Andy Schleck on Friday, finally wrestling the yellow jersey from Thomas Voeckler in the race’s second-to-last major stage. Alberto Contador, who needed a career day to ride back into overall contention, was the first to attack, breaking away early at the bottom of the first of the day’s three climbs, then again up l’Alpe d’Huez. Contador would end up third on the stage, 34 seconds ahead of the major contenders but shy of the more than three minutes he needed on Schleck. Meanwhile Voeckler, who spent 10 days in the yellow jersey, lost steam early in the stage and finished 2:25 behind Schleck, dropping to fourth place. Schleck and his brother Frank , as French rider Pierre Rolland took the stage win, the first for a French rider this year. Andy Schleck’s main threat is now Australian Cadel Evans, who sits in third place, 57 seconds down. The overall winner will be decided at tomorrow’s individual time trial, the last competitive stage before the peloton rides into Paris on Sunday.
Read More at