Stage 18

Pinerolo – Galibier Serre-Chavalier

Distance: 200.5 kilometers.

This stage should be left for the Sherpas and yaks, not guys on bikes. It starts in Italy and they throw in a sprint early on to warm people up for what is to come; The first climb is Col Agnel, the highest point they will reach on the Tour, and then descend for lunch. Then they climb the Col d’Izoard, make the descent to begin climbing the to the finish at the top of the Galibier.

That’s three Hors Catégorie climbs in a single stage. This is the Haute Alpes, the High Alps, and most of the work is being done over a mile above sea level.

It was the Andy Schleck show today. He has been patiently waiting and made his move today. He is now 15 seconds from the Yellow Jersey.

Alberto Contador lost ground and is now 4 minutes and 44 seconds off the front.

Update: You may notice that Mark Cavendish has only 300 points today, rather than the 320 he had yesterday. The Tour docked him 20 points for being “outside the time” for the stage. Normally riders who are “outside the time” [take too long to finish a stage] are eliminated from the Tour, but as he was in a group of 88 riders, that would have gotten a bit messy. They actually only missed the time by two minutes, but whoever specified the cut off needs a new position, when more than half the field can’t make it.

Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 181 ) [Yellow] 79h 34′ 06″
Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green] 300 points
Jelle Vanendert ( Bel – OLO – 038 ) [Polka Dot] 74 points
Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 151 ) 11 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Andy Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 011 )
Combative: Andy Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 011 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 3,183.0 kilometers [1,977.8 miles] at an average speed of 40.0 kph [24.9 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:

1 Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 181 ) [Yellow]
2 Andy Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 011 ) [Red numbers] [Stage Winner] + 15 seconds
3 Frank Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 018 ) + 01′ 08″
4 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 ) + 01′ 12″
5 Damiano Cunego ( Ita – LAM – 161 ) + 03′ 46″
6 Ivan Basso ( Ita – LIQ – 091 ) + 03′ 46″
7 Alberto Contador ( Esp – SBS – 001 ) + 04′ 44″
8 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 021 )
9 Tom Danielson ( USA – GRM – 052 )
10 Jean-Christophe Peraud ( Fra – ALM – 108 )
11 Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 151 ) [White]
12 Pierre Rolland ( Fra – EUC – 188 )
13 Kevin De Weert ( Bel – QST – 124 )
14 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RSH – 079 )
15 Rigoberto Uran ( Col – SKY – 118 )
16 Jelle Vanendert ( Bel – OLO – 038 ) [Polka Dot]
17 Jérôme Coppel ( Fra – SAU – 211 )
18 Arnold Jeannesson ( Fra – FDJ – 134 )
19 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 101 )
20 Rob Ruijgh ( Ned – VCD – 208 )

25 Peter Velits ( Svk – THR – 179 )
29 Sandy Casar ( Fra – FDJ – 131 )
30 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 )
32 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 )
33 Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 )

53 Edvald Boasson Hagen ( Nor – SKY – 114 )
60 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 )
70 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 056 )
74 Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 )
92 Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 )
125 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green]

Out of the race:

Leonardo Bertagnolli ( Ita – LAM – 162 )

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