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STAGE 12: TONNERRE - VITTEL, 211.5 KM: TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 12: SORENSEN SOLOS TO VICTORY
By Chris Henry in Vittel
July 16, 2009
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Nicki Sorensen made the most of a rare opportunity to take his own chances
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
A Domestique Gets His Day
For Nicki Sorensen of Denmark, a humble workhorse for his leaders at Saxo Bank throughout the year, today was a day to emerge from the shadows and put his talents on center stage. Riding in his seventh Tour de France, Sorensen, a former distance runner who came to cycling relatively late, powered away from his day-long breakaway group and enjoy a solo victory into the town of Vittel. This was the second stage win for Saxo Bank after Fabian Cancellara's opening salvo in Monaco, and the Sorensen it was a well-deserved victory after years of service for others.
"This is something I will carry with me forever," Sorensen said of his rare opportunity to work for himself in the biggest bicycle race of the year. "To have won a stage in the Tour is of course an extremely big thing. Usually in the Tour de France I don't get many chances of trying on my own, so that makes the victory and the satisfaction even better."
"I had in mind the whole stage that with 25 kilometers to go that would be the point where I would start to give it all I could," he added, explaining his decision to attack his breakaway companions from so far out. "For me the worst thing would be to get to the finish line having used all of my power and not win the stage. I thought at least I would give it all I had."
The consummate team player, Sorensen expressed confidence that after tomorrow's stage to Colmar he would be recovered sufficiently to prepare for Saxo Bank's bid to assert Andy or Frank Schleck as overall race contenders in the Alps.
No change occurred in the overall standings as the contenders for the yellow jersey sought to stay cool on a hot passage through the wine country of eastern France. Levi Leipheimer and Cadel Evans found themselves on the ground after a crash through a left-hand corner in Vittel, but both remounted and having gone down within the final three kilometers, neither would lose any time.
While Evans looked fine, Leipheimer appeared to have hit the deck harder, slowly remounting and limping to the finish. The American suffered multiple injuries, including road rash and contusions on his back and hip.
"My wrist hurts, but surprisingly I'm okay; it could have been much worse," he said of the damage.
Italian Rinaldo Nocentini continues to lead the race with a scant six second lead over Astana's Alberto Contador.
A Day of Opportunity
After an opening two hours of fast, aggressive racing, the winning move finally formed after 75km on the road. Seven men established themselves in a powerful move including Sorensen, Laurent Lefevre (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Sylvain Calzati (Agritubel), Remi Pauriol (Cofidis), Markus Fothen (Milram), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), and the polka dot jersey of Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Despite a brief chase by heavy hitters Cadel Evans, Levi Leipheimer, Andy Schleck and Mikel Astarloza, the group was allowed to go clear.
"Sorensen was more than ten minutes back, so for us it was fine," a satisfied Nocentini said after the peloton rolled in, having kept his yellow jersey for another day. "The start was very fast but finally we were able to let them go."
The key animators of the break were Pellizotti and Martinez, who battled for king of the mountain points on the final three categorized climbs of the race. The Italian Pellizotti, who indicated that the polka dot jersey would become an objective after his failed bid for victory over the Col du Tourmalet to Tarbes last Sunday, routinely showed himself stronger than the current wearer of that jersey, Martinez.
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 Franco Pellizotti (l) made life difficult for king of the mountains leader Egoi Martinez
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
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With 40km still to race, the leaders held a four minute advantage over the main field. This was a gap that could rise or fall based on the whims of the sprinters' teams, and it became clear over the course of the next 10km of racing that no concerted chase would be mounted behind.
Sorensen knew this, and as he encouraged the group to keep working, he had in mind his own moves in the closing 25km. With a first powerful surge, he quickly made enemies of his friends in the break. Only Calzati could follow the Dane's acceleration but Sorensen hit again with 15km to the finish and this time showed without a doubt that he was without challengers for victory. With almost a minute in hand, he crossed the lines with arms raised and eyes bulging, almost incredulous of his good fortune.
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One-two punch: Sorensen's first attack was answered by Calzati but the Dane would hit again and finish alone in Vittel
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
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As the main bunch ambled in six minutes behind the winner, Mark Cavendish once more got the better of Thor Hushovd to take the largest share of points remaining for the green jersey competition.
"I just wanted to stay with Thor," Cavendish said at the finish. "We've changed our tactics a bit now. I've said all along I wanted the green jersey, but we're getting closer and closer to Paris so we're trying to get points wherever we can."
The fastest finisher in the bunch re-calibrated his efforts to take intermediate points and focus on the big picture: reaching Paris and finishing as the final green jersey.
"The guys are human and they can only do so much," Cavendish said on the decision not to chase the leaders. "It's important to conserve energy since we still have to get through the Alps. I'm a little tired since we've been racing for twelve days now, but I'm in much better shape than I was after twelve days of racing last year."
Stage 12: July 16, Tonnerre to Vittel 211.5km
1. Nicki Soerensen (DEN/Saxo Bank) 4h 52min 24sec (43,399 km/h)
2. Laurent Lefevre (FRA/Bbox Bouygues Telecom) @ 0:48
3. Franco Pellizotti (ITA/Liquigas) @ s.t.
4. Markus Fothen (GER/Milram)
5. Egoi Martinez (ESP/Euskaltel-Euskadi)
6. Sylvain Calzati (FRA/Agritubel)
7. Remi Pauriol (FRA/Cofidis) @ 1:33
8. Mark Cavendish (GBR/Columbia-HTC) @ 5:58
9. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Cervélo TestTeam) @ s.t.
10. Marco Bandiera (ITA/Lampre)
Overall Classification After Stage 12
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA/AG2R La Mondiale) 48h 27min 21sec
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/Astana) @ 0:06
3. Lance Armstrong (USA/Astana) @ 0:08
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Astana) @ 0:39
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 0:46
6. Andreas Kloden (GER/Astana) @ 0:54
7. Tony Martin (GER/Columbia-HTC) @ 1:00
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ 1:24
9. Andy Schleck (LUX/Saxo Bank) @ 1:49
10. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas) @ 1:54
Other Classifications
Green Jersey: Mark Cavendish (GBR/Columbia-HTC)
Polka Dot Jersey: Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
White Jersey: Tony Martin (Columbia-HTC)
Teams: Saxo Bank
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