Pau to Col du Tourmalet

Not my photo

Today was the last mountain stage raced in the 2010 Tour de France. This, the 17th stage, began in Pau and ended at the top of the Col du Tourmalet at 2115 metres in elevation.

To celebrate the 100th year the Tour has ridden in the Pyrenées they rode four stages here, ending it off with this killer. Along its 174 kilometre path it included one cat-4 climb (low level), two cat-1 (high level), topped off with a 7.5% (grade), 18.6-kilometre HC climb (unclassified, the most difficult) at the Col du Tourmalet. It's enough to make the most seasoned pro cry like a baby.

The stage began with seven riders attacking and breaking away from the peloton (main group of cyclists). Hoping for a win in this epic stage they will stay away until the very last climb up the Col du Tourmalet. That's when what's left of the peloton, led by top contenders' Andy Schleck's Team Saxobank and Alberto Contador's Team Astana, rein them in.

Down by 8 seconds, this was Schelck's last chance to gain time on his rival Contador. Both are superb, world class climbers. But, Contador is a far more superior time trialist. With the penultimate stage on Saturday being a 52-kilometre individual time trial, Schleck, needs to put some distance between himself and Contador.

With under 10-kilometres to go to the finish, Schleck, makes a break for it. The rest of the riders fall like flies around him. That is all but, Contador. He sticks to Schleck's wheel like glue and even attacks at one point near the top.

In the end the cross virtually side by side with Contador graciously conceding the win. It's the honorable thing to do after Schleck did all the work climbing the mountain trying to lose him. Though, in doing this, it will cast Contador with the dubious distinction of being the 8th Tour winner never to have won at least one stage.

In other news... Congratulations go out to Canadian rider, Ryder Hesjedal, who finished 4th, 1:27 behind Schleck and Contador. This vaults him from 10th to 8th in the overall classifications. The best result for a Canadian cyclist since Steve Bauer's 4th place finish in the 1988 Tour.

As well, 7-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, 38, placed a respectable 17th, 4:12 back of the winner. Now in 23rd place in the G.C. (general classification) this will most likely be the aging veteran's swan song.