• Thomas Voeckler's overall lead down to 15 seconds
• Alberto Contador's Tour hopes ruined on monster climb
On the highest finish in the history of the Tour de France, Andy Schleck ascended to the plateau of greatness. All previous doubts concerning the 26-year-old Luxembourg rider's courage and judgment were dispelled by a majestic attack that vindicated his supporters, disarmed his critics and earned the gratitude of neutrals who had been waiting for the explosive gesture that would define the 98th edition of the race.
Coming home just over two minutes ahead of his nearest pursuer at the end of a 200km stage that started in the Italian Piedmont town of Pinerolo and included three climbs above 2,300 metres, Schleck reshaped the contest single-handed. Amid the peaks of the Hautes-Alpes the runner-up of 2009 and 2010 came within a mere 15 seconds of tearing the yellow jersey off the shoulders of the extraordinary Thomas Voeckler, whose...
• Alberto Contador's Tour hopes ruined on monster climb
On the highest finish in the history of the Tour de France, Andy Schleck ascended to the plateau of greatness. All previous doubts concerning the 26-year-old Luxembourg rider's courage and judgment were dispelled by a majestic attack that vindicated his supporters, disarmed his critics and earned the gratitude of neutrals who had been waiting for the explosive gesture that would define the 98th edition of the race.
Coming home just over two minutes ahead of his nearest pursuer at the end of a 200km stage that started in the Italian Piedmont town of Pinerolo and included three climbs above 2,300 metres, Schleck reshaped the contest single-handed. Amid the peaks of the Hautes-Alpes the runner-up of 2009 and 2010 came within a mere 15 seconds of tearing the yellow jersey off the shoulders of the extraordinary Thomas Voeckler, whose...
- 7/22/2011
- by Richard Williams
- The Guardian - Film News
Andy Schleck won at the highest finish in Tour history, but Thomas Voeckler clings on to the yellow jersey by 15 seconds
Stage 18: Pinerolo to Col du Galibier (200.5km)
Three of the Tour's nine hors category Alpine climbs loom ominously between the riders and the finish line today in a stage that should go some way towards sorting out the men from the boys ... unlike several other stages we predicted would do so, only for the Gc to remain more or less the same.
First up is the Col Agnel (2,744m), the third-highest pass in Tour history, followed by the Col d'Izoard (2,360m) with an average ascent of 7.1%. Finally, an exhausted field must tackle the Col du Galibier (2,645m), where the first rider to the summit will stand on the stage-winner's podium at a higher altitude than any competitor in Tour de France history.
The highest summit finish the Tour...
Stage 18: Pinerolo to Col du Galibier (200.5km)
Three of the Tour's nine hors category Alpine climbs loom ominously between the riders and the finish line today in a stage that should go some way towards sorting out the men from the boys ... unlike several other stages we predicted would do so, only for the Gc to remain more or less the same.
First up is the Col Agnel (2,744m), the third-highest pass in Tour history, followed by the Col d'Izoard (2,360m) with an average ascent of 7.1%. Finally, an exhausted field must tackle the Col du Galibier (2,645m), where the first rider to the summit will stand on the stage-winner's podium at a higher altitude than any competitor in Tour de France history.
The highest summit finish the Tour...
- 7/22/2011
- by Barry Glendenning
- The Guardian - Film News
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