RABOBANK AND GIANT: CLIMBING TO GLORY ON MONT VENTOUX!

Mont Ventoux is one of the most storied, hallowed, and feared climbs in the Tour de France. It’s a brutal grind, averaging 7.6 percent over its 21.6 kilometres, and one that grows progressively steeper toward the summit with a 10.0 percent finishing pitch. And first over the top was Rabobank’s Juan Manuel Garate.

Garate, the former Spanish national champion, launched one of the gutsiest moves of this year’s Tour, starting his breakaway just 3 km into the stage. It would be an almost foolhardy move on any stage, much less one stretching over 167 km and five categorized climbs to finish on the hors categorie summit of Mont Ventoux.

At one point the break group was 16 riders strong, with a lead of more than 10 minutes, but then Astana and Saxo Bank took up the chase. The break hit the base of Ventoux just a few minutes clear, but the move was obviously doomed. Riders either cracked or gave up, and were scooped up and spit out by the raging yellow jersey group that surged, impossibly, as Contador matched the aggressive accelerations of Andy Schleck, who knew this was his last chance to take the jersey. The two were relentless, and in their wake came every other GC contender, closing on the break like an inexorable tide.

Garate refused to accept defeat, digging deep and shedding all his breakaway companions but one, Columbia’s Tony Martin. Turning the cranks of his Giant TCR Advanced SL, Garate was helped by the unmatched power delivery of the PowerCore oversize bottom bracket and chainstays, each pedal stroke separating him further from his companions, and closer to the summit.

With just 1.1 km to go, Garate and Martin held a slender 47-second lead over the surging yellow jersey group. And that lead was unravelling. So when Martin faltered Garate jumped out of the saddle, hard, aided by the unbeatable torsional rigidity of his bike’s MegaDrive front triangle, and its impressively stiff rectangular downtube and oversize top tube.

Martin caught back on, and as they approached the finishing banner Garate gave his Giant everything he had, sprinting clear and raising his arms in triumph as he crossed the line on one of the world’s most legendary climbs.

Bravo, Garate!

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