Stage 15 -- July 16: Samatan to Pau, 158.5 km (98.5 mi)
Pierrick Fédrigo is the first to start his rest day. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters
Pierrick Fédrigo should have been a name to mark for the rest of the race today. It should have been a name you put some money on also, for the last time the race finished in Pau two years ago, he was the winner. The Frenchman clearly knows the city well despite being born some 200 kilometers north in Marmande. It was his forth Tour stage win to go with that 2010 victory and wins in the 2009 and 2006 editions.
Fédrigo broke clear with Christian Vande Velde from a group of six near the finish for the win, and for everyone else in this Tour aside from those six, it was a day off as they trailed home at a leisurely pace almost 12 minutes behind. A number of attacks tried to go clear early before one finally snapped the elastic and got clear. The lead built quickly and soon it was evident that the sprinters would not be having their way. No doubt Mark Cavendish will be disappointed, but his team need all the rest they can get now, and he'll be left hoping to salvage a second or third win from Friday's stage and Sunday's run into Paris.
Given the slow finish to yesterday's stage, the pace today, and the fact tomorrow is a rest day, the big favorites should be full of life ahead of two tough stages on Wednesday and Thursday when the likes of Vincenzo Nibali and Cadel Evans will get one last run at Bradley Wiggins's Yellow jersey.
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FAKE TWEET OF THE DAY
@VincenzoNibali A rest yesterday, a rest today, a rest tomorrow ... lookout Mr. Wiggins on Wednesday.
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ABANDONMENT'S
Six withdrawls in all including a couple of surprise names though perhaps some people turning their attentions to the Olympics? They are as follows: Vincent Jerome (Europcar), Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), Brett Lancaster (Orica GreenEdge), Giovanni Bernaudeau (Europcar), Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-Big Mat) and Kenny Van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DMC).
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STAGE 15 RESULT
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ-BigMat in 3-36-34
2. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Sharp s.t.
3. Nicki Sorensen (Den) SaxoBank-Tinkoff Bank at 12 secs
4. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar s.t.
5. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep at 21 secs
6. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis at 1-08
7. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol at 11-50
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 15
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky in 68-33-21
2. Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky at 2-05
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 2-23
4. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 3-19
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto-Belisol at 4-48
6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Radioshack-Nissan at 6-15
