Sylvain Chavanel

Sylvain Chavanel it would retain its reach Yellow Jersey? This was the main question followers of the Paris-Nice on the eve of the 4th stage. Car presented itself this Thursday the justice of the Race to the Sun: the legendary Mont Ventoux. "Sylvain is rather nice, rather serene. We had not made the yellow jersey a priority on the Paris-Nice, we visions rather a step. Today, we will do everything possible to defend it, "said sports director of the team Cofidis, Francis Van Londersele, before departure given to Montélimar. Four thieves ambitious Inevitably, such an arrival gave ideas to some fighters, determined to reach the foot of Mount Bald with a maximum lead on the pack. Barely 10 km in the legs under a radiant sun that Kuschynski (Liquigas), Voigt (CSC Tiscali), Eisel (High Road) and Terpstra (Milram) decided to take powder escape. You will have understood, not least French in the first breakaway of the day. Geslin, Huguet and Edaleine had nice attempt to catch up with the coup, the Tricolores were indeed being trapped and four men quickly created a gap consequence. Although aided by a strong wind in the back, the escapees avalaient the first three days of difficulties, ranked 3rd class, well grouped and had even 7'15 lead on the pack at the exit of Valréas, 94 km from 'arrival. The timing by the bunch, led by the crew of the Yellow Jersey, in order to provide his effort. Riders of Rabobank, Robert Gesink, 8th overall at 21 seconds, joined them. So much so that the gap based like snow in the sun and fell even with the passage of 3'55 Bedouin just a short walk from the beginning of the ascent of Mont Ventoux. Gesink impresses Feeling the pack increasingly pressing, Jens Voigt placed a banderille 16 km from the finish which burst the group of 4. Behind, Gerolsteiner, Davide Rebellin, the race tightened at the earliest hectometres of the climb which was immediately major damage. A hellish pace putting in great difficulty Sylvain Chavanel. Despite the help of two teammates, the latter peinait to remain on the front line. Christophe Moreau, he rose to his own pace, without panic and playing yo-yo with the pack. Proof if proof were that successive accelerations ahead of the curve slow to bear fruit. The Quick-Step then took matters into their own hands. A new deadly attack in which Chavanel lâchait taken at least 6 km from the summit on a very steep. Followed quickly by Leon Sanchez, Verdugo, Rebellin and Garate, the four prosecutors Chavanel in the overall standings, victims shots of dozers Gesink. The Dutch flying on the slopes of the Ventoux with Cadel Evans on his rack, Schleck and Popovych, exploding in mid-air. Jens Voigt, glued to the asphalt, saw Thalys pass without reacting to 4 kilometres from the finish. The victory was played between Gesink and therefore Evans. Faster sprint, the Australian offered a success prestige but it is the rider of the Rabobank which makes up big today by offering the tunic leader of the Paris-Nice. Chavanel, he finishes very far, the 3'42 winner of the day…