Touroscopy - Stage 17 - All calm
Thursday, 24 July 2008 22:58
Another day another stage and another day of speculation as to what will unfold. The big favorites for the Tour called a truce of sorts after some very hard days in the Alps. The yellow jersey was safely escorted around the course as the break went on a hunt for personal glory. A powerful acceleration gave Marcus Burghardt his first victory of the 2008 season and Columbia’s fifth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France.
At the end of a long break, the German comfortably outpowered Spaniard Carlos Barredo in a two-way battle for a convincing stage victory at St. Etienne. For Burghardt the win had particular importance following a tough spring where knee injuries left him out of one of his other big objecitves, the Belgian Classics.
“I’ve done some track riding in the past and in a finish like today’s that was specially important.” Burghardt said. “I never imagined it could come in useful in the Tour de France!”
“I went in one move early on, then in another after Carlos had gone because I really wanted to get in a break today. We both went for the sprint at the same time and I turned out to be the strongest.”
Already the winner of Ghent-Wevelgem in 2007, Burghardt said “My team said I had to help Mark [Cavendish] and Kim [Kirchen] in the first week, but that I would have a chance to go in the breaks in the third. And that's what's happened."
“My spring was very difficult because I had problems training in California [at the pre-season training camp] because of my knee injuries. it became inevitable that I would have an operation. Things got better afterwards and thanks to my team giving me lots of support here I am.”
During the break “Barredo said he wouldn’t work because he wasn’t as good as me in the final sprints and he tried to attack from behind. But I was always very focussed on him so he couldn’t get away.”
Asked if he had lifted his arms in victory too early, Burghardt said “I was sure that I had enough of an advantage and I was very happy to have won a Tour stage considering it’s just the second time I’ve taken part in the race.”
Asked why Columbia was so successful in this season, Burghardt said “it’s all down to great team spirit and supporting each other as much as possible.”
Losers
Damiano Cunego - We are only putting him in the loser category due to his bad luck. The 'Little Prince' crashed early in the stage and was escorted to line by some of his team mates. His courage in doing so was unquestioned as he showed just how tough professional bike riders have to be. Jersey in shreds and clearly suffering he was the last to finish yesterday. Let's hope he can saddle up again and finish the Tour.
State of Play
This was always going to be a truce of sorts as the Heads of State of the Tour decided that it would be a quieter day. no doubt the team of the yellow jersey wearer Carlos Sastre were happy not to be full gas all day as they have been in the previous stages. With Saturdays time trial firmly fixed on everyone's mind today's stage will be similar. The GC riders will be in energy conservation mode for the battle against the clock in the race of truth.
