TdF: Andy Schleck wins on the Galibier as Voeckler clings to yellow on Stage 18

Andy Schleck rode to a very tough victory on the Col du Galibier, but missed out on the yellow jersey, as Thomas Voeckler hung on to the lead.

Schleck, who finished second in last year’s tour, launched a stinging attack, as the group reached the Col d’Izoard. The younger of the two Schleck brothers has so far been in the shadow of his elder sibling, but he left the other GC contenders with no answer to his attack. With only 2 kilometres left to the top, Andy had his hands on the yellow jersey. Voeckler had to put in a massive performance to close him down.

While Andy Schleck was racing up the Galibier, Cadel Evans was left to do most of the chasing. The Australian started the day in second place and rode, much of the second half of the stage, on the front of the group. His efforts managed to pull back the, almost four minute, lead the Luxembourger had taken on his rivals. In the end, Evans couldn’t keep up with Frank Schleck and finished 5 seconds down on the elder brother. Frank used the last of his energy to pull away from the former world champion and crossed the line 2:07 down on Andy.

In contrast to the previous stages, Alberto Contador and Samuel Sanchez were dropped by their GC rivals. Sanchez was the first to go, on the Galibier, and slowly slipped back to four minutes behind Schleck. Contador gave up much more of a fight, and held on until the final 1.5km, but still lost over a minute on Evans.

Ivan Basso, who has struggled in the last two stages, pulled himself back in to podium contention, by finishing three seconds down on Evans. The GC now looks completely different, to how it did at the end of stage 17, with Voeckler holding on by 15 seconds, in front of Andy Schleck, with Frank Schleck 53 seconds behind him.

Evans has slipped to fourth, while Damiano Cunego and Basso have moved to fifth and sixth, respectively. Contador’s efforts, of the last two stages, look futile now, as the Spaniard slips to seventh and Sanchez sits behind him.

Stage 19 will only set to divide the GC contenders further, with the Telegraphe, another trip up the Galibier and the Alp D’Huez waiting for them. With the tour as tight as it is, the lesser time-trialists will want to put in as much time in to the others as possible.