Cancellara Wins Stage 19, Contador Will Win the 2010 Tour de France

Fabian Cancellara took advantage of calm winds to put down the fastest time of Stage 19 of the 2010 Tour de France, the Individual Time Trial. Saxo Bank’s Cancellara, one of the first riders to start, turned in a time of 1:00:56, with HTC-Columbia’s Tony Martin 17 seconds behind.

Riders who started early had a definite advantage, as a strong headwind picked up down the final portion of the route as the afternoon progressed. While this affected the stage outcome, it really didn’t affect overall times, as all the closest competitors started near one another.

Fight for the Yellow Jersey

The real story of the race was the contest for the overall Tour win, with Alberto Contador leading Andy Schleck by only eight seconds.

Contador had the advantage of starting last; he would know, at each stage of the race, how he was doing compared to Andy Schleck.

Andy Schleck came out of the box flying; he needed the best time trial of his life, and he set out to ride it. Over the first third of the course Shcleck actually gained some time over Contador, but as the kilometers added up, Schlecked slowed while Contador got faster.

Schleck was coming apart over the last third of the race; he missed shifts, wobbled, lost precision; he had pushed himself to the limit and just a bit beyond.

Meanwhile Contador was working just as hard. He constantly readjusted his position the bike, looking for more power and a more aerodynamic position.

Proabbly due to the headwinds, Alberto Contador did not turn in the amazing time most expected. But he did ride to his limit, and he did ride fast enough. At the end of the day, Contador had a 39-second lead over Andy Schleck, guaranteeing the Astana rider his third Tour de France victory.

Andy Schleck showed that, unlike predictions, he could ride a good time trial; in fact, a very good time trial. Coupled with his climbing skill, it is impossible that Andy Schleck will not top the podium soon.

Read the original story at The Epoch Times