Cycling: Ricco runs riot
Sunday 13 July 2008 18:08, UK
Italian Riccardo Ricco won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, his second stage win of the race so far this year.
Second stage victory for Italian as Le Tour enters the hills
Italian Riccardo Ricco won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, his second stage win of the race so far this year, as the climbing contests began in earnest. The 24-year-old made a decisive move in the hills, and he managed to hold on to follow up his win four days ago by taking the stage one minute and 13 seconds ahead of Russian Vladimir Efimkin. Team Columbia rider Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg held on to his yellow jersey after finishing in the chasing pack, while pre-race favourite Cadel Evans crashed midway through the stage and had to change his bike and have some treatment before rejoining the race. Evans started the day in second place overall but missed a turn and after a heavy tumble suffered cuts to an arm, leg and back but seemed to be okay as he continued the race. The 224km stage took the riders from Toulouse to Bagneres de Bigorre and included seven climbs including a category one effort at Peyresourde and Aspin passes. Ricco showed commendable climbing ability when slicing through the field up the hills, but also had enough on the flat to hold off the advancing peloton. AG2r-La Mondiale rider Efimkin held on to second place while team-mate Cyril Dessel of France was a further 13 seconds back in third. Stage nine results:1. Riccardo Ricco (ITA/SDV) 5h 39min 28secs
2. Vladimir Efimkin (RUS/A2R) + 1:04.
3. Cyril Dessel (FRA/A2R) 1:17.
4. Dmitriy Fofonov (KAZ/C.A) 1:17.
5. Christian Knees (GER/MRM) 1:17.
6. Maxime Monfort (BEL/COF) 1:17.
7. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/GCE) 1:17.
8. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 1:17.
9. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 1:17.
10. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR/SIL) 1:17. Overall standings:
1. Kim Kirchen (LUX/COL) 38h 7min 19sec
2. Cadel Evans (AUS/SIL) + 0:06.
3. Christian Vande Velde (USA/GAR) 0:44.
4. Stefan Schumacher (GER/GST) 0:56.
5. Denis Menchov (RUS/RAB) 1:03.
6. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/GCE) 1:12.
7. Stijn Devolder (BEL/QST) 1:21.
8. Oscar Pereiro (ESP/GCE) 1:21.
9. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/EUS) 1:27.
10. Carlos Sastre (ESP/CSC) 1:34.
