Competitions

Valls in front of Tour de France glory’s doors

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Tour de France 2010

Published on Sunday, 11 July 2010 14:21

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Spaniard Rafael Valls fell short for the stage victory that everyone into the FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI team was dreaming of at the start of the 97th Tour de France. The brave rider from Cocentaina in Alicante finished in 2nd place on the eight day of competition on French soil, as the first big mountains were tackled in the way from Tournes to the Station des Rousses, with 166 kilometers and six categorized climbs. Sylvain Chavanel (QST) was the only rider overcoming the Golds' rising star, notching his second victory in this year's race and jumping again into the top slot overall as maillot jaune. After frustrated attempts by Italian Eros Capecchi to enter the day's early break, Valls tried to show up-front in the first five kilometers into the climb towards the Croix de Serra (Cat. 2), the penultimate ascent into the programme.

In company of a selected pursuit group, featuring really big names in the likes of Cunego (LAM), Gárate (RAB) or Voeckler (BTL), the Gold Generation's young reference, just turning 23 before the Tour, bridged fast the gap on the leading duo, formed up by Hondo (LAM) and Pineau (QST), the last survivor already on the slopes of the decisive Côte de Lamoura (Cat. 2). Valls couldn't initially get into Chavanel's pace as he attacked, but recovered with fighting spirit and overtook the rest of his group with 10 kilometers to go and started a furious pursuit that ended up rewarding him with a notorious second place, while Capecchi closed down a sensational outing from Matxin and Angoitia's roster in 10th place into the group sprint. Sunday will be a day where the youngster from FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI will for sure try to get over this low with attacking manners in the Queen stage of the Alpine trio: 189 kilometers from Les Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, including the demanding climbs to Ramaz and Gets.

QUOTES:

Rafael Valls (2nd place in Tour de France’s eighth stage): "Even though I came runner-up, I'm very happy with this achievement. It isn't by any means easy to get into a breakaway in the Tour de France and also contest a victory against such good riders. Actually, I didn't even think this was going to be my day to try it in the mountains: when the group of five went apart, we understood that was the definitive escape, but the boost given by several teams in the bunch to shorten the gaps gave us some chance into the climbs to try it. I felt good in the penultimate climb, the margin towards the leading group was affordable and Matxin told me to attack. I didn't think in any moment during the race I was competing alongside those big characters in such big race, that only comes to you when you cross the finish line. Chavanel went for his teammate in the descent and we tried to attack in the last climb to reach as far as possible. What I did today gives me confidence so I can be an important rider in pro cycling: after all my knee problems in Langkawi and the crash in Romandy, I recovered the sensations from the early season in Switzerland and came in really good condition here. Now we'll be going step-by-step: as I said, getting into a Tour breakaway is so hard against those riders, and even more difficult to crown it, but I'm sure we will get other chances to chase the win."

Joxean Fernández Matxin (sports director): "I feel truly proud and satisfied of what all Golds did today, as well Valls on front as Capecchi in the chase, but you always get some bitter flavor because the victory is what counts, and we didn't match it today. However, I think we reacted well to the fact we didn't get into the first break, and obviously I have to give compliments to all the squad. We knew there were too few riders on front and that the pace in the peloton was making things hard for them. Those attacks in the penulimate climb made us tell Valls to attack and give the team some presence. We were always searching for Cunego's wheel in the group, because he was theoretically the strongest rider for such finishes, but in the end Chavanel broke apart. Now it's easy to say we were wrond, but talking after things happen is a certain shoot on taget and races are unpredicatable. Now we have to be cautious: we know getting these results is very hard and that we got also bad moments during the race, just like the ones that might come, but we're going to keep our spirit and seek on for the victory, no matter it's Valls, Capecchi or even Durán and Eibegger, not able to be up into the spotlight today, but I'm sure they'll recover and keep fighting."