Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Capecchi and Valls shine at Avoriaz

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Monday, 12 July 2010 10:35

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Rafael Valls and Eros Capecchi completed a great stage for FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI in the 97th Tour de Francia, in the day after the second place by the Spaniard atop the Station des Rousses. The climbing duo from the Gold Generation came across the line with 2.23 behind Luxembourgish Andy Schleck (SAX), victor after a hard 189-km stage finishing in Avoriaz (Cat. 1) through the climbs of La Ramaz (Cat. 1) and Les Gets (Cat. 3), and certified their splendid form before the rest day preceeding the two finishing days on Alpine climbs. The squad led by Matxin and Angoitia couldn't still avoid troubles in the ninth stage of the Grande Boucle, as Italian Fabio Felline, race's youngest at only 20, crashed into the first 20km, slipping over the melting asphalt and being struck by another rider. The Turinese could keep racing, although he has major bruises on his right hand shoulder, arm and leg.

Absent into the day's early break, despite attacks by Capecchi, Iban Mayoz or Aitor Pérez Arrieta, the hopes to shine on Sunday were marked by Valls's effort to get into contention for the KOM jersey -he gathers 27 points, behind leader Pineau's (QST) 44-, attacking through the passes over Ramaz and Gets and dropping with Capecchi in the last 8 kilometers from the finish in Avoriaz, the Italian doing an extraordinary helping work to save the Spaniard's top-20 overall. Next Tuesday, and now with Evans (BMC) in the lead, the race will go on with the Queen stage in the Alps: 205km from Morzine to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, over the climbs of Chatillon (Cat. 4), Colombière (Cat. 1), Aravis (Cat. 2), Saisies (Cat. 1) and Madeleine (HC), just 32 kilometers to the end.