Fedrigo takes ninth stage of Tour

Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo won the ninth stage of the Tour de France yesterday, taking the 160.5km leg between Saint-Gaudens and Tarbes from Franco Pelilizotti in a sprint for the line after the pair had led an early breakaway after just 12km.

All the leading riders stayed together in the field, with Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy retaining the yellow jersey, six seconds ahead of the Astana rider Alberto Contador (himself two seconds up on teammate Lance Armstrong).

Britain's Bradley Wiggins remains in fifth place, 46 seconds off the lead, while his compatriot Mark Cavendish finished 25 minutes behind the stage winner, but crucially in the same break as his green jersey rival Thor Hushovd, to keep the gap between them at 11 points.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Brendan Gallagher, Daily Telegraph: "Not for the first time in this fascinating Tour de France the peloton misjudged the chase and allowed the breakaway to roar home and take the plaudits. On Sunday it was Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo who outwitted his fellow escapee, Franco Pellizotti, as they managed to fight off the peloton who came home en masse 35 seconds later. Fedrigo, who played his part in the original break after just five kilometres much earlier in the day, will rightly glory in the triumph and the race’s passage over the Col d’Aspin and the historic Tourmalet on a perfect summer’s day was a sight to behold."

Jeremy Whittle, the Times: "The 2009 Tour de France exited the Pyrenees last night, a stalemate hanging over the race. Three days of racing through the high passes failed to separate Alberto Contador, of Spain, from Lance Armstrong, the seven-times champion, and the pair seem destined to duel their way through the Alps in the final week of the race. In an effort to prolong the suspense as late as the penultimate stage, which wends its way to the summit of Mont Ventoux, the Tour organisers have steered clear of too many finishes at altitude in the Pyrenees. However, this has backfired over the past 48 hours or so, with legendary climbs that were once decisive being emasculated by their long distances from the finish."

Richard Williams, the Guardian: "Bradley Wiggins again finished towards the front of the peloton, surrounded by the yellow jersey contenders and retaining his overall fifth place. Christian Vandevelde, his Garmin-Slipstream team leader, last night paid tribute to the Briton's qualities. 'The way he's going, you can't just say he's riding with the best climbers in the world,' the American said. 'He is one of the best climbers in the world. He's also one of the best time triallists in the world, so there's no reason why he can't do an amazing result here.'" ·