Tuesday 21st Stage 16 Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice 159 km,

Sensational win for Mikel Astarloza of Team Euskaltel-Euskadi !!

The second stage of the Alps started in Switzerland,went through the Val d’Aoste in Italy to end in France at the bottom of the downhill from the col du Petit Saint Bernard,the last difficulty of the day with a 30 km climb.

Maxime Bouet jumped out of the group 200m from the start,joined by Roulston and 19 more riders among them Franco Pellizotti who is wearing the polka-dot jersey of best climber, and Vladimir Karpets the closest in the overall standings at 6’ behind Contador.This group took 1’30” in 10 km but Team Astana took the front of the peloton and controlled the gap masterfully. 2 km into the hors category climb of the Grand Saint Bernard the italian Pellizotti attacked and only Karpets and Martinez could stay with him.Martinez dropped out and Pellizotti passed the summit in front of Karpets,taking 20 points. The 2 escapees had a 1’15” advantage over a group of 15 including Astarloza and 2’05” over the peloton with the yellow jersey and all the favorites.

After pushing their lead on the descent the two in front were caught by the group of 16 with 60 km to go,the main peloton 4’10” behind.

In the last ascent of the day Van Den Broeck attacked in various occasions until at 6 km from the top only Pellizotti could stay with him. Meanwhile Team Saxo Bank had put two riders in front of the peloton who rode very hard preparing an attack from Andy Scleck who jumped out 7 km from the summit,leaving behind Armstrong,Evans and Sastre. Frank Schlek, Wiggins, Contador,Nibali and Kloden were the only one who stayed with Andy. Lance Armstrong produced a monstrous effort and caught up with Contador’s group 2 km from the top.They passed the summit of the Petit Saint Bernard 2’15” after the leaders of the stage,Sastre and Evans 1’45”behind the yellow jersey.

On the descent the 4 men in front,Moinard,Pollizotti,Astarloza and Van Der Broecke were fighting off the return of a group of another 4 including Roche ,Goubert,Casar and Fedrigo. They managed to hold on to a 5” advantage until Mikel Astarloza jumped out 1 km from the finish never to be seen again.

Great first win on the Tour de France for the spanish rider who ran a fantastic stage.

Frenchmen Sandy Casar finished 2nd for the 6th time on a stage of the Tour without a victory.

The yellow jersey group crossed the line 59” behind Mikel Astarloza.The big losers today in the overall standings were Cadel Evans,Nocentini and Tony Martin while Le Mevel gains 2 spots to 7th place.

Franco Pellizotti was voted the most aggressive of the day and took maximum points,50, for the polka-dot jersey as he crossed both summits in front.

Tomorrow,Wednesday 22nd,the 17th stage could well be the decisive one of le Tour de France 2009.Two climbs of 1st category to start, one of 2nd and two more of 1st to finish in a short distance (169,5 km) from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Le Grand-Bornand will give the contenders their last opportunity to make a move for the yellow jersey.