Bradley Wiggins under pressure from Vincenzo Nibali on Grand Colombier descent
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) bounced back from the knee problem that has dogged the first week of his Tour de France to take victory on the tenth stage between Mâcon and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. The former French champion managed to escape the rest of a five-man breakaway group on the uphill final kilometre to the line, finishing three seconds ahead of Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD), and seven ahead of Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan).
Voeckler and Scarponi had been part of a four-man group, along with Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), which had escaped from a 25-man break on the Col du Grand Colombier. They were joined by Voigt at the end of the descent of the next climb, the Col de Richemond, to take the group’s number up to five then, with just over three kilometres to go, the attacks began. Devenyns put in a powerful move that looked to have been good enough but he faded in the final kilometre and was passed by Voeckler and the others as the climb to the line began.
Behind the breakaway the Sky team of Maillot Jaune Bradley Wiggins kept the race under control until fourth place Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) attacked on the descent of the Grand Colombier. The Italian managed to pull out almost a minute – moving into virtual second place overall – before being steadily pulled back before the top of the Richemond. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) and Pierre Rolland (Europcar) escaped over the summit and managed to finish 32 seconds ahead of the Wiggins group.
With all the rest of the riders in the top ten finishing alongside the Maillot Jaune however, the Briton held on to his lead for another day.
More details and reactions to follow