Annecy-Annecy 40.5 km Individual Time-trial,

He is the best,he is the Yellow Jersey, he is Alberto Contador !!

On the loop around the beautiful settings of Lac d’Annecy Alberto Contador had a perfectly managed time-trial stage as he passed most of the time-checks in front,second only of Ignatiev at the 25 km mark, and carried enough momentum in the last 12 km after the tough climb of the côte de Bluffy to beat Fabian Cancellara by 3”. They were the only two riders to finish the stage at an average speed of over 50 km/h.

Mikhail Ignatiev finished 3rd at 15” and Gustav Larsson 4th at 33”.

Contador didn’t need to put in such a show on this stage but it is almost a question of honor for the leader of the Tour de France to win the last time-trial,as Armstrong did 6 out of 7 times he won the Tour. On the over hand Contador consolidated the yellow jersey before the last mountain test Saturday on the Mont Ventoux.He took 1’45” from Andy Schleck who is still 2nd in the GC but now at 4’11”.

Bradley Wiggins had a great run but faded at the end to finish 6th at 43”, 2” behind his teammate and countryman David Millard.Lance Armstrong,16th place,held him off just enough to take the 3rd spot of the overall standings 5’25” behind Contador.Bradley is fourth at 5’36” ,Andreas Kloden 5th at 5’38”. Frank Schleck went from 3rd to 6th place in the GC as he finished today 35th at 2’34”.

Reshuffle at the top of the overall standings where Alberto Contador has now what looks like a definitive advantage and the amazing 37 years old Lance Armstrong is on the third step of the podium.

The Schleck brothers with all the Team Saxo Bank will surely try to do something big in the Mont Ventoux but Alberto Contador again demonstrate today that he is the best and put the bar even higher for the riders from Luxemburg.

Tomorrow Friday the 19th stage from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas,178 km, will give an opportunity to shine to the riders who still want to prove something on this Tour de France.An early break could succeed as the leaders and their teammates will save their energy for the last climb of 2009 on Saturday.

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