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TDF stage 13 / climb? - Haussler wins big, GC unchanged, Hushovd green, Pellizotti spotted

Friday,  07/17/09  08:46 AM

Heinrich Haussler attacked from an early break and stayed out all day for a wire-to-wire win in today's 99km TDF stage from Colmar to Besançon.  He was 105 in GC and unbothered by the peloton, who rode as a clump with little action, despite five catagorized climbs and rain.  In other action Thor Hushovd grabbed sprint points to take the green jersey back; he might not be able to beat Mark Cavendish in a raw sprint, but he's wiley, and Franco Pellizotti took the KOM jersey from Igor Martinez by launching out and scooping up points on each climb.

I am confused by the strategy of would-be GC contenders like Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov, Andy Schleck, and Christian Vande Velde.  They need to pick up minutes on Lance and Alberto somewhere, today would have been a good chance.  Everyone is waiting for everyone else, and meanwhile AG2R holds yellow and Astana is in the catbird seat.  Verrry interrresting...

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