After two brilliant days of racing, Cadel Evans finalized his control over Le Tour De France 2011. On Friday's stage, Cadel road with the same ferocity and determination he displayed throughout this years race. After Thursday, with a wrecked looking Contador and a dominant looking Andy Schleck, the entire race expected a battle only between Cadel and Andy.
What we got was instead, Contador attacking on the first climb of the day. He wanted to make a play for the overall, or at least his own glory at the top of the Alp. Schleck matched him, and Evans would have if not for a mechanical failure.
So we had a leading group of riders with two of the heads of state, with an ever present brides-maid chasing them. On the decent after revisiting Le Col De Galibier, Evans and eventually Voekler caught up and made a full Peleton just in time to see the bottom of Alp D'Huez. Contador attacked again, and he wasn't chased. Cadel and Andy made sure to match each other up the climb, leaving Contador free to "fly" up the mountain, hoping for his own glory.
And that... was dashed. As with Schleck the day before him, the Alp proved to be a kilometer to far for Contador. He cracked in range of the finish, to see Voekler's teammate win a truly brilliant day of racing.
Cadel lacked 57 seconds from yellow and Andy Schleck. There was a ton of drama heading into the Time Trial on Saturday. Well there was. And then Cadel hit the course.
He flat out devoured it. It wasn't close. In a matter of 46 km, Cadel put 2 minutes into Andy Schleck, erasing any doubt as to who would win Le Tour De France 2011.
Vive Le Lour! Vive Cadel! Auzzie Auzzie Auzzie! OY OY OY!
PS: Tomorrow's run into Paris should be awesome. That sprint is the grandest stage in the sport for the fastest men on wheels. I can't wait.
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