Freire ends Cav’s run at Tour

DIGNES LES BAINS – 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 yesterday’s first day in the Alps. Freire, a former three-time world champion, is one of several big names to fall victim to the top end speed of the 23-year-old Cavendish during a campaign that has handed the Manxman four stages.However on a baking hot day in the Alpes de Haute Provence Freire finally did justice to the green jersey he has been wearing for the points competition with a late surge that handed him his fourth career victory in the race.Colombian Leonardo Duque of Cofidis came second ahead of veteran German sprinter Erik Zabel of Milram.Cavendish failed to challenge at the end of the 194-km stage’s home straight having dropped off the back on the day’s second climb only 10 km from the finish.That partly allowed Freire to hand his Dutch team their first victory of this year’s race, but he was quick to point out it was all his own work.”Cavendish has been the best sprinter on the race so far, but the fact I won without him today doesn’t take anything away from my victory,” said Freire, one of the few sprinters to emerge from a country best known for its stage race riders.”I came here to win as many stages as possible and it’s great to finally get one.I’m hoping to go for another one or two, and maybe now I can start thinking about holding on to the green jersey.”After battling through the Pyrenees with injuries sustained in a crash, Evans approached yesterday’s first day in the Alps having rebuilt strength in an injured shoulder which has left him lop-sided on the bike.The 31-year-old Australian spent a relatively calm day in the saddle Saturday, although a breakaway composed of 21 riders forced Evans into some early tactical choices, prompting his team to start a chase which eventually reeled the frontrunners in.Evans’s teammate, sprinter Robbie McEwen, was among the riders setting the pace at the front – a rare occasion but one the Aussie said was logical.”I’m trying to get the guys who are to help me in the mountains there as fresh as possible.It’s a long way to Paris and we need to spend our energy wisely in the coming days,” said Evans.Nampa-AFPFreire, a former three-time world champion, is one of several big names to fall victim to the top end speed of the 23-year-old Cavendish during a campaign that has handed the Manxman four stages.However on a baking hot day in the Alpes de Haute Provence Freire finally did justice to the green jersey he has been wearing for the points competition with a late surge that handed him his fourth career victory in the race.Colombian Leonardo Duque of Cofidis came second ahead of veteran German sprinter Erik Zabel of Milram.Cavendish failed to challenge at the end of the 194-km stage’s home straight having dropped off the back on the day’s second climb only 10 km from the finish.That partly allowed Freire to hand his Dutch team their first victory of this year’s race, but he was quick to point out it was all his own work.”Cavendish has been the best sprinter on the race so far, but the fact I won without him today doesn’t take anything away from my victory,” said Freire, one of the few sprinters to emerge from a country best known for its stage race riders.”I came here to win as many stages as possible and it’s great to finally get one.I’m hoping to go for another one or two, and maybe now I can start thinking about holding on to the green jersey.”After battling through the Pyrenees with injuries sustained in a crash, Evans approached yesterday’s first day in the Alps having rebuilt strength in an injured shoulder which has left him lop-sided on the bike.The 31-year-old Australian spent a relatively calm day in the saddle Saturday, although a breakaway composed of 21 riders forced Evans into some early tactical choices, prompting his team to start a chase which eventually reeled the frontrunners in.Evans’s teammate, sprinter Robbie McEwen, was among the riders setting the pace at the front – a rare occasion but one the Aussie said was logical.”I’m trying to get the guys who are to help me in the mountains there as fresh as possible.It’s a long way to Paris and we need to spend our energy wisely in the coming days,” said Evans.Nampa-AFP