Bradley Wiggins holds on to fourth place in the Tour de France 2009 after stage 20
Bradley Wiggins delivered a heroic ride on Mont Ventoux to keep fourth place in the Tour de France as Alberto Contador all but sealed overall victory.
In the closing kilometres of stage 20, Wiggins was dropped by Contador, Lance Armstrong and Andy and Frank Schleck.
But he did just enough to hold on to fourth overall and is set to equal the best finish by a Briton in the race.
Contador shadowed second-placed Andy Schleck to the line to preserve his commanding lead with one stage left.
Juan Manuel Garate was first to the finish at the top of Ventoux after breaking away from the peloton early in the race with 15 other riders and, along with Tony Martin, staying clear until the end.
Garate pulled away from the German right at the death to become the first Spaniard to win on one of the Tour’s most famous – and formidable – climbs.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8168884.stm
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Tour de France 2009, stage 19, 23 July result
Stage 19 result:
1. Mark Cavendish (GB/Columbia ) 3hrs 50mins 35secs
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor/Cervelo) ”
3. Gerald Ciolek (Ger/Milram) ”
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel/Silence-Lotto) ”
5. Oscar Freire (Spa/Rabobank ) ”
6. Jerome Pineau (Fra/Quick-Step) ”
7. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn/Skil-Shimano) ”
8. Nicolas Roche (Ire/AG2R) ”
9. Christophe Le Mevel (Fra/Francaise des Jeux) ”
10. Martijn Maaskant (Ned/Garmin) ”
Selected others:
12. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) ”
14. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin) + 4secs
24. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana ) ”
66. Charles Weglius (GB/Silence-Lotto) + 2mins 01sec
156. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 18mins 37secs
Overall standings:
1. Alberto Contador (Spa/Astana) 77hrs 06mins 18s
2. Andy Schleck (Lux/Saxo Bank ) + 4mins 11secs
3. Lance Armstrong (US/Astana) + 5mins 21secs
4. Bradley Wiggins (GB/Garmin ) + 5mins 36secs
5. Andreas Kloeden (Ger/Astana ) + 5mins 38secs
6. Frank Schleck (Lux/Saxo Bank ) + 5mins 59secs
Selected others:
15. Carlos Sastre (Spain/Cervelo) + 17mins 23secs
58. Charlie Wegelius (GB/Silence-Lotto) + 1hr 21mins 40secs
75. David Millar (GB/Garmin) + 1hr 49mins 11secs
128. Mark Cavendish (GB/Columbia) + 2hrs 56mins 50secs
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Mark Cavendish claims record Tour win
Mark Cavendish produced a trademark stunning sprint finish to clinch his fifth stage win of the 2009 Tour and a British record ninth in total.
The Manxman overtook Barry Hoban’s record, adding his fifth win to the four victories he claimed last year.
Norway’s Thor Hushovd could not match Mark Cavendish’s surge to the line but came in second to keep the green jersey.
A split in the peloton saw Britain’s podium hopeful Bradley Wiggins lose four seconds to rival Lance Armstrong.
Lance Armstrong came home 12th, only two places in front of Wiggins, but with a big enough gap to be given a separate time.
The seven-time champion, who lies third in the general classification, is now 15 seconds ahead of fourth-placed Wiggins.
Spain’s Alberto Contador retained the leader’s yellow jersey after finishing the 178km stage from Bourgoin Jallieu to Aubenas in the same group as Wiggins and second-placed Andy Schleck.
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8167610.stm
Watch Mark Cavendish win stage 19 of the Tour de France 2009:
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