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Tour de France 2011 Stage 18: Andy Schleck wins with daring attack 60 km from finish

An incredible showdown in the Alps sees Voeckler keep yellow, Ryder 22nd in GC

Andy Schleck silenced his critics with a bold, audacious attack on the second of three HC climbs to win his greatest career victory and move himself 15 seconds off of the race lead. Thomas Voeckler flayed himself to save his yellow jersey for one more day.

It was a brutal stage featuring three HC climbs in the latter half of the course. This naturally brought about a large breakaway, one that contained two of Schleck’s Leopard teammates. The breakaway fragmented on the first big climb, the Col Agnel, but reformed in the valley on the way to Izoard. It was on the slopes of Izoard that Andy Schleck attacked, and not a soul followed from the peloton, thinking that a move from so far out was doomed. The Luxembourger, deemed timid by naysayers, picked up his teammates and started up the Galibier with a four minute lead.

The other GC contenders, with the exception of Frank Schleck, began to worry as the gap failed to fall. For a minute Alberto Contador and Sammy Sanchez discussed strategy and Contador even switched bicycles. But the determined pace-making finally came from Cadel Evans. Up ahead, Andy shed his last remaining teammate and then the remnants of the breakaway to plow on alone.

With gritted teeth Evans continued to drag the Big Hitters towards Andy, who had hit the steepest part of the climb as the virtual yellow jersey wearer. Voeckler, Frank and Basso stayed right behind Evans as Sanchez, Contador and Cunego all fell off the pace. Andy crossed the line with exhausted joy but then had to wait to see if Voeckler could cling onto the jersey. In a final, Herculean effort, Voeckler saved his yellow by 15 seconds and set up a very dramatic conclusion to this year’s race.

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