Wiggins stays with leaders in Tour de France

Bradley Wiggins, Lance Armstrong, Tour de France 2009 stage 9

Bradley Wiggins (Garmin) again finished in the front group with all the big overall favourites on Sunday's Tour de France stage, handling the Col du Tourmalet with relative ease, despite riding under a scorching sun.

‘Twiggo’ as he has now been dubbed for his skinny build after losing seven kilogrammes to help his climbing, is still fifth overall, just 46 seconds behind race leader Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r) of Italy.

Wiggins is just 40 seconds behind overall favourite Alberto Contador (Astana) and only 38 seconds behind Lance Armstrong (Astana).  

“There was no real big danger today, I just had to follow the wheels and stay out of trouble. The hardest thing was how hot it was and climbing the Tourmalet in those conditions, it was tough to get bottles up. Other than that it was a pretty easy day. It’s another day over and the Pyrenees are over now, so it’s been a pretty good first week for me,” he said after quickly getting through doping control and heading for a shower before the plane transfer to Limoges for the first rest day.

It was thought that Saxo Bank and Garmin might have tried to push the pace on the Tourmalet to drop Nocentini and force Contador into the yellow jersey, so that the Astana would have to defend the jersey next week. However, Ag2r and Nocentini were always in control on the legendary climb and so nothing happened in the battle for the yellow jersey.

“I don’t think Lance or Contador want to take the yellow jersey at this stage. They’re quite happy for Ag2r-La Mondial to ride through the next week, it takes the pressure of them a bit,” Wiggins explained.

Like Wiggins, Contador and Armstrong are waiting for the final week of the Tour and the testing stages in the Alps. That is where overall victory will be decided.  

“I’m just taking it day by day. I keep telling myself that it’s the same for everyone. If it’s hurting for me, it’s bound to be hurting for the other guys too. I just keep reminding myself about that," Wiggins said wisely, knowing that he has also got the stage 18 time trial to his advantage.

“If I’m still close to the classement by then, it’ll work in my favour. But it’s still quite a way off. I’m just going to take it day by day and not get everyone too excited at this stage.”

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefirestage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

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Armstrong: Gaining time on Contador was not the objective

Stage three analysis: Why the bunch split and who gained the most

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Garmin-Slipstream's HQ before the Tour

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David Brailsford interview

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Team presentation by Andy Jones

Team presentation by Graham Watson

TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 - the hub

Tour de France 2009: Who's riding

Tour de France 2009: Team guide

About the Tour de France

FEATURES

Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules

Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France

Tour de France anti-doping measures explained

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Cycling Weekly's rider profiles

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