Luis Leon Sanchez begins a great day by winning the ninth stage of 2011 Tour De France
Rabobank team’s Luis Leon Sanchez won the dramatic day of the ninth stage of 2011 Tour de France on Sunday, July 10. Thomas Voeckler took the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Issoire and ended in Saint-Flour. The 27-year-old Spanish cyclist took a total of 5 hours, 27 minutes and 9 seconds to cover the distance of 208 kilometres.
The race leader, Thomas Voeckler of Europcar, was the runner-up with 5 seconds behind Sanchez. Sandy Casar of FDJ was in the third spot with a difference of 13 seconds.
This stage was very difficult for the riders because it contained eight tough mountain-climbs and there were a lot of crashes in the ninth stage of the race. The two riders, Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland, were in serious injury after the crash.
With 38 kilometres to go, a French television car followed a leading group of five breakaway riders, while the driver of the car sharply crossed the road in order to avoid the tree, he hit Juan Antonio Flecha and the Spaniard clattered straight into Vacansoleil-DCM
rider, Hoogerland. Thankfully, both cyclists were able to maintain the race.
Hoogerland said, "I think the people in the car will have a very big guilty feeling and they will surely apologize to me and Flecha. I have three cuts that are about seven centimetres long and quite deep too. I'll go to the hospital now and I think I'll
need about 30 stitches at least.”
Omega Pharma-Lotto rider Frederik Willems crashed heavily and was taken away in an ambulance. The three-time Tour de France Champion, Alberto Contador, also faced a problem with his knee after the crash.
Contador told the media, "I'm actually quite worried because I have pain in that knee. I'm going to need to recover from that, I'm not feeling great."
With 178 kilometres to go, a group of three cyclists made their breakaway lead including, Sandy Casar, Thomas Voeckler and Luis Leon Sanchez. However, Sandy Casar was in good form and was able to take the intermediate sprint ahead of other cyclists.
Rein Taaramae took the title of best young rider with a timing of 5 hours, 31 minutes and 8 seconds ahead of Rob Ruijgh and Arnold Jeannesson. Hoogerland took the title of most aggressive riders ahead of Juan Antonio Flecha.
Thomas Voeckler took the overall standing with a timing of 38 hours, 35 minutes and 11 seconds. The stage winner, Sanchez, was the runner-up with 1 minute and 49 seconds behind, while Cadel Evans finished third with 2 minutes and 26 seconds behind Thomas.
After one day of rest the next stage will start in Aurillac and end in Carmaux. All the cyclists will cover the distance of 161 kilometres.
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