Rabo Riding High at Tour de France
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Despite the pain of a fractured bone in his arm, Gesink attacked and finished 3rd in Stage 8. Cor Vos photo.
;setMainNewsImageZoomLink('/_upload/news/2010/gesink_2010tour_stage8.jpg');setCaption(document.image_thumb); "Despite the pain of a fractured bone in his arm, Gesink attacked and finished 3rd in Stage 8. Cor Vos photo.")
;setMainNewsImageZoomLink('/_upload/news/2010/menchov_2010tour_stage3.jpg');setCaption(document.image_extra_one_thumb); "Menchov made it through the treacherous Stage 3 in solid position. Cor Vos photo.")
;setMainNewsImageZoomLink('/_upload/news/2010/garate_2010_TDF_stage8.jpg');setCaption(document.image_extra_two_thumb); "Garate, third on Stage 7, had red handlebar tape to show his support for Spain in the World Cup. Cor Vos photo.")
;setMainNewsImageZoomLink('/_upload/news/2010/menchov_2010_TDF_stage7.jpg');setCaption(document.image_extra_three_thumb); "Menchov's consistent riding helped put Rabobank atop the team standings after 8 stages. Cor Vos photo.")
Menchov, Gesink on the move in the Alps
After nine days of racing through The Netherlands, Belgium and France, across treacherous cobblestone roads and into the Alps, the Rabobank team heads into the first rest day of the 2010 Tour de France in a solid position. The team’s two GC leaders—Russian Denis Menchov and Robert Gesink of The Netherlands—rode well in the dramatic Stage 8, which featured the first summit finish; Menchov and Gesink now sit fifth and 11th respectively in the General Classification.
Gesink, one of the many riders injured in the crash-marred Col de Stockeu descent on the second stage, gutted it out and stayed in the race despite a fracture to the ulna bone of his left arm. Six days later the 24-year-old was one of the top animators in the Stage 8 race to summit at Morzine-Avoriaz. The Dutchman attacked repeatedly on his Giant TCR Advanced SL and finished third on the day, moving up from 23rd to 11th overall.
Meanwhile, Menchov, the 2009 Giro d’Italia champion, remained right at the front of the action all week long, and then put in his own stellar effort in the Alps on Stage 8. The Russian moved up from tenth to fifth, and is now within striking distance of the top leaders, sitting just over one minute behind yellow jersey Cadel Evans.
Beyond the two GC leaders, Rabobank has demonstrated aggressive racing throughout the Tour. The team’s Spanish climbing specialist Juan Manuel Garate finished third on Stage 7 and, heading into the July 12 rest day, Rabobank leads the overall team standings.
Following a rest day in Morzine-Avoriaz, the three-week Tour de France resumes July 13 with another tough day in the Alps. Stage 9 features four major climbs including the hors categorie Col de Madeleine.
After nine days of racing through The Netherlands, Belgium and France, across treacherous cobblestone roads and into the Alps, the Rabobank team heads into the first rest day of the 2010 Tour de France in a solid position. The team’s two GC leaders—Russian Denis Menchov and Robert Gesink of The Netherlands—rode well in the dramatic Stage 8, which featured the first summit finish; Menchov and Gesink now sit fifth and 11th respectively in the General Classification.
Gesink, one of the many riders injured in the crash-marred Col de Stockeu descent on the second stage, gutted it out and stayed in the race despite a fracture to the ulna bone of his left arm. Six days later the 24-year-old was one of the top animators in the Stage 8 race to summit at Morzine-Avoriaz. The Dutchman attacked repeatedly on his Giant TCR Advanced SL and finished third on the day, moving up from 23rd to 11th overall.
Meanwhile, Menchov, the 2009 Giro d’Italia champion, remained right at the front of the action all week long, and then put in his own stellar effort in the Alps on Stage 8. The Russian moved up from tenth to fifth, and is now within striking distance of the top leaders, sitting just over one minute behind yellow jersey Cadel Evans.
Beyond the two GC leaders, Rabobank has demonstrated aggressive racing throughout the Tour. The team’s Spanish climbing specialist Juan Manuel Garate finished third on Stage 7 and, heading into the July 12 rest day, Rabobank leads the overall team standings.
Following a rest day in Morzine-Avoriaz, the three-week Tour de France resumes July 13 with another tough day in the Alps. Stage 9 features four major climbs including the hors categorie Col de Madeleine.
11 July 2010
