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Beginners' luck? Tour rookies Nocentini, Feillu make most of day

Published: Jul. 10, 2009
Who'da thunk it? No one would have predicted that Nocentini would take yellow when the Tour hit the mountains.
Who'da thunk it? No one would have predicted that Nocentini would take yellow when the Tour hit the mountains.
Photo: Graham Watson

Two Tour de France rookies on opposite ends of their careers hogged the spotlight Friday in the Pyrénées.

While the GC favorites marked each other up the Tour’s first of three summit finishes, Brice Feillu and Rinaldo Nocentini took full advantage of the opportunity.

Feillu, 23, best-known as the younger brother of sprinter Romain Feillu, attacked out of a nine-man breakaway to win France’s second stage in three days while Nocentini, 31, an Italian roulleur familiar to American fans for his stage victory during this year’s Tour of California, snagged the yellow jersey.

Neither could believe the good fortune.

“This is like a dream come true,” said Feillu, who was a surprise selection for Agritubel. “I couldn’t believe that I was even starting the Tour and now I have been able to win the first mountain stage. It’s just incredible.”

Thanks to the victory, Feillu also takes the polka dot jersey, 49 points to Christophe Riblon’s (Ag2r) second place 46 points. Riblon was chasing the climber’s jersey, gobbling up first-place points in the opening four climbs of the stage, but sacrificed his hopes to help pace teammate Nocentini up the final Arcalis climb.

“It was already a dream to win a stage, but I also have the jersey as well,” Feillu said. “Now the dream will be to try to wear it all the way to Paris.”

Feillu’s older brother, Romain, helped him celebrate the victory after the podium ceremony. The elder Feillu wore the yellow jersey in last year’s Tour. The pair is one of cycling’s brothers that also includes the Schlecks, Chavanels and the Efimkins (who are twins).

Nocentini – who started the stage 32nd at 3:13 back -- was also hoping to win the stage and never thought the break would carve open enough time to claim the yellow jersey.

“When the break was away, I didn’t believe we’d have enough time to take the jersey, so I focused on saving my strength to try to win the stage,” he said. “Then when we still have five minutes’ gap with 5km to go, I thought it might be possible. Riblon really helped me up the climb and I thank him for that.”

Nocentini becomes the first Italian since 2000 to wear the yellow jersey.

“Taking the maillot jaune is one of the biggest things a rider can do and I think they will take notice back in Italy. I will try to defend the jersey as long as possible. We have two hard stages coming up in the mountains, but I am feeling good and the team is strong,” Nocentini said. “Maybe we can carry it into the rest day and then after that, but I know I won’t be able to win this Tour.”

At 31, Nocentini is just starting his first Tour.

“I was always on small teams that never got invited to the Tour and this is my third year with Ag2r,” he said. “I’m the only Italian on the team and they usually bring French riders, but I asked to go to the Tour this year. I think they are happy now they brought me.”

Just call it beginner’s luck.