Modest Piepoli says team not in top bracket

By Francois Thomazeau

HAUTACAM, France (Reuters) - Leonardo Piepoli and his Saunier Duval team leader Riccardo Ricco stole the show in the Tour de France mountains but Monday's 10th stage winner said they were not riding for a top-flight outfit.

"We have been strong so far but we remain a small team. In Italian soccer, you have AC Milan and Juventus and you have Chievo Verona. We are Chievo Verona," Piepoli said.

With three stage wins, two for Ricco and one for Piepoli, Saunier Duval have made a clean sweep of the mountain rides in this Tour.

Piepoli could also claim the yellow jersey for modesty.

"Our leader is Cobo," he said, referring to Spaniard Juan Jose Cobo, who was second in Monday's stage behind the Italian.

"Last year, he lost 26 minutes in the Pyrenees on a bad day, otherwise he would have finished fifth or sixth," he added.

Cobo is eighth overall, two minutes and 10 seconds behind Australian Cadel Evans, and one place ahead of Italian Ricco, who holds the polka-dot jersey as the best climber.

Piepoli's modesty does not really fit one of the rare climbers in the peloton to have won stages on the three big tours.