Tony Martin Wins Ninth Stage of Tour de France after Conquering 170km Ride from Gerardmer to Mulhouse... as Tony Gallopin Takes the Overall Leader's Yellow Jersey
- German rider Tony Martin wins Stage 9 of Tour de France - a 170km ride from Gerardmer to Mulhouse - by almost three minutes
- Swiss Fabian Cancellara is second and Belgian Greg van Avermaet third
- Frenchman Tony Gallopin takes the yellow jersey from Vincenzo Nibali
Daily Mail UK, 14 July 2014
It doesn’t get any bigger for a Frenchman than wearing the yellow jersey of Tour de France leader on Bastille Day, and that honour now falls to Tony Gallopin.
The 26-year-old was part of a 20-man group that finished five minutes ahead of the peloton, allowing Gallopin to leapfrog Vincenzo Nibali, who had worn yellow since winning in Sheffield a week earlier. It was a twist that surprised even Gallopin.
‘It’s unbelievable,’ he said. ‘A great feeling, and I will do my best tomorrow, the national day in France. It wasn’t the plan to get the jersey and I will try to enjoy it, but it’s going to be a hard day.’
Stage 9 winner: German rider Tony Martin came out on top in the 170-km ride from Gerardmer on Sunday
Winner: Martin finished ahead of Swiss Fabian Cancellara in second and Belgian Greg van Avermaet in third
Believe it: Martin won the ninth stage after 105.6 miles with start in Gerardmer and finish in Mulhouse
Enjoyment: Stage winner Germany's Martin celebrates on the podium after winning the 170km ninth stage
Quote:
TOUR DE FRANCE AFTER STAGE 9
1. Tony Gallopin (FRA / Lotto) 38:04:38"
2. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA / Astana) +1:34"
3. Tiago Machado (POR / NetApp) +2:40"
4. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN / Astana) +3:18"
5. Richie Porte (AUS / Team Sky) +3:32"
6. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +4:00"
7. Alejandro Valverde (ESP / Movistar) +4:01"
8. Pierre Rolland (FRA / Europcar) +4:07"
9. Alberto Contador (ESP / Tinkoff - Saxo) +4:08"
10. Romain Bardet (FRA / AG2R) +4:13"
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His attitude is understandable with today’s stage the third, and arguably toughest, of the three in the Vosges mountains.
Gallopin becomes the first Frenchman in yellow on Bastille Day since Thomas Voeckler in 2011. But it was an outcome that suited Nibali, too, with the Italian and his Astana team spared the responsibility of defending the lead day after day.
‘It was a gift to the people of France,’ said Astana team manager Alexandre Vinokourov.
German world time-trial champion Tony Martin won the stage but there was some British success on Sunday.
Peter Kennaugh, overlooked by Team Sky for the Tour, wrapped up victory at the Tour of Austria, and Emma Pooley won her third stage of the Giro Rosa, the women’s Tour of Italy.
Overall: Frenchman Tony Gallopin takes over the Tour de France leaderboard after Stage 9
Congratulations: Gallopin kisses his girlfriend as he leaves the signature ceremony before Stage 9
Top: Gallopin puts on the overall leader's yellow jersey after the ninth stage of the Tour
Podium: Gallopin celebrates at the end of the 170km ninth stage of the Tour from Gerardmer to Mulhouse
Quote:
TOUR DE FRANCE RESULTS FROM STAGE NINE
1. Tony Martin (Germany / Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 4:09:34"
2. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland / Trek) +2:45"
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing)
4. Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Giant)
5. Matteo Montaguti (Italy / AG2R)
6. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spain / Movistar)
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Belkin)
8. Mickael Cherel (France / AG2R)
9. Brice Feillu (France / Bretagne)
10. Tiago Machado (Portugal / NetApp)
11. Alessandro De Marchi (Italy / Cannondale)
12. Daniel Navarro (Spain / Cofidis)
13. Rafael Valls (Spain / Lampre)
14. Cyril Gautier (France / Europcar)
15. Sergio Paulinho (Portugal / Tinkoff - Saxo)
16. Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto)
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