Tour de France 2009
Stage Seven: Barcelone – Andorre Arcalis 224km
Friday 10th July 2009
Live Ticker PART THREE

1544 CEST - Welcome to part 3 of today's Ticker.

Current Race situation
-9 man breakaway group of Egoi Martinez (Euskatel), Christophe Riblon (Ag2r), Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r), Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas), Christophe Kern (Cofidis), Jerome Pineau (Quick-Step), Brice Feillu (Agritubel) and Johannes Frohlinger (Milram) 116km - 50km to go
- Peloton at 12'11

Reporting by Chris Graetz

1544 CEST - Astana are still on the front of the peloton but the gap is not moving. I think this gap break could survive here. If they do, my tip is Egoi Martinez.

this break will survive Behind the two Astana riders are 5 Garmin riders. I can see Vande Velde and Wiggins. Yaroslav Popovych is at the back of the peloton. Just goes to show Astana don't want to do any work yet.

1550 CEST - 47km to go The advantage is still 12'17 as there are now 8 Garmin riders behind Astana. I see a few Bbox riders moving up the right hand side as well. Meanwhile, up in the break, Nocentini is having a chat with his team manager.

I tell you what, Egoi Martinez is looking very strong today. The man in Orange will be looking for a stage win today. Euskatel don't have any riders suited for the overall classification, so you can bet your bottom dollar that he will be looking for a win today.   Michael Rogers is also back at the team car having a chat. He is looking okay. He doesn't look sore. We could see him in a few breaks over the next few days unless he wants to stay as a domestique for Kim Kirchen. Michael got a few water bottles. It's rare to see a man of his talents work as a domestique. But being 13 minutes down, he may as well.

We've got some bad news. Sebastien Joly has had to abandon the race. Popovych was at the back of the peloton as he got loaded up with water bottles. It's hot out there, the riders need all the water they can get. He's navigating his way through the field to hand them out/

I see Cadel Evans looking comfortable in the field. Same with Oscar Pereiro. Caisse d'Epargne are moving riders to the front of the peloton. Astana now have 3 riders at the head of the peloton. The gap is 11'50 with 40km to go. he break are still working well together - Hang in their folks, we are working through some technical difficulties... fire works will start to fire off as we approach the climax of this piece of tour drama.

No way will the break be caught now. Astana are driving the peloton with 8 Garmin riders on their wheels but the gap is going down marginally. It's now 11'44 with 38km remaining. This break will only be caught if by 20km to go, the gap is down to around 6 - 7 minutes. But even still, it might be a bit too much.

Christian Vande Velde and Bradley Wiggins are looking strong hence the long line of Garmin. Vande Velde is leading the train. They are now entering Andorra. Just passed the border. Police and security were lining the roads. I'm surprised no one has lifted the pace here. It looks like there will be two races on the road. The first for a stage win, the second for the battle of the overall contenders. It will be interesting to see if we have a shakeout in the U25 race for the white jersey with the climbers in the young guns taking the top ten positions.

We now have nearly the whole Astana team at the head of the peloton. With 33km to go, the gap is 11'25. Garmin still have a strong presence. I think that Astana will launch a massive speed up the base of the climb. The break are approaching the outskirts of Andorra. Kuschynski is leading the break with Gutierrez on his wheel.

Nocentini is the virtual leader. With the gap at 11'20 and him starting the day just over 3 minutes behind. It's looking likely the Italian will be putting on the Maillot Jaune at the end of the day. The break is still hovering around 11'25 as Oscar Freire heads to the front of the peloton. Knowing he'll be dropped, he's getting in a good position so he doesn't lose much time nor energy trying to catch up; he will also be there to support Menchov for as long as his legs hold out.

The gap falls to under 11 minutes. Caisse d'Epargne are moving up as the peloton now passes the border into Andorra. stana are now putting on the pressure. There are 6 Astana riders leading the peloton.

Could the break actually come back? It's now down to 10'50. The gap is now starting to go down a bit quicker, we some strong climbing talent in that front group... we'll have to see how strong their legs are in the final 10 km when the attacks will start to fly.

1625 CEST - 25km to go: Nocentini leading the break, Martinez on his wheel. Riblon is dropping off. Martinez has fallen back to the team car to get more water. Angelo Furlan is well off the back of the peloton by himself. He will be hoping to survive today. He struggled yesterday and today. Soon we should see the sprinters gather in a gruppo to make the summit together and stay within the time limit for the stage.

Astana heading the peloton still with the yellow jersey coming up. Caisse are still building a strong presence on the left hand side. I feel Caisse might be opening something up for Luis Leon Sanchez or Pereiro.

The gap is now 8'58 with 24km to go - It's coming down so you can tell how much pace Astana are putting in There is a chance this break may not survive now. We'll see how much the gap drops in the next 8 km.

Liquigas are now moving up on the left hand side. Kreuziger, Pellizotti and Nibali will all be looking at trying something today. Which one? I reckon Kreuziger. Mark Renshaw is now heading out the back. He'll be joining Furlan and a couple of other riders soon. No doubt Cavendish and the other sprinters will be joining him soon. Poor buggers. I'd hate to be a sprinter climbing this climb.

628 CEST - 22km to go: The gap is now down to 8'42. Not surprisingly, Michael Rogers is dropping back. He's obviously in a lot of pain; a brave effort by the man today.

CRASH! A rabobank rider has gone down. Mark Cavendish is down too. Tom Boonen is down. Leipheimer is down. Rogers might have crashed again. Leipheimer was involved and now has 3 riders leading him back; Murayev and Rast are pacing Leipheimer back. At the base of the climb, it's the wrong time to have a crash. All riders are up and going.

Leipheimer should get back okay as Astana will slow down. But Saxo Bank should come up and do the pace making to make sure he doesn't get back. But they're not. I can't understand tactics of teams this year. No one seems to want to chase anything.

Leipheimer is back in the peloton now anyway. Yes, I would have put the hammer down. And I wouldn't have been a well liked man in the Peloton. FDJ jersey's are on the left of Astana. Liquigas are still on the right. Everyone saving to play their cards on the final kilometers here. Astana following the tried and true tactic of setting the pace high to thin the group and then launch attacks. Expect Andy Schleck, Kreuziger and others to react when the action begins.

1632 CEST - 20km to go: The gap is 8'38. Cancellara is looking comfortable. Most riders are starting to get out of the saddle as Boonen is getting attention from a doctor. He's fallen a lot this tour. he break is still together. No one has attacked yet. They will wait for a bit before they attack.

Arashiro has been dropped. He's got a long climb to the end. He'll have plenty of friends to help him up the climb today in the "laughing group". With 19km to go, the gap is still 8'28. Who wins from here? My tip is Martinez as he is the better climber. But Nocentino and Gutierrez can climb too.

The whole Astana team are leading the peloton. With 18km to go, the gap is just under 8 minutes. A few Garmin riders are falling off the peloton. Millar is one of them. Farrar is the other. Johan Van Summeren has been dropped too. Wow. Evans has a weak team at his disposal this year. The last intermediate sprint of the day is coming up for our leaders.

Thomas Voeckler is dropping off. It doesn't matter, he's delivered Bbox the necessary goods this tour. He'll make his way to the end and make sure he is solid and ready for weekend action. Kuschysnki is dropping off. Maybe he will drop off and be a solid team mate for his Liquigas squad Arvesen has been dropped.

You know that phrase, "conspicuous by his absence", well I for one am missing Chris Horner at this point in the race; no doubt Chris would be here in the mix if he hadn't been injured earlier this year. I'm sure the Astana crew are missing the talented Horner about now too. So here's to you Chris hope you are recovering well and we hope to see you in action soon in Europe.

15.3 Km to go - escapees At 7'44 The lead group has been reduced to about 30 riders - 13km from the finish and now beyond the foothills nad entering the real meat of the climbing menu toay. Lance Armstrong is prominent at the front as are the other favourites.

1650 CEST - 11km to go The gap is 7'04 is the gap as Cancellara is holding onto the yellow jersey. Evans has a few teammates with him. I can see Hincapie near the front of the peloton. The break are slowing down as Gutierrez is on the front. Riblon is looking strong in the main group. As is Martinez.  Whether the break survives or not will depend on who attacks and how well our leaders hold out... but a win could still come out of the lead group.

The gap is falling. It's now 6'34 as the break start the climb. A Liquigas rider is dropping off the back of the lead group

1654 CEST - 9.8km to go - Kuschysnki is the Liquigas rider dropped off - Astana are controlling the peloton. A few Garmin riders there. I can spot Vande Velde.  Saxo Bank are on the right hand side, still hanging in there.

Astana continues controlling the head of the peloton, but Garmin-Slipstream is gearing up to take a turn. Matt White has been onto Vande Velde's helpers to tell they just need to get him to the foot of the steeps where the final action will start. Paulinho has dropped off for Astana. He's done his job. Tony Martin is sneaking up. The gap is falling. 7.7km to go it's now 5'43.

Hesjedal has dropped off. The speed is high. Will the break survive here? Cadel Evans is looking in a good position, but Sastre is a way back  The main bunch has is only 2.3 km the leaders with 10km to go  Arrieta is dropping off the back; Job done for many domestiques. Zubeldia is leading Armstrong.

Zubeldia leading the Astana train. Martin is looking comfortable. Cancellara is dropping off. Riblon has attacked and Martinez is following.

The pace is suggesting the leaders will be caught with 2km to go. Christophe Kern and Johannes Frohlinger are making a race of it at the front of the leaders.

6km to go- Gap is 5'20. Riblon has accelerated again. Astana still controlling the peloton. Cancellara is dropping back.

 Armstrong, Contador are riding well, as is Tony Martin of Columbia. Fabian Cancellara is clinging on gamely to the chasing group. He is at the back of the group so he'll miss any attack that comes. No one has gone with Ag2r's Riblon. He's on his own. Cancellara has definitely dropped off the back.

5km to go Astana setting a huge pace up the climb. No one has attacked from the peloton yet. The pace is hard for anyone to attack. Andy Schleck is still at the front of the bunch. He has no choice but to stay in contention. It's a waiting game - who will go Contador, Armstrong?

Six Astana riders at the head of the pack! It's Agritubel's Brice Feillu that has attacked, not Riblon. Frohlinger is trying to stretch things out. Christope Kern is going with him as is Martinez.

3.2 km to go: Agritubel's Brice Feillu is doing a stonking ride - surprising everyone. this could be the neo-pros best performance yet and perhaps a stage win in it for him.

Astana has to be feeling smug - they don't need to attack, they are just grinding their compettiton off their wheels at the moment. There is still a 5'06 lead from the leader to chasing group with the remnants of the lead group 30 seconds behind.

Armstrong is not guaranteed a yellow jersey. Nocentini is in the lead group with a virtual lead of over a minute on Armstrong. Cadel Evans has attacked but in vain as Armstrong takes his wheel and draws him back. Under a mile to go for our leaders - 1.2 km.

 Team Lotto is pushing pushing. Evans must go again. Feillu is under the kilometer kite! A wild card rider with a wild card team - his vlaue will rocket! Feillu still has 30 seconds.

Contador has gone this time. It's beautiful to watch. Armstrong is still chasing hard with Cadel at his shoulder. Feillu is approaching the line, he has a grand lead. He is looking back... and

Brice Feillu is the Winner!!!

 Its Feillu with Christophe Kern in second place. Frohlinger is third.

The battle royal is on a few kilometes back. Dancing dancing...It doesn't mean yellow today, because Nocentini is still ahead.

Vande velde has accelerated, Evans is up there, with Bradley Wiggins we think. Contador is gritting his teeth, now gasping for breath, in the finishing straight. He needs every second but it may be too late for the maillot jaune today -. He'll be thinking of tomorrow and beyond... Bradley Wiggins is burying himself,

Cadel has gone and snatached a place ahead of Armstrong, Schleck.  Armstrong is looking good for someone who has just battled out his first mountain stage in four years.  We are now waitng for the rankings. Noncentini could be the new yellow jersey wearer. What is certain is Cancellara has done his bit in yellow and done a grand job of defending it for the first week of the 2009 tour.

Our new race leader is Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r)

Ok here we go, Top ten results for the stage:
1. Brice Feillu 6h 11 31
2. Christophe Kern +0.05
3. Johannes Frohlinger +25
4. Rinaldo Nocentini +26
5. Egoi Martinez +45
6. Christophe Riblon +1.05
7. Jerome Pineau +2.32
8. Jose Ivan Gutierrez +3.14
9. Alberto Contador +3.26
10. Cadel Evans +3.47

General Classification
1. Rinaldo Nocentini
2. Alberto Contador +6
3. Lance Armstrong +8
4. Levi Leipheimer +39
5. Bradley Wiggins +46
6. Andreas Kloden +54
7. Tony Martin +1.00
8. Christian Vande Velde +1.24
9. Andy Schleck +1.49
10. Vincenzo Nibali +1.54

Wow! What a win for Brice Feillu. His first win in his professional career came on the Arcalis. Amazing. The wildcard team of Agritubel has had their success. With Voeckler's win on Stage 5, we've seen two French victories. With a break a chance tomorrow, will we see another one then? Ag2r have the race lead. Who would have thought. Rinaldo Nocentini would end the stage wearing the yellow jersey today.

Hopefully he stays that for a few more days. Quite possible with the liklihood of breaks surviving with riders down on the GC looking for time. Also we must acknowledge the ride of Bradley Wiggins. He did it in the Giro and he did it here. He can stay with pure climbers. Wow! Amazing. Garmin will be happy at that.

I'm Chris Graetz and we've witnessed something special this stage. Until tomorrow, Adios. Thanks to Vaughn Trevi and Mark Sharon for filling in as I fought out some technical difficulties in the last third of the stage.

Stay tuned for full results and photos if Vaughn can get his computer to download the photos this morning.

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