DH: The final day in the mountains and we have the showdown on Tormalet!
DH: Plenty of speculation as to whether Thomas Dekker will be able to take sufficient time on Simon Spilak who probably only has to follow the Dutch riders wheel. The gap currently is 1.27 and whilst Dekker is probably a better Time Trialler than the Slovenian they are quite closely matched.
Kg: Behind them Popovich has been in excellent form in the Pyrenees and will be defending his third place from Rigoberto Uran the rider of the Alps. Again not too much difference in Time Trial ability there either. We have to now throw in the name Caruso, who grabbed so much time yesterday.
DH: ... we should add to that a whole raft of riders from Schleck (6th at 6.08) down to Kashechkin (16th at 12.32) who will be looking to move up today.
Sm: If you do not time trial too well you'll have to attack here, Henao, Schleck and Caruso are the ones really in that category. Should be a fantastic day though, the riders have no excuse to save themselves today.
Kg: We have a total of three categorised climbs the Marie Blanque (2nd cat), Souler (1st cat) and the stage mountain top finish of the Tormalet (HC). The King of the Mountains jersey seems to be a battle between three main candidates Contador (114), Uran (105) and Henao (103).
DH: Early on today we had a couple of riders who attacked early, Tschopp (Starbucks) and Santambrogio (Gazzeta).
Two riders look to get a nice gap on the peleton
Sm: Both riders are pretty good climbers, who let us be honest would not survive by just hanging on. Warner Brothers would be happy with this type of move.
Kg: Tschopp began this morning in 55th position at 38.23. Santambrogio who to be fair has been looking after Bennati is way down 116th at 2 hours 42 minutes and eight seconds.
Sm: Starbucks have worked hard to have an impact in this race, it has been very tough for them with the late call up from the continental ranks. We have spoken about Gazzeta a couple of times, morale will be high with Bennati big favourite for the green jersey.
DH: Speaking of the points competition Tschopp beat Santambrogio and then it was Prologue winner Coppel outsprinting Boonan!
Coppel beats Boonan for thirs at first sprint
Sm: I think the Auber powerhouse has tried to get involved in some sprints too, looks like he is good shape for the Time Trial coming up in a couple of days.
DH: On the Marie-Blanque Tschopp managed to drop Santambrogio, these two had managed to get about six minutes on the peleton before the climb.
Tschopp drops the hammer down
Sm: These two getting away from the peleton helps Contador in the King of the Mountains competition.
DH: Indeed Tschopp takes top points at the top with Santambrogio in second. It is Jose Alarcon who grabs third over Henao, Pluchking and Gesink. Contador and Uran do not score.
Henao closes gap by finishing 4th on the Marie Blanque on the KOM
Kg: KOM update: Contador 114, Henao 110, Uran 105, Popovich 91, Schleck 87, Gesink 84, Alarcon 84, Dekker 83, Spilak 81, Gomez M 79, Fothen 78, Kashechkin 72, Caruso 68.
Sm: The odd man out there is Jose Alarcon, a real rarity in the peleton a mountain goat. You always get the feeling when he and Taaramae race together he can outclimb the Estonian.
DH: On the descent of the Marie Blanque, we had a huge move as 4th on GC Uran launched an attack and was allowed some breathing space.
Uran launches solo move
Kg: He is wearing the white jersey, though he is the second best young rider Spilak is leading that competition. He started the day 4.46 back on Spilak in both.
DH: Warner Brothers obviously looked to keep that down, Uran for a small rider is a very useful Time Trialler. Also chasing and more concerned was the Carmuese team.
Carmuese now have something to defend and are determined to defend it
DH: On the Souler Uran caught Santambrogio about half way up and 3km from the top reeled in Tschopp.
Uran now at the head of the race
DH: His gap at this point was four minutes, right up close to Virtual yellow jersey potential. Also he takes full points at the top of the climb ahead of Tschopp. Meanwhile Santambrogio was caught and it was Contador who grabbed third place.
Contador - > Kashechkin - > Gomez M - > Fothen
Kg: Pedraza and Pluchkin were the other points scorers... KOM position now then: Contador 125, Uran 120, Henao 110, Gomez M 92, Popovich 91, Schleck 87, Fothen 85, Alarcon 84, Gesink 84, Dekker 83, Kashechkin 82, Spilak 81, Pluchkin 78.
Sm: The polkadots will be highly dependent on whether Uran stays clear, Contador then only really has to watch Henao.
DH: We are live now, I can tell you that as you see Uran still leads but now only by 1.50.
Uran leads with 20km to go
DH: I can tell you that Tschopp is somewhere in between as is Pedraza and Kiserlowski who attacked on the descent of the Souler. Uran's attack as caused Carmuese to really pile the pace on and there is only 31 riders left in the peleton 1.50 back from Uran. Smowz you have been keeping track of the names.
Sm: Casar + Solis + Di Gregario + Popovich (Carmuese), Talabadon + Spilak (Warner Bros), Madrazo + Ardila + Contador (Festina), Gerdemann + Lovkvist + Pecharramon + Dekker (Philips), Menchov + Caruso (B + O), Terres + Perez Cuapio (E Diesal), Iglinski + Medvedev (Vesuvio), Ratiy (Lipton), Phinney (Wikipedia), Gesink (Jack Wolfskin), Alarcon + Taaramae (Ikea), Schleck (Domina Vacanze), Jackson Rod + Levelet (Pearl), Gomez M (Cafe du Columbia) and Henao Montoya (Nespresso).
DH: Big names are missing, Fothen is dangling 40 or so seconds behind he had difficulties on the Souler. Even more amazingly Kashechkin prominent on that climb has dropped back and is in a group with Zabriskie one minute back.
Sm: A lot of big GC names isolated as well, Gesink Henao and Schleck for example.
DH: and Phinney, good point Wikipedia need to invest in more mountains muscle if Phinney is going to win this.
Kg: It looks like the two pearl riders are dropping back for Fothen.
Pearl domestiques try to help their fallen champion
Sm: Pearl were genuine podium contenders for the team prize this year, but this race looks like hurting them. They would have had high hopes with a decent French sprinter and the defending champion, it is feasible that they will end this race without a stage win or a top 10 GC.
DH: The peleton meanwhil led by Carmuese have caught all the riders between them and Uran, only the Tormalet to climb.
Kg: 10 km to go, here we go
DH: Uran still lead by about a minute, but now is a target for attackers.
Uran leads by a minute with 10km to go
DH: We are seeing the Philips boys power this, as we have so often in the Tour.
Kg: Lovkvist really has been a rock for Dekker
Lovkvist leads the peleton under 10km to go - tension is rising
DH: First move and it is Phinney...
Sm: .. and Gomez Marchante, Gesink and Kiserlowski only 7.5km to go.
Four riders bridge first to Uran
DH: We see more Caruso, Perez Cuapio and Pluchkin, slightly more dangerous riders Pluchkin and Caruso.
Sm: Nothing from the top three (Spilak, Dekker and Popovich) yet.
Pluchkin, Gesink and Perez Cuapio make it eight up front
DH: It is really on now as more riders come across, Spilak, Dekker and finally Popovich. How many riders have we got here 13?
Sm: Uran is behind them though, his attack looks like a bad move now. Still he tried to win the race you have to give him credit.
Kg: The second group has Uran, Iglinski, Kiserlowski, Fothen, Ratiy, Medvedev, Perez Cuapio and Hacecky it is at a minute back. I am afraid Uran will lose some time today. Kashechkin is about minute behind this fighting according to race radio.
Sm: Awful race from him.
Big lead group merges but Uran has been distanced
DH: 3700m to go of this final mountain and it is Pluchkin who has the strength to go again.
Pluchkin attacks front group
Sm: This is the moment can anyone respond...
DH: Phinney, Popovich and Dekker are responding, nothing from Spilak a tortured look is on his face.
Phinney, Popovich and Dekker respond quickly
DH: There is a gap opening up and now Contador and Schleck go past Spilak, is the tour going past him?
Sm: He has to grit his teeth and fight here.
Contador and Schleck go past Spilak
DH: What's this Spilak is off his saddle and launching a counter! He and Contador zoom past Dekker, Pluchkin, Phinney and Popovich
Spilak makes his big response
DH: Contador cannot keep this up, Spilak is just keeping going, so impressive. Now Pluchkin is trying to hammer the pedals to respond.
Only Pluchkin can match Spilaks cadence
DH: Now Dekker looks a beaten man.
Sm: It is funny I really thought after Ax 3 Domianes that Dekker was going to win this race. Spilak saved himself there and I cannot see him losing now.
Dekker has nothing left to give on the Tormalet
DH: Into the last kilometre and Pluchkin has done well to draw level with the yellow jersey. No gifts as Spilak is battling with the B and O rider.
Spilak and Pluchkin battle for the stage win
DH: Behind Contador, Dekker and Phinney are fighting for third.
Kg: Contador looks like he will take the polkadots!
Dekker, Contador and Phinney fight for third
DH: Spilak is mortal then as he is beaten in the sprint by Pluchkin, but Spilak for me has sealed the Tour today.
Sm: Great ride from both men here, Pluchkin will move up too with Uran some way back.
Pluchkin wins the queen stage of the Tour
DH: Behind Dekker finishes third.
SM: For me the race was lost for him on the Port de Bales when Spilak got clear there, great battle between the two and second is no disgrace.
Dekker finishes third
DH: Contador 4th (and seals KOM), Phinney 5th and then Jose Alarcon your man Smowz gets 6th.
Sm: I wish he was in the Red Bull team! Schleck, Popovich (looking good for podium), then Henao.
Alarcon leads rest over
Kg: Taaramae finishes 10th, then Gomez Marchante and then Gesink just ahead of the Fothen, Kashechkin group.
Gesink leads rest over
Kg: Sadly folks I have to report six riders failed to get inside the time limit. Breschel and Renshaw (Starbucks), Lo Cicero (Nespresso), Caethoven (Carmuese), Van Winden (Gazzeta) and Westling (Ikea).
