Contador Wins Stage 18 Time Trial

Next to the mountain stages of the Tour de France, I like the time trials the best. Each rider rides alone against the clock, with no help from his team. Stage 18 was the final time trial of this year's Tour, and it did not disappoint. Most people expected Alberto Contador to be good enough in this stage to keep his yellow jersey, but that wasn't good enough for him. He went out and won the stage with a gritty and determined ride.

Finishing second in stage 18 was the winner of this year's first time trial, was Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara of Saxo Bank. Lance Armstrong (pictured) also had a good ride and has now reclaimed third place. He could well finish on the podium in Paris. Astana kept their significant lead in the team standings.

Stage 19 goes back to the mountains, but there are no really difficult climbs. The first half of the race has two catagorey 4 climbs, and right before the finish there is a catagorey 2 climb. While not as difficult as stage 17 (or the coming stage 20), that last climb should be enough to keep the sprinters from winning the stage. Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (OVERALL LEADERS)
1. Alberto Contador (Astana)
2. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........4.11
3. Lance Armstrong (Astana)..........5.25
4. Bradley Wiggins (Garmin)..........5.36
5. Andreas Kloden (Astana)..........5.38
6. Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank)..........5.59
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)..........7.15
8. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin)..........10.08
9. Mikel Astarloza (Euskadi)..........12.38
10. Christophe Le Mevel (Francaise)..........12.41

GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Thor Hushovd (Cervelo)..........230 pts
2. Mark Cavendish (Columbia)..........200 pts
3. Jose Rojas (Caisse)..........126 pts
4. Gerald Ciolek (Milram)..........122 pts
5. Tyler Farrar (Garmin)..........110 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas)..........196 pts
2. Egoi Martinez (Euskadi)..........118 pts
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouyges)..........99 pts
4. Christophe Kern (Cofidis)..........89 pts
5. Alberto Contador (Astana)..........88 pts

TEAM LEADERS
1. Astana
2. Garmin-Slipstream..........16.14
3. AG2R La Mondiale..........23.45
4. Saxo Bank..........24.28
5. Liquigas..........43.40