Voeckler fought hard and held on to another day in yellow(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Orange and green, amidst an overcast sky.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
The flag of the Basque country.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Geraint Thomas (Sky) rode impressively but was caught ebfore the finish.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Basso asks Evans to come through for another pull on the climb to the line.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Voeckler ahead of Contador and Andy Schleck on the final climb.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Some polka-dot clad Aussies.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
BMC rider Cadel Evans leads yellow jersey Voeckler in the final few kilometres.the (Image credit: Peter Goding)
Frank Schleck attempts to chase down Sanchez and Vanandert (Image credit: Peter Goding)
Sanchez and Vanandert surrounded by the orange clad Euskadi fans.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Vanandert leads Sanchez on Luz-Ardiden.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
The view down the mountain.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Sanchez ahd plenty of support on Luz-Ardiden.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
(Image credit: Peter Goding)
The Lampre car through the lens of an HTC phone.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
Sanchez on the climb to Luz Ardiden.(Image credit: Peter Goding)
The Tour de France entered the Pyrenees on Thursday and the people of the Basque country were out in force to support their pseudo-national team, Euskaltel-Euskadi. At times the crowd around Samuel Sanchez on Luz-Ardiden was five and six deep as he made the ascent of the Pyrenean mountain. Perhaps knowing a win was in the offing, Sanchez seemed to feed off the atmosphere and put in a momentous ride.
Cyclingnews has put together a gallery of a day of photography on the slopes of Luz-Ardiden. The crowds, the switchbacks, the battles, and a desperate ride from maillot jaune Thomas Voeckler made it a memorable day of racing, and a fitting first day in the mountains.
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