TdF: Thor's Big Win

By James Startt

Lourdes, France: (Bicycling.com): Thor Hushovd just can’t get enough. At least not in this year’s Tour de France.

After scoring an impressive victory in the time trial on Stage 2 with his team, Garmin-Cervelo, Hushovd wore the coveted yellow jersey for seven days.

And today, on Stage 13 of the Tour de France, he scored his most satisfying stage win to date.

“I just didn’t think this was possible,” the Norwegian sprinter said after winning solo in Lourdes.

Few expected Hushovd to be a contender on Friday’s stage in the Tour. The reigning world champion is a powerful rider who is generally unfit for the high mountains of the Tour. Stage 13 was one of the key stages in the Pyrenees, and one that climbed over the mythic Col d'Aubisque.

But he rode a brilliantly calculated race today, to come away with his first mountain victory of his career in the great French race.

He first jumped into the day’s early breakaway after 40 kilometers of racing, but it was well before the riders approached the Aubisque. He then limited his losses on the 18-kilometer climb. Cresting the summit, 1 minute 45 seconds behind Frenchman Jeremy Roy, and 1 minute 20 behind David Moncoutie, another Frenchman, Hushovd blasted down the descent of the Soulor Pass—just after the Aubisque—eventually catching both riders in the valley, before dropping them near the finish in Lourdres.

“This is my most beautiful tour stage win,” said Hushovd, who has won nine individual stages in the Tour as well as two team time trial stages. “To pass over the Aubisque with the rainbow jersey of world champion was incredibly emotional."


The world champ signs autographs before Stage 13, which he went on to win. (Daniel McMahon)

Said Roger Leageay, Hushovd’s first professional director: “Thor is the world’s best descender. I knew that when he crested the summit with barely a two-minute gap that he would win.”

Thomas Voeckler, the current yellow jersey, agreed. “Thor is the best climber of the sprinters. I knew the climbers would need a big advantage over the mountain to prevent him from catching them.”

For Hushovd, success in the Tour makes up for a disappointing spring. He dreamed of winning a major single-day classic such as Paris-Roubaix while wearing the rainbow-striped world championship jersey. But he learned that the distinctive jersey can be a trap, as riders mark your every move.

“I didn’t succeed as I wanted in the classics. Wearing the rainbow jersey also comes with a lot of pressure. So to be able to win in the jersey, to be able to show it off, is just beautiful.”

Source: http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/tour-features/thor-wins-his-most-beautiful-stage

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