Contador Loses One For The Team

Photo credit © Sirotti

Alberto "it's all about me" Contador showed up again and took a stage victory away from teammate Alexander Vinokourov, much like he cracked teammate Adreas Kloden last year to end all hopes of an Astana podium sweep in Paris.  This time Contador pulled Joaquin Rodriguez of Team Katusha in an attack on Vinokourov's lead that led to a sprint finish won by Rodriguez. The ten seconds he gained on Andy Schleck meant zip.  Contador will be at least three minutes better than Schleck in the Individual Time Trial and he could have kept the reins on Rodriguez to allow a Team Astana victory by Vinokourov.  I heard all the excuses about the psychological game and how that would affect Schleck, but that is just an excuse.
Thor Hushovd was able to regain the Green Jersey after gaining 10 points in the two sprints along the stage route and Anthony Charteau took a total of 17 mountain points to regain the Polka Dot Jersey.
Prediction for stage 13: A flat stage with five small climbs, one of which is near the finish, may not be that beneficial for the sprinters.  The GC contenders will want to rest the day before entering the Pyrenees and this will benefit any breakway.  Look for Thor to be in that break to pick up the sprint points on the route. This will also be Sylvain Chavanel's last chance to win a third stage.

Results - Stage 12

1	Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Team Katusha	4:58:26
2	Alberto Contador  (ESP) Astana
3	Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana	0:00:04
4	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto	0:00:10
5	Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank
6	Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi
7	Andreas Klöden (GER) Team Radioshack
8	Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank
9	Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank	0:00:15
10	Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo
11	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack	0:00:17
12	Ruben Plaza Molina (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne	0:00:31
13	Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini
14	Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Professional Cycling Team
15	Cadel Evans (AUS) BMC Racing Team
16	Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo
17	Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack
18	Carlos Sastre (ESP) Cervelo Test Team
19	Luis León Sánchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne
20	Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R La Mondiale

General Classification (Yellow Jersey) 1 Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank 58:42:01 2 Alberto Contador  (ESP) Astana 0:00:31 3 Samuel Sánchez  (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45 4 Denis Menchov (RUS) Rabobank 0:02:58 5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31 6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:06 7 Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank 0:04:27 8 Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Team Katusha 0:04:58 9 Luis León Sánchez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:02 10 Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:16
Point Standings (Green Jersey)
1 Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo Test Team 167  pts 2 Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini 161 3 Robbie McEwen (AUS) Team Katusha 138 4 Mark Cavendish (GBR) Team HTC - Columbia 132 5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne 122 6 Sébastien Turgot (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 101 7 Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Sky Professional Cycling Team 96 8 Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team Milram 87 9 Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 79 10 Geraint Thomas (GBR) Sky Professional Cycling Team 74
Mountain Classification (Polka Dot Jersey)
1 Anthony Charteau (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 107  pts 2 Jérôme Pineau (FRA) Quick Step 92 3 Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank 64 4 Christophe Moreau (FRA) Caisse d'Epargne 62 5 Mario Aerts (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto 58 6 Sandy Casar (FRA) Française des Jeux 56 7 Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini 56 8 Alberto Contador (ESP) Astana 52 9 Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel - Euskadi 50 10 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 47