It was a day to remember for France as Pierre Rolland attacked the mountains to win the first stage by a Frenchman in this year’s race whilst behind him, Andy Schleck rode himself into the Yellow jersey after Cadel Evans had repelled the attacks from Schleck and Contador early in the stage only to see Contador to finish third on the stage. It was quite simply, a day when you can’t help but love what is the Tour de France.
Andy Schleck in Yellow: Credit John Pierce/PhotoSport International UK USA Asia
And how about this tale from David Millar via Twitter: Bernie Eisel & I formed an eternal bond today. We were off the back on our own within the first few km’s of Telegraph. Seemed Game Over.We’d each have good & bad patches. During one of my bad patches I told Bernie just to go, ‘Davie, we go home together, or Paris together.’Camaraderie transcends teams on occasions, that was one of them.ind you, he scared the bajesus out of me on the descent of the Galibier.
So the changes after this stage are that Andy Schleck takes yellow, Evans moves up to third and Pierre Rolland is in the White jersey … next the time trial and with Evans having 57 seconds to make up, can the Australian take yellow off Andy Schleck. Two years in a time trial of the same length, Evans took 40 seconds out of Schleck which would not be enough but who knows what will happen on the final stage before the celebration in Paris?
Cadel Evans: “I was sitting well when he attacked, but feeling pretty average,” Evans said. “I think there was something wrong with my rear wheel and it was slowing me down a bit. For that reason, I changed bikes. When they’re going pretty fast and you have to stop three times, the chances of getting back by yourself are pretty limited. But the team eventually came back and rode just fantastic all the way to the steepest slopes of the Galibier.
Team Sky’s Juan Antonio Flecha, “I was in the break today but not for very long because it was such a hard stage. It was nice to show the jersey of the team though. I’m starting to feel good again now after the crash and it’s just a pity that the Tour is nearly coming to an end. I’m looking forward to my next races now though and making sure I am in good condition for them. This will be the eighth Tour I’ve finished – I’ve ridden nine but in 2008 I didn’t quite make it to the end.”
“When the break came back my only job was to ride at my own tempo and reach the finish before the time cut. It was a nice stage though and I enjoyed it. It was short but everybody was racing from the first kilometre. The Alpe-d’Huez is not my favourite climb but it was still fun to do, if a little crowded at times. A lot of people always watch and it’s nice when they cheer you on. The climb is part of the history of the Tour de France so it’s nice to be here.â€
Matt Goss: As a sprinter its not a nice sight to see alberto contador attack at the bottom of the first of 3 massive climbs!
Ben Swift: Climbed my last 2011 TDF mountain today. What an amazing experience that climb truly is legendary. 43km TT and a romp around Paris left
Thomas Danielson, one of the revelations of the race. Credit John Pierce/PhotoSport International UK USA Asia
Previous Stages
STAGE 1 | STAGE 2 | STAGE 3 | STAGE 4 |Â Â STAGE 5 | STAGE 6 | STAGE 7 | STAGE 8 | STAGE 9 | STAGE 10 |
| STAGE 11 | STAGE 12 | STAGE 13 | STAGE 14 | STAGE 15 | STAGE 16 | STAGE 17 | STAGE 18 |
Results Stage 19
1    Pierre Rolland Team Europcar    3:13:25
2    Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel-Euskadi    0:00:14
3    Alberto Contador Saxo Bank Sungard    0:00:23
4    Peter Velits HTC-Highroad    0:00:57
5 Â Â Â Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team
6 Â Â Â Thomas De Gendt
7 Â Â Â Damiano Cunego Lampre – ISD
8    Fränk Schleck Leopard Trek
9 Â Â Â Andy Schleck Leopard Trek
10    Ryder Hesjedal Team Garmin-Cervelo    0:01:15
11 Â Â Â Thomas Danielson Team Garmin-Cervelo
15 Â Â Â Ivan Basso Liquigas-Cannondale
16 Â Â Â Levi Leipheimer Team RadioShack
44    Geraint Thomas Sky Procycling        0:09:47
68    Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil   0:15:30
85    José Ivan Gutierrez Movistar Team    0:25:27
92 Â Â Â Thor Hushovd Team Garmin-Cervelo
93    André Greipel Omega Pharma-Lotto
97 Â Â Â Bernhard Eisel HTC-Highroad
98 Â Â Â Mark Cavendish HTC-Highroad
99 Â Â Â Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale
108 Â Â Â Ben Swift Sky Procycling
167 Â Â Â David Millar Team Garmin-Cervelo
Most aggressive
1. Alberto Contador Saxo Bank Sungard
OVERALL
1    Andy Schleck Leopard Trek    82:48:43
2    Fränk Schleck Leopard Trek    0:00:53
3    Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team    0:00:57
4    Thomas Voeckler Team Europcar    0:02:10
5 Â Â Â Damiano Cunego Lampre – ISD Â Â Â 0:03:31
6    Alberto Contador Saxo Bank Sungard    0:03:55
7    Samuel Sanchez Euskaltel-Euskadi    0:04:22
8    Ivan Basso Liquigas-Cannondale    0:04:40
9    Thomas DanielsonTeam Garmin-Cervelo    0:07:11
10    Pierre Rolland Team Europcar    0:08:57
26    Nicolas Roche AG2R La Mondiale    0:40:58
31    Geraint Thomas Sky Procycling    0:57:28
32    Levi Leipheimer Team RadioShack    0:59:24
33    Robert Gesink Rabobank Cycling Team    1:02:12
58    Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling    1:43:33
74    Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil   2:06:32
75    Richie Porte Saxo Bank Sungard    2:08:58
76    David Millar Team Garmin-Cervelo    2:11:44
126    Fabian Cancellara Leopard Trek    3:06:53
128    Mark Cavendish HTC-Highroad    3:07:34
136    Ben Swift Sky Procycling    3:11:57
Points
1    Mark Cavendish HTC-Highroad    280     pts
2    Jose Joaquin Rojas Movistar Team    265
3    Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma-Lotto    230
4    Thor Hushovd Team Garmin-Cervelo    195
5    Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team    191
6    Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky Procycling    153
Mountains
1    Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez Euskaltel-Euskadi    108     pts
Young rider
1. Pierre Rolland Team Europcar    82:57:40
7. Geraint Thomas Sky Procycling    0:48:31
29. Ben Swift Sky Procycling    3:03:00
