Montélimar to Mont Ventoux 167 km,

Juan Manuel Garate wins Stage 20 ,the Schleck brothers fail !!

In this last stage where changes on the overall standings could occure the goals are very clear for the leaders. Andy Schleck will intent the unthinkable,take the yellow jersey from Alberto Contador,and pull his brother from 6th place to 3rd,on the podium.Franck Schleck is 11” behind Kloden,13” from Wiggins and 38” from the 3rd Lance Armstrong.

3 km into the stage 13 riders came out of the peloton ,joined by another 3 at the 25 km mark.They are 9’ ahead of the main group starting the 7 km cat 3 ascent of the Col des Abeilles, the last before the formidable Mont Ventoux.

The Schleck’s team Saxo Bank is riding in front of the peloton but team Astana takes the lead half way up and accelerate suddenly on the straght leading to the ssummit of the Col des Abeilles breaking the peloton in two The group in front of the race has a lead of 4’30” left with 20 km togo,it looks like the adventure will not succeed. It is clear that Contador ,Armstrong and Kloden from Astana are not planning to defend their positions, they attack the Saxo Bank and Bradley Wiggins. They are 24 in the leaders group chasing the 3 riders in front,Christophe Riblon,Tony Martin and Garate.

David Millar is pulling Bradley at a very high tempo to avoid the sudden accelerations of the Schlecks brother. As riders lose touch one by one Frank Schleck jumps out, immediatly countered by Armstrong. Now it’s Andy who attacks with Contador on his wheel,we are in the last battle of the Tour de France and it’s fantastic !!

10 km from the top 7 riders, Andy and Frank Schlek,Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong,Vincenzo Nibali, J.J. Gutierrez and Van Der Broecke are still 2’ behind Juan Manuel Garate and Tony Martin now in front.

Andy jumps out followed by Contador,Nibali closes the gap.The fight for 3rd place of the Tour is on,Armstrong on Franck Schleck’s wheel who have been caught by Pellizotti and Kloden.

A few accelerations from Andy to no avail,the only casualty Bradley Wiggins who is defending his 4th place on the GC. Garate has attacked Martin,he is alone 1 km from the top with 55” on the yellow jersey but then cannot pursue his effort and is caught by Martin. Pellizotti has joined the Schleck-Contador group and raced by,he is 45” behind the leaders but is caught in the last km. Nobody has the strength to come back on the two in front and Garate attacks Martin on the last curve to take the stage,the first win for a spanish rider at the summit of the Mont Ventoux. Tony Martin 2nd at 3”,Andy Schleck 3rd at 38”,Alberto Contador 4th at 38”,Lance Armstrong 5th at 41” and Frank Schleck 6th at 43”. Bradley Wiggins is 10th at 1’03”.Franck Sschleck takes the 5th spot on the GC from Andreas Kloden who finished 12th at 1’42”. Excellent result for Roman Kreusiger of team Liquigas who arrived 7th ,46” after Garate and jumps from 12 to 9th in the overall standings.

Tony Martin was voted most aggressive rider of the day.

The escapees who left the main group 3 km into the stage had the last laugh today as Juan Manuel Garate from team Rabobank resisted the charge of the leaders of the Tour de France to win Stage 20. A relieved Alberto Contador has virtually won the Tour and Lance Armstrong will be on the podium.The Schleck brothers tried but failed.

Sunday 26th ,last stage of the Tour de France from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to Paris Champs Elysées 167 km might bring Mark Cavendish’ 6th victory this year.Thor Hushovd said “ I know I can beat him”,it will be his last opportunity to prove it.

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