- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Tour de France witnessed one of the greatest stages in its storied history last night. The 200.4 km stage from Pinerolo to the Col du Galiber provided a backdrop to a sporting contest which will live long in the memory of all who were privileged to watch it, be it in their Australian living rooms deep in the night or on the majestic slopes of the Alps.
In the future, the events of this stage will be retold like an epic ancient Greek myth.
This is when sport has the ability to transcend.
The peloton had already negotiated the biggest climb of the Col Agnel at 2744 metres. As expected, a large breakaway group which included two riders from the Schleck’s Leopard Trek team had escaped up the road.
An epic story needs a protagonist. Step forward Andy Schleck.
He lit the torch paper halfway up the second big climb of the day, the Col d’Isozard. He peeled off the front of the peloton and charged up to the summit.
What was he thinking? This was foolhardy.
Off he went up the hors category climb in his quest to win the Tour de France, a modern day Jason after the golden fleece. He still had over 60kms to go and the grueling climb of the Col Du Galibier ahead of him.
He topped the summit of the Col d’Isozard 2 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of his rivals and this is when Leopard Trek’s strategy kicked into gear. On the descent and on the flat leading up to the final climb he critically received help from his breakaway mates Posthum and Monforth.
It was Monforth’s huge sacrifice which saw Andy Schlecks’s lead grow to over 4 minutes over the peloton as he reached the early stages of the massive 22.8 km climb up the Col Du Galibier.
Andy Schleck’s move had paid off. He was the virtual yellow jersey holder on the road. Now it was just a matter of gritting his teeth and getting to the finish.
Behind him the chase group with the yellow jersey holder and the contenders were in a shambles. An anxious Cadel Evans looked around and asked, where is everyone?
Where is Contador? Where is Sanchez?
Sanchez was finished. Unlike the Pyrenees, the towering Alps had become his kryptonite. Contador was at the back of the group hanging on for dear life.
It suddenly dawned on Evans that if he wanted to win the Tour de France, he was going to have to do it all by himself.
The final excruciating 12kms of the climb became an epic battle of two heroic men.
Andy Schleck, alone in front, exhausted, running on empty and striving for the finish.
Cadel Evans, singlehandedly hauling the most elite riders in the world up this great big mountain.
With 8kms to go the gap was 3 minutes and 45 seconds.
With 2 kms to go it was down to 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
Andy Schleck hit the wall. His efforts had taken its toll. Cadel Evans dug even deeper.
Contador, hanging onto Evans like a desperate dog to a bone, was finished. He lost contact with Evans. The undefeated Grand Tour champion is mortal. The fateful climb, his Achilles heel.
In the end, the history books will note that Evans finished third in this stage, 2 minutes and 15 seconds behind Andy Schleck.
Frank Schleck would finish second. He sat back and watched Evans’ Herculean efforts, before jumping away in the last hundred metres to make 8 seconds on him.
History will also record that Thomas Voeckler ended the stage retaining the yellow jersey by 15 seconds from Andy Schleck. He hauled himself bravely up that mountain in that golden fleece.
But he kept it for one more day due to the effort of one man, Cadel Evans
Only 1 minute and 12 seconds separate the for contenders for the yellow jersey as we head into the last and possibly decisive mountain stage of the tour.
Stage 19 from Modane Valfréjus to Alpe-d’Huez is also the shortest stage of the tour at 109.5 km and has 3 major climbs.
• Km 26.5 – Col du Télégraphe (1 566 m) – 11.9 km climb to 7.1 % – Category 1
• Km 48.5 – Col du Galibier (2 556m) – 16.7 km climb to 6.8 % – Category H
• Km 109.5 – Alpe d’Huez (1 850 m) – 13.8 km climb to 7.9 % – Category H
The question is how much did the efforts up the Col du Galibier take it out of Evans? The time he lost to Andy Schleck can be hauled back in the penultimate day’s time trial.
However, he can’t afford to lose any more and he has to be wary of Frank Schleck who looms as a huge danger.
The climb up Alped’Huez could well determine the winner of the Tour.
Tour de France Stage 18 Results
Standing Rider Team Time Gaps
1. SCHLECK Andy TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 6h 07′ 56″
2. SCHLECK Frank TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 6h 10′ 03″ + 02′ 07″
3. EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 6h 10′ 11″ + 02′ 15″
4. BASSO Ivan LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 6h 10′ 14″ + 02′ 18″
5. VOECKLER Thomas TEAM EUROPCAR 6h 10′ 17″ + 02′ 21″
6. ROLLAND Pierre TEAM EUROPCAR 6h 10′ 23″ + 02′ 27″
7. CUNEGO Damiano LAMPRE – ISD 6h 10′ 29″ + 02′ 33″
8. TAARAMAE Rein COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 6h 11′ 18″ + 03′ 22″
9. DANIELSON Tom TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 6h 11′ 21″ + 03′ 25″
10. HESJEDAL Ryder TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 6h 11′ 27″ + 03′ 31″
11. IGLINSKIY Maxim PRO TEAM ASTANA 6h 11′ 31″ + 03′ 35″
12. VANDE VELDE Christian TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 6h 11′ 34″ + 03′ 38″
13. ZUBELDIA Haimar TEAM RADIOSHACK 6h 11′ 40″ + 03′ 44″
14. VANENDERT Jelle OMEGA PHARMA – LOTTO 6h 11′ 46″ + 03′ 50″
15. CONTADOR Alberto SAXO BANK SUNGARD 6h 11′ 46″ + 03′ 50″
18. SANCHEZ Samuel EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 6h 12′ 38″ + 04′ 42
Tour de France Overall Standings
Standing Rider Team Time Gaps
1. VOECKLER Thomas 181 TEAM EUROPCAR 79h 34′ 06″
2. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 79h 34′ 21″ + 00′ 15″
3. SCHLECK Frank 18 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 79h 35′ 14″ + 01′ 08″
4. EVANS Cadel 141 BMC RACING TEAM 79h 35′ 18″ + 01′ 12″
5. CUNEGO Damiano 161 LAMPRE – ISD 79h 37′ 52″ + 03′ 46″
6. BASSO Ivan 91 LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE 79h 37′ 52″ + 03′ 46″
7. CONTADOR Alberto 1 SAXO BANK SUNGARD 79h 38′ 50″ + 04′ 44″
8. SANCHEZ Samuel 21 EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 79h 39′ 26″ + 05′ 20″
9. DANIELSON Tom 52 TEAM GARMIN – CERVELO 79h 41′ 14″ + 07′ 08″
10. PERAUD Jean-Christophe 108 AG2R LA MONDIALE 79h 43′ 33″ + 09′ 27″
Fancy a wager on your favourite sport? Head on over to PlayUp for great odds and friendly customer service and pick a winner. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.