Schleck brothers in control

Andy Schleck
12 April 2012

An epic final Alpine stage of the 2011 Tour de France saw Andy Schleck take the race leader's yellow jersey as defending champion Alberto Contador's hopes of a fourth title came to an end.

Contador, racing for Saxo Bank-SunGard, failed to gain enough time on Andy and Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek) during the 109.5-kilometre 19th stage from Modane Valfrejus to Alpe-d'Huez to make victory after Saturday's time-trial in Grenoble an unrealistic ambition for the Spaniard.

The two brothers from Luxembourg now top the general classification with Australian Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) in third place and tipped to take the yellow jersey before Sunday's ride into Paris.

And Contador was beaten to victory in Friday's stage by Pierre Rolland (Europcar) with Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) second, 14 seconds behind, with Contador another nine seconds further adrift.

The two Schlecks were in a group 57secs behind along with Evans as France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) relinquished his 10-day hold on the maillot jaune.

Contador began the day four minutes 44 seconds behind Voeckler and 4mins 29secs adrift of Andy Schleck.

Andy Schleck now holds a 53-second lead over his brother Frank Schleck in the overall rankings, with Australian Evans lurking 57 seconds behind, the trio all leapfrogging Voeckler, who finished 3:22 behind today in 20th and now sits fourth overall, 2:10 adrift.

Evans is the superior time-trial rider and was content merely to mark the Schleck brothers throughout the day.

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