OVERALL STANDING ON TIME
Result after stage 21
Total distance covered: 3459.5 km
 
1.     CONTADOR Alberto     21     ASTANA     85h 48' 35"      
2.     SCHLECK Andy     31     TEAM SAXO BANK     85h 52' 46"     04' 11"
3.     ARMSTRONG Lance     22     ASTANA     85h 53' 59"     05' 24"
4.     WIGGINS Bradley     58     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     85h 54' 36"     06' 01"
5.     SCHLECK Frank     36     TEAM SAXO BANK     85h 54' 39"     06' 04"
6.     KLÖDEN Andréas     23     ASTANA     85h 55' 17"     06' 42"
7.     NIBALI Vincenzo     95     LIQUIGAS     85h 56' 10"     07' 35"
8.     VANDE VELDE Christian     51     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     86h 00' 39"     12' 04"
9.     KREUZIGER Roman     93     LIQUIGAS     86h 02' 51"     14' 16"
10.     LE MEVEL Christophe     106     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     86h 03' 00"     14' 25"
11.     ASTARLOZA Mikel     61     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     86h 03' 19"     14' 44"
12.     CASAR Sandy     101     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     86h 05' 54"     17' 19"
13.     KARPETS Vladimir     161     TEAM KATUSHA     86h 07' 09"     18' 34"
14.     NOCENTINI Rinaldo     87     AG2R LA MONDIALE     86h 09' 20"     20' 45"
15.     VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen     17     SILENCE - LOTTO     86h 09' 25"     20' 50"
16.     GOUBERT Stephane     85     AG2R LA MONDIALE     86h 11' 04"     22' 29"
17.     SASTRE Carlos     1     CERVELO TEST TEAM     86h 14' 56"     26' 21"
18.     BOTCHAROV Alexandre     162     TEAM KATUSHA     86h 18' 08"     29' 33"
19.     HINCAPIE George     74     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     86h 22' 02"     33' 27"
20.     CHAVANEL Sylvain     151     QUICK STEP     86h 22' 44"     34' 09"
21.     KNEES Christian     185     TEAM MILRAM     86h 23' 23"     34' 48"
22.     ROLLAND Pierre     148     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     86h 26' 19"     37' 44"
23.     ROCHE Nicolas     89     AG2R LA MONDIALE     86h 26' 55"     38' 20"
24.     GERDEMANN Linus     181     TEAM MILRAM     86h 27' 10"     38' 35"
25.     FEILLU Brice     174     AGRITUBEL     86h 29' 49"     41' 14"
26.     SANCHEZ Luis-Leon     118     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     86h 30' 02"     41' 27"
27.     ZUBELDIA Haimar     29     ASTANA     86h 32' 09"     43' 34"
28.     MONFORT Maxime     77     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     86h 32' 29"     43' 54"
29.     MOREAU Christophe     171     AGRITUBEL     86h 33' 08"     44' 33"
30.     EVANS Cadel     11     SILENCE - LOTTO     86h 33' 59"     45' 24"
31.     SORENSEN Nicki     38     TEAM SAXO BANK     86h 35' 09"     46' 34"
32.     VELITS Peter     187     TEAM MILRAM     86h 35' 10"     46' 35"
33.     DUPONT Hubert     84     AG2R LA MONDIALE     86h 38' 18"     49' 43"
34.     SORENSEN Chris     37     TEAM SAXO BANK     86h 38' 22"     49' 47"
35.     PAULINHO Sergio     26     ASTANA     86h 42' 35"     54' 00"
36.     MARTIN Tony     76     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     86h 43' 39"     55' 04"
37.     PELLIZOTTI Franco     91     LIQUIGAS     86h 44' 54"   56' 19"
38.     MINARD Sébastien     127     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE   86h 46' 12"  57' 37"
39.     PASAMONTES Luis     116     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     86h 46' 22"  57' 47"
40.     IVANOV Serguei     165     TEAM KATUSHA     86h 48' 56"     1h 00' 21"
41.     POPOVYCH Yaroslav     27     ASTANA     86h 49' 43"     1h 01' 08"
42.     LEFEVRE Laurent     146     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     86h 50' 04"  1h 01' 29"
43.     PAURIOL Rémi     129     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE   86h 51' 39"  1h 03' 04"
44.     MARTINEZ Egoi     64     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     86h 55' 55"     1h 07' 20"
45.     GUSTOV Volodymir     4     CERVELO TEST TEAM     86h 56' 50"     1h 08' 15"
46.     LLOYD Matthew     14     SILENCE - LOTTO     86h 57' 40"     1h 09' 05"
47.     TROFIMOV Yury     149     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM   86h 57' 58"     1h 09' 23"
48.     ROY Jérémy     107     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     86h 57' 58"     1h 09' 23"
49.     HESJEDAL Ryder     54     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     87h 02' 38"     1h 14' 03"
50.     LARSSON Gustav     34     TEAM SAXO BANK     87h 03' 57"     1h 15' 22"


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Despite the conventional wisdom that Alberto Contador had essentially wrapped up the 2009 Tour de France, there is nothing conventional about the 22km long ascent of Mont Ventoux to cap off a truly dramatic race.  Unlike most climbs that are usually difficult but not too long, or long but not too difficult, Ventoux is essentially relentless and guaranteed to offer lots of excitement.

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OVERALL STANDING ON TIME
Result after stage 20
Total distance covered: 3295.5 km
 

1.     CONTADOR Alberto     21     ASTANA     81h 46' 17"      
2.     SCHLECK Andy     31     TEAM SAXO BANK     81h 50' 28"     04' 11"
3.     ARMSTRONG Lance     22     ASTANA     81h 51' 41"     05' 24"
4.     WIGGINS Bradley     58     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     81h 52' 18"     06' 01"
5.     SCHLECK Frank     36     TEAM SAXO BANK     81h 52' 21"     06' 04"
6.     KLÖDEN Andréas     23     ASTANA     81h 52' 59"     06' 42"
7.     NIBALI Vincenzo     95     LIQUIGAS     81h 53' 52"     07' 35"
8.     VANDE VELDE Christian     51     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     81h 58' 21"     12' 04"
9.     KREUZIGER Roman     93     LIQUIGAS     82h 00' 33"     14' 16"
10.     LE MEVEL Christophe     106     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     82h 00' 42"     14' 25"
11.     ASTARLOZA Mikel     61     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     82h 01' 01"     14' 44"
12.     CASAR Sandy     101     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     82h 03' 36"     17' 19"
13.     KARPETS Vladimir     161     TEAM KATUSHA     82h 04' 51"     18' 34"
14.     NOCENTINI Rinaldo     87     AG2R LA MONDIALE     82h 07' 02"     20' 45"
15.     VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen     17     SILENCE - LOTTO     82h 07' 07"     20' 50"
16.     GOUBERT Stephane     85     AG2R LA MONDIALE     82h 08' 46"     22' 29"
17.     SASTRE Carlos     1     CERVELO TEST TEAM     82h 12' 38"     26' 21"
18.     BOTCHAROV Alexandre     162     TEAM KATUSHA     82h 15' 50"     29' 33"
19.     HINCAPIE George     74     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     82h 19' 44"     33' 27"
20.     CHAVANEL Sylvain     151     QUICK STEP     82h 20' 26"     34' 09"
21.     KNEES Christian     185     TEAM MILRAM     82h 21' 05"     34' 48"
22.     ROLLAND Pierre     148     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     82h 24' 01"     37' 44"
23.     ROCHE Nicolas     89     AG2R LA MONDIALE     82h 24' 37"     38' 20"
24.     GERDEMANN Linus     181     TEAM MILRAM     82h 24' 52"     38' 35"
25.     FEILLU Brice     174     AGRITUBEL     82h 27' 31"     41' 14"
26.     SANCHEZ Luis-Leon     118     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     82h 27' 44"     41' 27"
27.     MONFORT Maxime     77     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     82h 29' 37"     43' 20"
28.     ZUBELDIA Haimar     29     ASTANA     82h 29' 51"     43' 34"
29.     MOREAU Christophe     171     AGRITUBEL     82h 30' 50"     44' 33"
30.     EVANS Cadel     11     SILENCE - LOTTO     82h 31' 41"     45' 24"
31.     SORENSEN Nicki     38     TEAM SAXO BANK     82h 32' 51"     46' 34"
32.     VELITS Peter     187     TEAM MILRAM     82h 32' 52"     46' 35"
33.     DUPONT Hubert     84     AG2R LA MONDIALE     82h 36' 00"     49' 43"
34.     SORENSEN Chris     37     TEAM SAXO BANK     82h 36' 04"     49' 47"
35.     PAULINHO Sergio     26     ASTANA     82h 40' 17"     54' 00"
36.     MARTIN Tony     76     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     82h 41' 21"     55' 04"
37.     PELLIZOTTI Franco     91     LIQUIGAS     82h 41' 50"     55' 33"
38.     MINARD Sébastien     127     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     82h 43' 54"     57' 37"
39.     PASAMONTES Luis     116     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     82h 44' 04"     57' 47"
40.     IVANOV Serguei     165     TEAM KATUSHA     82h 46' 38"     1h 00' 21"
41.     POPOVYCH Yaroslav     27     ASTANA     82h 47' 25"     1h 01' 08"
42.     LEFEVRE Laurent     146     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     82h 47' 46"     1h 01' 29"
43.     PAURIOL Rémi     129     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     82h 49' 21"     1h 03' 04"
44.     MARTINEZ Egoi     64     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     82h 53' 37"     1h 07' 20"
45.     GUSTOV Volodymir     4     CERVELO TEST TEAM     82h 54' 32"     1h 08' 15"
46.     LLOYD Matthew     14     SILENCE - LOTTO     82h 54' 52"     1h 08' 35"
47.     TROFIMOV Yury     149     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     82h 55' 18"     1h 09' 01"
48.     ROY Jérémy     107     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     82h 55' 40"     1h 09' 23"
49.     HESJEDAL Ryder     54     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     82h 59' 58"     1h 13' 41"
50.     LARSSON Gustav     34     TEAM SAXO BANK     83h 01' 39"     1h 15' 22"

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It may not have looked like it on paper or on TV, but Stage 19 was a critical stage in the 2009 Tour de France. Sandwiched between the final individual time trial yesterday and the monster climb up Mont Ventoux tomorrow, many riders today were looking for ways to recuperate and prepare for the one last major challenge ahead of them.

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OVERALL STANDING ON TIME
Result after stage 1
Total distance covered: 178 km

1.      CONTADOR Alberto      21      ASTANA      77h 06' 18"       
2.     SCHLECK Andy     31     TEAM SAXO BANK     77h 10' 29"     04' 11"
3.     ARMSTRONG Lance     22     ASTANA     77h 11' 39"     05' 21"
4.     WIGGINS Bradley     58     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     77h 11' 54"     05' 36"
5.     KLÖDEN Andréas     23     ASTANA     77h 11' 56"     05' 38"
6.     SCHLECK Frank     36     TEAM SAXO BANK     77h 12' 17"     05' 59"
7.     NIBALI Vincenzo     95     LIQUIGAS     77h 13' 33"     07' 15"
8.     VANDE VELDE Christian     51     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     77h 16' 26"     10' 08"
9.     LE MEVEL Christophe     106     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     77h 18' 55"     12' 37"
10.     ASTARLOZA Mikel     61     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     77h 18' 56"     12' 38"
11.     KARPETS Vladimir     161     TEAM KATUSHA     77h 19' 54"     13' 36"
12.     KREUZIGER Roman     93     LIQUIGAS     77h 20' 26"     14' 08"
13.     CASAR Sandy     101     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     77h 20' 55"     14' 37"
14.     NOCENTINI Rinaldo     87     AG2R LA MONDIALE     77h 21' 45"     15' 27"
15.     SASTRE Carlos     1     CERVELO TEST TEAM     77h 23' 41"     17' 23"
16.     GOUBERT Stephane     85     AG2R LA MONDIALE     77h 26' 05"     19' 47"
17.     VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen     17     SILENCE - LOTTO     77h 26' 07"     19' 49"
18.     BOTCHAROV Alexandre     162     TEAM KATUSHA     77h 30' 44"     24' 26"
19.     KNEES Christian     185     TEAM MILRAM     77h 34' 09"     27' 51"
20.     HINCAPIE George     74     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     77h 34' 38"     28' 20"
21.     CHAVANEL Sylvain     151     QUICK STEP     77h 35' 20"     29' 02"
22.     GERDEMANN Linus     181     TEAM MILRAM     77h 37' 26"     31' 08"
23.     ROCHE Nicolas     89     AG2R LA MONDIALE     77h 38' 03"     31' 45"
24.     ROLLAND Pierre     148     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     77h 38' 12"     31' 54"
25.     FEILLU Brice     174     AGRITUBEL     77h 38' 43"     32' 25"
26.     MONFORT Maxime     77     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     77h 42' 11"     35' 53"
27.     ZUBELDIA Haimar     29     ASTANA     77h 42' 25"     36' 07"
28.     MOREAU Christophe     171     AGRITUBEL     77h 43' 24"     37' 06"
29.     SANCHEZ Luis-Leon     118     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     77h 45' 08"     38' 50"
30.     EVANS Cadel     11     SILENCE - LOTTO     77h 46' 35"     40' 17"
31.     SORENSEN Nicki     38     TEAM SAXO BANK     77h 47' 48"     41' 30"
32.     DUPONT Hubert     84     AG2R LA MONDIALE     77h 48' 34"     42' 16"
33.     VELITS Peter     187     TEAM MILRAM     77h 49' 08"     42' 50"
34.     SORENSEN Chris     37     TEAM SAXO BANK     77h 51' 01"     44' 43"
35.     PAULINHO Sergio     26     ASTANA     77h 53' 04"     46' 46"
36.     MARTINEZ Egoi     64     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     77h 54' 58"     48' 40"
37.     POPOVYCH Yaroslav     27     ASTANA     77h 55' 02"     48' 44"
38.     PASAMONTES Luis     116     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     77h 56' 38"     50' 20"
39.     LEFEVRE Laurent     146     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     77h 58' 13"     51' 55"
40.     IVANOV Serguei     165     TEAM KATUSHA     77h 59' 12"     52' 54"
41.     MINARD Sébastien     127     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     77h 59' 22"     53' 04"
42.     URAN Rigoberto     119     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     78h 01' 27"     55' 09"
43.     PELLIZOTTI Franco     91     LIQUIGAS     78h 01' 33"     55' 15"
44.     MARTIN Tony     76     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     78h 01' 57"     55' 39"
45.     PAURIOL Rémi     129     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     78h 02' 40"     56' 22"
46.     LARSSON Gustav     34     TEAM SAXO BANK     78h 03' 38"     57' 20"
47.     MENCHOV Denis     41     RABOBANK     78h 04' 06"     57' 48"
48.     GUSTOV Volodymir     4     CERVELO TEST TEAM     78h 05' 35"     59' 17"
49.     ROY Jérémy     107     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     78h 06' 07"     59' 49"
50.     KIRCHEN Kim     75     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     78h 07' 25"     1h 01' 07" read more

With all eyes focused squarely on the crucial climb up Mont Ventoux tomorrow, the stage was set for a successful escape to have their way.  But as is often the case at Le Tour, that was not what eventually happened on the way to Aubenas.

Tour tactics: late into a stage race the overall contenders and their support cast will do everything possible to conserve energy.  This is a perfect opportunity for other riders far down on GC to go for a stage win.  The only problem is that by now this is a very large group and they all will be competing very hard in the opening kms to be a part of this select escape.
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Photo Caption: Watching Lance in a Time Trial on TV can be intense,
especially when you watch it with his mom Linda and her husband Ed - great folks!

Greetings from Paris once again …  yesterday was a good day for the LIVESTRONG movement and Lance Armstrong himself.  Here in Paris we welcomed some great supporters and have a great weekend planned for them, including a trip down to see Ventoux and then welcoming the peloton along the Champs Elysees, all thanks to our friends at Trek Travel.

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OVERALL STANDING ON TIME
Result after stage 18
Total distance covered: 2950.5 km
 
1.     CONTADOR Alberto     21     ASTANA     73h 15' 39"      
2.     SCHLECK Andy     31     TEAM SAXO BANK     73h 19' 50"     04' 11"
3.     ARMSTRONG Lance     22     ASTANA     73h 21' 04"     05' 25"
4.     WIGGINS Bradley     58     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     73h 21' 15"     05' 36"
5.     KLÖDEN Andréas     23     ASTANA     73h 21' 17"     05' 38"
6.     SCHLECK Frank     36     TEAM SAXO BANK     73h 21' 38"     05' 59"
7.     NIBALI Vincenzo     95     LIQUIGAS     73h 22' 54"     07' 15"
8.     VANDE VELDE Christian     51     GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM     73h 25' 47"     10' 08"
9.     ASTARLOZA Mikel     61     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     73h 28' 17"     12' 38"
10.     LE MEVEL Christophe     106     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     73h 28' 20"     12' 41"
11.     KARPETS Vladimir     161     TEAM KATUSHA     73h 29' 15"     13' 36"
12.     KREUZIGER Roman     93     LIQUIGAS     73h 29' 47"     14' 08"
13.     CASAR Sandy     101     FRANCAISE DES JEUX     73h 30' 16"     14' 37"
14.     SASTRE Carlos     1     CERVELO TEST TEAM     73h 31' 05"     15' 26"
15.     NOCENTINI Rinaldo     87     AG2R LA MONDIALE     73h 31' 06"     15' 27"
16.     GOUBERT Stephane     85     AG2R LA MONDIALE     73h 35' 26"     19' 47"
17.     VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen     17     SILENCE - LOTTO     73h 35' 28"     19' 49"
18.     BOTCHAROV Alexandre     162     TEAM KATUSHA     73h 40' 05"     24' 26"
19.     FEILLU Brice     174     AGRITUBEL     73h 41' 37"     25' 58"
20.     CHAVANEL Sylvain     151     QUICK STEP     73h 42' 44"     27' 05"
21.     KNEES Christian     185     TEAM MILRAM     73h 43' 30"     27' 51"
22.     HINCAPIE George     74     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     73h 43' 51"     28' 12"
23.     ROLLAND Pierre     148     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     73h 45' 36"     29' 57"
24.     GERDEMANN Linus     181     TEAM MILRAM     73h 46' 39"     31' 00"
25.     ROCHE Nicolas     89     AG2R LA MONDIALE     73h 47' 28"     31' 49"
26.     ZUBELDIA Haimar     29     ASTANA     73h 49' 49"     34' 10"
27.     MONFORT Maxime     77     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     73h 51' 04"     35' 25"
28.     MOREAU Christophe     171     AGRITUBEL     73h 52' 45"     37' 06"
29.     EVANS Cadel     11     SILENCE - LOTTO     73h 53' 59"     38' 20"
30.     SANCHEZ Luis-Leon     118     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     73h 54' 29"     38' 50"
31.     POPOVYCH Yaroslav     27     ASTANA     73h 54' 56"     39' 17"
32.     SORENSEN Nicki     38     TEAM SAXO BANK     73h 55' 12"     39' 33"
33.     DUPONT Hubert     84     AG2R LA MONDIALE     73h 56' 44"     41' 05"
34.     KIRCHEN Kim     75     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     73h 58' 13"     42' 34"
35.     SORENSEN Chris     37     TEAM SAXO BANK     73h 58' 25"     42' 46"
36.     VELITS Peter     187     TEAM MILRAM     73h 58' 29"     42' 50"
37.     PAULINHO Sergio     26     ASTANA     74h 00' 28"     44' 49"
38.     PELLIZOTTI Franco     91     LIQUIGAS     74h 01' 27"     45' 48"
39.     PASAMONTES Luis     116     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     74h 04' 02"     48' 23"
40.     MARTINEZ Egoi     64     EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI     74h 04' 19"     48' 40"
41.     LEFEVRE Laurent     146     BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM     74h 06' 53"     51' 14"
42.     MINARD Sébastien     127     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     74h 07' 32" 51' 53"
43.     MENCHOV Denis     41     RABOBANK     74h 08' 26"     52' 47"
44.     IVANOV Serguei     165     TEAM KATUSHA     74h 08' 33"     52' 54"
45.     PAURIOL Rémi     129     COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE     74h 10' 04"     54' 25"
46.     URAN Rigoberto     119     CAISSE D’EPARGNE     74h 10' 48"     55' 09"
47.     MARTIN Tony     76     TEAM COLUMBIA - HTC     74h 11' 18"     55' 39"
48.     NIERMANN Grischa     47     RABOBANK     74h 11' 38"     55' 59"
49.     LARSSON Gustav     34     TEAM SAXO BANK     74h 12' 59"     57' 20"
50.     GUSTOV Volodymir     4     CERVELO TEST TEAM     74h 12' 59"     57' 20"

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FORT WORTH, Texas and AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2009 – RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) is proud to announce a partnership with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong to form a new American Pro-Tour cycling team.  Beginning in 2010, Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong returned to the world stage of professional cycling in order to promote the efforts of the LIVESTRONG Foundation and their fight against cancer. From the start of the 2009 season at the Tour Down Under in Australia, Lance’s return has generated significant attention and has allowed LIVESTRONG to step up awareness, grassroots action and fundraising in the global fight against cancer.

“This has been a great season so far – the response in the countries we’ve been to has been amazing and it’s clear now that this was the right choice.  Utilizing the massive media attention that the sport receives has been the perfect vehicle to help spread the LIVESTRONG message around the world,” said Lance Armstrong.  “To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world’s top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff – I couldn’t be happier to partner with RadioShack, a truly iconic American brand,” said Lance Armstrong.

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There was no question that today’s stage was the most difficult day in the 2009 Tour de France.  But at the end of the day in Le Grand-Bornand it was Lance’s Astana teammate and race leader Alberto Contador who was being questioned for yet another mysterious attack as he came in second place on the day to Fränk Schleck with his brother Andy a close third, and the top of the GC shaken up yet again…

 

 - The day started off with an odd man of the front for a stage that featured five very difficult mountain climbs.  Current sprint competition leader Thor Hushovd attacked out of the day’s escape to take home all the intermediate sprint points, but once he had that in the bag settled down as the climbers came to the fore.

 

It was no surprise to see the Luxembourg / Saxo Bank duo on the offensive, they’ve spoken with their legs and mouths that they felt they could bring the race to Astana and give it a go.  On the final climb they showed their aggression, coming to the front and punching almost everyone off the back save for Contador and his teammate Andreas Klöden.  When a slight gap opened up it was a savvy Lance Armstrong that immediately sat on a faltering Brad Wiggins, setting the stage for what could have been a 1-2-3 Astana juggernaut atop the standings with Contador, Armstrong, and Klöden.

 

Tour tactics: If you think a rider with you is tired or not having a good day, you can “hang him out to dry” by making him go to the front and work, then when you sense he’s on the limit, accelerate away (attack) knowing he has nothing left to chase you down.  If executed well you can put minutes into a rival this way.

 

And then, with Wiggins over two minutes back to the foursome on the front and just 2km left to the summit, Contador attacked.  The result of his effort did not get rid of either Schleck but dropped Klöden, leaving Contador isolated.  That was all the Schlecks needed to see and they hit the gas all the way to the line, and Contador had no choice but to follow them all the way to the line as Klöden struggled in and he and Lance – who had dropped Wiggins - eventually crossed the line over 2’18” back.

 

“I got caught out tactically a bit. I didn’t follow the accelerations and then tactically I have to stay with other teams,” Lance said. “I was stuck there with Wiggins and I couldn’t go until the end when it was steeper. In hindsight, I probably should have gone with the earlier accelerations.” 

 

Contador, meanwhile, said, “I wanted to do like I did on Verbier, but there weren’t the same gaps and Klöden was behind, so I decided to wait for him, In the end, I went to the finish line to conclude in the best manner possible. I am not at all happy about what happened with Klöden.”

 

The day’s result not only gave Frank Schleck a well deserved stage win but put the two brothers 2-3 on the overall standings to Contador, with Lance 30 seconds back to Frank in fourth place.  There are still two very decisive stages left in the race, the 40km Individual Time Trial tomorrow and the epic ascent of Ventoux on Saturday.  Lance should regain at least the third position back in the TT, but who knows what will happen on the 22km final climb?

 

While the racing will ultimately decide who stands on the final podium in Paris, the route that Contador is taking to get there has many people wondering who he’s really racing against – and why?

 

 

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