GAP, France — Something finally went right for Lance Armstrong’s team at the Tour de France.
Team RadioShack got its first taste of success at this year’s Tour when Sergio Paulinho of Portugal captured the 10th stage Wednesday, narrowly winning a two-man sprint among breakaway riders.
Andy Schleck of Luxembourg retained the yellow jersey. He finished in the main pack more than 14 minutes back, alongside his biggest rivals for the title.
Paulinho edged Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus over the sun-baked 111-mile trek from Chambery to Gap that featured one difficult climb — the Laffrey pass — as the race left the Alps.
Paulinho pointed skyward then sucked his thumb in honor of his 8-month-old daughter after beating Kiryienka by less than half a wheel. They both clocked 5 hours, 10 minutes, 56 seconds. Belgium’s Dries Devenyns was third, 1:29 behind.
“This is a victory we’ve been looking for for a while, after all the bad luck we had in the first week,” Paulinho said. “I hope this victory gives morale back to our team.”
It was the Portuguese rider’s first individual stage win at the Tour, though he was part of the Astana squad — including Armstrong and 2010 Tour winner Alberto Contador — that won the team time-trial last year.
Armstrong brought Paulinho and several other former Astana teammates to the Radio-Shack team, which was formed around the seven-time champion last year.
The 30-year-old Paulinho and Kiryienka, of Caisse d’Epargne, were part of a six-man breakaway made up of riders far back in the overall standings. The pack finished 14:19 behind Paulinho.
Paulinho and Kiryienka were part of a breakaway that took off around the 23-mile mark, and the pack didn’t give chase. Even the winners clocked an average of 21 mph during the stage — a relative snail’s pace at the Tour.
The overall standings didn’t change. Schleck leads Contador by 41 seconds, while Samuel Sanchez of Spain was third, 2:45 back. RadioShack’s Levi Leipheimer is 3:59 behind.
It was the 25-year-old Schleck’s first day in yellow, and he said he noticed greater fan support during his ride in the coveted shirt.
At a glance
Wednesday’s 10th stage of the Tour de France:
Stage: The 111.2-mile trek from Chambery to Gap featured one Category 1 climb as riders went through the southern Alps.
Winner: Sergio Paulinho of Portugal won in 5 hours, 10 minutes, 56 seconds. He beat Vasili Kiryienka of Belarus in a sprint to the finish line in baking-hot conditions. Belgian rider Dries Devenyns finished third.
Yellow jersey: Andy Schleck of Luxembourg kept the yellow jersey and maintained his 41-second lead over defending champion Alberto Contador. Spanish rider Samuel Sanchez is 2:45 back in third.
Garmin-Transitions watch: Tyler Farrar was the team’s top finisher, in 146th place. David Zabriskie is the best in the overall at 150th.
Armstrong watch: Lance Armstrong, 31st overall, finished 130th in the stage, more than 15 minutes behind the leader.
Quote of the day: “He’s a very strong rider and never thinks about himself. I’m very happy to see him win a stage in the Tour de France and shine for himself.” — Johan Bruyneel, Paulinho’s Team RadioShack manager
Next stage: The 11th stage today is a flatter, 114.7-mile route from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence.
