Stage 19 – Modane Valfréjus 
Alpe-d’Huez 109.5 km
It promised and it gave.
The re-emergence of Alberto Contador was a sight to behold. With only 2 more stages in which he could attempt to regain the maillot jaune whilst still having his doping case hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles. Contador has had a lot to cope with in this years tour, being booed by the French public during the team introductions. Numerous crashes and scrapes, resulting with injuries to knees and legs. Stage 19 with its finish at Alpe-d’Huez was the perfect place for the Spaniard to show the world he was not going to go out without a fight.
At just 16km’s out Contador ATTACKED. Dancing on his peddles as is his trademark style he shook the rest of the GC riders into action and stamp his intentions for the day. As always the Schleck brothers were in his shadow. With on 4.5km’s to go to the summit of the Telegraphe the Contador group caught the early leaders and continued to race ahead.
Meanwhile Cadel Evans was having a nightmare ride. Twice having to stop because issues with his bike to eventually discard the bike and take a new one from the team car and working with the Liquigas group all the way to the start of the Galibier climb.
On the Galibier Evans racing with three of his teams mates slowly started to eat into the lead of the Contador group. Voeckler for all his fighting spirit was slowly slipping away and out of the maillot jaune.
All the effort pumped out by the Evans group eventually paid off with them catching Contador’s group with just under 25km to go. With just the final climb of the day looming ahead Contador finally unleashed for all he was worth to surge ahead with just Sanchez and Rolland managing to keep within 30 seconds of him. As the final climb of the day closed to the end you could see the pain etched on Contador’s face as he gave his all but with Sanchez and Rolland hot on his heels it was going to be a close call if he were to win today’s race.
At just 2km’s out Sanchez and Rolland caught Contador and Rolland pushed ahead to take the win 14 seconds ahead of Sanchez and 23 ahead of Contador who won the “fighting spirit” award at Alpe-d’Huez. The French had finally won a stage on this years tour with the super-domestique Rolland who had spent the last eight days helping to keep Voeckler in yellow.
Andy Schleck was now the leader of the tour and in yellow. 53 seconds ahead of brother Frank and 2′ 10″ ahead of Voeckler. Cadel Evans at just 57 seconds behind had it all to prove again in the final time trial of the tour. Something he has failed to do twice before to take the maillot jaune.
Total distance covered: 3292.5 km
Steven. A. Barlow, Co founder www.spartan-warriors.co.uk , founder of Spartan Runners ” because we don`t just run” © 2011