Alberto Contador (team Astana) made sure that everybody knew that he was the best rider on stage 18 of the Tour de France by flying around the 40Km individual time trial course in a blazing fast 48.31 ahead of even time all of the trial specialist.
In the process he cemented his yellow jersey status and put big chunks of time into his nearest competition.
Lance Armstrong managed to claw his way back onto the podium with a 50.00 minute time trial a full 1.30 behind his Spanish teammate, but with enough time gain to put him into third place in the general standing.
Andy Schleck of Team Saxo Bank stays in a solid second place with tomorrow's stage being perhaps the last best opportunity to shake up the race before Paris.
Top Riders Stage 18 Results:
- 1. Alberto Contador Astana in 00:48:31
- 2. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank in 00:03
- 3. Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha in 00:48:46 at 00:00:15
- 4. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank in 00:49:03 at 00:00:33
- 5. David Millar Garmin - Slipstream in 00:49:11 at 00:00:41
- 6. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream in 00:49:13 at 00:00:43
- 7. Luis-leon Sanchez Caisse D’epargne in 00:49:14 at 00:00:44
- 8. Christophe Moreau Agritubel in 00:49:16 at 00:00:45
- 9. Andréas KlÖden Astana in 00:49:24 at 00:00:54
- 10. David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream in 00:49:32 at 00:01:02
- 11. Tony Martin Team Columbia - Htc in 00:49:35 at 00:01:04
- 12. Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto in 00:49:45 at 00:01:14
- 13. Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - Htc in 00:49:49 at 00:01:19
- 14. Sylvain Chavanel Quick Step in 00:49:50 at 00:01:20
- 15. Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha in 00:49:58 at 00:01:28
- 16. Lance Armstrong Astana in 00:50:00 at 00:01:30
- 17. Stef Clement Rabobank in 00:50:08 at 00:01:37
- 18. Bert Grabsch Team Columbia - Htc in 00:50:09 at 00:01:38
- 19. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - Htc in 00:50:09 at 00:01:38
- 20. Kim Kirchen Team Columbia - Htc in 00:50:12 at 00:01:42
GC Standings after Stage 18:
- 1. Alberto Contador Astana in 73:15:39
- 2. Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 73:19:50
- 3. Lance Armstrong Astana in 73:21:04 at 05:25
- 4. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream in 73:21:15 at 05:36
- 5. Andréas KlÖden Astana in 73:21:17 at 05:38
- 6. Frank Schleck Team Saxo Bank in 73:21:38 at 05:59
- 7. Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas in 73:22:54 at 07:15
- 8. Christian Vande Velde Garmin - Slipstream in 73:25:47 at 10:08
- 9. Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi in 73:28:17 at 12:38
- 10. Christophe Le Mevel Francaise Des Jeux in 73:28:20 at 12:41
- 11. Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha in 73:29:15 at 13:36
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