July 25th, 2008 by 
thien
Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, of Cofidis, gave his current team a departing gift today, by winning Stage 19 of this year’s Tour de France. After breaking away with Jeremy Roy, the two worked together to build a 2 and a half minute lead, but in the final 200m Chavanel was able to accelerate away keeping Roy from taking the stage win. It was announced recently that Chavanel will be moving teams next year when he will ride for Belgium squad, Quickstep.
Carols Sastre remains in the Maillot Jaune.
Stage 19 Results
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone - 3.37.09
2 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Columbia - 1.13
4 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
5 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner
6 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
9 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
General classification after stage 19
1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 82.54.36
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner - 1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 5.35
8 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 5.52
9 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) AG2R La Mondiale - 8.10
10 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale - 8.24
Jersey Standings:
Carlos Sastre
Oscar Freire
Bernhard Kohl
Andy Schleck
Links to news sites…
“Chava’s determination pays off with maiden stage
MONTLUCON, France (AFP) — Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel finally handed his Cofidis team a well-deserved leaving gift by winning the 19th stage of the Tour de France between Roanne and Montlucon here Friday.
Spaniard Carlos Sastre, of CSC, retained the race lead after the 165.5km stage ahead of his anticipated yellow jersey duel with Australia’s Cadel Evans in the penultimate stage time trial on Saturday.” Read more from AFP…
“Sastre retains lead after 19th stage of Tour
MONTLUCON, France (AP) — Carlos Sastre of Spain kept the overall lead in the Tour de France on Friday, while Sylvain Chavanel won the 19th stage.
Sastre heads into the final weekend ahead of CSC teammate Frank Schleck of Luxembourg by 1 minute, 24 seconds. Bernhard Kohl of Austria is third, 1:33 back.” Read more from The Associated Press…
“Chavanel, finalement!
By Laura Weislo and Bjorn Haake with reporting from Hedwig Kröner and Gregor Brown in Montluçon
Sylvain Chavanel has been on the attack more than any other rider in this year’s Tour de France, and at last his efforts have paid off with his career’s first Tour stage win. The Cofidis rider broke free from the peloton at the midpoint of the 165.5 kilometre stage with fellow Frenchman Jérémy Roy (Française des Jeux). Riding his eighth Tour, Chavanel had the advantage over neophyte Roy, and out-powered his younger companion in the two-man sprint.
Chavanel briefly broke down in tears of joy after the finish for having finally been able to taste Tour success. “It’s a big relief, and so emotional as you could see at the finish. I thought about my best friend who passed away one year ago, last year at the start of the Vuelta. So many things came out as the pressure disappeared…” Read more from CyclingNews.com…
Photos by CorVos
