Contador fights but fails... Europcar swap Jersey's... Schleck in Yellow!

After cracking on Stage 18 and practically waving goodbye to his title, Alberto Contador came out fighting on Alpe-d'Huez. He attempted a Schleck like move with 90km to go until the finish however that was quickly closed down. He did get away with Andy Schleck on the Col du Galibier however all the main GC riders grouped up again at the bottom as they faced the 21 famous bends of Alpe-d'Huez. Tommy Voeckler knew if he could remain with Schleck today his dream of winning Le Tour de France was still possible but the people's rider finally ran out of steam and had to watch his rivals ride away into the distance.

With Voeckler gone it seemed to be a show down between the Schleck's and Evans which explained why a Contador attack wasn't reacted to as quickly as imagined pre-tour. In-fact he was enabled to ride away from the group. He opened up a lead however not nearly enough to get himself back into the bike race. The Saxo-bank rider was joined by compatriot Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel, these two riders have found themselves in each others wheel plenty of times in the mountains. Pierre Rolland was also with them, Voeckler's main body guard was allowed to pursue his own White Jersey hopes after his team-mates hopes had faded.

After all Contador's hard-work on Stage 19 it was Rolland who launched the killer attack with just over 1km to go, he went on to secure the first Stage win for a Frenchman on this years Tour and whilst Voeckler lost Yellow, Rolland inherited White. It wasn't the dream win for Contador but he left the high mountains behind with some pride as he took 34" out of the Schleck's and Evans.

Given Franks poor time-trialling abilities, I see it as a two-horse race for Le Tour de France 11 crown. Evans v Schleck! A 57" advantage in Andy's favour as well as the magic of the Maillot Jaune on his shoulders.

Valiant Voeckler's fairytale lives on!

Thomas Voeckler has been the sensation of this Tour. The Frenchman has had the Yellow Jersey for over a week now and has rode fearlessly throughout. He's matched the big boys attack after attack and once more after writing himself off has hung on to the Yellow Jersey by 15" to Andy Schleck.

Schleck who broke on the second Col of the day took out a significant lead on all of the GC contenders. Voeckler has inspired this Tour and today was no different, Evans raised the pace but he hung in their and for that he has got his just rewards, another day in Yellow.

There is nothing lost in translation with Tommy Voeckler, his facial expressions say it all and his celebration at the summit was more celebrated that Schleck's winning fist pump. Chapeau Tommy, Chapeau!

Sublime Schleck

Andy Schleck, the whining rider who doesn't like downhills. He doesn't like the short stage, he only likes long summit top finishes. Well today as the Peloton set their sights on the Galibier, the sulking rider from Leopard Trek decided today was his day and would sulk no more. With Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans taking time out of him on the two previous stages Schleck needed to make up time, especially with Thomas Voeckler riding like a man possessed in Yellow.

On the Col d'lzoard Schleck broke, there was no response from his main rivals and with around 50km to go it was an audacious attack that could turn out to be Tour defining. It was such a haul from the man that said he was going to win Le Tour de France. Time was creeping up and up as he powered on over the easier side of the Galibier. Cadel Evans the plucky Aussie who has come 2nd twice was driving the chasing group on, Frank (Andy's brother) was getting a free tow as he refused to do any work. Schleck had opened up 2 minute gap on his GC rivals.

Evans ramped up the pace to try and limit the gap to Schleck, Contador who had been paced up all three climbs was expected to attack but instead he cracked! The reigning champion of Le Tour lost the wheel of his rivals and slowly started to go backwards. After two days of attacking the Spanish master's Tour hopes soured.

Frank Schleck was the one to attack Evans only with a few hundred metres to go and took 7" out off him however it was his younger brother who had powered his way to victory on Stage 18 and put himself firmly in pole position for that top step on the podium.

Defensive Pyrenees

With four big stages in the Pyrenees during this years tour many people thought we would see the first real shake up in the overall GC. However all we got was a few mini attacks which brought only miniscule time-gaps to the forefront. There were a some big winners in the Pyrenees this year, Thor Hushovd once again showing that his power and grit determination was enough to secure him his first stage victory of this years tour. As well as convincing many that he is an all-round superb grand tour rider as he clinched stage 13.

Jelle Vanendert was the man saying farewell to the Pyrenees with the biggest smile as he had the Polka-dot jersey firmly on his shoulders. The Belgian rider rode away from the main GC contenders as they all looked at each other on the Plateau de Beille. He continues the success of the Omega Pharma-Lotto team this year after Andre Griepel's win on stage 10 in Carmaux, all this after team leader Jurgen Van Den Broeck had to leave the tour through injury.

Cav 2... Greipel 1

The Max-missile got his revenge on former team-mate Andre Greipel yesterday when Mark Renshaw delivered him perfectly to an easy victory. The previous stage saw Greipel pip Cavendish on the line after HTC lacked bodies to assist their Manx-man which saw Greipel get the jump on Cav taking victory on Stage 10.

But just 24 hours later he had his revenge in Lavaur. That made it 3 wins in this year's tour and what made it more special was the capture of the Green Jersey. That's the last sprint stage before the riders head into the Pyrenees.

It's survival for Cavendish now until Stage 15 where he will be licking his lips once more in hope of a 4 stage win. Tommy Voeckler will try to hang onto his lead in the race but will be unlikely. Tomorrow could see attacks from Alberto Contador who finds himself just under 2 minutes down on his main rivals. Game on for GC contenders as the Col du Tourmalet beckons.

Madman Voeckler gets Maillot Jaune

The craziest, most energetic man on Tour Tommy Voeckler rode his way into the Maillot Jaune (yellow jersey) on Sunday. A break away including Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha got a commanding lead in one of the first stages with some testing climbs.

As the km's ticked over it came apparent that Voeckler would take Yellow but the question is by how much? With 36km to go though a shocking incident occurred, luckily for Voeckler his narrowly escaped disaster. A French TV car sped up and turned into the cyclist paths as it looked to avoid a tree therefore smashing into Flecha which threw Johnny Hoogerland into a wired fence. Boths riders were OK getting back on their bikes before getting swept up by the Peloton. An inexcusable accident that could have killed both riders. Click here to view the crash.

The breakaway of 5 was then 3. Voeckler was driving them on as he could taste Yellow. The Frenchman was licking his lips and then sprung his final attack on Sanchez and Casar. The Rabobank rider Sanchez responded well and then left Voeckler for dead as he went onto take the stage, but Tommy didn't care, the French maniac was in Yellow!

Hoogerland the main sufferer of that horrific crash came across the line to his credit and then had honour of getting the Polka-Dot Jersey placed on his shoulders. The Dutchman was in tears on the podium knowing full well he was extremely lucky not only to be walking but alive. A stage of weird and wonderful things, but all you can say in the end is go...go Tommy Voeckler!

He had never been out of the spotlight so far this Tour. What an entertainer, what a rider, what an achievement, what a smile.

Heroic Hushovd

Stage 8 saw the riders confronted with the first climbs of this years Tour. This was the stage that everybody, even Thor Hushovd expected to loose the Yellow Jersey to Cadel Evans who is la mere second behind the race leader.

There were some noticeable absentees at the start line as RadioShack's Chris Horner was advised not to continue in Le Tour after suffering severe concussion in the same crash that ended Bradley Wiggins Tour.

The stage burst into life with 25km to go when Alexandre Vinokourov decided to break away on one of the climbs, the Peloton were caught napping and with no GC contenders willing to take the risk on making a response, the Kazakh built up a healthy lead. Vino continued to storm past riders up the road, as the Peloton found that extra gear the never say die Astana rider ran out of steam.

Break away rider Rui Da Costa had led the race for 100km and deservedly crossed the line for a memorable Stage victory. Phillipe Gilbert exploded in the final 400m to come across the line at +12". Evans and the rest of the main riders came in at +15" along Vinokourov who was swallowed up, but more importantly that group included Hushovd, who'd managed to hang in there and keep the famous yellow on his back for one more day.

Cav, King of Châteauroux

Mark Cavendish proved once again that he was the sprint king by fighting off Andre Greipel and Alessandro Petacchi to secure his second stage win at Châteauroux and his 17th overall in the Tour.

It was a very flat stage today and the first real opportunity for the teams to build up their lead-out trains to put their sprinters in pole position for a stage victory. But what should have been a regulation day in the saddle for most of the teams could turn out to be one of the most significant stages outside the mountains.

The Peloton was glad to see the back of the rain that captured Stage 6. However that didn't stop the constant crashes within the Peloton so far in the race. The first disappointment was the withdrawal of Tom Boonen after suffering several crashes in the first week of the Tour.

Bad news didn't stop with Boonen. Team Sky lead rider Bradley Wiggins was caught right in the middle of a big crash in the Peloton with 39km to go. It appears that he had broken his collar bone which is an absolute nightmare for Wiggins who seemed in perfect shape and in sensational form after winning the Critérium du Dauphiné. A major blow for Team Sky, British Cycling and most of all Le Tour itself.

But all that put to one side, HTC were not going to be stopped as they formed the perfect lead-out train for Mark Cavendish. Eisel from Martin from Goss from Renshaw from Cavendish. An intimidating train to the rest of the sprinters as the Manx-man stormed to his second victory of this year's tour. 

Delight to Despair for Team Sky

Le Tour De France is now in full swing and has been the inspiration for me to start this brand new blog. My first note must be on congratulating Team Sky for winning their first stage in this Grand Tour. The victory was claimed by Edvald Boasson Hagen after Geraint Thomas performed a superb lead out for the Norwegian who out-sprinted Matty Goss to snatch the stage win. But 24 hours later, Team Sky's elation turned to misery for one man in particular, Bradley Wiggins. When a tailwind upped the pace of the peloton a big crash floored numerous riders as they all tried to get to the front, but to the horror of UK fans all over the world the main casualty was British champion Bradley Wiggins.

Almost the entire Sky team waited and waited for Wiggins to get back on his bike but he was clutching his right arm in too much pain. The high flying Brit couldn't continue and was rushed into an ambulance. A promising Tour ended by serious misfortune. Wiggins, their team leader will now take no further part in the 2011 Tour and their chances of taking France by storm was dealt another big blow as White jersey contender Geraint Thomas came over the line 3 minutes back along with 80 other riders effected by the crash, handing the honour of the young riders jersey over to Robert Gesink.