14 DAY TRIAL // The 18th day of this year’s anniversary Tour is labeled as the Queen stage because it tackles the most iconic climb in France not once but twice, using two different roads, and offers a stiff challenge to even the most hardened rider.
I really want to try and get something out of this ride but I am by now accustomed to losing rather than winning and I know that my riders simply lack the core attributes and the form they need in order to win.
Still, hope springs eternal so I will try once more to keep the other favorites under control and on the final ascent on L’Alpe d’Huez, I plan to pair Kloden and Schleck and try to get the win.
The day starts with a capable break and I insert Gallopin there, hoping that he will get a free ride to the high mountains where he can be of some help.
I keep my riders hydrated and near the front to avoid any sort of incidents and I even help Movistar to control the peloton, hoping to put some rivals into a difficult position.
As the group losses riders on the first ascent, my plan actually seems to be working before a fully of attacks is launched and most of the climbers become spread all over the road.
I chose not to counterattack and instead put on a constant tempo at the front, hoping to gain back time on the descent while the other tire themselves.
I only claw back around 30 seconds before the race is once more climbing and, after exhausting all my other riders, I finally send Kloden and Schleck on the attack, despite their limited form.
I fail to even get to the favorites, with Alberto Contador taking the stage and the Yellow Jersey.
Take a look at how the stage unfolded below.
