Results: 2010 Tour de France – Stage 9 Morzine-Avoriaz – Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

Frenchman Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) celebrates the second Tour de France stage win of his career. Photo: © Roberto Bettini

The 204.5km 9th stage of the 2010 Tour de France from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint Jean de Maurienne marked one of the most exciting stage finishes outside of all out sprints. A breakaway containing Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Luis León Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) was almost assured a breakaway success with a run at the finish. Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, however, had other plans. Closing a several minute gap coming out of the long Cat 1 climb and fast descent, the rival pair closed the gap through the flat finish and caught the lead pack with only a kilometer left to race.

Accomplished sprinter Sandy Casar came out with the stage win and Andy Schleck picked up the yellow jersey in a hair standing finish that had everyone on their toes. You could almost see the “holy s!#t!” look on the breakaway riders faces as Andy Schleck dove to the inside corner in that remaining kilometer.

The exciting end to Stage 9 was proceeded with a brutal climb up Col de la Madeleine where we got to watch the famous pair of climbers (Schleck and Contador) duke it out for this year’s Tour supremacy. The constant attacking back and forth lead to a break up of the overall pack and several chase groups all trying to not lose too much time on the two top contenders of the GC classification.

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) has a word with Tour rival Alberto Contador (Astana) as the duo put time into all the other GC contenders. Photo: © Roberto Bettini

When the dust settled, Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador showed what it really looks like to have two climbing powerhouses but the hammer down.

“We’re both at about the same level, although now I have a lead of 41secs,” said Schleck, who won the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz on Sunday to close to within 20sec of Evans. “It’s now up to him (Contador) to attack in the Pyrenees.”

“I know what my aim is now, and which wheel I have to follow—Andy Schleck’s. I think he’s the most dangerous,” said Contador, who up until now has been largely unchallenged on the race’s tough climbs. “It was a really epic stage, and the very hard climb to the Madeleine left a lot of people struggling.”

Cadel Evans Loses Big

Race leader Cadel Evans (BMC) rode the ninth stage with a fractured elbow. Photo: © Roberto Bettini

With Schleck and Contador attacking and then working together to catch the lead group, yellow jersey wearer Cadel Evans lost big. With a fracture elbow, the fast, attacking pace proved to be too much for the veteran and he lost 7:47 in the GC classification putting him out of contention for a win at this year’s Tour. Noticeably shaken and upset at the end of stage 9, Evans still did a great job of carrying the yellow jersey while blue tape held together a battered left arm.

“I’m not at my normal level, but when you’re in the yellow jersey at the Tour whether you’re good or not you have to be there,” said Evans. “I haven’t seen the results yet but I’m pretty sure it’s over for this year.”

Radio Shack Looking Good For High Placement

Levi Leipheimer had a great day in the mountains and was able to gain positioning in the GC standings to cement himself as a possible for the podium in Paris. Team partner, Lance Armstrong, also looked comfortable in stage 9 which begs the question, “Will Lance win a stage in his last Tour de France?”. With a strong showing and not having to worry about overall standings, it looks like Lance Armstrong has a serious ability to get on the top of the podium during a stage at this year’s Tour.

Final Results: Stage 9

GC Standings After Stage 9