Bagnères-de-Luchon to Peyragudes

Distance: 143.5 kilometers.

This is a short and nasty end to the mountain stages: Category 1 – Col de Menté (1349m), Category 2 – Col des Ares (797 m), Category 3 – Côte de Burs, intermediate sprint, HC – Port de Bales (1755 m), and the Category 1 climb to the finish in Peyragudes. The stage is a series of hairpin turns and switchbacks. This was a route designed for pitons, not pelotons.

Alejandro Valverde won the stage with a charge worthy of the Red numbers, but the larger story was that Wiggins and Froome made it clear that they won’t give up anything to the competition and actually increased their leads over Nibali et al. Barring accidents, the podium in Paris appears to be settled, but no one should celebrate until it is official.

In a bit of oddness, Jan Ghyselinck ( Bel – COF – 086 ) was listed as a non-finisher yesterday, but today he is back on the road and is the current Lanterne Rouge. It may have been an ‘outside of time’ case that was protested.

Bradley Wiggins ( GB – SKY – 101 ) [Yellow]
Peter Sagan ( Svk – LIQ – 057 ) [Green] 356 points
Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 021 ) [Polka Dot] 134 points
Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) 5 [White]

Team: RadioShack-Nissan ( 011-019 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Alejandro Valverde ( Esp – MOV – 161 )
Combative: Alejandro Valverde ( Esp – MOV – 161 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Bradley Wiggins ( G B – SKY – 101 )
2 Christopher Froome ( G B – SKY – 105 ) + 02′ 05”
3 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – LIQ – 051 ) + 02′ 41”
4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 111 ) + 05′ 53”
5 Tejay Van Garderen ( USA – BMC – 009 ) + 08′ 30”
6 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 001 ) + 09′ 57”
7 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RNT – 019 ) + 10′ 11”
8 Pierre Rolland ( Fra – EUC – 029 ) + 10′ 17”
9 Janez Brajkovic ( Slo – AST – 181 ) + 11′ 00”
10 Thibaut Pinot ( Fra – FDJ – 146 ) + 11′ 46”

The Rest of the Top 50:
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