Pierre Perfect On Day The Leopards Pounce

The Progress Report
After the Queen stage of the 2011 Tour de France from Pinerolo to the Col du Galibier, came another race on a course that provided riders with the opportunity to create a true spectacle. The 19th stage of the 98th Tour was from Modane to Alpe d’Huez began at 2.38pm with 168 riders still in the race. The menu included three categorized climbs on the short, 109.5km course. The ascents were the Col du Telegraphe (cat-one at 26.5km), the col du Galibier – ridden in the opposite direction to stage 18 (highest ranking, at 48.5km) and the final climb to the ‘hors categorie’ finish at Alpe d’Huez. The sun was shining at the start and the temperature was around 23 degrees Celsius. The intermediate sprint was at the 94.5km mark in Bourg d’Oisans.

Contador Attacks: Evans Caught Behind With Mechanical Issues...
As soon as the flag fell to signal the start, Hoogerland (VCD) attacked and drew three others with him: Burghardt (BMC), Buffaz (COF) and Urtasun (EUS). They were chased down by eight other riders at 3km: Izagirre (EUS), Greipel (OLO), Iglinskiy (AST), Gutierrez and Costa (MOV), Koren (LIQ), Riblon (ALM), Flecha (SKY), Pineau (QST), and Duque (COF). At 8km the 14 led by 55”. At the base of the Telegraphe climb, Chris-Anker Sorensen (SBS) attacked the peloton, by then the bunch was 2’50” behind the 14. At 15km, C.A. Sorensen (SBS) attacked the peloton then, at 16km Contador (SBS) also surged ahead. The defending champion of the Tour was marked by Andy and Frank Schleck, and Navarro (SBS) also raced into the group with his team leader. Meanwhile Evans bridged the gap to an elite attack group and his team-mate Burghardt dropped back to pace this group momentarily. Voeckler originally followed the move by Contador but he was dropped after 20km of racing. Then disaster struck for the rider in fourth overall: Evans had some issues with his rear derailleur. He stopped twice to try and remedy the situation but then took a new bike from the team car... by then Contador and co were 45” ahead.
Evans was caught by the peloton that was led by Liquigas. Contador’s group caught the leaders 4.5km from the top and powered to the front and raced in the wind for the whole climb. Izagirre attacked for climbing points and Schleck was second – inheriting the lead of the climbing classification with his eight points. Voeckler was 33” behind at the top, and the Basso/Evans peloton was at 1’36”. Evans teamed up with the Liquigas team and let the peloton between the Telegraphe and start of the Galibier climb. The average speed for the first hour was 33.8km/h. By then the yellow jersey was at 34” to the stage leaders – Contador, Schleck, Izagirre, Costa and Riblon – and the peloton was at 1’40”.

Col du Galibier: Andy Schleck Becomes Virtual Leader
With 8km to climb, the five stage leaders were 30” ahead of Voeckler who climb the Galibier on his own – at times shifting to the big chainring to try and limit his losses to Contador and co. Evans relied on three team-mates to pace the peloton and was 1’45” behind his former escape companions. Voeckler eventually paid for his efforts and was dropped by the Evans group on the Galibier climb. Meanwhile, Evans raced around his team-mates and then started to reduce the advantage of Contador and Schleck. Inside the final kilometer Sanchez (EUS) attacked the Evans group was reduced to just 14 men and they reached the top 45” behind the leading four. With Voeckler gone, Rolland (EUC) started to consider himself and he raced wit the Evans group and became the leader of the youth classification after Taaramae was dropped.

Alberto Races Ahead But Cannot Follow Pierre...
With 24.8km to go, the Evans group caught the Contador group. There were 14 in the lead Contador, Andy and Frank Schleck, Sanchez, Danielson, Hesjedal, Costa, Riblon, Casar, Jeannesson, Evans, Cunego, Velits and Rolland. With 23km to go, Rolland attacked and was followed by Hesjedal. There was a general regrouping just before the final climb with Voeckler part of a large group that caught the Schleck, Contador and Evans group. At the base of the final climb Contador surged into the lead and he was followed by Rolland momentarily but then the defending champion raced into the lead. Several distinct groups formed: the stage was led by Contador, then came Rolland and Sanchez at 30” with 5km to go, followed by Velits and De Gendt (at 40”), then Schleck, Schleck, Evans, Danielson, Hesjedal, Peraud and Cunego.

Rolland Gives France A Victory, Andy Takes Yellow!
After spending eight days looking after his team leader, the super-domestique Pierre Rolland turned into a winner at the Tour de France. He not only followed the accelerations by Contador but he was able to drop him in the closing kilometers. With a little less than 2km to go, he danced ahead of the defending champion of the Tour and the main aggressor (ie. winner of the ‘fighting spirit’ award at Alpe d’Huez) and on to a fine stage win. While Voeckler finished the stage in 20th place (at 3’22) and dropped out of the top 10 of general classification, his team-mate and the stage winner moved up to 10th place overall.
Evans attacked his group in the closing kilometers and despite the ferocity of his accelerations, he wasn’t able to put any distance into Andy Schleck. The Australian finished in fifth place in the stage but at the same time as both the Schleck bothers (ie. 57” behind Rolland) and the two Leopard-Trek riders are now in first and second place overall: Andy in the yellow jersey and Frank in second place, 53” behind his brother. The Australian who had his first taste of bad luck in the 2011 Tour moved from fourth to third, 57” behind the new Tour leader.