Tour de France

Stage 19: Bordeaux to Pauillac, 52km/32mi

By Cathy Mehl

There’s no better time to stamp your authority on a race than in the final "racing" stage and that’s just what defending champion Alberto Contador (Astana) did in the time trial of stage 19.  Holding only 8-seconds to Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) at the start of the race, Contador steadily built on his advantage over the 52km/32mi course, adding a solid 31 more seconds to secure his third Tour de France victory.   Early predictions that Schleck would lose substantial time proved to be wrong and the 25-year old Luxembourger looks to be a solid contender against  Contador in the coming years. Team RadioShack's Lance Armstrong rode his last Tour time trial and received tremendous cheers of support along the course.  The 7-time Tour champion will ride into Paris on Sunday and close the chapter on thirteen participations in the biggest bike race in the world.

While the battle was certainly between Contador and Schleck for the yellow jersey, the ever-consistent Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) proved yet again that he is the man to beat in a time trial.  Starting early in the stage before the wind came up on the Atlantic Ocean, Cancellara chased the time put up by Tony Martin of HTC-Columbia and bested the younger rider’s time at every check point except the first one.  Crossing the line with a time of 1:00:56, Cancellara was ahead by 17-seconds, a margin that proved to be the winning time.   Martin’s teammate Bert Grabsch took the third spot on the day at almost two-minutes down on Cancellara. 

Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Samuel Sanchez lost his third spot on the overall podium to Russian Denis Menchov (Rabobank).  Despite starting in the windy conditions, Menchov took 11-th on the day, the best performance by the GC contenders. 

Team RadioShack’s top performance came early in the day by Dmitriy Muravyev, taking 19th on the day.  Not really known for his time trialing skills, Dimi was an early starter and made the best of the calm conditions to put in a solid ride.   Chris Horner started tenth from the end and battled the wind on course, but with all the top riders contesting the course in the same conditions, Horner was able to hold on to his tenth spot on general classification and will ride into Paris with his best ever Tour finish.   The Shack widened their lead in the overall Teams classification to 9:15 ahead of Caisse d’Epargne.

Horner on course, holding on for 10th on GC

Schleck put in a tremendous ride to try and topple Contador, and while he couldn’t beat the reigning champion today, he showed that his skills against the clock have vastly improved.  A big loss in the opening prologue didn’t seem to bode well for today’s challenge, but Schleck put all doubts to rest that he can one day be a Tour winner.   Plus Contador showed some vulnerability when under pressure in what often has looked like an easy ride for the Spanish rider.  Although his lead allowed him to defend rather than attack and  it’s possible he raced conservatively in the mountains, he will have to up his game when he meets  Schleck again next year.  Heads above the rest, these two riders may delight cycling fans in their battles for many years to come.

Only one stage remains now before bringing this year’s difficult Tour de France to an end on Sunday when the peloton of 170 will ride into Paris.  Most will celebrate along the way before real racing begins on the Champs-Élysées with the green sprinter’s jersey and a final stage win still up for grabs.

Beyond the Finish Line: Pauillac in known world-wide for it’s find grand cru wines.  The soil is gravel and sand and the 115 growers produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, all full-bodied red wines with strong bouquet.  Recommended vintages are 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1986, 1982.  Enjoy a class with red meat, foie gras and mushroom dishes, or Saint Nectaire, Edam and Gouda cheeses.

Top Ten Results

1              Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank                1:00:56                   

2              Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia               0:00:17  

3              Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia              0:01:48  

4              Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team     0:02:34  

5              David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Transitions           0:03:00  

6              Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank        0:03:03  

7              Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne     0:03:10  

8              Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank           0:03:21  

9              Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team       0:03:33  

10            Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team      0:03:38

Team RadioShack Results

19           Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz)   0:04:38              

31           Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)   0:05:28

41           Levi Leipheimer (USA)   0:05:59 

67           Lance Armstrong (USA)   0:07:05 

69           Christopher Horner (USA)   0:07:08           

70           Jani  Brajkovic (Slo)   0:07:09

87           Andreas Klöden (Ger)   0:07:35                                 

90           Sergio Paulinho (Por)   0:07:49   

117         Gregory Rast (Swi)   0:08:45

General Classification after Stage 19

1              Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                 89:16:27                

2              Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank        0:00:39  

3              Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank               0:02:01  

4              Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi          0:03:40  

5              Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto          0:06:54  

6              Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank                 0:09:31  

7              Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions            0:10:15  

8              Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:11:37  

9              Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:54  

10            Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack        0:12:02

Team RadioShack on General Classification

13           Levi Leipheimer (USA)    0:14:40                  

14           Andreas Klöden (Ger)    0:16:36

23           Lance Armstrong (USA)   0:39:20 

43           Jani Brajkovic (Slo)   1:23:26 

46           Sergio Paulinho (Por)  1:25:43    

85           Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) 2:37:56

114         Gregory Rast (Swi)   3:14:11 

148         Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz)  3:41:47                                                               

Photos courtesy of Graham Watson