Chavanel claims a second win

10:50am Saturday 26th July 2008

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SYLVAIN Chavanel bade farewell to Cofidis by delivering a second Tour de France stage win for the French team in the 163-kilometre flat stage from Roanne to Montlucon.

The 29-year-old from Chatellerault signed a twoyear deal with Quick Step this week, but his breakaway victory on the 19th stage should ensure he parts with Cofidis on good terms.

The French national timetrial champion was allowed to escape with Francaise des Jeux’s Jeremy Roy near Charmeil, and Team Milram’s attempts to catch them in the last 10km failed.

Roy, 25, who is without a stage win in his professional career, sat on his opponent’s wheel for too long, allowing Chavanel to control the final few metres and take his seventh stage victory of the season.

Gerald Ciolek of Team Columbia triumphed in the sprint for third place, ahead of veteran Erik Zabel.

It was a quiet day in the peloton, with the main contenders and time-trial specialists content to save their legs for Saturday’s decisive stage against the clock.

Carlos Sastre, Frank Schleck, Bernhard Kohl, Cadel Evans and Denis Menchov all came into Montlucon at the same time, meaning there is no change at the top of the general classification.

Evans, the best time-triallist of the five, must beat Sastre by 95 seconds in the 53km stage from Cerilly to St Amand Montrond to take back the yellow jersey.

With just the traditional ride into Paris coming on Sunday, whoever is in the maillot jaune at the end of the timetrial should be assured of Tour victory.

The outcome could also be dependent on the weather in the Auvergne, with showers and winds a real possibility.

The few hills that punctuate the start of the stage could suit Sastre, a brilliant climber.

Team CSC also have the advantage of sending Sastre and Frank Schleck out after Evans, which will give them the advantage of regular time checks.

The Spaniard has made serious attempts to improve his time-trialling abilities, but he is still expected to lose time to the more powerful Evans and Denis Menchov, regardless of the conditions.

Chavanel took the first Tour de France stage win of his career, and the second in this year’s race for Cofidis after Samuel Dumoulin broke away to win the third stage from St Malo to Nantes.

The Frenchman has also been the most aggressive rider in the peloton, with three attempted breakaways and now one success.

Oscar Freire is all but assured of the green jersey, with his rival Thor Hushovd unable to make serious gains in the bunch sprint won by Ciolek.