2010 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20

Stage 11

15 July 2010 — Sisteron to Bourg-lès-Valence, 184.5 km

This is classified as a flat stage, visiting the third-category Col de la Cabre after 56.5 km and then descending most of the way to the finish.{{cite web |url-status = dead |url-status=dead

|| |General classification after stage 11

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Stage 12

16 July 2010 — Bourg-de-Péage to Mende, 210.5 km

This stage is hilly, with two second-category and three third-category climbs. The Col de la Croix Neuve comes 2 km from the finish, followed by a brief flat section.{{cite web |url-status = dead |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 12

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Stage 13

17 July 2010 — Rodez to Revel, 196 km

This is classified as a flat stage, though it incorporates five climbs, two in the third category and three in the fourth.{{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 13

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Stage 14

18 July 2010 — Revel to Ax 3 Domaines, 184.5 km

The first of several difficult stages in the Pyrenees in the Tour's last week visits the French Basque Country. The hors catégorie Port de Pailhères precedes the first-category summit finish at Ax-3-Domaines.{{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 14

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Stage 15

19 July 2010 — Pamiers to Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187.5 km

This stage also includes an hors catégorie climb, Port de Balès. The finish comes on a steep, 21 km descent from the climb.{{cite web |url-status = dead

In Stage 15, controversy arose when Alberto Contador took advantage of a mechanical problem that Andy Schleck had at a pivotal moment to take the yellow jersey, as it is considered good sportsmanship to wait for the yellow jersey when he has technical trouble. Contador explained that he did not know that Schleck had technical trouble, and that he had already launched an attack by then. Hours later, he apologised for the incident. Although he was loudly booed by sections of the crowd when he received the yellow jersey on the podium and was criticised by Sean Kelly and a number of riders both past and current, he also found support from the likes of Bernard Hinault, Miguel Induráin, Eddy Merckx and Laurent Jalabert. Schleck himself said that he and Contador discussed the matter during the next stage and that the matter has been resolved.

|| |General classification after stage 15

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Stage 16

20 July 2010 — Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau, 199.5 km

This stage has four difficult climbs, starting with the first-category Col de Peyresourde and Col d'Aspin within the first 42.5 km. The next climb is the Col du Tourmalet, the first of two times the climb is visited in this Tour, and later comes the Col d'Aubisque. Both the Tourmalet and the Aubisque are hors catégorie climbs.{{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 16

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Stage 17

22 July 2010 — Pau to Col du Tourmalet, 174 km

The Tour's second rest day occurs in Pau, meaning the Tour will have been in the same town for three straight days. |url-status=dead This has been called the Tour's queen stage, and features the second ascent of the Tourmalet, coming as a steep summit finish. The first-category Col de Marie-Blanque and Col du Soulor climbs precede it.{{cite web

|| |General classification after stage 17

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Stage 18

23 July 2010 — Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux, 198 km

This was a flat stage.{{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 18

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Stage 19

24 July 2010 — Bordeaux to Pauillac, 52 km (individual time trial)

The race returns to its tradition of having a time trial on its penultimate day. The course is long, straight, and flat. Race officials expect the average time to complete the course will be 64 minutes. Fabian Cancellara took his second victory of the tour, whilst Tony Martin finished second. The battle between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck for the yellow jersey also reached its climax. With Contador being the more accomplished Time-Trialist, he was expected to increase his lead. However, at the first time check, Schleck had taken time out of him and the lead was down to two seconds. However, from there on in, Contador began to open a gap, and ended picking time up 31 seconds on Schleck, meaning his Yellow Jersey was now safe.{{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |General classification after stage 19

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Stage 20

25 July 2010 — Longjumeau to Paris, 102.5 km

Main article: Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France

The Tour concluded with its traditional, largely ceremonial finale on the Champs-Élysées. The riders take eight laps of the famous avenue before the final podium presentations. Mark Cavendish sprinted clear in the final 300 yards, with Alessandro Petacchi riding into second and Julian Dean third {{cite web |url-status = dead

|| |Final General Classification

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References

References

1. Jerseys appearing in the table on the left of the page indicate those worn by the cyclist during the particular stage, while those appearing in the table on the right of the page indicate those awarded to the cyclist after the stage.
2. (2010-07-19). "Tour de France 2010: Stage 15 - live!". The Guardian.
3. (2010-07-19). "Contador: "No me he dado cuenta de lo que le ha pasado a Andy"". As.com.
4. (2010-07-19). "Alberto Contador explains his feelings about Andy Schleck and himself after Stage 15".
5. (2010-07-19). "Tour de France 2010: Stage 15 - live!". The Guardian.
6. (2010-07-20). "La débil frontera del juego limpio". [[El País]].
7. (2010-07-20). "Schleck and Contador end chain slip dispute". [[Yahoo!]].