Andy Schleck won the 18th stage of the Tour De France this afternoon.
Today was about celebrating the hundredth time that Le Tour had been over the Col du Galibier.
The race rode out of Pinerolo, some forty kilometres south west of Turin and headed after three big climbs to Galibier Serre-Chevalier Vallee, back in France, some 200.5kms later.
Ireland's and AG2R's Nicholas Roche was in a break of nineteen riders which got away.
After 46.5kms, the days intermediate sprint came at Verzoulo and Roche was in sixteenth place as Cofdis' Leonardo Duque took the sprint.
Just before we got to France, there was the Alps Hors Category climb of the Col Agnel. Astana's Maxime Iglinkskiy took that climb.
The peleton were 3.46 back on the escapers and Andy Schleck (pictured below) attacked trying to bridge the gap and reduce the time between himself (2.36) and Thomas Voeckler in the yellow jersey.
With 55kms to go, the Hors Category 2360m Col d'Izoard climb that has been used 31 times in Le Tour arrived and yet again it was Astana's Maxime Iglinkskiy who was first over the summit to get the twenty points with Nicholas Roche (pictured below) getting sixteen points.
Young riders jersey wearer Rigoberto Uran was another like Tony Martin who had crashed after his chain came off his bike and he had to be paced back by Team Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas.
Iglinkskiy was still out in front with 40kms to go, followed by Nicholas Roche, whilst at the back of the race, the riders including Mark Cavendish were doing their best to stay in touch and ensure they were within the time limit.
Andy Schleck got to the front to join Iglinkskiy and Roche on the 23m climb to the finish on the 2645m Col du Galibier.
Cadel Evans was at the front of a chasing, some three minutes and twenty one seconds back as Schleck went clear at the front.
With 1.5kms to go, Alberto Contador's chance of victory in this tour was over when he lost touch with the Evans group and dropped off the back.
Andy Schleck kept going as did Evans who was cutting time of Schleck's lead. Schleck was over the line in a time of 6hr 7 mins and 57 seconds to record a fine victory.
Franck Schleck was next home and then at two minutes and twenty one seconds back, Thomas Voeckler came in to keep his yellow jersey. Voeckler now leads Andy Schleck by fifteen seconds.
Mark Cavendish was one of 35 riders outside the time limit but he and the 34 others were not disqualified.
Stage 19 tomorrow is from Modane Valefrejus to Alpe-D'Huez and is 109.5km long.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM and ©Pool/Tim De Waele