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Recovering on the Climb TdF25-79
The young French rising star of this Tour, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) had been dropped in the first kilometer or two of the Hautacam, but he found his climbing legs as the twelve-kilometer ascent sloughed on. He settled himself, found his rhythm and started clawing back those who had dropped him not long ago. He proved that one can recover in a race, even in the middle of a tough, long climb. He finished the day fifth on the stage. Coincidentally, he moved himself to fifth in the general classification as well. He is now less than a minute off of the Tour podium, and the same amout of time needed to reclaim the Maillot Blanc of best young rider. He is the best place Frenchman in the Tour.