Overall leader Voeckler averts tragedy in Alps

Pinerolo, Italy — Defending champion Alberto Contador couldn’t shake his multiple shadows on a dangerous descent in the Tour de France’s first day in the Alps, while yellow jersey holder Thomas Voeckler lost time to almost all the big contenders.

Contador made repeated attempts to break away from the challengers for his crown, hoping to emulate the gains that he made over brothers Andy and Frank Schleck a day earlier. But he finished alongside the brothers from Luxembourg, Australian Cadel Evans and Spain’s Samuel Sanchez.

Only Voeckler — who dropped back after several mistakes on the final descent — and Italy’s Ivan Basso lost time. Voeckler still holds the yellow jersey of race leader, but now only has a lead of 1 minute 18 seconds over Evans.

“I tried to attack in the downhill because I wanted to gain some seconds, and instead, I lost some. But that’s my style: to try,” said Voeckler.

“It’s a pity, because I saw that Contador, Evans and the Schlecks finished together. If I’d taken fewer risks, I would have finished with them.”

By the end, Voeckler kept the lead, but lost 27 seconds to each of the favorites: He now leads second-placed Evans by 1 minute, 18 seconds, and Schleck in third by 1:22. Contador trails back in sixth, 3:15 behind.

The Frenchman went too fast on a hairpin turn, skidded onto the shoulder of the forested Alpine road, then raced back to try to catch Contador and Samuel Sanchez of Spain after they sped by.

The high-speed pursuit led to two other mishaps — first a small one, in which Voeckler lost time, then another riskier one in which he jumped a curb, rolled into a small car park, and almost crashed.

Contador also was upbeat about his failure to get away. “You’ve got to try,” he said after the finish.

The 17th stage, 179 kilometers (111 miles) across the Alps from Gap to the Italian town of Pinerolo, was won by Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen. It was his second victory of the race, and made up for his loss to compatriot Thor Hushovd a day earlier.

Boasson Hagen completed the stage in 4 hours, 18 minutes. Bauke Mollema of the Netherlands was second, 40 seconds back, with Sandy Casar of France winning the sprint for third.

Boasson Hagen completed the 179 kilometers (111 miles) across the Alps from Gap to the Italian town of Pinerolo in 4 hours, 18 minutes.

Bauke Mollema of the Netherlands was second, 40 seconds back, with Sandy Casar of France winning the sprint for third. AP