Moncoutie takes lead in Route du Sud

Agence France Presse

Cofidis team leader David Moncoutie took over the leader’s yellow jersey in the 34th edition of the Route du Sud after dominating Saturday’s mountain time trial.

The 35-year-old Frenchman was quickest on the 16.2km climb to the summit of the Peyresourde where fog and unseasonally cold temperatures did little to help the riders.

Moncoutie, twice a stage winner in the Tour de France, was 10 seconds faster than compatriot Alexandre Geniez (Skil-Shimano) who follows him in the overall standings by the same margin. Italian Fortunato Baliani (Miche Silver Cross) lies third, 31 seconds off the lead.

The time trial was the second part of Saturday’s second stage. Earlier the riders had covered an 82.5km leg between Izaourt and Saint-Gaudens.

Another Frenchman, Blel Kadri (Ag2r), came through in part one just holding off countryman Mathieu Sprick in the sprint. They were given the same time with the peloton arriving 10 seconds later.

Moncoutie is far from certain to hold on to his lead as the race heads into its final stage on Sunday, a 189.3km stretch between Lavaur and Castres. Five riders are within 39 seconds of the lead, including the Pole Przemyslaw Niemec (Miche Silver Cross), who is looking to retain the title he won last year.

Even John Gradet (Ag2r), who came 13th in the Giro d’Italia and currently stands over a minute behind Moncoutie, has a chance on what the organizers are calling a “very tricky” final course.

If Moncoutie does hold on to the yellow jersey he will become the first French winner here since Thomas Voeckler in 2006.

Complete results

Quick results

Stage 2a

• 1. Biel Kadri (Fra), Ag2R La Mondiale, 1:50:36
• 2. Matthieu Sprick (Fra), Bbox Bouygues Telecom, same time
• 3. Stéphane Poulhies (Fra), Saur-Sojasun, at 0:10
• 4. Gianni Meersman (Bel), Française des Jeux, at 0:10
• 5. Kristof Goddaert (Bel), Ag2R La Mondiale, at 0:10
• 6. Mitchell Docker (Aus), Skil-Shimano, at 0:10
• 7. Yury Trofimov (Rus), Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 0:10
• 8. Pasquale Muto (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:10
• 9. Morgan Kneisky (Fra), Roubaix Lille Metropole, at 0:10
• 10. Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn), Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 0:10

Stage 2b

• 1. David Moncoutie (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 33:07
• 2. Alexandre Geniez (Fra), Skil-Shimano, at 0:10
• 3. Fortunato Baliani (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:31
• 4. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:39
• 5. Pasquale Muto (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:41
• 6. John Gadret (Fra), Ag2R La Mondiale, at 1:03
• 7. Damien Monier (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:23
• 8. Biel Kadri (Fra), Ag2R La Mondiale, at 1:23
• 9. Rein Taaramae (Est), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:38
• 10. Johann Tschopp (Sui), Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:40

Overall

• 1. David Moncoutie (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 7:27:41
• 2. Alexandre Geniez (Fra), Skil-Shimano, at 0:10
• 3. Fortunato Baliani (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:31
• 4. Pasquale Muto (Ita), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:39
• 5. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol), Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia, at 0:39
• 6. John Gadret (Fra), Ag2R La Mondiale, at 1:03
• 7. Biel Kadri (Fra), Ag2R La Mondiale, at 1:04
• 8. Damien Monier (Fra), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:23
• 9. Rein Taaramae (Est), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:38
• 10. Yury Trofimov (Rus), Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:53