categorie

Now only the first six riders to reach the summit of hors categorie or category 1 climbs can pick up points.

Tour de France rule change may favor Cavendish’s green jersey dream 2011

He was dropped on the hors categorie Port de Pailhères and caught by the Astana-led main group at 35km to go, when he handed off cold drinks to team leader and fellow Team Britain trackie Bradley Wiggins as well as Thomas Lövkvist.

Domestique for now, British champ Geraint Thomas dreams of yellow 2010

Team mechanics raised his handlebars to make the stage was as comfortable as possible, but Evans was clearly struggling when the main pack hit the hors categorie Madeleine.

Cadel Evans lost yellow jersey with fractured elbow 2010

After suffering the effects of going too deep on the first hors categorie climb of the Tour de France, Levi Leipheimer recovered to keep the gas on over the top of the 2,000-meter Col de Madeleine and drive the 30km to the finish in an elite chase group.

Leipheimer: I tried to stay with Alberto and Andy too long 2010

On the final climb, the hors categorie Port de Balès, Schleck and his Saxo Bank team had whittled the lead group down to just the five GC leaders, when, just 3km from the summit, Schleck suffered his mechanical.

Contador in yellow as Schleck suffers untimely mechanical at the Tour. France’s Voeckler wins the stage. 2010

That conservation may or may not have allowed him to stay off the front of the race in multiple breaks over two Cat. 1 climbs and two hors categorie mountains.

Seven-time Tour champ launches unsuccessful bid for stage win from the gun 2010

Sánchez was the only GC contender to stay close to Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Alberto Contador (Astana) when the pair attacked up the hors-categorie climb, but suffered cramps on the descent that torpedoed his chances of latching onto the leaders and going for the stage victory.

Third-placed Samuel Sánchez in hunt for Tour de France podium 2010

After making the selection with the yellow jersey group over the top of the hors categorie Port de Pailhères climb, Ryder Hesjedal settled into his own tempo on the final climb up to the finish at Ax 3 Domaines.

Hesjedal keeps Canada’s hopes alive in the Pyrénées 2010

After Saxo Bank team drilled the pace well into the 19km hors categorie Tourmalet climb, Schleck fired the shot everyone knew was coming.

Ryde of a lifetime? Hesjedal storms the Tourmalet 2010

The first was the hors categorie Port de Pailhères, a 15. 5km climb that averages 7.9 percent and began at the 140km mark and summited at 155. 5km (29km from the finish).

Riblon scores a French stage win as Schleck and Contador are inseparable 2010