If anyone was going to dislodge Alberto Contador from His lead in the Tour de France, stage 20 was the place to do it. The stage passed over several catagorey 3 climbs and finished atop a mountain so tall and steep it was not even catagorized (see picture above). And once again the Schleck brothers of Saxo Bank tried to break the strong Astana team.
Andy Schleck attacked many times on the final climb, trying to break away from Astana's leaders and gain some time. But each time he tried, Contador and Lance Armstrong would stay on his back whell like they were glued there. At the finish line, he had gained no time over either, and it now looks like Contador will win this year's tour and Armstrong will join him on the podium in third place. The Astana team will also win the team championship.
A couple of breakaway riders were able to finish ahead of Contador, Schleck and Armstrong, but they were so far behind the leaders in time that they were allowed to stay away. The stage 20 winner was won by Spanish rider Manuel Garate of Rabobank. German rider Tony Martin of Columbia finished second.
On Sunday's stage 21, the riders will ride into Paris for the final leg of this year's Tour. It is a fairly flat course, and should finish up as the last time for the sprinters to shine. Here are the current standings:
YELLOW JERSEY (OVERALL LEADERS)
1. Alberto Contador (Astana)
2. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........4.11
3. Lance Armstrong (Astana)..........5.24
4. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin)..........6.01
5. Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........6.04
6. Andreas Kloden (Astana)..........6.42
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)..........7.35
8. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin)..........12.04
9. Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas)..........14.16
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Francaise)..........14.25
GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)..........260 pts
2. Mark Cavendish (Columbia)..........235 pts
3. Gerald Ciolek (Milram)..........148 pts
4. Jose Rojas (Caisse)..........126 pts
5. Nicolas Roche (AG2R)..........122 pts
POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)..........210 pts
2. Egoi Martinez (Euskadi)..........135 pts
3. Alberto Contador (Astana)..........126 pts
4. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........111 pts
5. Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouyges)..........99 pts
TEAM LEADERS
1. Astana
2. Garmin-Slipstream..........22.35
3. Saxo Bank..........28.34
4. AG2R La Mondiale..........31.47
5. Liquigas..........43.31
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