2011 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 19

( 34.0 km / h )

The 19th stage of the 2011 Tour de France on July 22, led over 109.5 km from Modane to L' Alpe d' Huez Valfréjus. On this high mountain stage, there was a sprint and three climbs, including two of the Hors Category and Category 1. Over the Col du Telegraph ( 1566 m) of the Col du Galibier was hit again, but this time the race was conducted by the situated on 2556 m height reopened in 2002 and the tunnel does not use the actual pass. This short stage ended in L' Alpe d' Huez at 1850 m altitude. This was the fourth and final mountain stage of this Tour de France. There were still 168 of the 198 registered riders at the start.

Race course

Immediately after the start attacked Johnny Hoogerland, who was accompanied by Pablo Urtasun, Marcus Burghardt and Mickaël Buffaz. Shortly afterwards, the group was obtained from a ten-man chase group consisting of Gorka Izagirre, André Greipel, Maxim Iglinski, Rui Costa, José Ivan Gutierrez, Kristjan Koren, Christophe Riblon, Juan Antonio Flecha, Jérôme Pineau and Leonardo Duque. Until the beginning of the first climb to the Col du Telegraph they drove out a lead of over two minutes. Chris Anker Sørensen there first drove out of the field, which a little later an attack by Alberto Contador followed, which caught up with him. He was followed by Andy and Fränk Schleck, Cadel Evans, Carlos Barredo and shortly afterwards Thomas Voeckler. With a new arrival of Contador only Andy Schleck, Evans and Voeckler stayed right behind him. Meanwhile, fell from the top group out the first riders. Due to technical difficulties Evans stayed with a renewed start of Contador's back, changed the wheel and fell back into the main group. Some time later Voeckler lost the connection, but stayed ahead of the summit about 30 seconds behind Contador and Schleck, which together reached the top of the former breakaway group. On the climb of the Col du Telegraph Izagirre was in front, followed by Schleck and Contador.

In the short descent and the climb to the Col du Galibier, the leading group shrank to five riders together, consisting of Contador, Andy Schleck, Izagirre, Costa and Riblon. Then also Schleck took over leadership to increase the gap with its main competitors, which did succeed initially. After Voeckler long time could keep the distance to the top, he fell in the further course of the increase in back. Through the work pace of the BMC Racing Team and the chase group now was scaled down from the net also Taaramae, winner of the White Jersey fell back, and Voeckler has been obtained. About 2.5 km before the summit attacked from this group, Samuel Sánchez, pursued by Evans. It followed a group with Fränk Schleck, Tom Danielson, Sandy Casar, Arnold Jeannesson, Damiano Cunego and Peter Velits. Voeckler could no longer follow this pace and dropped out of this group. Freed from the helper task, his teammate Pierre Rolland and Anthony Charteau could catch up with the group to Charteau whose backlog dropped to less than one minute. On the mountains classification at the Col du Galibier, before to be traveled tunnel, Andy Schleck was able to get the 20 points to be awarded, thus further expanding the Telegraph -won on the lead in the mountains classification. Behind him followed Contador, Costa and Riblon who drove still together.

On the Arfahrt, led again when Contador, Sánchez, who could shake off his pursuers before the summit worked closer to the group. But Evans came closer, while Voeckler continued to lose ground. 45 km from the finish took Sanchez one the leading group. The chase group now consisted of Evans, Fränk Schleck, Danielson, Ryder Hesjedal, Casar, Jeannesson, Cunego, Velits and Rolland. Behind another group was located before Voeckler. The first two groups came together almost 25 km from the finish. Shortly thereafter accelerated Rolland, the Hesjedal caught. Also Voeckler could shorten the distance to the tip back into the flat stretch. Voeckler group in which also drove Taramae, now again reached the chasing group to Evans.

At the start of the final climb, Jakob Fuglsang attacked, followed by Evans and Fränk Schleck, something behind Contador and Andy Schleck. Finally, again attacked Contador on, overtook the two leaders and hung them one after the other. From the chasing group to Velits solved, followed by Sánchez and Thomas De Gendt. Behind the leading Contador made a Verfolgerduo from Sánchez and Rolland. Voeckler lost meanwhile back in time to the extreme. Before him Cunego broke from the group to Evans. Two and a half kilometers from the finish Sánchez and Rolland finally caught up with Contador, whereupon Rolland took the lead. Behind Evans attacked, the Andy Schleck followed, and Cunego was overtaken by the two again. Rolland was able to solve at the top of his companions and win the stage. Through his lead he also won the white jersey. As Second Sánchez crossed the finish line, the so secured the mountain jersey ahead of Andy Schleck. The third and fourth place went to Contador and Velits. Evans was not able to shake off his companions and came to the finish line together with the Schleck brothers, Cunego and De Ghent.

As with the 18.Etappe the Gruppetto has not been excluded, although it came to the finish outside the waiting period. Again, the jury drew the drivers 20 points in the points rating.

Mountains classification

Col du Telegraph, 1st category ( 26.5 km; 1566 m; 11.9 km at 7.1% )

Col du Galibier, Hors Catégorie ( 48.5 km; 2556 m; 16.7 km at 6.8 %)

L' Alpe d' Huez, Hors Catégorie ( 109.5 km; 1850 m, 13.8 km at 7.9 %)

Scoring

Intermediate sprint in Le Bourg d'Oisans ( 94.5 km; 723 m)

Target in L' Alpe d' Huez ( 109.5 km; 1850 m )

Cavendish, Rojas and another 83 riders 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.

Tasks

( Timed out ) Disqualification after the stage: Björn Leukemans ( Vacansoleil -DCM ) - 205

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