Contador sounds the load.

Alberto Contador launched the fight in Gap.

 

Thor Hushovd signs its second victory in Gap, at the end of a 16th stage marked by the uprising of Alberto Contador. New 2nd to the general, Cadel Evans settles as the big favourite of this Turn. Andy Schleck lost more than one minute.

 

«I won't wonder in Paris what would have been able to take place if I had tried». Reduced until then to play in defence, Alberto Contador had promised to find natural sound for last week. His chronometric situation demanded him. What wasn't known, it is that the Spanish had decided to seed ill-feeling from this 16th stage. He was rather waited in Galibier and the Mountain meadow of Huez. The collar of Manse, a collar of 2nd category located in 12 km of the arrival to Gap, was enough to change the face of this Tour de France. Under a brand rain, Alberto Contador surprised everybody by launching the fight with mi-slope. Forgotten bobos in the knee. Pistolero, with true sharp attacks was found. Nothing to see with skirmishes of the brothers Schleck in the Pyrenees. Andy is besides the big beating of day. 

Evans big favourite:

The Native of Luxembourg simply blew up close on the heels of the Spanish. It was however only a collar of 2nd category. Uneasy in the descent leading towards arrival, frozen, he lost 1 '06" on Contador and 1' 09" on Cadel Evans. The Australian, with Samuel Sanchez, was the only one to be able to follow the Spanish in rise. Its upper qualities of downhill racer allowed him to pick up 3 seconds on the Iberian duet, and 21 on Frank Schleck, him too given up, what is worth to him to take over the 2nd place to the general. Thomas Voeckler in all this ? Very present at the beginning to control, he ended up giving way a bit of ground to fail, just as Frank Schleck, in a group in 21 seconds of Evans. The Australian, come back to 1 '45" from Voeckler, frees more and more as the big favourite of this Tour de France. Even farther finished Ivan Basso (+ 53") then Andy Schleck (+1' 09"). If this one still outstrips Contador of 39 seconds to the general, the Native of Luxembourg surely got a big blow from morale. 

Hushovd on the cloud:
It is therefore an in no way fed platoon which was found just after the day off. Even less Thor Hushovd. The Norwegian, on a cloud, signs a second success of stage in this Turn 2011, after his victory in Heavy some days ago. The course of medium mountain offered between Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and Gap fed the appetite of all fighters. It is only at the end of 100 kilometres of persevered fight that the Yellow jersey Thomas Voeckler gave its blessing to a group of ten runners (Perez Lezaun, Hushovd, Hesjedal, Grivko, Boasson Hagen, Devenyns, Roy, Martin, Ignatyev, Marcato). As in Heavy, Hushovd hung on in rise to join in descent his team mate Ryder Hesjedal, together with Edvald Boasson Hagen. In the game of the sprint 100 % Norwegian, the master stayed in front of the pupil. 

Classification of the 16th stage:
1. Hushovd (Nor, Garmin-Cervélo) 3 h 31 '38"
2. Boasson Hagen (Nor, Sky) m.t.
3. Hesjedal (Can, Garmin-Cervélo) in 2"
4. Martin (All, HTC-HIGHROAD) in 38"
5. Ignatyev (Rus, Katusha) in 52"


General classification:
1. Voeckler (Fra, Europcar) 69 h 00 '56"
2. Evans (Aus, BMC) in 1 '45"
3. Fr. Schleck (Lux, Leopard-Trek) in 1 '49"
4. In. Schleck (Lux, Leopard-Trek) in 3 '03"
5. Sanchez (Esp, Euskaltel) in 3 '26" 

The 16th stage in pictures: