Stage 13, either dissaster or triump before us today.



Serge Pauwels and Linus Gerdemann start the BOTD.



By the second mountain sprint they are join by
Javier Moreno Bazan and Sergey Lagutin.



Saxo Bank refuses to do any of the work again today, so Wegmann picks up the tempo just to drop the non-climbers.



As we reach the climb of Puerto de Ancares
Andy Schleck decides it is all or nothing today. 59kms to go!



He quickly catches the morning breakaway, while back in the peloton Contador has yet to send his teammates to the front.



Irishman Daniel Martin thinks Andy is on to something.



Over top Andy Schleck has opened a reasonable gap.
Contador doesn't seem worried.



A few riders try to get away on the downhill,
like Rodriguez but are unsucessful.



Andy picks up 6 seconds through the sprint point, still a very long way to go.



As we reach the second to last climb of the day, Mr. Attacker Rodriguez goes again. Sanchez counters.



They get away, so Frank tries his luck.



Contador has to go now with no teammates left,
and all the favourites up the road.



A quick recap is needed as the riders hit the final slopes of the day. Gerdemann is setting the tempo for Andy after being in the breakaway all day.



Then comes group 2 with Juan José Cobo Acebo being chased by teammate Sastre and Rodriguez.



Not far behind are Sanchez and Frank Schleck who are dragging the other two breakaway men up the climb. Where is Conta?



20 seconds back with Igor Anton. He has to close that gap ...



Gerdemann's job is done, Andy Schleck takes off for glory.
Contador is in major trouble.



Alberto has no choice but to attack.



Frank Schleck hears this over the radio
and knows he can't let Conta catch him. He attacks!



Contador isn't giving up, he kicks once more. 2kms to the top.



It's almost to good to be true,
Andy Schleck has a huge gap with 20kms to go.



His brother Frank also creates a gap between him and Sanchez.
Conta is struggling.



Alberto Contador finally closes the gap to Sanchez with 14kms to go.
But he can't stop now ...



5kms to go, Andy looks over his shoulder
and he can only see Gerdemann in the distance.



Sanchez attacks, it looks like Contador has been broken.



Andy Schleck takes the stage ... and starts the clock.



Gerdemann pulls up and lets Frank take 2nd for the time bonification. A historic treble for Leopard-Trek today.



The overall lead is slipping away from Alberto Contador!



Pull on Red Andy Schleck! Dreams do come True!
An Instant Classic! What A Stage!

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Sprint Points

Mountain Points

The hills put Andy in Red,
but it's going to be the mountains that decide if he gets to keep it.



Same old story, 14 in today's breakaway.



Leopard-Trek does take up the responsibility to chase,
and the breakaway never gets more than 5 minutes away.



We get over the first two climbs today without any attacks. So far, still good.



But that all changes as we come to La Farrapona. Sanchez is the first to move, followed by Rodriguez and Frank Schleck.



Contador attacks 3kms later, Andy is late in reconizing the move.



But not to worry he close the gap. Contador has to chase down Sanchez and Frank Schleck by himself.



As Frank reaches the morning breakaway he attacks once more.
Contador can only be thinking Déjà vu.



Conta and Andy soon reach the struggling breakaway riders. Andy gets blocked in and has to attack to catch up with Contador.



Frank has now virtually moved into 2nd overall, will it last?



Not if Alberto Contador has anything to say about it ...
Andy doesn't have anything left in the tank to counter.



Contador catches Frank, Andy is giving his all to close the gap.



1km to go, will anyone catch him?



Nope, the clock is now against Andy.



Frank keeps 2nd, Andy 3rd. But it's the clock that matters ...



Alberto Contador steals the Vuelta back, by 3 seconds.
What a Grand Tour this is turning into, 7 stages left.

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