Frank winning a criterium in Lux + San Sebastian Start List:

The "Tour de France Gala",a criterium held yesterday in the city of Luxembourg,was won by Frank Schleck in front of Ballan and Kirchen.4th was Little Bro' Andy.On these 2 links (http://station.lu/newsDetails.cfm?id=24378 and http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/35958/%2040000-bei-sportfest-in-rot-weiss-blau.php) there are lots of pics from yesterday's race.

In the meanwhile,the Tour of Denmark is going in a great way for Saxo Bank team.In fact the 1st stage was won by Matti Breschel,while the 2nd one was won by Nicki Sorensen (who's also wearing the leader jersey now).The previous rider to wear the leader jersey was Breschel.

Tomorrow there will be la Clasica de San Sebastian.Here's a not-complete start list:

Caisse d'Epargne:Valverde,Joaquin Rodriguez,Oscar Pereiro,David Arroyo;strong team,I must say.And considering that tomorrow's one is a Spanish race,I think that Caisse d'Epargne riders will do their best to try and get a good result.

Astana:Contador,Paulinho,Zubeldia,Brajkovic,Noval; Everybody knows who Contador is,but also Janez Brajkovic is a very good rider:he did well at the Giro this year and he also came in 2nd in Lombardy Tour 2008.And considering that Contador may be tired after winning le Tour,the Slovenian rider may be the team leader.

Liquigas: Pellizotti,Kreuziger,Nibali,Vanotti; of course me hopes that Vanotti will get a good result in tomorrow's race because of territorial reasons.

Quick Step: Sylvain Chavanel,Davis,Barredo,Cataldo,Devolder,Tosatto,Pineau,Devenyns.

Katusha: Ivanov,Karpets,Petrov,Mazzanti,Pozzato.Will HGS try to get a good result after a "slightly" disappointing Tour? The answer will arrive tomorrow.

Saxo Bank:Andy Schleck,Chris-Anker Sorensen,Kolobnev,Larsson,Bellis and Bochmann are the riders who will form the team for tomorrow's race according to Saxo Bank website. Cyclingnews instead says that between the Saxo Bankers racing in Spain tomorrow there will be also Frank Schleck,Nicki Sorensen and Kurt-Asle Arvesen.Considering that Sorensen the Older is racing the Tour of Denmark right now and will be racing in his home country until August the 2nd and that Kurt Arvesen started training again just 2 days ago,me thinks that the true Saxo Bank team will be formed by los Schlecks, C.A.Sorensen,Kolobnev, Larsson,Bochmann and Bellis.

Silence-Lotto: Evans,Lang,M.Lloyd,Van Den Broeck,Van Summeren.

Rabobank:Freire,Menchov,Garate,Boom,Langeveld.Looking forward to see Lars Boom.

Eusaltel-Euskadi: Astarloza,Egoi Martinez,Samuel Sanchez,Perez Lezaun,Verdugo.
Lampre: Cunego,Spilak,Bandiera.
Garmin: Vande Velde,Millar,Zabriskie,Dean,Hesjedal,Pate.

AG2R: Nocentini,Arrieta,los Efimkins,Roche,Dessel.
Cofidis:Duque,Moncoutie,Kern,Minard,Moinard,Pauriol,Taaramae.Pay attention to Taaramae, the boy has talent.

Français des Jeux: Casar,Joly,Di Gregorio,Le Mevel,Roy,Veikkanen.
Milram: Wegmann,M.Fothen,Gerdemann,Rohregger,Velits.

Boygues Telecom: Voeckler,Fedrigo,Arashiro,Bonnet,Lefevre,Pichot,Rolland,Trofimov.
Fuji-Servetto: Cobo,De La Fuente,Capecchi.Why isn't Capelli scheduled???
Contentpolis-Ampo: Galparsoro.
Columbia: Kirchen,Lovkvist,Pinotti,Possoni.Of course somebody here at home is happy to read that a young Swedish rider is scheduled to ride tomorrow,while someone else is dreaming of a good result for Possoni and Pinotti.

NB: I don't know why,but yesterday I remembered what Kirchen said in April:"the Schleck brothers won't finish in the Top 10 at the Tour" (see post: http://fede-myblog92.blogspot.com/2009/04/kirchens-last-prediction-they-schleck.html ).Well,I guess someone up in Lux has changed his mind after having seen what the brothers have done over the last 3 weeks...

(Pics by Serge Waldbillig and Christian Kemp)

Andy :"I can beat Contador,I just have to work hard.My brother Frank helps me even with packing my suitcase.The Giro? I may come back next year"

Here's an interview that appeared on today's Gazzetta dello Sport and was made by Marco Pastonesi.In it,Andy talks about the Tour and also about his relationship with Frank.And he says he hasn't got a girlfriend...

Andy Schleck:12° in the overall classification and winner of the white jersey in the Tour 2008, second in the overall classification and winner of the white jersey in the Tour 2009.
Andy,are you happy?
Yes.I went to the Tour to win it,but Contador was stronger than me in the mountains and in the TT.
Will you ever be able to beat him?
Yes,but I'll have to work hard and improve again if I want to beat him.
A day to forget in this year's Tour?
The one of the Aubenas stage.I believed it would have been an easy stage,instead we rode "a bloc" all day.And the following day there was the Mont Ventoux.
A day to remember?
The day of the Mont Ventoux because of the climb,of the people and of the race.And also because that day I was really strong.
If you hadn't waited for your brother Frank,that day you could have won on the Mont Ventoux. Have you got any regret?
Without Frank I wouldn't be here.We live together,we train together and we race together.With a difference:he's demonstrated that he's able to run without me,I haven't demonstrated to be able to race without him.We had a dream in this Tour de France,and that dream was to arrive both on the final podium in Paris.And we made everything to make that dream come true.
Tell us about Frank.
Same glasses,same shoes,same team uniform: until some years ago,people used to get confused between us.Some years ago I learned how to imitate Frank's autograph and so I signed lots of photos,t-shirts and hats pretending to be him.Once,during a Liege,Rebellin,Cunego and Bettini chased me because they were convincted I was Frank.Now I've got the national champion jersey,so it's harder to get confused between me and Frank.And actually,my foot number is 44.5, Frank's one is 42.And our glasses are different,not just because of the frames but also because Frank's ones are graduated.And I'm taller than him.
Are you always roommates during the races?
We share the things we have to bring with us:you bring this thing,I bring that one.And we have a lot of fun.Playstation,IPod with speakers,techno and dj music.
They say your room is always the most untidy one.
It's my fault.Until some time ago I always used to pack my things at the last moment and I used to throw everything in the suitcase in a random way.I was always afraid of forgetting something. Sometimes it happened that our soigneurs had to go back to an hotel to recuperate the things I had forgotten there.But now I've got better.

Back to the Tour:what was the best place?
I love the Provence.
Did you have fun during the race?
Yes,I had a lot of fun.And at the end of the race I didn't even feel that exhausted.
Is it true that Armstrong asked you to go in his team next year?
No,I've never heard anything like this from Armstrong.I've got a contract with Saxo Bank until the end of 2010 and so I'm going to race for this team until then.
What's your schedule now?
I'm racing the Vuelta,but I won't ride for the general classification.I'll prepare myself for the World road race Championship and for the Tour of Lombardy.
Is it possible to race 2 Grand Tours and try to win them in the same year?
Yes,I believe it's possible.
Are you going to race the Giro in 2010?
I don't know,I hope so.There's a chance to see me on the Italian roads next year.
Have you got a girlfriend?
No.
Italian girls (ndr;and not just them,I guess) will be happy to read this news.
Italian girls are very beautiful.

NB: Yesterday the Stiphout criterium was won by Contador in front of Andy and Frank.Here are some photos from the race: http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=15336
(Pic by Tim De Waele)

L'Equipé: Andy Schleck avec Armstrong?

Yes,that's the title of a news that appeared on L'Equipe website this morning (here's the link http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/).The little article says that Andy may leave Saxo Bank to join sir Lancelot's new team,Radioshack.It seems that the main problem in this "trade" is that Armstrong doesn't want to employ also Frank in his team because the American thinks that Frank's presence may "brake" Andy's performances.

I don't know if this is just a non-sense rumour (L'Equipé is considered to be a good newspaper),but I hope Andy won't go to Radioshack.In fact if Andy starts to race with Armstrong,I don't think he will have a leader role.And I don't want to see one of my favourite riders acting as a helper at Le Tour for a rider I don't like.

Armstrong has created a lot of problems to Contador during the Tour and I don't want this to happen also with Andy.Between the Spaniard and sir Lancelot now there is a "words battle" on.Contador in fact has said that "My relationship with Lance Armstrong is zero,he is a great rider and has completed a great race but it is another thing on a personal level,where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will."Armstrong responded via Twitter by writing:“Seeing these comments from AC.If I were him I’d drop this drivel and start thanking his team.W/o them he doesn’t win.” Armstrong also wrote:“Hey pistolero, there is no ‘I’ in ‘team’. What did I say in March? Lots to learn.Restated.A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents.You can win a race on your own, not a Grand Tour.”

I think there's no need to say who I'm supporting in this "battle" and that I don't want to see a battle like this,maybe next year,between Andy and sir Lancelot.So,I hope that Andy won't go to Radioshack next year.

Anyway,let's talk about better things.Andy won yesterday's Criterium in Booxmer,Netherlands, by outsprinting Koos Moerenhout.Frank came in 3rd.I've found an article in Dutch about the brothers and the criteriums they're racing in the next days (that's the link:http://www.sportwereld.nl/wielrennen/3397101/%20Broers_Schleck_lsquoon_tourrsquo.html).I can't understand Dutch,but with the help of my online translater I've managed to understand few things.Here they are:

Frank said:"We came here directly from France and we will stay in the Netherlands until Wednesday.I have no idea of how our performances have been received at home,I haven't read any newspaper yet.On Sunday I spoke with my father on the phone.Yes,Dad is proud.''

The goal of the podium in Paris hasn't been achieved,but the winner of stage 17 says that "is too early to look back on this year Tour".

Andy instead said that he's really proud of the performances of him and of his brother."We are the only riders who have attacked,I am proud of this.We have no regrets.''On Thursday the brothers will race a criterium in Luxembourg."That is certainly going to be a big party,''says Andy.The Schleck brothers will fly to the Spanish Basque Country on Friday evening with a private jet;in fact,on Saturday there's the Clasica de San sebastian.

For what I understood,the brothers will race a criterium in Stiphout (netherlands) tonight,one anohher criterium in Chaam tomorrow,"the Tour de France gala" in Luxembourg on Thursday and another criterium in Hamme on Friday.After racing in San sebastian on Saturday,the brothers will race in Belgium on Monday: Frank will be in Roosendaal,Andy will be in Lommel.

Talking about Criteriums,Cav won one of them yesterday evening.Designa Grand Prix (a race held in Denmark) was won by Aleksejs Saramotins of Team Designa Køkken.Second came the Emaciated Chickenman Michael Rasmussen,while 5th was Chris-Anker Sorensen.

On the 29th of July begins the Tour of Denmark.The Saxo Bank team for that race will be formed by Lars Bak,Nicki Sorensen (isn't he tired after the Tour?),Matti Breschel,Jakob Fuglsang,Frank Hoj,Kasper Klostergaard,Anders Lund and Alex Rasmussen.

(pic by Kochproductions.nl)

Ah,the Champs Elysées: Cavendish's victory + Jerseys' winners:

And so the last day of The Tour de France 2009 has come and gone.As usual the first part of the stage was faced by the riders with a calm pace and you could see some curious things:Armstrong talking to Devolder,Cav talking to Contador (how did they understand each other? Does Cavendish speak Spanish?),the yellow jersey wearing a Spanish flag as if it was a mantel,the Schleck brothers talking to each other and joking with Larsson...It looked a bit like the last day of school.

Then,after having ridden for few kms in the center of Paris,some riders went on a breakaway; the brave (and not enough tired,I wonder?) boys were Beppu,Barredo,Coyot,Wegmann, Dumoulin,Pichot and Veikkanen.But the Champs Elysées are the Champs Elysées,aka "the place where every sprinter of the Earth would love to win someday".And so Columbia started to pull to make the team' sprinter achieve his dream.And Cavendish won,for the 6th time in this TdF.Second came Renshaw,his teammate."Not to win here would have been a crime",said Cavendish."The Tour,Paris,the triumph arc (ndr;do you call it in this way in English?)...For a sprinter this stage has an incredible worth.Perhaps this is my best victory.I didn't win alone: my team is formed by incredible professionists,riders that know how to prepare a sprint and how to stand pressure.I'm proud of my Tour.Last year I won 4 stages,then I had to retire on the mountains.This time my goal was to arrive in Paris and to win some stages;the green jersey for me was just something more,not the main goal.I arrived in Paris and I won 6 stages.It's true,I didn't win the green jersey,but Hushovd has been more costant and tenacious than me.I'm not disappointed,I'll try to win it next year".

As you have probably understood from what Cav said,the green jersey was finally won by the Norwegian Thor Hushovd,who said that "Cavendish is the best sprinter in the world". Btw,I think Hushovd completely deserved this jersey because he made great efforts to achieve it,going on breakaways also during very hard stages.
The polka dots jersey instead was won by mr.Pellizotti and this caused a great euphoria here in Italy.I pretty like Pellizotti,so I was happy about the fact that he's won this jersey.The Italian rider also won the "most combactive rider" award and I think he deserved it: he was often at the head of the race,trying to win some points for the polka dots competition.

As usual,Pellizotti went on the podium with his son and his daughter,while his wife (interviewed by Italian tv) broke into tears as soon as the Liquigas rider stepped on the stage.The team award was won by Astana ahead of Garmin and Saxo Bank.Astana team was formed by Contador,Popovych,Zubeldia,Armstrong,Rast,Murayev,Paulinho and Kloden.The only rider of the team that got retired was Leipheimer.

Saxo Bank riders all ran a good Tour,in my opinion.Andy (2nd in the overall) and Frank (winner of the toughest stage and 5th in the GC) were just amazing;los Sorensens were very good as well: Nicki won a stage and came in 31st in the GC,while Chris-Anker came in 34th (this was his first Tour de France),worked a lot for the Schleck brothers (just like all the other riders of the team) and also found the time to update his blog almost daily.Larsson came in 50th (I'm sorry for his fans out there,but now it's official: Saxo Bank website isn't going to post any vid with him) while Fab Fab finally came in 91st after having won the first TT and worn the yellow jersey for almost a week.Stuey O'Grady instead finally came in 124th (he worked a lot for the Schleck brothers as well).Unfortunately Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Jens Voigt had to retire during the race.Kurt was in Paris this afternoon,while Jens is still in the hospital.It may sound boring,but I wish him again a fast recover.He's a great rider and a a great person.

Talking about Saxo Bank riders,Andy Schleck won the white jersey,aka was the best young rider at the Tour also this year.Andy is 24 year-old and has won this classification twice,just like Pantani and Ullrich (Ullrich actually won it 3 times).Of course,while Andy was on the stage,the Yeti thing suddenly appeared.I'm afraid that Andy will never get rid of it...And then,of course,the podium: On the highest spot there was Contador,winner of 2 stages and of a TTT in this year's Tour.He was the strongest rider,no doubt about that.He looked really happy on the podium and,after the end of the whole race,he admitted that he had some problems with Armstrong during these 3 weeks of race,
On the other 2 podium spots there were Andy Schleck and sir Lancelot.Here are some things I've noticed during the prizegiving...
1st: Andy is taller than Contador even when he's on the second spot of a podium and Contador is on the first one.
2nd: the guy at your left is incredibly good-looking.
3rd: sir Lancelot isn't twittering! Oh my,is that the true Lance Armstrong?
4th: the trophies.I couldn't find a photo with them yet,but they were slightly... disappointing.Contador's trophy was pretty,but take a look at the Giro's one and you'll probably start to think that,after having given everything for 3 weeks,perhaps the TdF winner would deserve a trophy slightly more big.
And then,the trophies for the 2nd and the 3rd rider of the overall were the same.And what were they? They were glass plates.Or at least,they looked like glass plates. Let's find some better cups for next year,ok?

In conclusion,congratulations to all the riders who ended the race and to everyone who made efforts to make the race interesting.

Frank 5th in the overall after Mont Ventoux stage:

You all know I'm a Schleck fan and you all know I don't like Armstrong that much,so I think you can easily guess how I felt immediately after today's stage.
Things actually started well: the Specialized commercial with Frank showed on television (me wonders what my relatives thought about it),the Saxo Bank riders working hard in the first part of the stage,los Sorensens pulling hard at the beginning of the climb (Italian chronists always start to talk about how riders' faces change when they're riding full gas every time they see Chris-Anker Sorensen pulling at the head of the peloton,me wonders why...),a breakaway with some good riders...

And then the news of the fire burning near to the Mont Ventoux: I don't know why,but as soon as she heard about it,Fangirl thought something involving Bruyneel,a bottle of petrol and Armstrong's third place.Logic immediately stopped this thought,fortunately.
During the first kms of the climb,after the forcing made by both the Sorensen,Frank attacked many times,but Armstrong always followed him,just like Wiggins and Kloden did.Then Andy attacked,but just Kloden got dropped.Then little bro attacked again and Contador was the only rider that was able to follow him.Frank didn't follow his brother and so the situation remained the following for some kms: Martin and Garate alone at the head of the race,Andy and Contador (who were then joined by Nibali) behind.At a certain point Andy (together with Contador and Nibali) almost stopped to wait for Frank's group.

As soon as Frank got in his same group,Andy attacked again but just Kloden got dropped (he had came back in Frank's group when Andy and Contador were riding at the front).Then,in the last 3-4 kms,none of the GC riders attacked.
In the meanwhile,at the head of the race,Garate dropped Martin with 1 km to go,but the German rider then joined him again.At the last curve,where Szmyd made me scream of joy last month and where in 2000 Pantani won ahead of Armstrong,Garate outsprinted Tony and won the stage.
On the finish line,Andy sprinted and arrived 3rd (just like last year on Alpe d'Huez).4th was Contador,5th Armstrong and 6th,3" behind the Texan rider,came Frank.Wiggins arrived 10th,20" after Frank.And Frank,that is not a lucky boy at all,needed to gain 23" seconds on Wiggins to arrive 4th in the GC.So,the GC situation is now the following:

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:04:11

3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:05:24

4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:06:01

5 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:06:04

6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:06:42

Talking about the older of the Schleck brothers,Logic has noticed that without the TTT won by Astana,Armstrong would have arrived with Frank's same overall time.Anyway,Frank has said he's happy with his 5th place overall.
"I am very tired after an extremely tough stage but I am also happy and content. We tried with everything we have learned and had and we were on the attack all the way to the top so there is nothing to regret or feel sorry about”.Although Fangirl can't avoid to think that on Verbier's climb Armstrong arrived 29" after Frank (and in that occasion Kloden helped a lot the American rider) and that during Le Gran Bornard stage the ol' man from Texas lost 2 minutes from Frankie,Logic agrees with Frank's words and says that next year the older of the Schleck brothers will be on the podium in Paris.

Talking instead about Andy,after today's stage Little Bro' said that:"Contador has been the strongest rider of the Tour,every day he was at the front,he never had a bad day.He's a 'caballero'." "I'll try to win the Tour next year as well,but it will be difficult because Contador will be here again.Anyway,I'm younger than him and I can still improve"."I could have won today,but my second place in the GC wasn't in danger so I prefered to wait and try to help Frank.He could have arrived 3rd in the overall classificaton,but today Armstrong was very strong".

To close this post,a vid with His Amazingness: http://www.saxobanktakingthelead.com/?p=1217 .Big Jens thanks everybody for their support and says he feels better than expected (even if "a bit" beat up). I wish him a fast recover again and I hope to see him back on the road soon.

Links about the Schleck brothers and Jens Voigt:

After 3 days spent watching Le Tour live (I'll talk about that experience in one of the next posts),here I am again.Lots of things happened in the last few days.

On the penultimate climb of yesterday's stage,the Schleck brothers managed to leave all the other riders behind.All the other riders except 2 Astana guys: Alberto Contador (who else?) and Andreas Kloden.Armstrong was behind,just like Nibali,Wiggins,Sastre and all the other GC riders.

On the last climb,Contador spoke to Kloden and then he attacked.Armstrong got really angry at Alberto after knowing this,but me thinks there was a misunderstanding between the 2 Astana riders (and that Armstrong should be the last rider to talk in this kind of situation).

During the last 14 kms at the head of the race there were just Contador and the Schleck brothers and after the final descent the victory went to Frank.Andy got 3rd,but he raised his arms up to the sky in a very joyful way.As soon as they crossed the finish line,the two brothers also hugged each other in a very moving way.Here are some links about what happened in the last few days:

http://newsticker.sueddeutsche.de/list/id/679610 :As you know,Jens Voigt crashed very badly on the Petite Saint Bernard descent.It was very strange for me to hear about that,because I was on the climb that day and to think that Jens crashed 3-4 kms after having ridden right in front of me is something of really sad.Fortunately he "just" broke his cheekbone (it must be absolutely painful) and had a severe concussion."I can't end my career in this bad way.I want to ride the Tour next year",His Amazingness said this morning.Bjarne Riis said:"Of course Jens can ride the Tour in 2010,for me there aren't any problem.He's still strong and he works a lot for the younger riders".When Riis talked to him on the phone immediately after the crash,Big Jens asked him: "What's my next race? Tour of Denmark?".Unbelievable.Of course I wish Voigt a fast recover and I have no doubts about the fact that,between 1 year,he'll be riding again the Tour.

Talking instead about the Schleck brothers,here's an article from L'Equipe (http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves2009/20090722_194944_schleck-on-verra-au-ventoux.html ),while on this other link there's an article from Eurosport (http://www.eurosport.fr/cyclisme/tour-de-france/2009/on-a-fait-le-spectacle_sto2009942/story.shtml ).To the Gazzetta dello Sport,Frank said:"I'm really proud of myself,of Andy and of the team.We took our responsabilities.This morning on the bus we received a very good news: Voigt just broke his cheekbone.Then we decided our strategy:we had nothing to lose,so we tried winning.Andy motivated me,I sacrificed myself for him and the work I've done has been repaid.Andy helped him,and I'll give him back what he gave to me in the next days.This vicory can't be compared to the one I got on the Alpe d'Huez.When I started the Tour,I didn't feel great,but Andy,my family,my girlfriend and my teammates helped me. This victory is for Voigt and Arvesen,they were forced to abandon the race but they're always in our mind".
If you want to see a little vid about Saxo Bank's celebration of yesterday's victory,here's a link: http://www.saxobanktakingthelead.com/?p=1141 .Let's hope that also on Sunday the guys will be able to celebrate a podium spot (or,it would be better,2 podium spots).
NB: There are some Saxo Bank's photos on TDW website,see "Rest Day:Saxo Bank".Some of them are really nice.
(Photos TDW,Panoramic and Equipe)

Fireworks on the climb towards Verbier:

Oh yes.Today,after 2 weeks of boredom,on the second uphill finish of the Tour,we've finally managed to see some fireworks.And the result was good.

So,what happened in today's stage? As usual,a breakaway went away during the first kms of race.The riders in the escape group were Hesjedal,Van Den Broeck,Spilak,Astarloza, Cancellara,José Ivan Gutierrez,Moinard,Moncoutié,Fedrigo and Flecha. With 20 kms to go,Spilak attacked and was the last rider to get caught with about 2 kms to go.Liquigas and Astana pulled very hard in the last kms before of the beginning of the 8 kms climb towards Verbier,but as soon as the climb began it was Saxo Bank's turn to set the pace.Voigt,los Sorensens and Cancellara set a very fast pace on the climb and after that team action there were just 5 riders left at the head of the race.Who were they? The Schleck brothers (yip de do da day!!!),Armstrong,Contador and Wiggins (!!!!!). All the other riders were behind.

With 5 kms to go,Contador attacked and Andy Schleck was the only rider that tried to chase him.The Spaniard soon gained 20 seconds on Andy,while behind the tempo got lower and some riders (Sastre,Nibali,Kreuziger,Vande Velde,Evans) managed to come back in Frank's group.Vande Velde was then dropped by the other riders,that began to attack one after the other.Also Frank attacked and was soon joined by Nibali and Wiggins.Also Sastre and Evans attacked and Armstrong remained alone with his teammate Kloden,that pulled for him.

The victory went to Contador,who crossed the finish line 43" before Andy.Third was Nibali (who ran a great stage ),while 4th was Frank,who arrived together with Wiggins and Sastre.They lost 1'06" from Contador,but they gained 29 seconds on sir Lancelot (and me thinks that Sastre pretty appreciated this fact).Sir Lancelot came in 9th,behind Evans and Kloden.10th was Kirchen,11th was Kreuziger and 12th was Tony Martin.The rider aus Deutschland lost the white jersey during today's stage and now that jersey is on Andy's shoulders.Rinaldo Nocentini,after 8 days in yellow,arrived 19th,2 minutes and a half after Contador (that is also the new maillot jaune).Vande Velde lost 2'41" seconds from Contador and has said that he would help Wiggins in the next stages.Surprising neo-pro Brice Feillu arrived 25th, 3'14" after the winner,while LL Sanchez was 28th with 3'17" of dela).Not-So-Smiley-in-those-days instead arrived 65th,6'27" after Contador.

"It's true,I have more pression on me in this Tour because of Lance.This victory makes me very happy.I really had to do my best to achieve it.I thought I could attack with 4 or 3 kms to go, instead Saxo Bank team set a very fast pace,I saw that a lot of good riders got dropped and I attacked.Now my situation is better than Armstrong's one.The team worked well and I'm sure they'll be working so good also in the next week.The Tour isn't over,I made an important step but I'll have to make other steps if I want to win.The third week is the hardest.This yellow jersey is different from the one of 2007,the presence and the resistence of Armstrong give it more value",that's what Contador said.

Armstrong instead admitted that Contador is stronger than him and said "I'll work for Alberto in the next stages and I'm very proud of being his helper".

Andy instead said: "Contador had the yellow jersey in Paris-Nice and he lost it there. The race will not be over until the Champs Élysées.He's a bit stronger than me,but he will have some pressure on him in the next days. t will not be a piece of cake for him.I don't think it is going to be Armstrong who will arrive behind Contador," he added.

Talking about the GC,here's the top 10 of the race:
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 63:17:56
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana 0:01:37
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream 0:01:46
4 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:17
5 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:02:26
6 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:30
7 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:51
8 Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC 0:03:07
9 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:03:09
10 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:25

Tomorrow it will be the rest day,then there will be 2 tough stages.
(Photo Afp)