Tour de France: Thomas Voeckler digs deep to retain yellow jersey

Published on Thursday 21 July 2011 19:42

THOMAS Voeckler defied Andy Schleck and the highest finish in Tour de France history to keep the race leader's yellow jersey - as Britain's Mark Cavendish survived despite finishing outside the time limit.

Schleck (Leopard Trek) won the 200.5-kilometre 18th stage from Pinerolo, Italy, which finished at an altitude of 2,645metres at Galibier Serre-Chevalier and saw 88 riders - including Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) - form a final group which finished outside the time cut.

However, officials were lenient, allowing the grupetto to continue, but handing out penalties. Points classification leader Cavendish was hit with a 20-point penalty, after finishing 96th, 35 minutes 40 seconds behind Schleck. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) is now 15 points behind in the green jersey race after finishing 31mins 17secs behind and inside the time limit.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), world champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) and Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen finished in the same group as Cavendish and were also docked 20 points.

While Cavendish has designs on the maillot vert in Paris on Sunday - providing he survives today's final Alpine stage from Mondane Valfrejus to Alpe-d'Huez - the hosts retain hope of a first French winner since 1985.

Voeckler (Europcar) dug deep into his energy reserves to finish 2:21 behind and retain the maillot jaune for a tenth day as he seeks to be the first Frenchman to stand atop the podium since five-time winner Bernard Hinault 26 years ago.

Voeckler said: "This is a triumph that I fought for with all my strength. I came across the line and I knew that Andy Schleck could have taken the yellow jersey but I've kept it by just 15 seconds. It was a certainty that Andy would attack. He had two riders in the escape, and they were used for support when the action started in our group.

"In the end I had no earphone, and I asked Frank Schleck how much time his brother had in advance, but he said he did not know. Then I saw that it was just under three minutes, so I said to (team-mate] Pierre Rolland that we had to ride. And it worked, it's like a miracle."

While Voeckler kept his hopes alive - he stands 15 seconds clear of Andy Schleck ahead of today's 109.5km 19th stage - defending champion Alberto Contador saw his all but extinguished. The three-time winner sits seventh overall, 4:44 behind Voeckler with three days of racing to go after finishing 3:50 down in 15th place yesterday.

Second to Schleck was team-mate and brother Frank, 2:07 behind, with Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) third, a further eight seconds adrift. Frank Schleck is third overall, 1:08 behind, with Evans fourth, four seconds further back.

Andy Schleck, runner-up to Contador in the last two years, says he can now win the Tour.

"When I looked at the course when it was unveiled, I knew I wanted to win this one," he said. "I'm ready for the yellow jersey."Team Sky's Geraint Thomas continued his strong Tour display by finishing as the leading Briton in 26th place, 7:31 behind.