Briancon, France – Alexandre Vinokourov’s title hopes are fading fast despite his status as a favorite to win the Tour de France.
The injured cyclist fell more than eight minutes behind leader Michael Rasmussen in Tuesday’s ninth stage, the last of three stages in the Alps.
Juan Mauricio Soler became the latest Colómbian to show climbing prowess at the Tour, attacking in the last of three major ascents and holding off a pack of chasers to win the stage.
Soler, competing in his first Tour for the newcomer Barloworld team, finished the 99.1-mile ride from Val d’Isère to Briancon in 4 hours, 14 minutes, 24 seconds.
“I’m really happy. … Winning a stage is a dream,” Soler said.
Rasmussen, a Dane who took home the polka-dot jersey of the Tour’s best climber the past two years, leads a thinning pack of hopefuls after the Alps proved too much for some.
His ambitions are growing to hold on to the leader’s yellow jersey, which he took in the second alpine stage Sunday. His main rivals did little during Tuesday’s climbs.
Only a few managed to make up some ground. Alejandro Valverde of Spain, who placed second after Soler, gained 16 seconds against Rasmussen and is second overall – 2 minutes, 35 seconds back.
Valverde, who crashed out of last year’s Tour with a broken collarbone, leads a strong Caisse d’Epargne team and has shaped up as perhaps the biggest threat to the 33-year-old Dane’s ambitions.
Iban Mayo, a strong Spanish climber, was third overall and 2:39 behind, crossing the finish line with Rasmussen.
Vinokourov’s knees were aching after a crash Thursday. The Astana team leader briefly dropped back to get an anti-inflammatory pill from the race doctor during Tuesday’s stage.
“I did what I could. The team worked well again … and tried to reduce the gap,” Vinokourov said. “It was another horrible day for me.”
Vinokourov lost another 2:42 to Rasmussen and trails by 8:05 overall in 21st place.
CYCLING
Tour de France at Briancon, France
Ninth stage: A 99.1-mile high mountain climb from Val d’Isere to Briancon.
1. Mauricio Soler, Colombia, Barloworld, 4 hours, 14 minutes, 24 seconds; 2. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 38 seconds behind; 3. Cadel Evans, Australia, Predictor-Lotto, same time; 4. Alberto Contador, Spain, Discovery Channel, :40; 5. Iban Mayo, Spain, Saunier Duval-Prodir, :42; 6. Michael Rasmussen, Denmark, Rabobank, same time; 7. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Discovery Channel, same time; 8. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg, T-Mobile, same time; 9. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, :46; 10. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Team CSC, same time.
11. Christophe Moreau, France, AG2R Prevoyance, :54; 12. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, same time; 13. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, 1:32; 14. Juan Jose Cobo, Spain, Saunier Duval-Prodir, 1:36; 15. Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 1:49; 16. Oscar Pereiro, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 3:24; 17. Christopher Horner, United States, Predictor-Lotto, same time; 18. Andrey Kashechkin, Kazakhstan, Astana, same time; 19. Patrice Halgand, France, Credit Agricole, same time; 20. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, Astana, same time.
Also
25. Christian Vandevelde, United States, Team CSC, same time; 29. Vladimir Gusev, Russia, Discovery Channel, 3:43; 31. Sergio Paulinho. Portugal, Discovery Channel, 3:58; 44. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, 6:44; 83. Egoi Martinez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 22:50.
95. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Predictor-Lotto, same time; 137. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 28:51; 171. David Zabriskie, United States, Team CSC, same time.
Overall standings
(After nine stages)
1. Michael Rasmussen, Denmark, Rabobank, 43:52:48; 2. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 2:35; 3. Iban Mayo, Spain, Saunier Duval-Prodir, 2:39; 4. Cadel Evans, Australia, Predictor-Lotto, 2:41; 5. Alberto Contador, Spain, Discovery Channel, 3:08; 6. Christophe Moreau, France, AG2R Prevoyance, 3:18; 7. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Team CSC, 3:39; 8. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, 3:50; 9. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Discovery Channel, 3:53; 10. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg, T-Mobile, 5:06.
11. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 5:20; 12. Andrey Kashechkin, Kazakhstan, Astana, 5:34; 13. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team CSC, 5:56; 14. Mauricio Soler, Colombia, Barloworld, 6:29; 15. Oscar Pereiro, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 6:36; 16. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 6:42; 17. Linus Gerdemann, Germany, T-Mobile, 6:45; 18. Denis Menchov, Russia, Rabobank, 7:10; 19. David Arroyo, Spain, Caisse d’Epargne, 7:33; 20. Tadej Valjavec, Slovenia, Lampre-Fondital, 7:45.
Also
22. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, 8:16; 25. Christopher Horner, United States, Predictor-Lotto, 9:11; 29. Vladimir Gusev, Russia, Discovery Channel, 12:20; 39. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, 26:21; 47. Christian Vandevelde, United States, Team CSC, 32:46.
64. Sergio Paulinho, Portugal, Discovery Channel, 46:20; 84. Egoi Martinez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 1:02:20; 134. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Predictor-Lotto, 1:29:36; 151. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 1:33:49; 170. David Zabriskie, United States, Team CSC, 1:42:49.
