2010 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20
Encyclopedia
Stage 11 of the 2010 Tour de France
occurs on 15 July in Sisteron
, and the race concludes on 25 July with its traditional Champs-Élysées stage.
to Bourg-lès-Valence
, 184.5 km (114.6 mi)
This is classified as a flat stage, visiting the third-category Col de la Cabre after 56.5 km (35.1 mi) and then descending most of the way to the finish. The stage got off to a normal start with a three man breakaway forming just after passing through kilometer zero. The three riders were Stéphane Augé
of , Anthony Geslin
of , and 's José Alberto Benítez
. The breakaway would stay out in front for the majority of the stage, but they were absorbed by the peloton with 25 km (15.5 mi) to go. Now it was time for the sprinters, but took control of the peloton and pushed the tempo up to 62 km/h. Then the sprinters' teams came to the front and started the dash to the line. Mark Renshaw
led out Mark Cavendish
for the thirteenth Tour de France stage win of his career. In a controversial decision Renshaw was disqualified and forced to abandon the Tour for head butting Julian Dean
during the sprint and for moving into Tyler Farrar
's line.
to Mende
, 210.5 km (130.8 mi)
This stage is hilly, with two second-category and three third-category climbs. The Col de la Croix Neuve comes 2 km (1.2 mi) from the finish, followed by a brief flat section.The peloton remained intact up until the second categorized climb of the day, before a group of eighteen riders dashed away from the peloton. Some major riders were Thor Hushovd
of , Andreas Klöden
of , and Alexander Vinokourov
of . Hushovd regained the lead in the points classification after winning the second intermediate sprint of the day. With about 48km to go in the stage Klöden, Vinokourov, 's Ryder Hesjedal
, and Vasil Kiryienka
of jumped off the front of the breakaway. The group would stay intact until the final climb of the day where Vinokourov would attack on the climb. While on the climb Alberto Contador
attacked, which caught Andy Schleck
off guard. Joaquim Rodríguez
followed Contador, who quickly caught up to the leading Vinokourov. Contador and Rodriguez would go to the finish together, with Rodriguez outsprinting Contador for the stage win. Contador gained ten seconds on Schleck.
to Revel
, 196 km (121.8 mi)
This is classified as a flat stage, though it incorporates five climbs, two in the third category and three in the fourth.
, 184.5 km (114.6 mi)
The first of several difficult stages in the Pyrenees
in the Tour's last week visits the French Basque Country. The hors catégorie Port de Pailhères
precedes the first-category summit finish at Ax-3-Domaines.
to Bagnères-de-Luchon
, 187.5 km (116.5 mi)
This stage also includes an hors catégorie climb, Port de Balès
. The finish comes on a steep, 21 km (13 mi) descent from the climb.
In Stage 15, controversy arose when Alberto Contador
took advantage of a mechanical problem that Andy Schleck
had at a pivotal moment to take the yellow jersey, as it is considered good sportsmanship to wait for the yellow jersey when he has technical trouble. Contador explained that he did not know that Schleck had technical trouble, and that he had already launched an attack by then. Hours later, he apologised for the incident. Although he was loudly booed by sections of the crowd when he received the yellow jersey on the podium and was criticised by Sean Kelly
and a number of riders both past and current, he also found support from the likes of Bernard Hinault
, Miguel Indurain
, Eddy Merckx
and Laurent Jalabert
. Schleck himself said that he and Contador discussed the matter during the next stage and that the matter has been resolved.
This stage has four difficult climbs, starting with the first-category Col de Peyresourde
and Col d'Aspin
within the first 42.5 km (26.4 mi). The next climb is the Col du Tourmalet
, the first of two times the climb is visited in this Tour, and later comes the Col d'Aubisque
. Both the Tourmalet and the Aubisque are hors catégorie climbs.
, 174 km (108.1 mi)
The Tour's second rest day occurs in Pau, meaning the Tour will have been in the same town for three straight days. This has been called the Tour's queen stage, and features the second ascent of the Tourmalet, coming as a steep summit finish. The first-category Col de Marie-Blanque
and Col du Soulor
climbs precede it. Anthony Charteau
provisionally sealed the Polka-dot Jersey, as neither he nor Christophe Moreau
accumulated any points during this stage, which featured the final categorized climbs of this year's Tour. The stage itself turned into a thrilling battle between Andy Schleck
and Alberto Contador
. With Schleck needing to make up lost time on Contador, he launched numerous attacks in the final 15 kilometres. However, surrounded by his fans, Contador fought to stay on the wheel of Schleck. Late on, Contador attacked himself but was pulled back. Schleck went on to take the stage, but Contador, who was happy to follow Schleck and did not sprint, had a seemingly unassailable lead.
to Bordeaux
, 198 km (123 mi)
This is a flat stage.
, 52 km (32.3 mi) (individual time trial
)
The race returns to its tradition of having a time trial on its penultimate day. The course is long, straight, and flat. Race officials expect the average time to complete the course will be 64 minutes. Fabian Cancellara
took his second victory of the tour, whilst Tony Martin
finished second. The battle between Alberto Contador
and Andy Schleck
for the yellow jersey also reached its climax. With Contador being the more accomplished Time-Trialist, he was expected to increase his lead. However, at the first time check, Schleck had taken time out of him and the lead was down to two seconds. However, from there on in, Contador began to open a gap, and ended picking time up 31 seconds on Schleck, meaning his Yellow Jersey
was now safe.
to Paris
, 102.5 km (63.7 mi)
The Tour concludes with its traditional, largely ceremonial finale on the Champs-Élysées. The riders take eight laps of the famous avenue before the final podium presentations. Mark Cavendish
sprinted clear in the final 300 yards, with Alessandro Petacchi
riding into second and Thor Hushovd
third
2010 Tour de France
The 2010 Tour de France was the 97th edition of the Tour de France cycle race, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started on with an 8.9 km prologue time trial in Rotterdam, the first start in the Netherlands since 1996...
occurs on 15 July in Sisteron
Sisteron
Sisteron is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Sisteron is situated on the banks of the River Durance just after the confluence of the rivers Buëch and Sasse...
, and the race concludes on 25 July with its traditional Champs-Élysées stage.
| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Denotes the leader of the general classification |  |
Denotes the leader of the points classification Points classification in the Tour de France The points classification in the Tour de France is a secondary competition in the Tour de France, that started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in a points classification. It is considered a sprinters' competition... |
 |
Denotes the leader of the mountains classification |  |
Denotes the leader of the young rider classification Young rider classification in the Tour de France -History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification... |
| s.t. indicates that the rider crossed the finish line in the same group as the one receiving the time above him, and was therefore credited with the same finishing time. | |||
Stage 11
15 July 2010 - SisteronSisteron
Sisteron is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Sisteron is situated on the banks of the River Durance just after the confluence of the rivers Buëch and Sasse...
to Bourg-lès-Valence
Bourg-lès-Valence
Bourg-lès-Valence is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, 184.5 km (114.6 mi)
This is classified as a flat stage, visiting the third-category Col de la Cabre after 56.5 km (35.1 mi) and then descending most of the way to the finish. The stage got off to a normal start with a three man breakaway forming just after passing through kilometer zero. The three riders were Stéphane Augé
Stéphane Augé
Stéphane Augé is a French former road racing cyclist. He is currently a sporting director for UCI Professional Continental team...
of , Anthony Geslin
Anthony Geslin
Anthony Geslin is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .He was born in Alençon and became a professional in 2002, when he signed with the Bonjour team...
of , and 's José Alberto Benítez
José Alberto Benítez
José Alberto Benítez Roman is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, currently with UCI Professional Continental team . He raced with the Spiuk continental team 2005, before turning professional with in 2006...
. The breakaway would stay out in front for the majority of the stage, but they were absorbed by the peloton with 25 km (15.5 mi) to go. Now it was time for the sprinters, but took control of the peloton and pushed the tempo up to 62 km/h. Then the sprinters' teams came to the front and started the dash to the line. Mark Renshaw
Mark Renshaw
Mark Renshaw is an Australian racing cyclist with UCI ProTeam , who is considered one of the best lead-out men in the world.- Early career :...
led out Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
for the thirteenth Tour de France stage win of his career. In a controversial decision Renshaw was disqualified and forced to abandon the Tour for head butting Julian Dean
Julian Dean
Julian Dean is a road racing cyclist who rides for . Dean rode in the 2008 Tour de France, 2007 Tour de France, 2006 Tour de France and the 2004 Tour de France, finishing all four times. In 2008, he finished 9th in the points classification...
during the sprint and for moving into Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar is an American professional road racing cyclist since 2003.-Cycling career:Farrar started racing at 13, and rode for in 2003, in 2004, and in 2006 and 2007. In April 2006 he crashed near the finish of the Circuit de la Sarthe and broke his collarbone and missed most of the season...
's line.
Stage 11 Result
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General Classification after Stage 11
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Stage 12
16 July 2010 - Bourg-de-PéageBourg-de-Péage
Bourg-de-Péage is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-International relations:Bourg-de-Péage is twinned with: Schwaz, Austria Mindelheim, Germany Verbania, Italy Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Spain East Grinstead, United Kingdom-References:*...
to Mende
Mende, Lozère
Mende is a commune of France in the Lozère department of which it is the capital.It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mende.-Sights:* Mende Cathedral -External links:* * ,...
, 210.5 km (130.8 mi)
This stage is hilly, with two second-category and three third-category climbs. The Col de la Croix Neuve comes 2 km (1.2 mi) from the finish, followed by a brief flat section.The peloton remained intact up until the second categorized climb of the day, before a group of eighteen riders dashed away from the peloton. Some major riders were Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road...
of , Andreas Klöden
Andreas Klöden
Andreas Klöden is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major achievements include a bronze medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and second place in the 2004 Tour de France and 2006 Tour de France...
of , and Alexander Vinokourov
Alexander Vinokourov
Alexander Nikolaevich Vinokourov, also written Alexandre Vinokourov, is an ethnically Russian Kazakhstani professional road bicycle racer who currently competes with the UCI ProTeam Astana...
of . Hushovd regained the lead in the points classification after winning the second intermediate sprint of the day. With about 48km to go in the stage Klöden, Vinokourov, 's Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder Hesjedal
Ryder Hesjedal is a Canadian professional racing cyclist for . He is a former mountain biker, winning a silver medal at the 2001 Under-23 world championship...
, and Vasil Kiryienka
Vasil Kiryienka
Vasili Kiryienka is a Belarusian racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam . Kiryienka finished 2nd in the 10th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, he was outsprinted at the line by Sérgio Paulinho after basically leading him out to the finish...
of jumped off the front of the breakaway. The group would stay intact until the final climb of the day where Vinokourov would attack on the climb. While on the climb Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
attacked, which caught Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...
off guard. Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He has been competing since 2001, and currently rides for the UCI ProTour team .- Palmarès :2001...
followed Contador, who quickly caught up to the leading Vinokourov. Contador and Rodriguez would go to the finish together, with Rodriguez outsprinting Contador for the stage win. Contador gained ten seconds on Schleck.
Stage 12 Result
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General Classification after Stage 12
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Stage 13
17 July 2010 - RodezRodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
to Revel
Revel, Haute-Garonne
Revel is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Location:Revel is situated about 35 miles east of Toulouse...
, 196 km (121.8 mi)
This is classified as a flat stage, though it incorporates five climbs, two in the third category and three in the fourth.
Stage 13 Result
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General Classification after Stage 13
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Stage 14
18 July 2010 - Revel to Ax-3-DomainesAx-les-Thermes
Ax-les-Thermes is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France.It lies at the confluence of the Ariège River with three tributaries, 26 miles SSE of Foix by rail...
, 184.5 km (114.6 mi)
The first of several difficult stages in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
in the Tour's last week visits the French Basque Country. The hors catégorie Port de Pailhères
Port de Pailhères
The Port de Pailhères or is a pass in the Ariège department of the French Pyrenees.The summit is at an altitude of 2,001 metres, and is located on the secondary road D25 between Mijanès and Ax-les-Thermes ....
precedes the first-category summit finish at Ax-3-Domaines.
Stage 14 Result
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General Classification after Stage 14
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Stage 15
19 July 2010 - PamiersPamiers
Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix...
to Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon , also referred to as Luchon, is a spa town and a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Geography:...
, 187.5 km (116.5 mi)
This stage also includes an hors catégorie climb, Port de Balès
Port de Balès
The Port de Balès is a high mountain pass in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. It connects the village of Ferrère to that of Bourg-d'Oueil, Haute-Garonne ....
. The finish comes on a steep, 21 km (13 mi) descent from the climb.
In Stage 15, controversy arose when Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
took advantage of a mechanical problem that Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...
had at a pivotal moment to take the yellow jersey, as it is considered good sportsmanship to wait for the yellow jersey when he has technical trouble. Contador explained that he did not know that Schleck had technical trouble, and that he had already launched an attack by then. Hours later, he apologised for the incident. Although he was loudly booed by sections of the crowd when he received the yellow jersey on the podium and was criticised by Sean Kelly
Seán Kelly (cyclist)
John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...
and a number of riders both past and current, he also found support from the likes of Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
, Miguel Indurain
Miguel Indurain
Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
, Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
and Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert
Laurent Jalabert is a French former professional road racing cyclist, from 1989 to 2002. Affectionately known as "Jaja" , he won many one-day and stage races and was ranked number 1 in the 1990s...
. Schleck himself said that he and Contador discussed the matter during the next stage and that the matter has been resolved.
Stage 15 Result
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General Classification after Stage 15
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Stage 16
20 July 2010 - Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau, 199.5 km (124 mi)This stage has four difficult climbs, starting with the first-category Col de Peyresourde
Col de Peyresourde
The Col de Peyresourde is a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees on the border of the department of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées in France. It is situated on the D618 road between Bagnères de Luchon and Arreau.-Details of climb:...
and Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin
Col d'Aspin is a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France.It connects Sainte-Marie-de-Campan and Arreau.-Tour de France:...
within the first 42.5 km (26.4 mi). The next climb is the Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side.Tourmalet is also a...
, the first of two times the climb is visited in this Tour, and later comes the Col d'Aubisque
Col d'Aubisque
The Col d'Aubisque is a mountain pass in the Pyrenees 30 km south of Tarbes and Pau in the department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques , in the Aquitaine region of France....
. Both the Tourmalet and the Aubisque are hors catégorie climbs.
Stage 16 Result
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General Classification after Stage 16
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Stage 17
22 July 2010 - Pau to Col du TourmaletCol du Tourmalet
Col du Tourmalet is the highest road in the central Pyrenees in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées in France. Sainte-Marie-de-Campan is at the foot on the eastern side and the ski station La Mongie two-thirds of the way up. Luz-Saint-Sauveur is at the bottom of the western side.Tourmalet is also a...
, 174 km (108.1 mi)
The Tour's second rest day occurs in Pau, meaning the Tour will have been in the same town for three straight days. This has been called the Tour's queen stage, and features the second ascent of the Tourmalet, coming as a steep summit finish. The first-category Col de Marie-Blanque
Col de Marie-Blanque
Col de Marie-Blanque is a mountain pass in the western Pyrenees in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques in France. The pass is situated south-east of Oloron-Sainte-Marie and connects the valleys of the Aspe and the Ossau rivers....
and Col du Soulor
Col du Soulor
Col du Soulor is a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees in France, linking Argelès-Gazost with Arthez-d'Asson. It connects the Ouzom and Arens valleys.The road is occasionally used in the Tour de France cycling race.-Tour de France:...
climbs precede it. Anthony Charteau
Anthony Charteau
Anthony Charteau is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team . Charteau turned professional in 2001...
provisionally sealed the Polka-dot Jersey, as neither he nor Christophe Moreau
Christophe Moreau
Christophe Moreau is a French former professional road racing cyclist. For many years Moreau was the primary French contender for the general classification in the Tour de France: he finished in the top 12 in the GC five times and finished the race as best Frenchman in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005...
accumulated any points during this stage, which featured the final categorized climbs of this year's Tour. The stage itself turned into a thrilling battle between Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...
and Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
. With Schleck needing to make up lost time on Contador, he launched numerous attacks in the final 15 kilometres. However, surrounded by his fans, Contador fought to stay on the wheel of Schleck. Late on, Contador attacked himself but was pulled back. Schleck went on to take the stage, but Contador, who was happy to follow Schleck and did not sprint, had a seemingly unassailable lead.
Stage 17 Result
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General Classification after Stage 17
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Stage 18
23 July 2010 - Salies-de-BéarnSalies-de-Béarn
Salies-de-Béarn is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.The name comes from its naturally occurring saline water...
to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, 198 km (123 mi)
This is a flat stage.
Stage 18 Result
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General Classification after Stage 18
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Stage 19
24 July 2010 - Bordeaux to PauillacPauillac
Pauillac is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Wine:The commune consists of only 3000 acres of vineyards in the Haut-Médoc between the villages of Saint-Julien to the south and Saint-Estèphe to the north, but is home to three of Bordeaux's five...
, 52 km (32.3 mi) (individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
)
The race returns to its tradition of having a time trial on its penultimate day. The course is long, straight, and flat. Race officials expect the average time to complete the course will be 64 minutes. Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
took his second victory of the tour, whilst Tony Martin
Tony Martin (cyclist)
Tony Martin is a German professional road bicycle racer riding for the UCI ProTeam . Martin is known as a time trial specialist: in 2011, he won a time trial stage in the Tour de France and in the Vuelta a España, and became world champion...
finished second. The battle between Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
and Andy Schleck
Andy Schleck
Andy Raymond Schleck is a Luxembourgish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . He is the younger brother of Fränk Schleck, who also rides for . Their father Johny Schleck rode the Tour de France and Vuelta a España between 1965 and 1974...
for the yellow jersey also reached its climax. With Contador being the more accomplished Time-Trialist, he was expected to increase his lead. However, at the first time check, Schleck had taken time out of him and the lead was down to two seconds. However, from there on in, Contador began to open a gap, and ended picking time up 31 seconds on Schleck, meaning his Yellow Jersey
Yellow jersey
The general classification in the Tour de France is the most important classification, the one by which the winner of the Tour de France is determined. Since 1919, the leader of the general classification wears the yellow jersey .-History:...
was now safe.
Stage 19 Result
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General Classification after Stage 19
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Stage 20
25 July 2010 - LongjumeauLongjumeau
Longjumeau is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Inhabitants of Longjumeau are known as Longjumellois.-Transportation:...
to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 102.5 km (63.7 mi)
The Tour concludes with its traditional, largely ceremonial finale on the Champs-Élysées. The riders take eight laps of the famous avenue before the final podium presentations. Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
sprinted clear in the final 300 yards, with Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
riding into second and Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd is a Norwegian professional road bicycle racer riding . He has signed for from 2012 onwards. He is known for sprinting and time trialing and is the 2010 Norwegian and world road champion. He is the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France, and first Scandinavian to win the road...
third
Stage 20 Result
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Final General Classification
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