The Denver Post previews Chipotle’s Burrito Fest at the Tour de France today during the rest day in Pau, France.

Steve Ells, chief executive and founder of Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill, is traveling to France to cook dinner for 75 to 100 riders, staff and others involved with the team. “It was a good opportunity for (Ells) to go and spend some time with them, give them a taste of home,” Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said of the trip.

VeloNews talks to Christian Vande Velde about his stage 10 finish on Hautacam and being “…on the form of his life…”

From the article: “When asked what the biggest surprise so far in this Tour, he cited the troubles of Alejandro Valverde and Andy Schleck, but said the most pleasing is how he’s riding through the first half of the Tour.

‘The biggest surprise? To be third after the first 10 days,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow is a rest day and I feel like I recovered well from yesterday’s stage, I almost wish it was a mountain stage tomorrow because I really feel like I’m on top of my game right now.’

Vande Velde now heads into the Tour’s halfway point as a legitimate dark horse for overall victory.

Location:
Pyrénées, France

Overview:
Team Garmin-Chipotle riders are recording the stages of the 2008 Tour de France with their Garmin Edge 705s for all you data hungry fans out there. Each day, we will feature one rider and his data.

Stage 10 is a short but intense 156 km day in the mountains with two hors category climbs. After a rolling and slightly uphill start that includes two category 3 climbs, the race hits the base of the 17.7 km, hors category Col du Tourmalet climb with its average grades of 7.5%. After the fast descent off the Tourmalet through the village of Ayros-Arbouix, the riders must finish on high as the peloton climbs the 14.2 km, hors category Hautacam climb, with its average grades of 7.2%.

On this decisive mountain stage, Christian Vande Velde hangs with the true leaders of the 2008 Tour over the Tourmalet and up Hautacam to finish 10th. Leaving Kim Kirchen and Valverde behind on the mountain, Christian finished with the new yellow jersey, Australian Cadel Evans. In fact, Christian attacked the group in the last kilometer of the climb, pulling them through to the finish where Cadel Evans just managed to take the yellow. Christian’s amazing efforts in the mountains allowed him to hold onto third overall, just 38″ behind Evans.

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: 106.25 miles

Total Elevation Gain: 12,140 ft.

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Proving his talents as one of the world’s best, Christian Vande Velde stuck with the true Tour contenders over the Tourmalet and up Hautacam to finish stage 10 with the new yellow jersey Cadel Evans.

Leaving Kirchen and Valverde behind on the mountain, Christian’s group finished just two minutes off Frank Schleck, who finished third on the stage and moved into second overall. In the last few hundred meters of the climb, Christian attacked, pulling the group up to the finish where Evans just managed to take the yellow.

All of Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O worked to keep Christian in position early in the stage with Trent Lowe hanging in until La Mongie on the Tourmalet climb. Taking his turn on defense, Ryder Hesjedal joined a short break on the Tourmalet before falling off pace. And early in the stage, Danny Pate crashed but was fine and quietly did his full share of the day’s work.

Proving his talents as one of the world’s best, Christian Vande Velde (right) stuck with the true Tour contenders over the Tourmalet and up Hautacam to finish with the new maillot jaune Cadel Evans.

Leaving Kirchen and Valverde behind on the mountain, Christian’s group finished just two minutes off Frank Schleck, who finished third on the stage and moved into second overall. In the last few hundred meters of the climb, Christian attacked, pulling the group up to the finish where Evans just managed to take the yellow.

All of Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O worked to keep Christian in position early in the stage with Trent Lowe hanging in until La Mongie on the Tourmalet climb. Early in the stage, Danny Pate crashed but was fine and still did his full share of the day’s work.

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O stage 10 results
1. Leonardo Piepoli 4h19′27″

10. Christian Vande Velde +2′17″
53. Trent Lowe +22′36″
69. Ryder Hesjedal +24′28″
99. Julian Dean +27′57″
132. David Millar +33′14″
138. Danny Pate +33′14″
153. Martijn Maaskant +33′14″
158. Will Frischkorn +33′14″

Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O GC
1. Cadel Evans +42h29′09″
2. Frank Schleck +1″
3. Christian Vande Velde +38″
48. David Millar +35′22″
70. Trent Lowe +51′06″
80. Ryder Hesjedal +59′35″
116. Julian Dean +1h25′08″
119. Danny Pate +1h25′36″
149. Will Frischkorn +1h40′53″
151. Martijn Maaskant +1h41′50″

VeloNews writer John Wilcockson previews stage 10 of the Tour de France and the finish on Hautacam with a special wink to Christian Vande Velde.

From the article: “Never in his 11 years of pro racing has Vande Velde spoken with so much confidence. He has often had doubts about his ability, and he suffered through several seasons with a painful back and shoulder. But he has persevered. Asked whether he felt confident going into Sunday’s first true mountain stage, he said, “I do, actually, I do. As long as nothing has changed from the way I’ve felt the last couple of days, then I think I shouldn’t have so much trouble.”

He needn’t have worried.

From the start in Pau, Directeur Sportif Matt White provided today’s stage brief:

“Legs will do the talking today! We need the boys to be around Christian as long as possible. Trent will be crucial today.”

The Irish Independent profiles Irish road race champion Dan Martin as one of the top contenders for the 2008 Tour of Ireland.

From the profile: Martin is looking forward to racing in Ireland in the champion’s jersey. “I just can’t wait to get back to racing on Irish roads again,” said Martin: “I know that a really hard course has been announced but the team is really motivated to do well. There was a real fight to get into the team for this one but obviously being Irish champion helped me get in. The guys are excited to be coming to Ireland to race. We should be one of the strongest teams.”