Contador tears the race apart on the Télégraphe; Voeckler finally cracks; Andy Schleck into yellow
Pierre Rolland (Europcar) took the host nation’s first stage of the 2011 Tour de France, and he took the biggest one of the race on Alpe d’Huez. The 24-year-old, who has served as the right hand man to team captain Thomas Voeckler in his ten-day stint in the yellow jersey, attacked just before the base of the mythical climb as it was clear that Voeckler was cracking.
Rolland was caught and passed by Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard), who had torn the race apart from the Col du Telegraph, the very first climb of the short, sharp 109.5km stage, but managed to hold the wheel of Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and the two of them rode up to the defending Tour champion.
The Frenchman then made his move with 2.5km to go and managed to drop the two Spanish riders, then ride alone to finish 14 seconds ahead of Sanchez, and 23 ahead of Contador.
“I said I wanted to do everything possible to defend the yellow jersey of Thomas [Voeckler] but on the climb of the Galibier, he told me, ‘Seize your chance, don’t worry about me’,” said Rolland. “This is also where I see that he is a great champion, one who was able to tell me to go at the right time.
“I immediately wanted to prepare myself for something by attacking in the valley. Still, this is a climb that I know very well one that I’ve reconnoitred more than a dozen times last year.”
“When I found myself with two Spaniards, I knew they knew each other very well,” he explained. “So I told myself that I would not finish second, it was win or nothing. I knew at turn one, I could push the big chainring early on this climb at such a pace because I did it many times in training.
“This is a stage that I’ve watched dozens of times on video, with [Lance] Armstrong, [Marco] Pantani...” he added. “I studied their cadence. And now it’s me who has won! It will take me a little time before I realize what I’ve done.”
Part two of the Alpine Centenary threatened to be even tougher
As the second part of the Tour de France tribute to one hundred years in the Alps, the 109.5km between Modane and Alpe d’Huez was expected to produce fireworks from the start. After a 14km gentle descent to the town of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, the 1st category climb to the Col du Télégraphe began, followed by the Col du Galibier, from the opposite side to the previous day, followed by a 45km descent to the foot of the final climb.
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) had held on to his yellow jersey by a mere 15 seconds over the previous day’s winner Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) and was expected to come under even more pressure in this stage. It would surely be a miracle too far for the Frenchman to hold on to the jersey by the finish, but Schleck had done a lot of work on stage eighteen and so might come under pressure himself.
The other consideration would be the time limit for the sprinters and a possible green jersey points deduction as had happened the previous day. José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) had closed to within 15 points of Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) and was climbing well so he had a chance of getting over and picking up some points at the intermediate sprint in Bourg d’Oisans at the base of the Alpe.
The usual suspects attack from the gun again
As the flag was dropped to start the stage Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM) immediately attacked. He was followed by Marcus Burghardt (BMC Racing), Mickaël Buffaz (Cofidis) and Pablo Urtasun (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and the break of the day was formed.
Ten riders – Gorka Izagirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi), André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana), Jose Ivan Gutierriez and Rui Costa (both Movistar), Kristjan Koren (Liquigas-Cannondale), Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky), Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step), Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) – chased across and joined them at the 4km point, making a group of fourteen in the lead as they headed towards the foot of the Télégraphe.
Hoogerland, Burghardt, Urtasun, Iglinskiy and Duque were in the long breakaway on the previous day, with Iglinskiy only dropped by Andy Schleck with less than 8km to go on the climb to the Galibier.
As the climb began the group had a lead of 2’45” and Leopard Trek took over on the front of the peloton as it hit the slopes behind them.
The climb has barely begun as a proud champion asserts himself
Just two kilometres into the climb Contador suddenly jumped from the front of the peloton. Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) managed to jump across to him, along with Contador’s teammates Chris Anker Sørensen and Daniel Navarro, Fränk Schleck and Carlos Barredo (Rabobank).
Before they could get too far though, Cadel Evans jumped across the gap, closely followed by Voeckler. As Contador accelerated again Fränk Schleck was dropped, Andy Schleck followed him though, and Voeckler and Evans crossed to them.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) had missed the move and so his team was leading the peloton. With 90km to go though they were 45 seconds ahead, with the lead group 55 seconds ahead.
Technical problems cost Evans as Voeckler stubbornly chases
With Contador’s third big acceleration Voeckler and Evans were dropped; the Australian was having problems with his rear wheel and was forced to stop three times; on the third of which he took a replacement bike from his team car.
Voeckler was now chasing alone, but Burghardt had dropped from the break and was now trying to pace Evans back up.
Schleck and Contador caught the main body of the break 3km from the top of the climb. Voeckler was now 24 seconds behind, making Andy Schleck the virtual yellow jersey on the road.
Evans was absorbed by the peloton, but Voeckler was persisting with his lone chase. He caught Pineau who, despite riding for a different team, offered his compatriot his wheel and helped him get to the summit.
Izagirre took the sprint over the top of the climb, with Voeckler 34 seconds behind on the wheel of Pineau. The peloton, which contained Evans, Basso and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), was 1’36” back.
24 hours on and the race hits the Galibier again
After the short descent to the foot of the Galibier Voeckler still trailed by 24 seconds. The group was now reduced to Contador, Andy Schleck, Costa, Izagirre and Riblon, as Contador himself began to set the tempo.
Voeckler received a few hundred metres respite as he caught Flecha and the Sky rider worked with him. He was just 37 seconds behind the Contador/Andy Schleck group now, but still had 12km to climb.
BMC Racing and Liquigas-Cannondale were leading the peloton behind Voeckler but making virtually no progress on the lone Frenchman or the group in front.
At first the work had all been done by Contador but, realising that he was putting time into Evans, Schleck was now sharing the pace. The team cars were pulled out of the gap though, as Voeckler was gradually closing the gap.
7km from the top, as the steeper part of the climb began, Izagirre was dropped, leaving just four up front. Voeckler was using his entire body to turn his big gear but the leaders were drifting away from him once more. He was now 40 seconds behind, with the peloton, still led by BMC Racing and Liquigas-Cannondale at 1’50”.
BMC Racing’s pace was tearing the peloton to shreds but was making a little progress on the leaders. Evans had soon run out of teammates though and was to take over. Enjoying his second free ride across the Alps in as many days, Fränk Schleck sat on the Australian’s wheel.
Evans leads the chase for the second straight Alpine stage
Evans’ efforts appeared to be working, and at 4km to the top the Contador group’s lead was up to a minute over Voeckler, but now just 1’24” over the peloton. The pace was too much for Basso, as he began slipping to the back and would soon he dropped altogether.
Voeckler seeming almost stationary as the peloton finally caught him up but he slotted in behind Fränk Schleck. Europcar teammates Anthony Charteau and Pierre Rolland were both there to help him. With 3km to go to the top the gap was cut to 1’15”; Evans was repeating his role from the previous stage and, once again, was pulling the leaders back.
Inside the final two kilometres of the climb Anthony Charteau (Europcar) took over the chase as Evans looked to Voeckler to put his team to work. The slight slowing of the peloton was enough to allow Samuel Sanchez to attack and, despite being pursued by Evans, the Olympic champion managed to get a gap.
Europcar started to pursue both riders but Voeckler was almost immediately dropped. Rolland chased across to Evans, with Fränk Schleck, but Charteau dropped back to help his team leader.
Over the top of the climb – and through the old road tunnel – the Contador group led Sanchez by just 25 seconds, and the Evans group by 34. With Evans were Fränk Schleck, Cunego, Tom Danielson and Ryder Hesjedal (both Garmin-Cervélo), Rolland and Peter Velits (HTC-Highroad).
Basso was a little way back at 1’09”, while Voeckler’s group was now at 1’31” as the race began the 45km descent to Bourg d’Oisans and the climb to Alpe d’Huez.
The long descent begins and the race closes up again
Sanchez made short work of closing the gap to the lead group on the first few twisty kilometres of the descent that the race had climbed the day before. He made the junction with 456km to go, but the Evans group and the Voeckler peloton were having a harder time catching up. With 40km to go Evans’ group was at 20 seconds but Basso’s and Voeckler’s groups were making little progress at 1’14” and 1’52” respectively.
After the hairpins of the first 8km of the descent, the rest was to be ridden on the long, straight road along the valley of the Romanche, where it was tough for one group to go appreciably faster than another. With 30km to go though, Basso’s small group was absorbed by Voeckler’s, which was increasing in size thanks to riders joining from behind.
Evans’ group made contact shortly after they passed under the 25km to go banner, and with 23.5km Rolland attacked on a small rise; with him no threat in the overall classification he was allowed to go.
Costa, then Hesjedal chased, and the Canadian managed to bridge up to the young Frenchman.
As Rolland and Hesjedal passed under the 1km to the sprint banner, Voeckler’s main group made contact with the Schleck and Evans group 38 seconds behind them. Voeckler was back in yellow once more, but had the small task of making it to the top of Alpe d’Huez with the favourites to keep it.
Missing from the peloton were Cavendish and Rojas so the only change at the top of the green jersey standings would come if one or the other was to finish outside the time limit.
The race hits the Alpe and Leopard Trek tries to take control
As they hit the base of the climb Rolland and Hesjedal led by 50 seconds, as BMC Racing took over the front of the peloton.
Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) accelerated at the bottom of the climb, but managed to distance the Schleck brothers; Evans rode past him as the Luzembourg team was lined up in pursuit. After his exertions on the Galibier and then the long chase, Voeckler found himself slipping backwards almost immediately.
Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis), in the white young riders’ jersey, was also fading, so Rolland was riding over him in the standings.
Fuglsang towed the Schlecks up to Evans but, with 12.5km still to climb, Contador attacked again. Despite attempts from Fuglsang and Andy Schleck, there was no catching the defending champion this time. He quickly caught Hesjedal and Rolland, and the Europcar rider was able to stay with him for a few seconds, but was soon alone at the head of the race and apparently heading for victory.
Andy Schleck was leading the chase but beginning to slow after the previous day’s effort, and others were joining from the rear; with 10km to go Contador led them by 33 seconds.
Contador apparently heading for a consolation stage victory
The chase group was now just made up of Fränk and Andy Schleck, Evans, Cunego, Sanchez, Velits, Hesjedal and Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM). Voeckler was now climbing alone, a minute behind the Schleck group and 1’47” behind Contador. Rolland though, was still plugging away just 20 seconds behind Contador, and refusing to give up.
With 8.5km to go the attacks began from the chase group as first Velits, then Sanchez, and then De Gendt attacked. None of them was deemed worthy of chasing though, as Fränk Schleck continued to set the pace.
Sanchez soon caught Rolland and the Frenchman got onto his wheel as the Olympic champion gradually began to close on Contador. The Saxo Bank-SunGard rider appeared to be tiring by now, having ridden on the front of the race for so many kilometres.
With 5km to Sanchez and Rolland were 23 seconds behind Contador, with the Schleck/Evans group at 1’05”; with 4km to go Sanchez had cut that to just 12 seconds, with Rolland making no contribution to the chase, with the group now at 1’09”.
With 2.5km to go Sanchez and Rolland caught Contador, and the Frenchman tried to go straight over the top; Contador wouldn’t let him go though, but Sanchez was struggling.
Behind them on the road Evans attacked the chase group, only Andy Schleck could go with him, and the two of them quickly caught Cunego.
Rolland goes alone and a Frenchman takes the Alpe
Rolland kept trying and managed to finally drop both Spanish riders with 2km to go and, with the two of them apparently beaten, he opened up a 12 second lead in the following half kilometre. He managed to slightly increase this as he passed under the flamme rouge and, as Sanchez dropped Contador behind him, became the first Frenchman to win on the Alpe since Bernard Hinault 25 years previously.
Sanchez rolled over the line 14 seconds later, but his second place on the climb was enough to secure him the polka-dot jersey; Contador followed him another nine seconds later.
Velits led Evans over the line, with a group that included Cunego, Velits and both Schleck brothers, 57 seconds behind Rolland, with Hesjedal rounding out the top ten after 1’15”.
Taaramäe finished 2’06” behind Rolland so, while Voeckler lost the yellow one, the Europcar team had the consolation of taking the white one. Voeckler himself came in after 3’22” losing 2’25” to the race favourites and so Andy Schleck took yellow, 53 seconds ahead of brother Fränk but, ominously, only 57 seconds ahead of superior time triallist Evans.
“I couldn’t have told a writer to create a better Tour de France,” said Andy Schleck. “It’s all there; the suspense is perfect. You could say ‘It’s only a minute’ or you can say ‘It’s a minute!’ It’s a little bit of fun but I count on myself for the time trial...
“I’ll do a good ride,’ he added defiantly. “I think I can hold on to the yellow jersey. I’ve been chasing it for a while.”
The ‘autobus’ finished very close to the time limit, but both Cavendish and Rojas were in it anyway so any points deduction would have applied to both riders. Fined or not, the two riders will go into the final stage with the Manxman 15 points ahead.
Result stage 19
1. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Europcar
2. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi @ 14s
3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-SunGard @ 23s
4. Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-Highroad @ 57s
5. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
6. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD
8. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Cervélo @ 1’15”
Standings after stage 19
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek
2. Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek @ 53s
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team @ 57s
4. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar @ 2’10”
5. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD @ 3’31”