Menchov, Gesink a double threat in the Pyrénées

With the Tour de France entering its third and final week, the Rabobank Cycling Team stormed into a pivotal four days in the Pyrénées on a wave of momentum. The team’s two overall leaders—Russian Denis Menchov and Dutchman Robert Gesink—both performed well in week two of the three-week grand tour, and at the conclusion of the July 18 Stage 14 at Ax-3-Domaines, the two were in fourth (Menchov) and sixth (Geskink) in the General Classification.

Rabobank is now the only team with two riders in the top-10 overall, and both Menchov and Gesink have ridden aggressively in the mountains, steadily chipping away at their competitors.

Menchov animated Stage 14 with a brilliant second-place finish in the 184.5-kilometer race through the Pyrénées. While the first- and second-place GC riders Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador eyed each other on the final climb, Menchov made his move on his Giant TCR Advanced SL, finishing second on the stage and gaining valuable seconds in his quest to make the podium in Paris. Menchov now sits fourth overall, 2:44 behind Schleck and just 13 seconds behind third-place Samuel Sanchez of Spain.

Meanwhile, Gesink, wearing the white jersey of the Young Rider Classification (he’s second behind yellow-jersey-wearer Schleck in the Under-25 category) also rode well in Stage 14. The 24-year-old finished sixth on the stage, moving past American Levi Leipheimer in the overall standings, from seventh to sixth.

Gesink, who says he feels strongest in the highest peaks of the Pyrénées, will certainly be one to watch over the next three days of difficult mountain stages. And Menchov, already a winner of the Giro d’Italia (2009) and the Vuelta a España (2004, 2005), is hoping to make this his best Tour finish ever.

Stay tuned, it will be a thrilling final week for Team Rabobank at the Tour de France!