Sylvain Chavanel's glory ride yesterday may be short lived as we finally reach the first real extreme mountain stage of the tour. The climbers will start with Hourquette d'Ancizan, before the famous slopes of Col du Tourmalet. If that doesn't settle the favourites than the final climb up Luz-Ardiden will.



Andy and Chavanel can be seen having a nice chat, you can only wonder what they could be talking about.



As we near closer to the massive climbs the peloton should be concern about how much time they gave the breakaway, 15 minutes! If they make it to the end the favourites are Beñat Intxausti, Juan Manuel Gárate, Johan Vansummeren, Arnold Jeannesson, and Paolo Tiralongo.



Hubert Dupont makes the first move on d'Ancizan, he is followed by Peter Velits. Frank is in charge of the tempo up front.



When they are caught halfway up the climb Frank decides to attack to make the other teams chase. Velits again is right there to counter.

Frank is eventually pulled back at the base of Tourmalet. And even tough the pace slows down the dwindling peloton goes over top of the climb without the favourites attacking.



So with the kilometers fading Alexandre Vinokourov starts the attacks, and Andy counters the move with the breakaway riders still leading by 6 minute up the road.



Evans along with the other favourites aren't taking this move seriously.



Vive le Tour!!! Andy Schleck is riding away.



Not even Didi can slow down Andy today. The spectators are pushing Andy to a level never seen before.



In the end though the breakaway man Beñat Intxausti gets a well desired stage win, and Arnold Jeannesson follows right behind for 2nd.



Over 4 minutes later two more breakaway riders cross the finish line, Juan Manuel Gárate 3rd and Paolo Tiralongo 4th. Then in the distance ... a favourite is spotted.



Andy Schleck works his magic for 5th, + 5'30 behind the winner.

The clock now starts ...



The favourites are lead in by Samuel Sánchez, John Gadret, then Cadel Evans. But the important figure is their time ...



Not fast enough ... Andy Schleck pulls on the maillot jaune. 2nd is filled in by Cadel Evans now + 1'19 back, and the veteran Chris Horner is now 3rd.

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It took Andy 12 stages before he could put on yellow and he will need to keep it for 9 stages if he wants to be put in the record books.



Leopard-Trek does a great job early keeping the morning breakaways from getting away, so by the sprint point before the major climb the road is clear infront of them.



Johnny Hoogerland starts the action early, he is closly followed by Alexandre Vinokourov, Peter Velits, John Gadret, and Michael Rogers.



Juan Mauricio Soler decides to bridge the gap a few seconds later. Peter Velits is the most dangerous rider for Andy being only 6'13'' behind.



Joaquin Rodriguez follows Soler, while Rémi Pauriol decides to join the party. He is followed by David Moncoutié. Rodriquez now becomes the target man for Andy now as Joaquin sits 8th in GC just 2'31'' back.



Leopard final hits its breaking point and sends Frankie off to make the other teams chase.



Older brother Frank makes
Tony Martin, Rein Taaramae, and Wout Poels attack.



Now Roman Kreuziger decides he doesn't want to miss out either. He is followed by frenchman Christophe Le Mével and top favourite Samuel Sánchez. This happens to be the final move of the climb. Andy decides not to attack and instead let his teammates chase Sammy down.



The 4 of the first 5 attackers still lead with 20kms to go. The only man not to stay in contact is Johnny Hoogerland.



About a minute later Pauriol, Moncoutie, and Soler come through. Hoogerland can't be found.



Frank Schleck is next down the road a minute later. Where the heck did Hoogerland go?



3 minutes later the depleted peloton rolls through. It appears Leopard did a great job on the desent to bring back the late attackers of Sanchez and Taaramae. As well Hoogerland is in this group as well, what a horrible climb for him.



Scarponi finally shows himself to the world with 10kms to go, his attack triggers another move from Joaquim.



2kms later Kreuziger use a small hill to create a gap. Sanchez is also right there.



Wait a second back at the finish we already have a winner, John Gadret. Vino takes 2nd, and Velits hangs around for 3rd. Mick Rogers couldn't hang on to this group and comes in 4th almost 2 minutes later. The clock has started against Andy to keep the yellow jersey from Velits.



Andy knows his yellow jersey is in jeopardy, and starts the sprint early in the peloton. And he easily closes the gap to Kreuziger and Sanchez's group.



Pauriol leads home David Moncoutié and Juan Mauricio Soler. Frank Schleck has a nice solo ride and finishes 8th, and gains some time on the other favourites.



Sanchez brings the peloton to the finish line with all the favourites, so today goes down as a draw except for Frank. Oh, and for Peter Velits. Who just comes up short on taking yellow away from Andy by 11 seconds.

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Peter Velits may have cut the lead to 11 seconds,
but today Andy should be able to pull that out some.



All the climbs today and random attacks have produced three groups out front as we head into the final climb of the day. Hubert Dupont and Alberto Losada are the front runners.



Three minutes later you can find, Marco Marzano, Richie Port, and Michael Rogers.



Then just one minute behind them is Juan Mauricio Soler and David Moncoutié.



Add that together and you can find the peloton 4 minutes behind the leaders.



It doesn't take long to bring back Soler and Moncoutie as we start the climb.



A few kilometers later group number two is put back in their place.



With 7kms to go, the Schleck brothers go the offensive. Porte, who had just been caught is the only one that reacts to the move.



But it was just to good to be true as Sammy Sanchez and Cadel do their jobs at the front to keep the Schlecks from pulling away.



The legs are just screaming now after a long day on the bike. Alberto Losada is now pulled back, Dupont is the only breakaway rider left.



And when it seemed like nobody had the energy to attack, it's Ivan Basso who shows he still has something in his tank.



But in the end the favourites will have to battle it out for 2nd, as Hubert Dupont shocks the world today for AG2R, with a brilliant win.



Liquigas - Cannondale come in 2nd and 3rd with Basso and Nibali. Each pick up a few seconds on Andy who takes 4th. Them comes Sanchez, Evans, and brother Frank. Peter Velits will lose time today as expected by finishing 11th, over a minute behind Andy but does keep 2nd overall.

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