Cycling: An epic final Alpine stage of the 2011 Tour de France saw Andy Schleck take the race leader's yellow jersey as defending champion Alberto Contador's hopes of a fourth title came to an end.
Contador, racing for Saxo Bank-SunGard, failed to gain enough time on Andy and Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek) during today’s 109.5-kilometre 19th stage from Modane Valfrejus to Alpe-d’Huez to make victory after tomorrow’s time-trial in Grenoble an unrealistic ambition for the Spaniard.
The two brothers from Luxembourg now top the general classification with Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) in third place and tipped to take the yellow jersey before Sunday’s ride into Paris.
And Contador was beaten to victory in today’s stage by Pierre Rolland (Europcar) with Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) second, 14 seconds behind, with Contador another nine seconds further adrift.
The two Schlecks were in a group 57seconds behind along with Evans as France’s Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) relinquished his 10-day hold on the maillot jaune.
Contador began the day four minutes 44 seconds behind Voeckler and 4mins 29secs adrift of Andy Schleck.
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche has dropped back to 26th in the overall standings.