Tour De France Stage 19: Andy Schleck in Yellow, Evans Closes on Tour Win

The final day in the mountains for the 2011 Tour de France was always going to be pivotal, providing the last opportunity for riders to pick up big time gaps on their competitors.

It’s also the best opportunity for a last-ditch, desperate attempt to get back into contention. Sometimes that works, and sometimes, like today, it’s all just a big waste of energy.

At least for some.

It was another day for an early attack by the leaders and Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, Thomas Voeckler and Cadel Evans.

On the climb up the Col du Telegraphe, Voeckler cracked and Evans appeared to be similarly in trouble but was apparently having problems with the gears on his bike. He lost around a minute waiting to get a replacement from the team car.

We were treated to the unlikely eventuality of Contador and Andy Schleck cooperating on the way up the Col du Galibier hoping to destroy Evans and Voeckler once and for all.

It was not to be.

For the second day in succession, Cadel Evans was forced to single-handedly dragged the peloton—or what was left of it—back into contact with Contador and Andy Schleck on the descent off the Galibier.

It was all going to come down to the final climb of the Tour.

Contador attacked again and was establishing a significant gap and looked very much like he was riding himself back into contention, but the efforts of the last two days took their toll, and the last five kilometers proved too much.

The battle of interest was between Andy Schleck and Evans up the Alpe-d’Huez. Evans was content to sit on Schleck’s wheel which led to a physical confrontation between the two, with some shoulder barging as Schleck tried to convince Evans to take his turn at the front of the bunch.

Eventually Evans did go to the front and drove to the line.

As riders approach the peak of the Alpe d’Huez, the crowd got a bit too close for comfort.

Cycling is a people’s sport, and the characters who line the route make the race as special as it is, but sooner or later, one of the drunken clowns is going to cause an accident and destroy someone’s Tour chance—or maybe something even worse.

French rider Pierre Rolland finally claimed a stage victory for France, causing a national sigh of relief, but the yellow jersey was taken off the shoulder of a Frenchman and taken by Andy Schleck, with brother Frank 53 seconds back and Evans a further four seconds away.

Cadel Evans may well have ridden himself to a Tour de France victory. The Schlecks’ time-trial performance this year has been very ordinary, and on form alone, Evans should be far superior.

The unknown is how much the efforts of the last few days has taken out of the riders. Andy Schleck pulled up only metres after the finish line and looked very distressed, how well he recovers will determine his chances of an overall victory.

The yellow jersey weighs heavily on some shoulders, but for others—like Voeckler—it gives them extra energy. It will be interesting to see how Andy carries it.

Today was an amazing stage, worthy of the special place that the Alpe-d'Huez holds in the hearts of cycling fans the world over.

This Tour is a long way from being decided.

Jersey holders after Stage 19 (from www.letour.fr)

		11	SCHLECK Andy	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	82h 48' 43"
		171	CAVENDISH Mark	HTC - HIGHROAD	300 pts
		21	SANCHEZ Samuel	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	108 pts
		188	ROLLAND Pierre	TEAM EUROPCAR	82h 57' 40"
			TEAM GARMIN - CERVELO		248h 02' 15"

General classification standings after Stage 19 (from www.letour.fr)

1.	SCHLECK Andy	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	82h 48' 43"
2.	SCHLECK Frank	TEAM LEOPARD-TREK	+ 00' 53"
3.	EVANS Cadel	BMC RACING TEAM	+ 00' 57"
4.	VOECKLER Thomas	TEAM EUROPCAR	+ 02' 10"
5.	CUNEGO Damiano	LAMPRE - ISD	+ 03' 31"
6.	CONTADOR Alberto	SAXO BANK SUNGARD	+ 03' 55"
7.	SANCHEZ Samuel	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+ 04' 22"
8.	BASSO Ivan	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+ 04' 40"
9.	DANIELSON Tom	TEAM GARMIN - CERVELO	+ 07' 11"
10.	ROLLAND Pierre	TEAM EUROPCAR	+ 08' 57"