August 8, 2008 – Somewhat of a weird stage is what could describe Thursday’s 140km mountain dual – 3:28 was the difference between Canada’s Cameron Evans and Colombia’s climbing sensation, Flober Pena Pena. If things worked out our way, it could be enough. The real climbs would only come late (113km) and only one difficult one was earlier at 56km.

Again, we wanted to put pressure on Pena Pena; after all, it’s his race to lose. He would not fall for it once again. He rode from the back of the peloton and let many guys up the road while the top guns stayed together behind. At one point, almost 40 riders were up the road”¦ not easy on the nerves of a young leader and his manager! Our major problem is we would not get any time splits over the race radio from the organization! In order to get one, I had to go up the road myself (that meant having to go through all of the local team cars blocking us from doing our work!) to get a real check. The official gap to a group of about 30 guys was officially 2:30. Not too bad, but the yellow jersey group was simply not riding”¦ at all. All they could do was admire Cam’s jersey!

We had to put things to work with Ryan Belliveau and André Tremblay. Dustin, who was covering the front of the race and would wait for Cam in the mountains. Once again, our guys did not look back and left everything they had on the road. Belli exploded in the first km of the Mont Frédérique (cat 1) and André was only able to sustain the fast pace a few extra minutes. Cam had to take things over with Pena Pena on his wheel.

The awaited attack finally arrived”¦ and it went up the climb like a space shuttle: “In all my years of racing against many strong guys, I’ve never been dropped like that,” said Evans later. A couple of minutes later, Cam caught up to Dustin who was waiting for him. Together, they tried to limit the loses, but the TV footage showed us the guy was simply impossible to keep up with. No one, of all the riders up the road, were coming even close to his rhythm.

At the line, Pena Pena won the race by 50 seconds with 4:51 over Cam. This means the Colombian now wears the yellow jersey with a 1:23 over Cam. The battle is not lost. Any leader would be crazy to think he’d won before crossing the last finish line on Sunday.

But everyone is very tired and it’ll be hard to surprise him. What’s left for us to do is wait to see how the local and other foreign teams attack him. If they don’t, his team will easily be able to control the race and he’ll limit the losses during Saturday’s 15km time trial. If they do, it seems like we’re too young and innocent to quit!

These young boys have impressed many, including myself this week. Jack Hardy, a Canadian National team contracted coached based on this island, was also very impressed by the determination of the youngest team entering the Tour. Slowly, but surely, we were making some fans along these roads. Many are still hoping to see Cam on the top podium step on Sunday. Three days, four stages, will it be enough? One thing for sure, the new yellow jersey will have to look over his shoulder every once and a while!

Results (Sainte Rose-Bouillante 141.5km0

1. Flobert Pena Pena (Col) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 3:35:28 (39:403 km/h)
2. Edwin Sanchez Anzola (Col) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne
3. Nelson Ismael Sanchez Jimenez (Dom) Matouba Rayon D’argent 3:10
4. Holger Sievers (Ger) Italie 4:07
5. Marechaux Régis (Fra) Digicel JCA 4:09
6. Serge Nipau (Fra) AS Police 4:10
7. Timo Scholz (Ger) Italie 4:29
8. Martial Gene (Fra) Excelsior 4:30
9. Fremin Jérôme (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 4:47
10. Pierre Theophile (Fra) Digicel JCA 4:51
11. Andreï Medyannikov (Kaz) Matouba Rayon d’Argent
12. Cameron Evans (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique
13. Frédéric Theobald (Fra) AS Baie-Mahault 5:10
14. Martin Haring (Svk) ZP Sport
15. Yvan Boos (Fra) AS Baie-Mahault
16. Leonard O Grullon Garcia (Dom) AS Baie-Mahault
17. Josef Palcak (Svk) ZP Sport
18. Luis Sablon (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 5:19
19. Jean-Charles Arethus (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 5:20
20. Jean-Marc Dollin (Fra) Vélo Club Trois-Rivières 5:25
21. Christophe Cospar (Fra) Orange
22. Philippe Palmiste (Pol) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN
23. Valéry Derby (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne
24. Freddy Hamlet (Fra) Excelsior 5:29
25. Jean-Louis Pheron (Fra) Excelsior 5:54
26. Arnaud Girard (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 6:03
27. Eddy Lembo (Fra) Espoir du Sud 6:05
28. Quentin Legrand (Fra) AS Police 6:12
29. Jean-Claude Luce (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 7:45
30. Florent Gougeard (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 8:24
31. Dustin Macburnie (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 9:01
32. Miguel Cuirassier (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 9:44
33. Clément Magne (Fra) AS Police 10:59
34. Niv Libner (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club
35. Maurizio Vandelli (Ita) Italie
36. Giovani Rousseau (Fra) Orange 11:03
37. André Tremblay (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 11:05
38. Huaca Hector Ruben Chiles (Ecu) Matouba Rayon d’Argent 11:06
39. Romuald Claude Claudeon (Fra) Digicel JCA 12:01
40. Blevinal Cédric (Fra) Orange 13:37
41. Robert Glajza (Svk) ZP Sport 13:41
42. Mickaël Clarico (Fra) AS Police 13:47
43. Ramothe Cédric (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 14:06
44. Jean-Franois Tabar (Fra) Sélection Martinique 14:59
45. Emerick Jean -Jacques (Fra) AS Police 15:37
46. Adrien Gorand (Fra) Espoir du Sud
47. Aitor Azpiazu (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 16:46
48. Johan Baptiste (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais
49. Christophe Palie (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais
50. Rony Rex (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 16:52
51. Jean-Christophe Mergirie (Fra) Sélection Martinique 17:03
52. Ruddy Jeremie (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne
53. Olivier Hebreu (Fra) Espoir du Sud
54. Rodrigue Lond As (Fra) Sélection Martinique
55. Damien Wojciechowski (Pol) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 17:09
56. Viktor Ulzen (Ger) Italie
57. Jean-Louis Varo (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule
58. Steeve Promeneur (Fra) Matouba Rayon d’Argent
59. Emrick Cornelie (Fra) Pédale du Centre
60. Didier Dougaparshad (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais
61. William Bondot (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe
62. Julien Barbier (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent
63. Yarden Gazit (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club
64. Jean-Marie Marimoutou (Fra) Matouba Rayon d’Argent
65. Bernard Gene (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN
66. Marek Canecky (Svk) ZP Sport
67. Miroslav Keliar (Svk) ZP Sport
68. Lars Pria ROM Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 17:20
69. Cyril Narcisse Theophile (Fra) Digicel JCA 17:28
70. Adam Pierzga (Pol) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 18:08
71. Patrice Perrot (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 20:06
72. Stéphane Rieux (Fra) Sélection Martinique 20:33
73. Cornelie Cédric (Fra) Pédale du Centre 20:51
74. Adrien Alidor (Fra) Orange 20:58
75. Hervé Antonides (Fra) Pédale du Centre 21:17
76. Vidian Bordin (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 22:40
77. Wilfrid Noyon (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule
78. Laurent C̩dric (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 22:48
79. David Nagapin (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg
80. Willy Belgio (Fra) Excelsior 22:51
81. Ritchi Miatti (Fra) Orange 23:16
82. Amos Wolff (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club
83. Yannick Claudeon (Fra) Excelsior 23:21
84. Ruddy Clavier (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 23:37
85. Steven Mapolin (Fra) Pédale du Centre
86. Sony Eleore (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 24:49
87. Juan Emilio Féliz Salvador (Dom) AS Baie-Mahault 26:28
88. Jean-Robert Manne (Fra) AS Police 27:01
89. Fabrice Cornelie (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 27:08
90. Zachi Boygen (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 28:53
91. Ryan Belliveau (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 30:13
92. Jean-Daniel Damas (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 33:06
93. Martin Frano (Svk) ZP Sport 37:24
94. Julian Rammler (Ger) Italie 55:11
95. Alexandre Lami (Fra) Pédale du Centre
DNF Alexandre Bosquain (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent
DNF Aurélien Moyon (Fra) Espoir du Sud
DNF Denis Permayie (Fra) Vélo Club Trois-Rivières
DNF Frédéric Attaud (Fra) AS Baie-Mahault

GC after Stage 6

1. Flobert Pena Pena (Col) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 21:21:59
2. Cameron Evans (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 1:23
3. Edwin Sanchez Anzola (Col) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 7:23
4. Andreï Medyannikov (Kaz) Matouba Rayon d’Argent 8:27
5. Martial Gene (Fra) Excelsior 12:33
6. Marechaux Régis (Fra) Digicel JCA 13:16
7. Nelson Ismael Sanchez Jimenez (Dom) Matouba Rayon D’argent 13:18
8. Serge Nipau (Fra) AS Police 15:03
9. Leonard O Grullon Garcia (Dom) AS Baie-Mahault 15:36
10. Fremin Jérôme (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 17:16
11. Valéry Derby (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 17:38
12. Eddy Lembo (Fra) Espoir du Sud 19:23
13. Freddy Hamlet (Fra) Excelsior 19:47
14. Philippe Palmiste (Pol) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 20:00
15. Josef Palcak (Svk) ZP Sport 22:00
16. Martin Haring (Svk) ZP Sport 24:45
17. Florent Gougeard (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 25:30
18. Holger Sievers (Ger) Italie 25:35
19. Jean-Charles Arethus (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 28:07
20. Jean-Claude Luce (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 28:20
21. Adam Pierzga (Pol) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 29:15
22. Quentin Legrand (Fra) AS Police 29:36
23. Christophe Cospar (Fra) Orange 29:58
24. Robert Glajza (Svk) ZP Sport 30:14
25. Jean-Marc Dollin (Fra) Vélo Club Trois-Rivières 32:25
26. Timo Scholz (Ger) Italie 32:32
27. André Tremblay (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 34:22
28. Giovani Rousseau (Fra) Orange 34:58
29. Marek Canecky (Svk) ZP Sport 35:21
30. Frédéric Theobald (Fra) AS Baie-Mahault 35:31
31. Jean-Louis Pheron (Fra) Excelsior 35:42
32. Clément Magne (Fra) AS Police 37:30
33. Arnaud Girard (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 37:56
34. Mickaël Clarico (Fra) AS Police 39:01
35. Dustin Macburnie (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 40:43
36. Pierre Theophile (Fra) Digicel JCA 44:02
37. Rodrigue Lond As (Fra) Sélection Martinique 44:33
38. Juan Emilio Féliz Salvador (Dom) AS Baie-Mahault 45:14
39. Niv Libner (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 46:08
40. Ramothe Cédric (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 48:18
41. Damien Wojciechowski (Pol) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 51:43
42. Adrien Gorand (Fra) Espoir du Sud 52:51
43. Bernard Gene (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 53:41
44. Emrick Cornelie (Fra) Pédale du Centre 54:39
45. Emerick Jean -Jacques (Fra) AS Police 55:31
46. Luis Sablon (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 55:46
47. Jean-Louis Varo (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 55:47
48. Blevinal Cédric (Fra) Orange 56:31
49. Huaca Hector Ruben Chiles (Ecu) Matouba Rayon d’Argent 56:51
50. Cyril Narcisse Theophile (Fra) Digicel JCA 56:56
51. Maurizio Vandelli (Ita) Italie 58:51
52. Romuald Claude Claudeon (Fra) Digicel JCA 59:47
53. Lars Pria ROM Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 59:48
54. Julien Barbier (Fra) Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barent 59:52
55. Jean-Marie Marimoutou (Fra) Matouba Rayon d’Argent 59:56
56. Rony Rex (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 1:01:49
57. Didier Dougaparshad (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 1:02:53
58. Christophe Palie (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 1:02:58
59. Patrice Perrot (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 1:03:02
60. Jean-Franois Tabar (Fra) Sélection Martinique 1:03:28
61. Yarden Gazit (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 1:03:57
62. Viktor Ulzen (Ger) Italie 1:04:07
63. Johan Baptiste (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 1:05:17
64. Cornelie Cédric (Fra) Pédale du Centre 1:06:15
65. William Bondot (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 1:06:22
66. Ruddy Jeremie (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 1:08:05
67. Steeve Promeneur (Fra) Matouba Rayon d’Argent 1:09:05
68. Wilfrid Noyon (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 1:11:04
69. Vidian Bordin (Fra) Union Cycliste Capesterrienne 1:11:25
70. David Nagapin (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 1:12:57
71. Fabrice Cornelie (Fra) Club Région Guadeloupe 1:15:22
72. Hervé Antonides (Fra) Pédale du Centre 1:15:35
73. Aitor Azpiazu (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 1:15:57
74. Jean-Robert Manne (Fra) AS Police 1:22:18
75. Miguel Cuirassier (Fra) Vélo Club Saintannais 1:22:27
76. Laurent C̩dric (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 1:22:34
77. Miroslav Keliar (Svk) ZP Sport 1:22:40
78. Yvan Boos (Fra) AS Baie-Mahault 1:23:20
79. Olivier Hebreu (Fra) Espoir du Sud 1:24:45
80. Jean-Christophe Mergirie (Fra) Sélection Martinique 1:25:18
81. Adrien Alidor (Fra) Orange 1:29:03
82. Amos Wolff (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 1:30:13
83. Sony Eleore (Fra) Lynx Optique Eafit / UVN 1:32:09
84. Julian Rammler (Ger) Italie 1:34:10
85. Zachi Boygen (Isr) Tel-Aviv Cycling Club 1:35:28
86. Ruddy Clavier (Fra) Union Cycliste du Moule 1:36:02
87. Ritchi Miatti (Fra) Orange 1:37:36
88. Steven Mapolin (Fra) Pédale du Centre 1:39:35
89. Yannick Claudeon (Fra) Excelsior 1:44:51
90. Willy Belgio (Fra) Excelsior 1:44:59
91. Jean-Daniel Damas (Fra) Rixxom РV̩lo Club Petit-Bourg 1:45:44
92. Alexandre Lami (Fra) Pédale du Centre 1:50:37
93. Ryan Belliveau (Can) Centre Nal Cyclisme Atlantique 2:01:16
94. Stéphane Rieux (Fra) Sélection Martinique 2:13:37
95. Martin Frano (Svk) ZP Sport 2:14:38

Team Classification

1. Union Cycliste Capesterrienne (Guadeloupe):: 63:15:08
2. Excelsior (Guadeloupe) 24:49
3. M atouba Rayon d’Argent (Guadeloupe) 37:58
4. Ste-Austreberthe Pavilly Barenti (F rance) 39:30
5. AS Baie-M ahault (Guadeloupe) 42:55
6. AS Police (Guadeloupe) 47:48
7. ZP Sport (Slovaquie) 49:18
8. Lynx O ptique Eafit/ U VN (Guadeloupe) 52:51
9. Centre National Cyclisme Atlantique (Canada) 56:44
10. Italie (Italie) 1:07:16
11. D igicelJCA (Guadeloupe) 1:15:33
12. O range (Guadeloupe) 1:26:14
13. Espoir du Sud (Guadeloupe) 1:37:06
14. Club Région Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe) 1:51
15. Vélo Club Saintannais (Guadeloupe) 2:10:34
16. Tel-Aviv Cycling Club (Israel) 2:14:20
17. Sélection M artinique (M artinique) 2:22:09
18. U nion Cycliste du M oule (Guadeloupe) 2:29:18
19. Pédale du Centre (Guadeloupe) 2:38:31
20. Rixxom -Vélo Club Petit-Bourg (Guadeloupe) 3:06:24