best, with the brothers looking over their shoulders to examine the state of play behind rather than continuing their accelerations.
Contador took over once again as the road pitched downwards, as fresh from exposing the Schlecks' cautious descending on Tuesday, he looked to repeat the dose on the Pramartino, surging clear in the company of Samuel Sanchez. Thomas Voeckler misjudged a corner as he scrambled for their wheels, and suddenly the Spanish tandem had a gap over the rest of the contenders.
After a frantic plunge down the tree-lined descent, Evans and the Schlecks succeeded in reeling in Contador and Sanchez just as the race entered the finishing straight. Behind, Voeckler had ridden off the road and into the front yard of a house on the descent, precisely as breakaway Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) had down moments earlier.
Although uninjured, the Voeckler rolled in alongside Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) 27 seconds down on Evans, and his grip on the maillot jaune has been loosened for the second day in succession. "I had a lot of luck," Voeckler said of his travails on the descent. "If there had been a wall, I wouldn't have been able to stop."
The race now moves on to two successive summit finishes in the Alps, where more sizeable gaps should finally begin to develop between the overall contenders. Seemingly down and out in the Pyrenees, Alberto Contador has emerged from the second rest day in resurgent form, but the Spaniard knows that he needs to get far more purchase on his attacks on the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez. Voeckler may continue to wear yellow, but Evans is the man he desperately needs to overhaul.
Full Results
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#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
4:18:00
2
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
0:00:40
3
Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ
0:00:50
4
Julien El Fares (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
Row 3 - Cell 2
5
Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep Cycling Team
Row 4 - Cell 2
6
Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
0:01:10
7
Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
Row 6 - Cell 2
8
Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team RadioShack
Row 7 - Cell 2
9
Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Saur - Sojasun
0:01:15
10
Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
0:02:20
11
Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Movistar Team
Row 10 - Cell 2
12
Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
0:02:37
13
Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team