As some predicted, Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank–SunGard) went on the offensive in today’s short but violent stage nineteen to Alpe d’Huez, but he was forced to accept a consolation of third place on the stage and modest time gains on his rivals.
“I came to win the Tour, but I knew to get the double with the Giro d’Italia would be very difficult,” Contador admitted after crossing the line 34 seconds in front of main rival Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek). The Spaniard was looking to gain back the more than four minutes he had lost to Schleck. “Yesterday, when I reached the summit, I was naturally devastated, but I soon started analyzing everything.”
“When I lost the chance of winning yesterday, I knew I had to attack. It is difficult to tackle the Tour with a schedule that is too full,” he said. “The Giro has taken its toll.”
Although he sat in seventh position overall, 4:44 back on overall leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) at the start of the day, Contador’s early attacks still forced Schleck and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) to mark him. Less than 20 kilometers into a 109 kilometer stage, a breakaway of 14 was just beginning to establish itself when Contador launched an attack on the Col du Telegraphe. This drew out the Schleck brothers, Evans, and eventually Voeckler, and no doubt sent a bit of a shock through the early, and short-lived, initial breakaway.
“Today, we gave it everything we had,” Contador stated. “I don’t care to be fifth placed more than I care to be 24th. It would have been easier to attack just the final climb, but that would not have been as satisfying.”
Though Contador’s efforts were fruitful through the summit of the second of three climbs on the day, the Col du Galibier, the separate groups of favorites were all able to claw their way back on the descent, which put everyone together as the favorites hit the base of Alpe d’Huez.
On the steepest early gradients of the climb, the three-time Tour winner put in another attack, gaining time on both Schleck brothers, Evans, and compatriot Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). After overtaking Garmin Cervelo’s Ryder Hesjedal, Contador had a bit more trouble distancing eventual stage winner Pierre Rolland (Europcar). And on the upper slopes of the Alpe, he understandably began to run out of steam, and was gradually reeled in and passed by Rolland and Sanchez. “It was a pity I wasn’t able to take the win. Maybe I attacked too early,” he added.
“Alberto gave everything he had in him to come back and to animate the stage and he certainly made it a day for everyone to remember,” Saxo Bank-SunGard director Bradley McGee concluded after the stage. “He missed his usual power on the last kilometers of the stage, but we know he gave us all a 100 percent effort.”
“Rolland was a bit of a surprise but he’s obviously a powerful rider and took a stunning stage win,” McGee said.
Contador will take the red bib number he earned as the most aggressive rider during today's stage into tomorrow’s Grenoble time trial. He currently lies in sixth place overall, 3 minutes and 55 seconds down on overall leader Andy Schleck. He will be looking for 24 seconds to overtake Damiano Cunego of Lampre-ISD, and 1 minute and 45 seconds on the seemingly exhausted Voeckler.