Two-time runner up just has 42km against the clock between himself and yellow in Paris
After coming close to the yellow jersey with his solo attack to the Col du Galibier on stage eighteen, Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) well and truly took it on today’s nineteenth stage to Alpe d’Huez. The Luxembourg rider finished in ninth place on the stage, 57 seconds behind Pierre Rolland (Europcar) but, crucially some 2’25” ahead of Rolland’s teammate, jersey incumbent Thomas Voeckler.
All that stands between Schleck and becoming the fourth rider from the Duchy to win the Tour, and the first since Charly Gaul in 1958, is tomorrow’s 42km Grenoble time trial.
“I have never been so close to winning the Tour in my life,” said Schleck. “It’s a dream I have had since I was a little boy. I’m incredibly happy. It was the ideal scenario that I take yellow in the Alps. Last year, I had it too, but it might have been too early and a bit too long to defend it.”
Schleck held the yellow jersey for six days in last year’s race, but lost it to Alberto Contador after he dropped his chain on the Port de Balès on stage fifteen to Bagnères-de-Luchon. His elder brother Fränk also held the jersey for two days in 2008, but lost it to then teammate Carlos Sastre on Alpe d’Huez as the Spanish rider rode off to victory.
“I think today’s stage was fantastic,” said Andy. “It almost felt like an Alpine sprint. The suspense was big. There were lot of Luxembourgish people on the road. They make me fly.”
Having attacked on the Col d’Izoard in yesterday’s stage, and ridden at the front of the race for more than 60km, Schleck was less aggressive on the short, sharp stage to the Alpe. He covered the early move from Contador, but was careful not to chase his old adversary too much on the final climb.
“Yesterday, I went on the attack. Today I could afford to be a little more defensive,” he explained. “When Alberto went, I thought this was a move that could determine the day. I could go with him without going too deep. I was a bit cautious because you never know what’s going to happen behind and it was a heavy stage.”
The only rider that the Schleck brothers were concerned about keeping an eye on as they climbed to Alpe d’Huez was Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who has consistently been one of the strongest riders in the race, and almost single-handedly kept Andy out of yellow on the Galibier.
“I really didn’t have any concerns with the riders out front,” Andy explained. “I knew Alberto wasn’t a danger for the GC anymore. I didn’t want to pull too hard because I thought Evans would attack; which he did. Although he tried, he couldn’t drop me, so it’s very good.”
The stage twenty time trial, over 42km, offers a chance for Evans to take the jersey away from Schleck, as he is by far the superior rider against the clock. Andy Schleck is confident that the 57-second cushion he has over the Australian will be enough though.
“It’s not finished yet,” he acknowledged. “We have an extremely important day tomorrow. We know Cadel is a time trial specialist, and I’m not. I still think I stand a chance. A time trial at the end of a three-week tour is different than a time trial on any other day.
“[Leopard Trek sports director] Kim Andersen tells me the course suits me well. I didn’t do a reconnaissance, but I saw it on television when the peloton did it on the [Critérium du] Dauphiné, so I have a clue what it’s like.”
Evans rode June’s Dauphiné, finishing sixth in that time trial, and so has first hand knowledge of the course. Schleck hopes though, that the jersey on his back will give him the same inspiration that it gave Voeckler over the previous ten days.
“Many riders say the yellow jersey gives you wings,” he said. “I’m confident I can do well tomorrow and bring it home to Luxembourg.”