2011 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 18
(32,7 km / h)
Andy Schleck (LEO )
The 18th stage of the 2011 Tour de France on July 21, led over 200.5 km from Pinerolo, Italy back to France on the Col du Galibier in the region Serre Chevalier. On this high mountain stage there was after the sprint three climbs of the Hors Category. First, the roof of this Tour de France has been reached on the Col Agnel at 2744 m, then the Col d' Izoard crosses (2360 m). The stage ended on the Col du Galibier, which was approached via the Col du Lautaret, where at 2645 m was held the third summit finish of the Tour de France. This was also the highest mountain finish in the history of the Tour de France. The winner of this mountain classification received the special prize Souvenir Henri Desgrange. There were still 169 of the reported 198 riders at the start.
Race course
At the beginning of the stage, the teams Europcar and HTC -Highroad at a high tempo beat what all breakaways zunichtemachte first. Both a 20-person group and Gianni Meersman and Marco Marcato were obtained after a short guide. Shortly before the intermediate sprint a seven-member group sat down, out of which Leonardo Duque won the sprint classification. After a 16- man breakaway group in which there were, among others, Maxime Monfort, Joost Posthuma, Rubén Pérez, Maarten Tjallingii, Maxim Iglinski, Imanol Erviti, Nicolas Roche, Dries Devenyns, Leonardo Duque, Danilo Hondo and Johnny Hoogerland was born. At 50.3 km / h average speed of the first hour was again very high. While the outlier increased their distance, a chasing group of Mickaël Delage, Marcus Burghardt and Egor Silin came up to her and she finally reached the foot of the Col Agnel. Around this time they reached their biggest lead of more than nine minutes from the field. Delage came to case, but could catch up with the leading group. In increase, the projection of the group scaled back, in the different drivers took the lead and a seven-man chase group consisting of Christophe Riblon, Levi Leipheimer, Carlos Barredo, Kristjan Koren, Andrei Seiz, Rémy Di Gregorio and Philippe Gilbert, was born. In the further course of the increase seven riders from the leading group fell out, which then consisted of only twelve riders. From the chase group only Leipheimer and Riblon remained in front, got the company of Lieuwe Westra. Even Robert Gesink and David Moncoutié showed up the field. Later, a chasing group formed from Gesink, Seiz, Leipheimer, David Arroyo, Arnold Jeannesson, Moncoutié and Westra. The mountains classification eventually won Iglinski who attacked just before the mountain classification, but then waited.
While the rise briefly one other driver the top group lost the connection, the group enlarged in the downhill back to 14 riders. In the field Tony Martin came to case, but could also continue the race. Even in the downhill Philippe Gilbert tried a foray with a group, but was again captured by the field. The top group reduced in the increase again, first to nine, then eight drivers, so Rubén Pérez lost early on the connection. Markel Irizar had a flat tire. Meanwhile, Leonardo Bertagnolli gave up the race. Behind the tip Mickaël Delage and Maxime Bouet took up the chase. In the group of leaders Leopard Trek took over the pace of work. It started the outliers catch up with some riders like Rigoberto Urán fell back. This later crashed on the descent, but was able to continue and fight back. Towards the mountains classification at the Col d' Izoard handle at the top again Iglinski and drove out one step ahead of Roche, Monfort, Devenyns and Silin. In the group of favorites it made him equal to Andy Schleck, followed none of the favorites. Both increased their lead over their respective group gradually. For Schleck Posthuma took over briefly the work pace. At the summit, still separated him just over two minutes ahead of the leader. Until then he had moved out of the favorites like a big lead.
On the descent of the Col d' Izoard Schleck took first Silin and Devenyns one, then Roche and Montfort, who now could still afford some leadership work for Schleck. Behind the favorite Alberto Contador moved the wheel and then drove up again. Meanwhile, the group drove to Andy Schleck ever closer to Iglinski zoom and took him about 29 km before the destination. The group, in which the remaining riders in the Top Ten were the standings, Schleck had over three minutes ahead, only for a short time he fell under that brand. At the start of the climb to the Col du Galibier was the distance from Andy Schleck, the only Roche and Iglinskiy accompanied, again greater, reaching over four minutes after the meantime was disagreement on how to proceed with the persecutors. Nevertheless, this group thinned further. As previously Contador was also passed Samuel Sánchez a new wheel. At the top Schleck eased Roche also Iglinski behind, while the advantage over the other favorites again reduced, as Cadel Evans took up the pursuit. It lost Tom Danielson and later Contador connection. Andy Schleck, who also received the award for kämpferischten driver finally rescued a lead of just over two minutes to target. Voeckler and Pierre Rolland had previously again increased the pace, so the former could defend his yellow jersey 15 seconds. Against the target Fränk Schleck but resigned to again and so secured from the double victory of the brothers. Evans and Ivan Basso also reached a few seconds ahead of Voeckler the goal.
Although a Gruppetto crossed the finish line outside the waiting period, the drivers were not excluded from the race. This was due to the large number of drivers 88, which would otherwise be discarded. However, all too late arrivals driver received a deduction in the points standings.
Mountains classification
- Col Agnel, Hors Catégorie ( 107 kilometers, 2744 meters, 23.7 km at 6.5 %)
- Col d' Izoard, Hors Catégorie ( 145.5 km; 2360 m; 14.1 km at 7.3 %)
- Col du Galibier, Hors Catégorie ( 200.5 km; 2645 m; 22.8 km at 4.9 %)
Scoring
- Intermediate sprint in Verzuolo ( 46.5 km; 426 m slm )
- Target on the Col du Galibier ( 200.5 km; 2645 m)
Cavendish, Gilbert and a further 86 drivers were deducted in the points standings, as they had crossed the waiting period, but were left after the Special Regulations of the tour by jury decision in the race 20 points.