Discovery Channel's Alberto Contador rode into second place in the Tour de France on Sunday alongside Michael Rasmussen, who protected his yellow jersey against the other challengers.
With the pre-race favorites strung out down the Plateau de Beille on Sunday, Contador crossed the finish line just ahead of Rasmussen. The two combined to knock back Australian Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto), who started the day in second place but dropped back to third.
Although Discovery's Levi Leipheimer was dropped about half-way up the final climb, he gained ground on just about everyone else, finishing fourth on the day and moving into fourth place overall.
Pre-race favorite Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) dropped way out of contention on the 122-mile 14th stage from Mazamet to Plateau-de-Beille. It had looked like he might make a play for the lead after recovering from a serious crash in the first week and winning Saturday's time trial.
Discovery Channel played a huge role throughout the end of the race.
After the field split up on the penultimate climb, Port de Pailhères, American George Hincapie drove a group of about 35 that contained the yellow jersey to the base of the last climb. Five riders in front of this group, and the rest of the peloton lagged behind.
At the base of the final climb, Hincapie dropped off and a Rasmussen teammate (Michael Boogerd) drove the pace. Then Discovery's Yaroslav Popovych, who had been dropped on the previous ascent, took over the pace-making.
Popovych kept up the heat, whittling down the lead group to 10. Then Astana's Andreas Klöden and Andrey Kashechkin dropped back, leaving Rasmussen, Leipheimer, Contador, Evans, Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) and Carlos Sastre (Team CSC).
When Popovych withers, Leipheimer attacks briefly, then Contador. Finally Rasmussen attacks and the only cyclist who can stay with him is Contador. The 24-year-old Spaniard whose name is written all over the route in the Pyrenees on Sunday matches Rasmussen all the way to the summit, sprinting ahead to take the win. Soler finished in third.
While Contador is the big winner on the day, Evans lost the most. Although he only dropped to third place, he needed to stay within sight of Rasmussen so he could have a chance in the final time trial, which comes next Saturday.
The Top 10:
1. Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery — 2:23 behind
3. Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto — 3:04
4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Discovery — 4:25
5. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana — 4:38
6. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC — 5:50
7. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana — 6:58
8. Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel — 8:25
9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne — 9:45
10. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery — 10:55
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