July 19th, 2008 by 
thien
Oscar Freire wins the bunch spring into Digne les Bains, beating out fellow sprinters Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) and Erik Zabel (Milram). This is the triple world champion’s fourth tour stage win of his career. Freire had this to say after the stage, “I hope to keep green,” said Freire. “And in the mountains we have a leader like Menchov. We hope he can take yellow… For me, Menchov is the best candidate [to win] this Tour.”
Missing from the sprint was Team Columbia sensation Mark Cavendish. Cavendish had a hard time making it over the catagory four climb 9.5km before Dignes les Bain, finishing 3:27 back. “It was really hard. We knew all along it was going to be hard. I tried to hang on, hang on,” said Cavendish to Versus reporter Frankie Andreu after the stage. “I’m just getting tired.” Cavendish is expected to take an early exit from the tour and not start stage 15. Cavendish’s next goal will be the Olympics.
Jersey standings remain the same. With Cadel Evans in the Maillot Jaune, Oscar Freire in the Maillot Vert, Sebastian Lang in Polka Dots, and Vincenzo Nibali in the Best Young Rider Jersey.
Stage 14 Results
1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank - 4.13.08
2 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
5 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
6 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
7 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
8 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
9 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
General Classification after Stage 14
1 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 59.01.55
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 0.01
3 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 0.38
4 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner - 0.46
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0.57
6 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 1.28
7 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 1.56
8 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale - 2.32
9 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 3.51
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas - 4.18
Jersey Standings:
Cadel Evans
Oscar Freire
Sebastian Lang
Vinvenzo Nibali
Links to news sites…
“Freire ends Cavendish’s run in the Tour de France
DIGNES LES BAINS, France (AFP) — Rabobank sprinter Oscar Freire of Spain ended the triumphant victory run of Britain’s Mark Cavendish by taking the Tour de France 14th stage here on Saturday.
Australian Cadel Evans retained the leader’s yellow jersey one second ahead of Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck ahead of Sunday’s first day in the Alps.” Read more from the AFP…
“Spain’s Freire wins Stage 14 of Tour
By JAMEY KEATEN
DIGNES-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Oscar Freire closed in on the sprint title at the Tour de France by winning Saturday’s 14th stage, while Australia’s Cadel Evans kept the yellow jersey in the doping-battered race.
The Spaniard prevailed in a mass sprint at the end of a hot, 120.9-mile ride from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains, a stage that featured small climbs in the last day before three punishing Alpine stages.” Read more from The Associated Press…
“Freire snatches Tour de France stage win
Spaniard Oscar Freire snatched victory for Rabobank on stage 14 of the Tour de France, winning the final sprint at the close of the 194 kilometers ride from Nimes to Dignes Les Bains.
Australian Cadel Evans retained the leader’s yellow jersey one second clear of Frank Schleck from Luxembourg.
Freire, the green jersey points leader, resisted strong challenges from Colombia’s Leonardo Duque and German Erik Zabel to cross the line in front.” Read more from CNN International…
“Oscar Freire takes the 14th stage of the 2008 Tour de France
Points competition leader Oscar Freire won Saturday’s 14th stage of the 2008 Tour de France, a mostly flat 195km route from Nimes to Digne les Bains.
Overall race leader Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) finished in the lead group on the stage to retain his 1-second advantage over Frank Schleck as the race approaches several difficult mountain stages.” Read more from VeloNews.com…
Photos by CorVos
