Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) once again delivered an exciting duel for the overall win in the Tour de France, with the Spaniard narrowly holding on to his lead in the final time trial of this year’s race. In the end, Contador had increased his lead over his younger rival from 8 seconds to 39 seconds, going into Sunday’s final stage. At one point though Contador’s lead was down to just a handful of seconds.

Fabian Cancellara wins -Courtesy AFP

In the battle for third place, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) used his superior time trial skills to overtake Euskaltel’s Samuel Sanchez. Trailing by 31 seconds coming into the stage, the Russian rode to a large enough lead to knock the Spaniard off the final podium.

Other big names finished further down than expected. RadioShack’s Lance Armstrong, who for so many years dominated the Tour time trials, finished more than seven minutes slower than the winning time. Bradley Wiggins of Sky was 3:33 down, and Garmin-Transition’s David Millar was at 4:20.

Lance Armstrong waits to start - Courtesy AFP

Cancellara took to the course as the 39th of 170 riders at 11:21, and arrived at the finish almost exactly one hour later. That gave him a long wait in the “hot seat” until the end of the race, although no one came close to his time.

STAGE 19 RESULTS:

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank 1:00:56
2 Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC – Columbia 0:00:17
3 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC – Columbia 0:01:48
4 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 0:02:34
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin – Transitions 0:03:00
6 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank 0:03:03
7 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne 0:03:10
8 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank 0:03:21
9 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:03:33
10 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:03:38
11 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:03:51
12 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux 0:04:00
13 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:04:06
14 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC – Columbia 0:04:14
15 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team Katusha 0:04:15
16 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
17 David Millar (GBr) Garmin – Transitions 0:04:20
18 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:04:33
19 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Team Radioshack 0:04:38
20 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:04:39
35 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:05:43
44 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:06:14

GC after stage 19:

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 89:16:27
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:39
3 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:01
4 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:03:40
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:06:54
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:09:31
7 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions 0:10:15
8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:11:37
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:11:54
10 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:12:02
11 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:14:21
12 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:14:29
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:14:40
14 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:16:36
15 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:16:59
16 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:17:46
17 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:20:46
18 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 0:21:54
19 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:24:04
20 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:26:37

Courtesy AFP

Spaniard Alberto Contador retained the yellow jersey with his eight-second lead on Andy Schleck still intact, a day ahead of the race’s final time trial over 52km.

Cavendish meanwhile gave a sprinting master class to his rivals on what was one of the last stages likely to finish in a bunch sprint. The HTC-Columbia rider, who has been missing lead-out man Mark Renshaw since the Australian’s exclulsion from the race last week, came over the line with room to spare after following Alessandro Petacchi’s wheel in the last 400 metres.

Lampre rider Petacchi finished third behind Kiwi Julian Dean, of Garmin-Transitions, but did enough to take back the green jersey for the sprinters’ points competition from Norwegian Thor Hushovd. The Cervelo sprinter was well placed in the final kilometre but lost ground when two-stage winner Petacchi veered to the left of the road, creating a new echelon which an alert Cavendish did well to follow.

Cavendish takes his 14 Tour stage victory, 4th this year - courtesy AFP

Cavendish then powered past Petacchi with relative ease, and had time to sit up and look back at his rivals before crossing the finish line in victory. Isle of Man rider Cavendish has now won four stages on the race, to go with the six he won in 2009 and four he won in 2008. He is also back in the running for the green jersey, an objective he began the race with but had to forget about after a disastrous first week of racing.

Alberto Contador and Tom Cruise - courtesy Sirotti

After the time trial on Saturday, the sprinters are likely to be back in action on Sunday when the race finishes on the Champs Elysees in Paris, where Cavendish won his sixth stage of last year’s edition.

© AFP 2010

STAGE 18 RESULTS

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC – Columbia 4:37:09
2 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin – Transitions
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
5 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team
7 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
8 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
9 Grega Bole (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini
10 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi

GC after stage 18

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 88:09:48
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:08
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:03:32
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:03:53
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:05:27
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:06:41
7 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:07:03
8 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions 0:09:18
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:10:12
10 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:10:37

Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour title following a positive dope test, has accused Armstrong and several other American riders of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong, who has faced doping allegations throughout his career but never tested positive, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

“Obviously you need some legal counsel on this. I’m 100 per cent confident there will be a satisfactory resolution for me,” Armstrong said after finishing 17th in the 17th stage of the Tour de France.

“This is the United States of America. You can’t prosecute somebody for something they didn’t do – normally. But along the way you’ve got to protect yourself.”

With other riders and managers also concerned about the allegations, Armstrong warned the matter should be taken seriously.

“I think everybody involved should have legal protection and know their rights and know what’s truly best for them,” he said.

“It’s safe to say I will have representation, just to be safe.”

Courtesy Reuters

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Schleck began the final climbing stage of this year’s race, a 174km ride from Pau to the Col du Tourmalet, with an eight-second deficit to Spain’s two-time winner in the race for the yellow jersey.

Schleck warned on Wednesday’s rest day he was confident of attacking Contador throughout the climb to the legendary summit and taking the yellow back from the Spaniard, who took the race lead after Schleck suffered a mechanical setback on Monday.

But despite repeated attacks in a bid to shake Contador off his wheel during the final 10km of the 18.6km slog to the fog-shrouded summit, Schleck finished with Contador sitting comfortably on his wheel at the finish line.

Andy Schleck wins with Conador on his wheel - Courtesy AFP

“I gave it everything today, I tried to attack, I changed rhythm several times to try and drop him and I just couldn’t,” said Schleck, who applauded Contador’s gentlemanly conduct at the end.

“In the end I have to say respect to Alberto because he didn’t sprint (for the finish) at the end.”

It means Astana team leader Contador will retain his eight-second lead over the Saxo Bank climbing specialist ahead of Friday’s 18th stage, which is likely to finish in a bunch sprint.

Schleck’s last chance to overhaul Contador would be in Saturday’s penultimate stage time trial over a 52km-long flat course, a discipline in which the Spaniard has a far better record.

On Wednesday, Schleck said he would need to go into the time trial with a lead of at least one minute on Contador, “but preferably more”.

Barring catastrophe for Contador between Friday and Sunday, he will claim his third yellow jersey after victories in 2007 and 2009.

“There’s still some stages left but let’s say today it was an important stepping stone (towards the yellow jersey),” said Contador, who played down the fact he has not won any stages this year.

“I haven’t won any stages but my objective was to win the Tour. Some years you win stages, others you don’t.”

Although Schleck attacked Contador first, at the 10km to go mark, then several times after that the Spaniard made his own bid to drop the Luxembourger with 3.9km remaining. When Schleck pulled level, he gave Contador an icy stare – which the Spaniard did not react to.

“I tried to attack him but Andy’s reaction showed me he was strong,” added Contador. “But the whole time I was really concentrated, and felt pretty confident. Today I had great legs.”

In 2008 Contador did not compete as he turned his attention to the Tour of Italy and Tour of Spain – both of which he won.

It is the second stage win of the race for Schleck, who also won the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz in the Alps.

Andy Schleck - Courtesy AFP

Another Spaniard, Joaquin Rodriguez of Team Katusha, came over the finish line in third place at 1min 18sec, with Canadian Ryder Hesjedal fourth at 1:27, Spaniard Samuel Sanchez fifth at 1:32 and Denis Menchov sixth at 1:40.

Sanchez began the stage with a 13sec lead on Menchov, the Russian he is fighting for third place on the podium, but extended his lead by eight seconds.

Euskaltel rider Sanchez is still third but now further off the pace at 3:32. Menchov is fourth at 3:53 but will be favoured to close his gap to Sanchez in the final time trial.

Completing the top five overall is Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck, who finished ninth on the stage at 1:48 to sit fifth at 5:27 behind, with a 1:14 lead on sixth-placed Dutchman Robert Gesink.

One of the big losers of the day was American Levi Leipheimer, who finished outside the stage’s top 15 and out of the top ten in the general classification.

STAGE 17 RESULTS

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 5:03:29
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:18
4 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions 0:01:27
5 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:01:32
6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:01:40
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
8 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:01:45
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:48
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:02:14
11 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:03:00
12 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:26
13 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:03:30
14 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:35
15 Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team HTC – Columbia 0:03:44
16 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:03:58
17 Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:12
18 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step 0:04:16
19 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne 0:04:27
20 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne

GC after stage 17

1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 83:32:39
2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:08
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:03:32
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:03:53
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:05:27
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:06:41
7 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:07:03
8 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions 0:09:18
9 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:10:12
10 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack 0:10:37
11 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:12:46
12 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:13:01
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:14:24
14 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:14:44
15 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:16:00
16 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:17:57
17 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:17:59
18 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:18:30
19 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 0:20:03
20 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:25:23

© AFP

In probably the most controversial move of the 2010 Tour de France, Andy Schleck’s untimely chain slip, proved to be Alberto Contador’s opening as he took the initiative and attacked on the Balès gaining over a minutes advantage. After dismounting and fixing his chain Schleck powered up the climb blasting past Armstrong, Leipheimer and others with Contador in his cross heirs. Unfortunately the damage was done and on the way down Sanchez, Menchov and Contador managed to hold out with a 39 second advantage over Andy Schleck.

While the actions of Contador and others on the Balès were labelled “untraditional” by Saxo Bank, the reality was that Schleck became the unfortunate victim of an untimely mechanical that now has the young Luxembourger determined to come back stronger.

“I was feeling strong and determined throughout the stage and the team really everything to put me in the perfect position for the final climb,” said Schleck after the finish. “When I launched my second attack, the chain got stuck and I had to get off the bike to put it back on. Then they attacked.

“I probably wouldn’t have done it like that,” he said before adding, “I’m just really looking forward to getting another chance of attacking – the jersey deserves honour.”

Here is what Scott Sunderland said after todays stage:

Let’s cut right to the chase, Contador should have waited for Schleck.

Andy had earmarked this stage as one where he’d open up the afterburners and you saw that in his attack, right up until he had his mechanical and Contador went past him.

Contador probably heard the problem but probably didn’t know that Schleck had to stop and get off the bike to fix it himself and then he found himself in a position where he was attacking the yellow jersey during a mechanical and now he’s in yellow.

The respect for the yellow jersey goes back a long way, and you heard it with the booing Contador got at the finish. They were not impressed. We’ve seen it in the past with Armstrong and Ullrich, and they both waited for each other and it showed great camaraderie and sportsmanship.

These guys are friends, they’ve been on holiday together and they obviously know each other quite well. Contador could have quite easily backed off the pedals and waited. In my book he should have. He would have looked like a man and he would have shown great respect for the yellow jersey. It could come back to bite him. I hope nothing happens to him but what happens if it does? Does Schleck say that he doesn’t see it?

Final Stage 15 Results:

GC after stage 15:

Defending champion Contador went into the 210.5km stage from Bourg-Peage to Mende, where the finish was one kilometre after the punishing 3.1km ‘Jalabert’ climb, with a 41sec deficit to the Saxo Bank team leader.

But a quick glance at Schleck less than halfway up told the Spaniard he had to take his chance – although what looked like a promising attack allowed him to steal only 10sec off his main rival.

Contador came into the home straight on the runway of Mende aerodrome with fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez for company after he had attacked before Contador on the final climb.

Rodriguez leads it out - Courtesy AFP

In the end Rodriguez’s superior sprint allowed him to hand Katusha their maiden win on this year’s race, with Schleck finishing among a small group 10sec later to limit the damage.

Contador knows the big battle for the yellow jersey will be played out over four punishing days in the Pyrenees beginning on Sunday. But the Astana team leader claimed a small victory over Schleck that he says has left him confident for the challenge ahead.

“It’s an important psychological blow. It’s good to see your body responding like that after 210km of racing,” said Contador.

“I’m very pleased about this looking to the Pyrenees, especially the sensations in the legs. The next thing is to recover in time for Sunday.”

Schleck admitted, however, that he had expected to lose time on the ‘Jalabert’ climb, which is too short and steep for his climbing endurance talents.

“To be honest I suffered a bit today,” said Schleck, who finished fifth on the stage and now leads Contador by 31sec. “It was a hard day and I wasn’t looking forward to this climb. It’s short and you have to be explosive – not my type at all. But I’m happy. I lost only 10sec in the end.”

Third place went to Contador’s Kazakh team-mate Alexandre Vinokourov, a survivor of a breakaway that started after 60km.

Vinokourov’s presence in the breakaway allowed Astana the crucial luxury of not having to participate in the chase over the rolling, rugged terrain of the Ardeche.

“When I saw there were 10 or 15 riders going, I knew it was the right move,” said Vinokourov, who finished third on the stage to move up to 12th overall at 6min 25sec behind Schleck. “It was our main objective, so we didn’t have to put riders into the chase.”

Contador watched Schleck closely - Courtesy AFP

Once onto the climb, Contador watched Schleck carefully before launching his attack.

“I was on Andy’s wheel and saw him looking weak for a moment and decided to go for it,” added the Spaniard. “I saw he wasn’t doing anything so I decided to go. It’s a pity I couldn’t cap it with the win.

Contador going hard - Courtesy AFP

“‘Vino’ did a great job getting into the break. It was very important having him there. We didn’t have to work on what was a very hot and difficult day.”

Norwegian Thor Hushovd and Slovenian Grega Bole’s successful bid to join the breakaway was no coincidence either, although their aims were not targeted at the yellow jersey.

At the first intermediate sprint at Mariac (74.5km) Bole rode hard to cross first, stopping Hushovd, the green jersey rival of his Lampre team-mate Alessandro Petacchi, taking all six points at the line.

Reigning champion Hushovd came second to take four, thus drawing virtually level with the Italian sprinter on 161 points and at the second sprint with 52km to race he took all six points to take the jersey back.

Hushovd, who now leads Petacchi by six points, would soon be among the 14 riders left on their own when only Vinokourov, Vasil Kiryenka and Ryder Hesjedal were able to follow an acceleration by RadioShack’s Andreas Klöden 50km from the finish.

Stage 12 profile

STAGE 12 RESULTS:

1 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 4:58:26
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:00:04
4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:10
5 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
6 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
7 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack
8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:15
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
11 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:00:17
12 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:00:31
13 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
14 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
15 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
16 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
17 Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack
18 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
19 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
20 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale

GC after stage 12 :

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 58:42:01
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:31
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:02:45
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:06
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:27
8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:04:58
9 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:05:02
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:16
11 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:30
12 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:06:25
13 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions
14 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:44
15 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:07:34
16 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:07:39
17 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC – Columbia 0:07:47
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:08:08
19 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:08:24
20 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:09:05

© AFP

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The break on stage 11  races past a gaggle of lovely ladies dressed in their summer best. You know its hot when the fans are wearing less than the riders themselves. Courtesy www.pezcyclingnews.com

Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, of Saxo Bank, retained the yellow jersey with his lead of 41sec on Spain’s Alberto Contador intact after a 184.5km race between Sisteron and Bourg-lès-Valence.

Cavendish, the winner of six stages in 2009 and four in 2008, has now won three stages in this year’s race, taking his career tally to an impressive 13.

In doing so, the Isle of Man sprinter surpasses the 12-stage victory tally of several notable sprinters including German great Erik Zabel, Italian Mario Cipollini and Australian Robbie McEwen.

Cavendish’s 13th victory in the race, however, will also be remembered for the controversy that led up to it.

Mark Cavendish wins number 13 - Courtesy AFP

As HTC-Columbia wound up the speed inside the final kilometre in a bid to drop rivals and deliver Cavendish to the 200 metres to go mark, his lead-out man Renshaw was shown by television pictures to have tried to head-butt Julian Dean three times.

Australian Renshaw is considered one of the world’s best lead-out men, whose job is to crank up the pace in the final kilometre of the race and fend off rivals before the sprinter launches his final drive for the line. But even that status did not save him from race officials, who quickly took action.

Top race official Jean-Francois Pescheux said after the race: “Renshaw was declassified immediately but we have decided to also throw him off the race.

“We’ve only seen the pictures once, but his actions are plain for all to see. He tried to hit him with his head, a bit like in the keirin.

“This is a bike race, not a gladiator’s arena. Everyone could have crashed today.”

Tyler Farrar, whose Garmin-Transitions team had promised to challenge Cavendish’s domination prior to the stage, had tried to sneak up the barriers on the inside of Cavendish only to have Renshaw then veer to the left to block him.

The American said HTC-Columbia’s win-at-all-costs tactics were simply uncalled for.

“Everything was going great. I was on Julian’s wheel and he took me up to Cavendish’s wheel with 300 metres to go,” said Farrar. “When Cavendish launched his sprint, Renshaw veered to the left and I had to put my hand on his back to steady myself. They just don’t need to race like that.”

Farrar admitted Cavendish’s sprint was clean, but said he was more concerned about safety issues resulting from Renshaw’s tactics.

He added: “Of course I’m upset. I wanted to win, but more than anything I didn’t want to crash. They’re playing with the security of the riders there.”

Upon learning of Renshaw’s exclusion from the race, Cavendish admitted he was “sad”.

However the Briton, who came under scrutiny at the Tour of Switzerland when he left his sprint line, causing a mass pile-up which led to injuries for several riders, said he did not “necessarily agree with the decision”.

“Commissaires have made a decision that we don’t necessarily agree with,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Mark Cavendish and Lance Armstrong - Courtesy AFP

Stage 11 profile

STAGE 11 RESULTS

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC – Columbia 4:42:29
2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin – Transitions
4 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
5 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
6 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
7 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
8 Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
11 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
12 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team
13 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
14 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
15 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
16 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram
17 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
18 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step
19 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
20 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini

GC after stage 11

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 53:43:25
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:41
3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:02:45
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:03:59
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:22
8 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0:04:41
9 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:05:08
10 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:09
11 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:11
12 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin – Transitions 0:05:42
13 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:23
14 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:06:31
15 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC – Columbia 0:07:04
16 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:07:13
17 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:07:18
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:07:47
19 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:08:03
20 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:09:05

© AFP