The stage started with the usual breakaway with some of the usual suspects, Fletcha for example, but it turned out to be as useful as a boil on a cowboys bum as the main protagonists kept the pace high ready for what was expected to occur. It lived up to expectations although Schleck could not muster the attack to shake Contador off his back wheel. In the end the Luxembourger took the stage win as a consolation. It seems unlikely that he will beat Contador in the TT, but stranger things have happened. One only has to think about Riis and Millar on different occasions a few years back, where both ended up tossing their bikes over a hedge, or Rasmussen who kept falling off his (a Giant BTW and as Spunker knows they don’t stay up too well in the wet).

It looks just like Contador has this tour wrapped up, that Fatboy has the same luxury. But he will need to keep one eye behind him as 2 time winner Two Phat 2 ominously moved into the top 6, looking for her 3rd consecutive win. Are we seeing another Lance-esque domination, Saturdays stage may tell.

Bicyclettes Anciennes scored 100 for Andy Schleck coming in first place
Paddles scored 100 for Andy Schleck coming in first place
Babel scored 100 for Andy Schleck coming in first place
Fatboy scored 100 for Andy Schleck coming in first place
Princess Margarets Hospital scored 75 for Alberto Contador Velasco coming in second place
Cloggie Dockers scored 75 for Alberto Contador Velasco coming in second place
Two Phat 2 scored 75 for Alberto Contador Velasco coming in second place
Cadel Ankiss scored 75 for Alberto Contador Velasco coming in second place
The Swiss Miss scored 55 for Joaquin Rodriguez coming in third place
Crash scored 55 for Joaquin Rodriguez coming in third place
Possum scored 55 for Joaquin Rodriguez coming in third place
Team Bains Pain scored 55 for Joaquin Rodriguez coming in third place
Chuck scored 40 for Ryder Hesjedal coming in fourth place
Digger scored 40 for Ryder Hesjedal coming in fourth place
Possum scored 40 for Ryder Hesjedal coming in fourth place
woozee scored 40 for Ryder Hesjedal coming in fourth place
Hoops scored 32 for Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez coming in fifth place
JDRF scored 32 for Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez coming in fifth place
Dobbo scored 32 for Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez coming in fifth place
SirOED scored 26 for Denis Menchov coming in sixth place
madspanito scored 26 for Denis Menchov coming in sixth place
Red Rasperry scored 26 for Denis Menchov coming in sixth place
Scumbags scored 22 for Robert Gesink coming in seventh place
JDRF scored 22 for Robert Gesink coming in seventh place
Comfortably Numb scored 22 for Robert Gesink coming in seventh place
Bulldozer scored 18 for Christopher Horner coming in eighth place
Scumbags scored 18 for Christopher Horner coming in eighth place
Stuey scored 18 for Christopher Horner coming in eighth place
Comfortably Numb scored 18 for Christopher Horner coming in eighth place
O’Dirty scored 16 for Jurgen Van Den Broeck coming in ninth place
Monty scored 16 for Jurgen Van Den Broeck coming in ninth place
Ted scored 16 for Jurgen Van Den Broeck coming in ninth place
Tommy scored 14 for Roman Kreuziger coming in tenth place
Two Phat 2 scored 14 for Roman Kreuziger coming in tenth place
Scumbags scored 14 for Roman Kreuziger coming in tenth place
Pap Tyres scored 12 for Damiano Cunego coming in eleventh place
Cadel Ankiss scored 12 for Damiano Cunego coming in eleventh place
JDRF scored 10 for Nicolas Roche coming in twelfth place
Fatboy scored 10 for Nicolas Roche coming in twelfth place
Sicknote scored 10 for Nicolas Roche coming in twelfth place
Two Phat 1 scored 8 for Andreas Klöden coming in thirteenth place
Nelmsey scored 8 for Andreas Klöden coming in thirteenth place
Stuey scored 8 for Andreas Klöden coming in thirteenth place
Comfortably Numb scored 8 for Andreas Klöden coming in thirteenth place
Reggieside scored 6 for John Gadret coming in forteenth place
Mutant scored 6 for John Gadret coming in forteenth place
Scumbags scored 6 for John Gadret coming in forteenth place
Team Bains Pain scored 6 for John Gadret coming in forteenth place
Iceman scored 4 for Kanstantsin Siutsou coming in fifteenth place
Heather scored 4 for Kanstantsin Siutsou coming in fifteenth place
Philpy scored 4 for Kanstantsin Siutsou coming in fifteenth place
madspanito scored 4 for Kanstantsin Siutsou coming in fifteenth place
Princess Margarets Hospital scored 20 for Alberto Contador Velasco leading the general classification
Cloggie Dockers scored 20 for Alberto Contador Velasco leading the general classification
Two Phat 2 scored 20 for Alberto Contador Velasco leading the general classification
Cadel Ankiss scored 20 for Alberto Contador Velasco leading the general classification
Vulcan scored 30 for Alexandr Kolobnev being the most aggressive rider today
Monty Ventoux scored 30 for Alexandr Kolobnev being the most aggressive rider today
Mrs Spunker scored 30 for Alexandr Kolobnev being the most aggressive rider today
Dobbo scored 30 for Alexandr Kolobnev being the most aggressive rider today