Stage 19 News
Third Tour title for Alberto Contador after winning time trial
ALBERTO CONTADOR will clinch his third Tour de France today after seeing off closest rival Andy Schleck in yesterday's time trial. The Spaniard extended his lead over the Luxembourg ace to 39 seconds and will be crowned champion in Paris on what is a ceremonial final stage. Fabian Cancellara won the Bordeaux to Pauillac stage with Contador 35th, nearly six minutes off the pace, but Schleck was a further 31 seconds back.
Link:
Tour de France: Third Tour title for Alberto Contador after winning time trial - The Daily Record
Cycling-Schleck hopes to become second to none
Some riders are destined for the top, others must settle for second place. Andy Schleck must be wondering to which category he belongs. At 25, the Luxembourg rider has a promising record with three runner-up places on big Tours and he is young enough to hope to go one place better in the future. But the younger of the two Schleck brothers, who shot to fame by finishing second in the Giro d'Italia in 2007, has so far always found a stronger rider ahead of him. In this Tour and in the last, it was Alberto Contador, who has now won the last five big Tours he entered -- three Tours de France, one Giro and one Spanish Vuelta.
Link:
Cycling-Schleck hopes to become second to none - Yahoo! Eurosport
Rogers calls time on yellow jersey hunt
Australian Michael Rogers says he will call time on his quest for the Tour de France yellow jersey after yet another painful and humbling experience on the race. Rogers, who finished ninth in 2006, was one of several big-name victims to perform below expectations in a particularly tough 97th edition which is set to crown Spaniard Alberto Contador as champion ahead of Andy Schleck on Sunday. HTC-Columbia's Rogers went into the race with ambitions for the top ten or better, but is set to finish just outside the top 30 over an hour down on Astana all-rounder Contador.
Link:
Rogers calls time on yellow jersey hunt
Shaky Contador hangs on for third Tour
One of the closest-fought Tours de France in the past 20 years lived out a dramatic finale yesterday as Alberto Contador narrowly fended off Andy Schleck in the individual time-trial to claim his third overall title. Contador crossed the finish line in Pauillac, deep in the Bordeaux winemaking region, just 31 seconds ahead of Schleck, and – barring a near-unthinkable upheaval on today's largely ceremonial closing stage – will end the race 39 seconds ahead of his most tenacious rival. Contador's winning margin is the fourth smallest since the Second World War, and the Spaniard's tears of relief yesterday confirmed just how desperately close it had been.
Link:
Tour de France: Shaky Contador hangs on for third Tour - Others, More Sports - The Independent
Menchov finally on the podium in Paris
After finishing two minutes ahead of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) in the all-deciding time trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) will be the one joining overall winner Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) on the podium on the Champs Elysées in Paris on Sunday.
Link:
Menchov Finally On The Podium In Paris | Cyclingnews.com
Alberto Contador set to Win Tour de France
Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador is set to ride into Paris Sunday as the winner of this year's Tour de France. Contador extended his overall race lead to 39 seconds after Saturday's second-to-last stage. The final day of the race is traditionally a ceremonial ride, meaning the leader after 19 stages is virtually assured to win the overall title.
Link:
Alberto Contador set to Win Tour de France | Sports | English
I'll be back to win in 2011, says Schleck
Andy Schleck has promised to return to the Tour de France next year and succeed Alberto Contador as yellow jersey champion. Luxembourg all-rounder Schleck will go into Sunday's 20th and final stage with a 39sec deficit to Contador after starting the penultimate stage time trial eight seconds behind. Schleck lost nearly two minutes (1:45) to Contador in the final time trial of last year's race when he eventually finished runner-up at 4min 11sec adrift. But the 25-year-old showed he has reduced his deficit to the Spaniard in the all-important discipline, in which he ceded only 31secs on Saturday.
Link:
I'll be back to win in 2011, says Schleck - Interviews - More Sports - Sports - The Times of India
Contador elated but admits he struggled
As he heads towards Paris and his third Tour de France victory, Alberto Contador confessed that there had been moments during the Bordeaux-Pauillac time trial when he had thought the yellow jersey was slipping from his grasp. "I was scared that I might not beat Andy [Schleck] in the time trial. At one point I got information that I was five seconds behind him and I did think, 'Oh my God, this could be over for me,' when he was just a couple of seconds behind me. I had to go through a lot of suffering. But I kept very focused and held it together."
Link:
Contador Elated But Admits He Struggled | Cyclingnews.com
Alberto Contador on the verge of third Tour title
After more than 2,000 miles of racing over the past three weeks, exhaustion finally caught up with Andy Schleck today. For almost exactly half of the penultimate stage of the 2010 Tour de France, a 52km time trial through the vineyards from Bordeaux to Pauillac, the young Luxembourg rider matched the speed of Alberto Contador, the man lying eight seconds ahead of him in the overall standings when the day began. Then the power disappeared from his legs like sand through a sieve.
Link:
Tour de France 2010: Alberto Contador on the verge of third Tour title | Sport | The Observer
Cycling-Contador survives panic attack to extend Tour lead
Alberto Contador had a bad night and a bad day on the bike on Saturday but was still poised to win his third Tour de France despite a below-par performance. The 27-year-old Spaniard increased his advantage to 39 seconds over Andy Schleck in the final time trial over 52 kms from Bordeaux and the Luxembourg rider will now have to be content with second place overall for the second year in a row. "I had a bad night, I did not sleep well, I had stomach ache," Contador, who could not hold back his tears when he was given the yellow jersey on the podium, told a news conference.
Link:
Cycling-Contador survives panic attack to extend Tour lead - Yahoo! Eurosport
Contador set to win Tour
Spain's Alberto Contador virtually secured his third yellow jersey victory in the Tour de France on Saturday following the penultimate stage time trial won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara. Astana leader Contador went into the 52km race against the clock with only an eight-second lead on Andy Schleck and the Luxemburger pushed him all the way before having to settle for second place overall. Despite the threat of Schleck in the early stages, when he took his deficit down to almost two seconds, the Spaniard kept his composure to finish 31sec ahead of the Luxemburger.
Link:
Contador set to win Tour - Hindustan Times
Cancellara bags 19th stage
Swiss Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara overcame the fatigue of three tough weeks of racing to win his first long time trial on the Tour de France's 19th stage on Saturday. Saxo Bank time trial specialist Cancellara clocked a winning time of 1hr 00min 56sec on the largely flat but wind-hit course between Bordeaux and Pauillac to push Germany's Tony Martin into second place. HTC-Columbia rider Martin finished 17secs adrift with compatriot and teammate Bert Grabsch in third at 1min 48sec. It means Cancellara caps his 2010 campaign with another victory having started the race in Rotterdam by winning the prologue to take the race's yellow jersey.
Link:
Cancellara bags 19th stage: Sport: Other Sport: Tour de France
Sánchez had off-day says Euskaltel boss
Holding an advantage of just 21 seconds over Denis Menchov going into the Pauillac time trial, it was always going to be difficult for Olympic road race champion Samuel Sánchez to hang on to third place on GC. But Sánchez's Euskaltel-Euskadi team manager Igor González de Galdeano admitted that the team had not been expecting their leader to lose two minutes to the Russian.
Link:
Sánchez Had Off-day Says Euskaltel Boss | Cyclingnews.com
Contador extends lead by length of a chain repair
Unless you're one of those bike geeks who get really turned on by aerobars, time trials are not always the most exciting stages from a visual perspective. Unlike the chaos of the sprints or the attrition of the mountains, the time trial is essentially just one space-helmeted, skinsuited rider at a time and a ticking clock. Sure, an end-of-Tour time trial does allow for an espresso-style "tamping down" of the general classification, but it also provides almost no opportunity for headbutting.
Link:
Cycling Blog - Tourtalk | Contador extends lead by length of a chain repair | Universal Sports
Contador closes in on Tour title
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France on Saturday, while Spain's Alberto Contador expanded his overall lead and virtually wrapped up his third title in four years with just one day remaining in cycling's most prestigious event. Cancellara captured the individual time trial, finishing the 52-kilometer trek from Bordeaux to Pauillac in a time of one hour and 56 seconds for his seventh career Tour stage win, but it was the battle between the final two riders of the day that would decide this year's Tour champion.
Link:
Contador closes in on Tour title | Other Sports | Sports | Toronto Sun
Horner holds onto tenth overall
Chris Horner came into the Tour de France happy just to be a team player and key domestique for the RadioShack team but heads to the finish in Paris with tenth overall after outshining teammates of the calibre of Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden.
Link:
Horner Holds Onto Tenth Overall | Cyclingnews.com
Quaint cycling protocols absurd in modern age
The hooha over Alberto Contador's passing of Andy Schleck in the Tour de France this week was a real eye-opener for me. Poor old Andy lost his chain and Alberto whizzed past him. Fair enough, I thought, but the howls of protest and the subsequent discussion by sports fans introduced me to the unwritten rules of the tour. They're hilarious - the peleton can't attack while the tour leader goes to the loo. Imagine a pack of cyclists cooling their wheels while the yellow jersey disappears into the dunny, Le Monde tucked under his arm. Like if it's your birthday, you can lead the peleton for awhile.
Link:
Kerre Woodham : Quaint cycling protocols absurd in modern age - Sport - NZ Herald News
Contador one stage away from title
Alberto Contador is only one stage away from securing his third Tour de France title after he defended his overall lead and yellow jersey from a defiant and brave Andy Schleck, who threw everything at him in the penultimate stage time trial to Paulliac on Saturday. In warm, humid conditions that saw the wind swing on several occasions, the 52km time trial from Bordeaux along the banks of the Gironde River to Pauillac was won by Swiss world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) in 1 hour 57 seconds. In second was German Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) at 17 seconds followed by his compatriot, teammate and former world champion Bert Grabsch (HTC Columbia) at 1 minute 48 seconds.
Link:
Alberto Contador wins Stage 19
Cancellara happy to fill gap on his palmarès
Fabian Cancellara finally filled a gap on his palmarès when he won the final time trial of the Tour de France in Pauillac. Last year he complained he had been denied victory by the shelter Alberto Contador had received from race motorbikes, but this year the Swiss was in absolutely no danger of being overhauled once he had knocked 17 seconds off Tony Martin’s time of 1-01-14.
Link:
Cancellara Happy To Fill Gap On His Palmarès | Cyclingnews.com
Contador gets better of Schleck
Alberto Contador all but confirmed his third Tour de France victory but only after a thrilling battle with Andy Schleck in the penultimate stage in Pauillac, a 52km individual time trial from Bordeaux. The stage was won with his customary brilliance by Fabian Cancellara but all eyes were on his Saxo Bank teammate Schleck as he attempted to overhaul Contador at the top of the overall standings.
Link:
Sky Sports | Home | News | Contador gets better of Schleck
Hesjedal set for seventh in Paris
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions) slumped over his bike after crossing the line in Pauillac, with sweat dripping off his face. He did not initially know it but his strong ride in the final time trial had lifted him up to seventh in the overall classification. He started the Tour de France as a key domestique for Christian Vande Velde but when he crashed out, Hesjedal took his place and fought for three weeks to secure a top ten finish.
Link:
Hesjedal Set For Seventh In Paris | Cyclingnews.com
Armstrong 67th in stage; Contador secures the title
Lance Armstrong rode the final individual time trial of his Tour de France career Saturday, finishing deep in the field and adding another disappointment to what began a year ago as a quest for an eighth title. Armstrong, the winner of 11 time trials in 13 Tour de France appearances, completed the 32.3-mile 19th stage in 67th position, trailing winner Fabian Cancellara, the reigning world titlist from Switzerland, by more than seven minutes.
Link:
Armstrong 67th in stage; Contador secures the title - Cycling - sacbee.com
Schleck finds consolation in time trial performance
Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) crossed the finish line in Pauillac but had to wait two painful minutes before Alberto Contador (Astana) crossed the line and it was confirmed he would finish second overall after three weeks of racing.
Link:
Schleck Finds Consolation In Time Trial Performance | Cyclingnews.com
WIGGINS PLEASED BY TIME-TRIAL DISPLAY
Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins declared himself satisfied with the conclusion to his Tour de France, even though he fell short of his target. In a scathing self-assessment earlier in the Tour, Wiggins described his form as "mediocre" and was unhappy after failing to build on his fourth-placed finish of 2009, where he equalled Robert Millar's 1984 best by a Briton.
Link:
WIGGINS PLEASED BY TIME-TRIAL DISPLAY | Sporting Life | Tour de France, European Athletics Championships
Before the Stage
Contador expected to seal third Tour victory
When Alberto Contador next gets off his bike, he will likely be a three-time winner of the Tour de France.
The Spaniard will be the last rider to take to the roads for Saturday's 32.3-mile 19th stage time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac, and he is expected to extend substantially his eight-second lead over Luxembourger Andy Schleck.
When the two men met in last year's time-trial, Contador won the stage—which was shorter than this year's outing—and took 1 minute, 45 seconds from Schleck. Contador went on to win the Tour, with Schleck second—the same result that most expect this year.
Link:
Contador expected to seal third Tour victory - San Jose Mercury News
Wiggins ready to give his best shot in time-trial
On Saturday afternoon at 14:57 local time Bradley Wiggins (Sky) will roll down the start ramp in Bordeaux, chasing down a much-desired Tour de France stage win that could make some amends for his disappointing performance in the general classification.
Link:
Wiggins Ready To Give His Best Shot In Time-trial | Cyclingnews.com
Tour stars shine despite bronchitis cases
Bronchitis hasn't stopped Tour de France sprinting aces Alessandro Petacchi and Mark Cavendish from success at the race this year. Cavendish of Britain won Friday's 18th stage in a sprint _ his fourth Tour stage win this year _ and Petacchi, a 36-year-old Italian veteran, took the green jersey as the race's best sprinter from Norway's Thor Hushovd, despite both suffering from the chest ailment.
Link:
Tour stars shine despite bronchitis cases - Taiwan News Online
Contador expected to seal Tour win Saturday
When Alberto Contador next gets off his bike, it is likely to be as the three-time winner of the Tour de France. The Spaniard will be the last rider to take to the roads for Saturday's 52-kilometer (32.3-mile) 19th stage time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac, and is expected to extend substantially his eight-second lead over Luxembourger Andy Schleck.
Link:
Contador expected to seal Tour win Saturday - Tour de France- nbcsports.msnbc.com
Contador and Schleck confident before final TT
Having safely negotiated stage 18 into Bordeaux, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck looked and sounded confident as they looked ahead to the Tour-deciding Bordeaux-Pauillac time trial. Defending champion Contador is the favourite to take the title as he carries an eight-second advantage and a much more impressive time trial pedigree into the key test. But both men insisted that past results count for little this far into a race as tough as this Tour de France has been.
Link:
Contador And Schleck Confident Before Final TT | Cyclingnews.com
