Kiwi News

Voeckler's last day in yellow?

Schlecks vs Contador vs Voeckler vs Evans ©Graham Watson

Jul 21st, 11. Alberto Contador has been warming up for days, Andy Schleck appears to have a crick in his neck, Cadel Evans is calm and in control and alliances have been formed - bring on the battlefield!

Tomorrow's Stage 18 provides the General Classification contenders their toughest day yet - over 60km of Hors Category climbs including the mountain top finish of the Col du Galibier.

"We have spoken about the Alps for such a long time, and now they are finally coming. We have longed for this stage," said Andy Schleck on his team website.

The 200.5km route starts with 40km of relatively flat roads before the climbing begins - after that point there is no flat land, only ascents and 37km of Hors Category descents.

The following day's stage is only 109km, but with another ascent of the Col du Galibier and the legendary mountain top finish after the switchbacks of the Alpe d'Heuz, it will also be decisive.

Heading into tomorrow's stage, the time gaps between the main rivals are significant and, besides Cadel Evans (BMC) perhaps, no one can afford to just follow - they must attack if they want to win the Tour de France title for 2011.

Of the two days left in the Alps, defending champion Alberto Contador believes tomorrow is the harder stage.

"I think the toughest stage is tomorrow but the final part of the Galibier is very open and the gradients are not very demanding. It all depends on where the wind comes from. Alpe D'Huez is short and explosive but tomorrow's stage is definitely harder," he said today.

The podium contenders

	Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) Voeckler has been leading the Tour for nine days now and has shown amazing resilience. He has the French crowds for encouragement, the yellow jersey on his shoulders for motivation and good support from his teammate Pierre Rolland. His weakness to date has perhaps been his eagerness to follow every attack. He leads the Tour with 1m18s on Cadel Evans. "My climbing has been good but I don't think it's good enough for tomorrow. A 6km climb is a lot different to a 35km one," he said of his chances of retaining yellow.
	Cadel Evans (BMC) 2nd +1m18s "I've got a good advantage over Alberto now. But he's shown in years gone by what he can do when he's really at his top," Evans said after today's stage. Apart from today, Evans has been able to follow every attack in the Tour and has even attacked a few times himself. His team support in the early part of the climbs is good and the Australian heads into these two big stages as the one to beat - his time trial skills would likely see him win the Tour if the GC was the same as it is now at the start of the TT day.
	Frank and Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) 3rd and 4th, +1m22s and +2m36s Apart from a couple of attacks in the Pyrenees, the Schlecks have not shone this Tour. They have, however, shown their weakness in descents, and Andy appears to have a crick in his neck - he is constantly looking behind him to keep an eye on Contador. "We're hoping for an open race with lots of attacks," said Fränk. "In the Pyrenees, many contenders rode cautiously. We expect things to be different in the Alps. We're looking forward to this, and we feel confident after the results of today."
	Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) 5th +2m59s Sanchez' two greatest strengths are his descending skills and his collaboration with Contador. The two Spaniards are friends on and off the bike and foresight in preparation for Contador's attacks will be very helpful tomorrow. He too expects tomorrow's stage to be the most decisive.
	Alberto Contader (Saxo Bank) 6th +3m15s "It seems as though the Schlecks are awaiting me to attack but I just do my kind of race and that's all," Contador said after today's stage. The knee problems he experienced in the first week of the Tour appear gone and he is back to his attacking ways. Over the last few days he has appeared back in the great form which saw him win the Giro d'Italia convincingly earlier this year. His biggest issue to overcome is the 2min time gap between himself and Evans. Of the contenders, they are the two who will gain time rather than lose time in the penultimate stage time trial. "The other riders are very strong and we all have the same motivation. It will be very difficult," he said of his chances of earning a fourth Tour de France title.