Stage 18 Report
July 19th, Stage 18: Mammoth Lakes - Onion Valley Road, 156.23 km
Schleck and Contador Conquer Final Climb
Schleck Takes Stage as Contador Takes Back Yellow from Gesink
The twists and turns of Onion Valley Road combined with the sheer power of
Alberto Contador finally proved too much for
Robert Gesink, as the young Dutchman had to relinquish his Yellow Jersey. Contador completed his revenge for his defeat on Mount Evans, as a return to normal elevations gave Contador the kick he had lost in Colorado. With the Yellow Jersey squarely on Contador's shoulders and the 60 km time trial looming on Saturday, a 7th grand tour victory seems almost assured. The victory on the stage, however, went to young
Andy Schleck, who once again climbed with Contador and was seemingly gifted the stage win by Contador, who had already achieved the needed gap.
Joaquim Rodriguez and
Michele Scarponi managed to hold on from the day's early break to race for third place, and Rodriguez managed to win the sprint for 3rd.
Samuel Sanchez outsprinted
Cadel Evans and
Chris Horner for 5th place, while Gesink came in with
Tom Danielson and
Denis Menchov to finish in 8th, having lost his race lead, probably permanently.
With the tough climb lurking in the distance, the teams of the contenders took a leisurely pace through the majority of the stage. And as such, a rather famous break was allowed to escape. Scarponi (LAM), Rodriguez (KAT) and
Tejay Van Garderen (HTC), previously thought to be contenders were allowed in the break due to large time losses earlier in the Tour. They were joined by David Moncoutie (COF), Amets Txurruka (EUS), Maxime Monfort (LEO), Luis Leon Sanchez (RAB), Markel Irizar (RSH), and Geraint Thomas (SKY). This rather recognizable breakaway was allowed a lead of 7 minutes with 70 kilometers to go, but the furious work of
Saxo Bank Sungard and
BMC Racing Team brought the gap back to 3 minutes with 25 kilometers to go. With 20 kilometers to go, Van Garderen attacked from the breakaway, and immediately Monfort, Sanchez, Irizar, and Thomas were off the back. Txurruka then put in a large effort that rid the break of Moncoutie. With 15 kilometers to go, the peloton behind was under the escort of super-domestiques
Daniel Navarro and
Chris Anker Sorenson, both working for Contador. The pace was enough to shed the unimportant riders, but all the big favorites remained in the pack, which was now 1:45 behind the four leaders.
With 12 kilometes to go, the climb reached gradients of 20%, and the race for the overall win went to the forefront. Contador put in his first large attack of the day, and Gesink was forced to bring the group back to Contador. He did succeed, but was visually exhausted from his efforts. Contador's attack combined with Gesink's pace had narrowed the field down to Contador, Gesink, Evans, Sanchez, Horner, Andy Schleck, Danielson, Menchov,
Vincenzo Nibali,
Jurgen Van Den Broeck and
Andreas Kloden. Notably missing were Andy's brother
Frank Schleck,
Bradley Wiggins, former race leader
Damiano Cunego and
Jose Rujano. Gesink's furious pace had whittled the group down to just 11 riders with 10 kilometers to go. The four leaders - Van Garderen, Txurruka, Scarponi, and Rodriguez - were now just 1:15 in front of the favorites.
Seeing Txurruka and Van Garderen struggling at the back of the group, Scarponi accelerated away with Rodriguez, and the two set out to try to stay away for the stage win. Their plans, however, were soon dealt a huge blow, as with 8 kilometers to go, Contador violently accelerated once again in another stretch of 15% gradient. Schleck the younger and Sanchez were able to stay on Contador's wheel, and Gesink was once again able to crawl his way back to Contador, although he appeared to be on his limits. With 5 kilometers to go, Sanchez and Evans attacked the 8 man group (Nibali, Van Den Broeck, and Kloden were forced to drop off) and Contador, Horner and Schleck immediately responded, and this time, Gesink had to finally give in. Sanchez, Evans, Horner, Schleck, and Contador then set off to catch the two leaders, as Gesink, Menchov and Danielson were forced to limit their losses.
With 4 kilometers to go, the gap to Rodriguez and Scarponi was just 25 seconds, so Horner attacked in an effort to take the stage. Schleck, however, was unwilling to let him go, and he along with Contador caught and passed the veteran American, leaving he, Sanchez, and Evans to fight it out behind. Contador, then sensing he could eat up time to Gesink and especially Evans for the time trial then went in front of the young Luxembourger to make the pace. With 2 kilometers to go, Contador with Schleck on his wheel caught Rodriguez and Scarponi. Schleck, sensing stronger sprinters in Rodriguez and Scarponi, then attacked out of Contador's wheel, distancing the two riders from the early break. Contador, however, had no problems staying with Schleck, and as the two quickly got a 15 second gap with 1 kilometer remaining, Contador seemed to tell Schleck that the stage win was his if he wanted it. Schleck then slipped back while Contador continued to make the pace in his quest for time, and Schleck passed the Spaniard in the final stretch to claim the stage victory, while just behind Contador also raised his arms, having essentially sealed up the overall win.
Behind, Rodriguez outsprinted his companion Scarponi to take 3rd on the stage, 20 seconds behind, but he seemed visibly upset that his effort had fallen 2 kilometers short. Sanchez outsprinted Evans and Horner for 5th place on the day, having lost 43 seconds to Contador. 45 seconds after that, a visibly dejected Gesink crawled over the line (along with an equally exhausted Danielson) and banged his handlebars in anger as he felt the Yellow Jersey ripped off his back. Gesink will now have to focus on keeping his podium place, as Sanchez, Menchov, and especially Evans will be looking to gain serious time in Saturday's race of truth. However, no one it seems will challenge the victory of Alberto Contador, as the 6 time grand tour champion showed his El Pistolero celebration on the Yellow Jersey podium, a 7th grand tour now just 3 days away.
Top 30 on Stage 18:
1. Andy Schleck (20 bonus seconds)
2. Alberto Contador s.t. (12 bonus seconds)
3. Joaquim Rodriguez +20" (8 bonus seconds)
4. Michele Scarponi
5. Samuel Sanchez +43"
6. Cadel Evans
7. Chris Horner
8. Robert Gesink +1'28"
9. Tom Danielson
10. Denis Menchov
11. Amets Txurruka +1'39"
12. Jurgen Van Den Broeck +1'48"
13. Andreas Kloden
14. Vincenzo Nibali +1'56"
15. Tejay Van Garderen +2'10"
16. Ryder Hesjedal +2'14"
17. Jose Rujano +2'34"
18. David Moncoutie
19. Dan Martin
20. Alexander Vinokourov +2'46"
21. Damiano Cunego +2'52"
22. Frank Schleck
23. Team Gadret +2'57"
24. Peter Velits
25. Bradley Wiggins +3'15"
26. Alejandro Valverde
27. Jelle Vanender +3'24"
28. Ivan Basso +3'26"
29. Dries Devynyns
30. Janez Brajkovic
Points Earned at Finish:
1. Andy Schleck 20 pts
2. Alberto Contador 17
3. Joaquim Rodriguez 15
4. Michele Scarponi 13
5. Samuel Sanchez 11
6. Cadel Evans 10
7. Chris Horner 9
8. Robert Gesink 8
9. Tom Danielson 7
10. Denis Menchov 6
11. Amets Txurruka 5
12. Jurgen Van Den Broeck 4
13. Andreas Kloden 3
14. Vincenzo Nibali 2
15. Tejay Van Garderen 1
Onion Valley Road, HC Climb (Points Doubled for Summit Finish):
1. Andy Schleck 40 pts
2. Alberto Contador 32
3. Joaquim Rodriguez 24
4. Michele Scarponi 16
5. Samuel Sanchez 8
6. Cadel Evans 4
Most Aggressive Rider:
Tejay Van Garderen
Top 3 GC: (Time Gaps May Not be 100% accurate, I'll correct them in a few hours if not
)
1. Alberto Contador
2. Robert Gesink +1'37"
3. Samuel Sanchez +1'43"