BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France - Riccardo
Ricco of Italy won the ninth stage of the Tour de France on
Sunday, and Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg kept the yellow jersey as
the race veered into the Pyrenees mountains.
Ricco won a stage for the second
time in this race, finishing about a minute ahead of the main pack
that included Kirchen.
Cadel Evans, one of the favorites,
crashed about halfway into the 139-mile from Toulouse to
Bagneres-de-Bigorre. The Australian got back on his bike and was
treated for bloody scrapes.
The stage took the 170 riders along
seven climbs, including the demanding Peyresourde and Aspin
passes. The three-week Tour ends July 27 in Paris.
