Stage 19 Time Trial Decides Yellow Jersey

After stage 18 the riders in this year's Tour de France had ridden for over 88 hours and covered 3,487 kilometers (about 2,092 miles), and yet the difference between the top two riders was only an incredibly small 8 seconds. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana) held that tiny lead over Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank). That meant the Yellow Jersey would be decided in stage 19's 52 kilometer time trial (where the riders ride by themselves against the clock).

Schleck started the stage riding strong and at the first time check had reduced that 8 second lead down to only two seconds. But then Contador dug deep and seemed to find a higher gear. By the end of the race, he had beaten Schleck's time by 31 seconds and extended his overall lead to 39 seconds. This means Contador has again won the Tour's Yellow Jersey since, except for the battle for the Green Jersey, the stage 20 ride into Paris is largely ceremonial. Russian rider Denis Menchov (Rabobank) had a great time trial and now sits in 3rd place overall.

It also now looks like the American team, Radio Shack, has won the team championship in their first year in the Tour de France (allowing Lance Armstrong to mount the podium one more time before retiring). They extended their lead over Caisse D'Epargne from 8' 30" to 9' 15". The three strongest riders for Radio Shack were Christopher Horner, USA (10th place overall), Levi Leipheimer, USA (13th place overall) and Andreas Kloden, Germany (14th place overall). Armstrong finished in 23rd place overall in his last Tour de France.

Alessandro Petacchi, Italy (Lampre-Farnese) is the current holder of the Green Jersey and he could well wind up as this year's winner of that jersey. But that won't be finally decided until the stage 20 sprint through the streets of Paris. Stage 20 is a flat ride of 102.5 kilometers that starts in Longjumeau and finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

The stage 19 time trial was won by Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland (Saxo Bank). The second place finisher was Tony Martin, Germany (HTC-Columbia), while Bert Grabsch, Germany (HTC-Columbia) had the third best time in stage 19. Here are the current standings after stage 19:

YELLOW JERSEY (Overall Leaders)

1. Alberto Contador, Spain (Astana)

2. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank).....0' 39"

3. Denis Menchov, Russia (Rabobank).....2' 01"

4. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi).....3' 40"

5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck, Belgium (Omega-Lotto).....6' 54"

6. Robert Gesink, Netherlands (Rabobank).....9' 41"

7. Ryder Hesjedal, Canada (Garmin-Transitions).....10' 15"

8. Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver, Spain (Katusha).....11' 37"

9. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Rep. (Liquigas-Doimo).....11' 54"

10. Christopher Horner, USA (Radio Shack).....12' 02"

GREEN JERSEY (Sprinters)

1. Alessandro Petacchi, Italy (Lampre-Farnese).....213 pts

2. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Cervelo).....203 pts

3. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Columbia).....197 pts

4. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Caisse D'Epargne).....167 pts

5. Robbie McEwen, Australia (Katusha).....162 pts

6. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Norway (Sky Pro).....152 pts

POLKA DOT JERSEY (Climbers)

1. Anthony Charteau, France (Bouygues Telecom).....143 pts

2. Christophe Moreau, France (Caisse D'Epargne).....128 pts

3. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (Saxo Bank).....116 pts

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Radio Shack

2. Caisse D'Epargne.......9' 15"

3. Rabobank.......27' 49"

4. AG2R La Mondiale.......41' 10"

5. Omega-Lotto.......51' 01"