Stage 14

Revel – Ax 3 Domaines

Distance: 184.5 kilometers.

Christophe Riblon led a group that broke away early in the stage and was never reeled in. They made their break and maintained it on the rolling hills with a couple of sprints and capped it by staying ahead up the Hors Catégorie Port de Pailheres, the descent and immediate category 1 climb to the finish at Ax 3 Domaines. Geraint Thomas was originally part of the group with Samuel Sanchez and Denis Menchov, but he faded on the climb and was reeled in by the peloton.

With only 31 seconds separating Schleck and Contador, if neither makes a major mistake, the Yellow will be decided in the individual time trials.

Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [Yellow] 68h 02m 30s
Alessandro Petacchi ( Ita – LAM – 208 ) [Green] 187 points
Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot] 115 points
Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 ) 6 [White]
Team: Caisse d’Epargne GCE ( 161-169 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Christophe Riblon ( Fra – ALM – 089 )
Combative: Christophe Riblon ( Fra – ALM – 089 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 2,728.4 kilometers [1,695.3 miles] at an average speed of 40.1 kph [24.9 mph].

OVERALL STANDINGS:

Andy Schleck ( Lux – SAX – 011 ) [Yellow] 68h 02m 30s
2 Alberto Contador ( Esp – AST – 001 )
3 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 181 )
4 Denis Menchov ( Rus – RAB – 191 )
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – OLO – 101 )
6 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 195 ) [White]
7 Levi Leipheimer ( USA – RSH – 025 )
8 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ( Esp – KAT – 077 )
9 Luis-Leon Sanchez ( Esp – GCE – 161 )
10 Ivan Basso ( Ita – LIQ – 041 )
11 Alexandre Vinokourov ( Kaz – AST – 009 )
12 Roman Kreuziger ( Cze – LIQ – 044 )
13 Ryder Hesjedal ( Can – GRM – 054 )
14 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 081 )
15 Carlos Sastre ( Esp – CTT – 091 )
16 Thomas Lövkvist ( Swe – SKY – 037 )
17 Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 024 )
18 Bradley Wiggins ( GBr – SKY – 031 )
19 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 121 )
20 Ruben Plaza Molina ( Esp – GCE – 168 )

27 Christophe Riblon ( Fra – ALM – 089 ) [Red numbers] [Stage winner]
38 Lance Armstrong ( USA – RSH – 021 )
48 Anthony Charteau ( Fra – BBO – 153 ) [Polka Dot]
57 Jérôme Pineau ( Fra – QST – 135 )
58 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 039 )
128 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – CTT – 095 )
140 Alessandro Petacchi ( Ita – LAM – 208 ) [Green]
150 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 111 )
154 Julian Dean ( NZl – GRM – 052 )
156 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 057 )
166 Robbie McEwen ( Aus – KAT – 075 )