Tour De France: Stage 9

Well another big mountain stage and this time almost all the contenders are knocked out.  The big fall though came to Cadel Evans who completely cracked.  On Sunday when he took over the lead he fractured his elbow in a crash.  The pain and physical wear got to him on the 25km final climb of the day today and he had to plod along and watch as his tour chances road away from him.  I don't like Cadel Evans, but that's a rough way to lose.

After this stage I would say that there are two contenders left with a chance.  These two finished one, two last year, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.  Denis Menchov continues to hang around, but he will have to show something special in the Pyrenees if he hopes to have a shot at the overall.  Sammy Sanchez also has looked very impressive, but is not the kind of climber I would think to win a grand tour.

I have watched Alberto Contador for some time now, and today's stage is the smartest I have ever seen him ride.  He conserved himself countering all of Schleck's attacks and then teamed with Schleck to knock everyone else out.  It was a brilliant ride.

Thor Hushovd joined the early  breakaway and grabbed some sprint points, the help his lead, and what saw the mountain leaders race really heat up today.

General classification after stage 9

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank	43:35:41
2	Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana	0:00:41
3	Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:02:45
4	Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank	0:02:58
5	Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto	0:03:31
6	Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack	0:03:59
7	Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank	0:04:22
8	Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	0:04:41
9	Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha	0:05:08
10	Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo	0:05:09

Points classification

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team	124	pts
2	Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	114
3	Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha	105
4	Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne	92
5	Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia	85

Mountains classification

#	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom	85	pts
2	Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step	85
3	Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne	62
4	Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini	56
5	Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank	50