Euskaltel- Euskadi  - A Tough Week on the Way to the Alps.
Euskaltel-Euskadi tries and tries again...

Determined to retain the Polka Dot jersey and hoping to make an impression on the transition stages to the Alps, Euskaltel-Euskadi fell just short on both goals.

The team had lost sprinter Koldo Fernandez after he failed to make the time cut on stage 8, one of only two tour riders thus eliminated so far this year, and so had no cards to play in the sprint stages. For three days after the rest day, the team successfully defended Egoi Martinez’s KOM jersey, but whether it was a miscalculation or the result of encroaching tiredness from winning the jersey Friday’s stage saw Franco Pellizotti take over the Polka Dot Jersey by three points, a lead he has since extended to eight points.

Egoi Martinez in the king of the mountains Maillot Blanc à Pois Rouges, at the finish of stage 12. Fifth on the stage, in the successful day long break with a gap of almost six minutes having defended his mountains jersey. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

That’s not a large margin but, with two days in the Alps still ahead, teams will be pushing to get their leaders securely placed before the final time trial and Mont Ventoux. Other squads will be looking for stage wins, so Pellizotti and Martinez will have their work cut out to take large numbers of points. Look for Pellizotti to mark Martinez, and for the Basque rider to attack on the early climbs of each stage, hoping not to rile up squads protecting GC hopefuls as he looks for points.

The team had another disappointment on Friday when Amets Txurruka put in a strong final 50 KMs but found himself no more able to catch Heinrich Haussler than was anyone else. His second place represented another nearly day for the Basques, though as the rider said “the initial aim was to defend the King of the Mountain [jersey] for Egoi, a prize that made us dream, but it was impossible.” Nonetheless, once he had passed everyone but Brice Feillu and Hausler, Txurruka looked to the Frenchman for help but Feillu felt himself spent and Txurruka was left to try to shut down the gap to Hausler alone, and that, too, was an impossible ask.

A wet and tired Amets Txurruka rolls across the line in second place.
Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

The next day, the squad kept its head down, though Igor Antón had said on the team’s web site that he was looking forward to trying something in the Alps. Mikel Astarloza spent much of the day as virtual leader on the road, but Astana and Saxo Bank had no intention of letting any sort of break get away and risk failing to split the race leaders on the final climb, so the break was doomed, as Astarloza recognized.

Speaking after the stage he stage he offered a variation on his statement after the Pyrenees about not knowing what more the team could do to win a stage, this time commenting that “we tried and in the end we were not able to pick up a prize,” either the stage win or the return of the Polka Dot jersey. Astarloza, however, seemed to draw comfort from the fact that “for us it is important that Igor Antón [finished well] and he is gaining confidence. [After the second rest day] we’ll have replenished our forces for the last week.”

Mikel Astarloza finishes stage 12 with Andy Schleck. Photo © 2009 Fotoreporter Sirotti

Martinez, meanwhile, is sounding more weary, saying of Pellizotti that he “is a great rival. He is a great rider and now is better than me when the road is steep. It will be difficult to snatch the lead [back], but the tour is long and I am determined to continue fighting for a stage win or the jersey."

• Discuss the sport with fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton Forums & Chat Room.
• Sponsor the daily peloton - advertise your product - contact us.
• Would you like to try your hand at writing about the sport? Contact us.
• Link your site or blog to www.dailypeloton.com