Aussie McEwen Wins 9th Tour Stage
Speeding like a horse at full gallop, Robbie McEwen sprinted to victory Tuesday in the ninth stage of the Tour de France, crushing two breakaway riders and becoming the first two-time winner of this year's race.
Head down, the Australian put on an explosive burst of speed on the final straight, racing along the barriers to throw his wheel over the line just a whisker in front of Norwegian champion Thor Hushovd.
Spain's Inigo Landaluze and Italian rider Filippo Simeoni, who had ridden bravely way out in front for much of the race, saw victory snatched away within sight of the finish. They were overtaken by McEwen, Hushovd and the chasing pack of riders in the massed-dash for the line.
"It's a beautiful victory," said McEwen, who rode with a sore knee and back injured in a crash last week. "I gave all of my energy to that sprint."
He said his knee was so painful Monday, a rest day, that he set out on Tuesday thinking, "I just hope I survive,"
McEwen, 32, also won a sprint finish in stage two to Namur in Belgium. The Australian, who won the green jersey as best sprinter in 2002, now has five stage victories in seven Tours. He is the current holder of the green jersey — and hopes to win it at the finish in Paris on July 25.
Hushovd, the Norwegian who won a sprint finish in Sunday's stage, zoomed up the left of the finish straight, while McEwen stayed right, skimming the barriers. They were neck-to-neck at the line, with McEwen just ahead.
The two breakaway riders, Landaluze and Simeoni, surged ahead of the pack 23.5 miles from the start and built up a lead of around 10 minutes.
The pack began to lay chase with about 42 miles to go, and gradually reeled in the gap. As they rounded the last corner to the finish, Landaluze and Simeoni were within sight of chasers. Their tired legs couldn't get them over the line ahead of the faster sprinters.
The 99.5-mile ride, the shortest of this Tour with the exception of time trial courses, started in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat, the hometown of retired French great Raymond Poulidor.
Five-time champion Lance Armstrong, aiming for a record sixth crown, finished comfortably in the main pack at the end of the undulating, hilly stage in central France. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler retained the overall lead.
"We just sat on the wheel, took it easy. We didn't have to take any responsibility," said Armstrong. The stage "was fine, didn't really surprise me at all."
On Wednesday, riders embark on the longest and so far toughest ride of the Tour, a 147-mile trek with nine climbs including a 3.5-mile-long ascent up a gradient of eight percent.
"It will be hard, especially if the race starts aggressively like it did today," said Armstrong. "A lot of people will be going home if it starts like that."
By John Leicester