P.Fédrigo counters S.Chavanel..

The stage started with a very nervous peloton... sure we didn´t helped much to keep it calm as when we reached the 1st HC climb, many riders were struggling to keep with the pace that Fédrigo was making..

With more then 15 minutes to Froome, Pinot has only one thing in mind.. agressive ride.. with 3kms to the top, he decides to go..

The other teams leaders have to work to keep Pinot close..

Front of the race..

Between both HC climbs, N.Roche GC 11th, tries to regroup again with the main group at the front..

Already at the 2nd HC climb, P.Fédrigo keeps his ritm but always with Froome close.. doesn´t only defend his GC lead with style, this guy keeps his personal fight against Pierre..

11kms to the top, A.Valverde attacks with C.Froome on his wheel.. Valverde fails..

7kms, it´s time to D.Moreno try his luck.. Valverde & Contador counter..

The 3 are already over the top when Froome´s group reach the kom sprint.. T.Pinot is hanging on here..

Pinot tried to get away still before the sprint but with his awfull downhill habilities, he couldn´t go far.. something to focus next year..

Last climb.. C,Froome attacks with no reactions from behind.. 2´47" to recover on this 12kms..

Froome can already see the front group..

Froome shows to be in his best form...

A.Contador attacks soon as he hear about Froome..

Looking easy and comfortable..

.. Contador cracks with 1,7kms to go... Froome has already overtoked Moreno and Valverde..

Close... but will it be enought?

Yes it is.. A.Contador wins today..

T.Pinot tried...

Worse then this..

Not dangerous for the GC but with good climbers, this breakaway could go until the end if ......

That´s right... if we wouldn´t make the pace in the peloton.. of course Fédrigo´s pace was somewhat high for many riders and the pack got splitted at the 2nd climb..

We got the breakaway back before the top, some top10 riders lost the grip with us...

R.Costa (7th GC) & J.Fuglsang (10th GC) have to burn some energy if they want to regroup..

3rd climb, Fuglsang keeps doing the pace while Costa stays in the rear.. only 14 riders stayed with the front, T.Pinot is our only guy here and struggles already.. D.Moreno (9th GC) &
T. Van Garderen (11th GC) are way behind..

What has been a surprise today, A.Schleck (16th GC) is riding incredible today.. he tries to get away from the main group at the 4th climb..

Before the top, C.Froome & A.Valverde drop A.Contador & J.Rodriguez.. Pinot is fighting hard to not loose too much places..

He eventually catch up with P.Velits (23th GC) heading to the last climb.. M.Scarponi ( 6th GC) is 32" behind.

With Valverde not being able to keep up with Froome, Tour leader reach the final 6kms alone..

... and wins another one..

As you might know, Fédrigo is fighting for kom jersey but isn´t so easy as we thought.. today is a good stage to gain some more points so our man starts the fight right at the 1st kom sprint..

Heading to the 2nd kom sprint, Fédrigo attacks..

3rd climb, there are so many riders loosing the grip with the pack that this seems more Keirin as road race.. Pierre leads the pack after that failed attempt to get away..

At the top, fighting against Weening & Chavanel, Pierre wins the 10pts.. at this point, he has 85pts, keeps his 6th place but raises the difference to Horner, who´s 7th with 70pts..

After the top, those 3 go for the day´s break.. Acevedo, Riblon & Ten Dam are riding behind, trying to close the gap to the front..

Only problem is that SKY isn´t willing to let them go away.. they make strong pression downhill..

.. and catch the break right at the bottom..

Right after the Int. Sprint, Fédrigo tries to catch up with the front group wich as been formed after the sprint..

P.Fédrigo..... this guy is doing an incredible race today... all for the kom jersey.. front group isn´t far but our man is starting to accuse all the effort done until now..

After "eating his shoes", Pierre finally catch up with the front.. 11kms to the top, peloton is 3´57" behind..

The guys in the break were kind enought to let Fédrigo win the sprint.. 25pts on the pocket..

Just 2 climbs to earn some pts, some riders try to escape from the pack... strong group here... Zubeldia, Martin,
Kwiatkowski & Peraud... SKY raises the pace..

Fédrigo is done for today.. completly empty, he´s overtaked by those last attackers..

HC climb up ahead, peloton manages to catch up the 2nd group..

9kms to the top, Pinot comes to the front..

The last break is caught with Pinot making the pace..

1km to the top.. ( last kom sprint)..

Last descent.. 11th placed T. Van Garderen lost contact with the front... maybe luck or not, his team mate P.Velits manages to catch up with him and gives him a precious help..

.. the final 20kms must do Garderen by himself..

Garderen/Rogers catch up with the front intime for the last climb..

Pinot comes to the front again.. 8kms.

Our captain decides to attack.. Froome glues on his wheel..

Garderen/Rogers loose contact again.. Pinot needs to hang on at the front..

.. but looks not good.. Pinot cracks..

Guess who´s leading?

Roche, Valverde & Contador follow the leader..

C.Froome wins at easy..

148 riders at the start for this 18th stage, probably the last chance for Fédrigo to climb some places in Kom Ranking as the overall just got away..

It´s a strong breakaway at the top, without any fight, Fédrigo takes the 25pts...

With less then 5kms to the 2nd Kom sprint, SKY is keeping a close gap to the front...

Chavanel attacks at the 2nd Kom sprint...

.. but Fédrigo counters...

.. and conquer the top... another 25pts..

Climbing the 4th climb, Fédrigo leads the break with 6´47" gap to the peloton..

Last climb..

Contador, Froome, Valverde and Rodriguez leave the rest behind..

No time gain, no time lost either.. our captain T.Pinot manages to stick around... just enought to hold his top15 place...

Stage win will go for the breakaway.. Fédrigo isn´t here anymore but will keep his top10 finish today..

P.Velits takes the stage win..

F.Cancellara far away from his best days...

Race leader C.Froome rides for 2 TDF in a row...

T.Martin shows the World why he´s the World Champion..

Many teams wanted to take the chance to show their colors on this last stage.. 11 riders form the break, F.Mourey is our man..

Already in Paris, Mourey leads the break..

Without a sprinter, we tried to push hard on the last kms..

August is coming to an end, here can you check some transfers for next season..

With almost our riders in bad shape, T.Dubos just got a spot for "La Vuelta"..