So despite being a mountain stage, the climbers and the leaders of the general classification seemed to be thinking ahead to the ‘high mountain’ stages of the next two days. Contador did attack, seemingly as much testing out his rivals as anything. Evans covered every move with an economy of effort that suggests he’s ready to protect the time his has over the other main contenders, pushing on to take 21 seconds out of Contador and Samuel Sanchez and over a minute from Andy Schleck on what’s supposed to be the Schleck’s preferred racing terrain.
But with bigger mountain stages to come Andy Schleck claimed to unperterbed. Meanwhile that left the door open for breakaway stage win. Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal led over the final climb, but once Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen, of Team Sky, caught the Garmin-Cervello rider, that gave the pursuing Thor Hushovd the green light to chase down the leaders.
As a team mate of Ryder Hesjedal, Hushovd would have left his colleague out in front if he was heading for a lone stage win. But now Hushovd proceeded to give a master class in mountain descending. Reaching speeds of almost 70mph Hushovd caught the leaders and outwitted fellow Norwegian Boasson Hagen to take the stage, his second of the Tour and his first ever mountain stage victory. The big Norwegian is starting to rival Voeckler as man of the Tour. But not quite. The Frenchman even tried to stay with Contador today and lost just 15 seconds, to remain in yellow.
