With television coverage focused solely on the battle for final podium places, audiences would miss two more outstanding performances by the riders that animated the 97th Tour de France Prologue.

Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia), the young German who sat in the hot seat for hours before Cancellara bested his time in the Prologue, had the benefit of the later start time on the 52km Stage 19 Individual Time Trial. Martin would set the fastest time at the first intermediate checkpoint, but he was unable to match the World Champion for the remainder of the race. But, he was not alone.

Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) sat comfortably on the leader's perch all day after seeing Martin's finish as no one would even pose a serious threat to his time of 1:00:56. Ultimately, Martin would finish in second, while teammate Bert Grabsch, another early starter, finished in third.

Stage 19 Results
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia
3. Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia

The battle for podium places went relatively as expected. Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) fought valiantly, but was unable to make up the 8 second gap to Alberto Contador (Team Astana) to reclaim the maillot jaune. The Luxembourger would lose thirty-one seconds to Contador, which coincidentally was the gap between the two when a mechanical felled Schleck in the mountains.

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) proved to be the better time trialist between he and Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi). The quiet Russian easily made up the 21 second gap to Sanchez, who had an off-day, to take the final podium spot in Paris.

General Classification After Stage 19
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:39
3. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:01
4. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:03:40
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:06:54
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:09:31
7. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:10:15
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:11:37
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:11:54
10. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:12:02

Jersey Leaders After Stage 19
maillot jaune - Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
maillot vert - Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 20 -Longjumeau to Paris (102.5km)
The final stage and promenade in Paris...

Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

After several long days slogging up mountains, the sprinters finally had another opportunity to show their wares.

Despite a break of four — Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank), Jerome Pineau (Quick Step), Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJ) and Daniel Oss (Liquigas) — getting off the front early on the stage and Oss' unwillingness to relent in the closing kilometers, the 198km Stage 18 from Salies-de-Bearn to Bordeaux ended in a bunch sprint, or at least it started out that way.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) was simply untouchable in the run-up into the line. The Isle of Man rider would have the opportunity to look back three times in the closing meters to assess his would be competition before celebrating his fourth victory in this year's Tour and 14th overall in his young career.

Julian Dean (Garmin - Transitions) and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) finished in second and third, respectively. By virtue of his third place finish, Petacchi reclaimed ownership of the maillot vert from Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team).

Stage 18 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Transitions
3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

General Classification After Stage 18
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:08
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:03:32
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:03:53
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:05:27
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:06:41
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:07:03
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:09:18
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:10:12
10. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:10:37

Jersey Leaders After Stage 18
maillot jaune - Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
maillot vert - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 19 -Bordeaux to Pauillac (52km)

Photo: Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images

The final, and perhaps decisive, mountain stage of the 97th Tour de France was billed as the dual on the Tourmalet.

With the steep inclines and foggy weather serving as the background, this year's top two riders, Alberto Contador (Astana) and Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) stood toe-to-toe on the fabled mountain pass as thousands of crazed cycling fans and even a herd of sheep tuned in in hopes of a memorable spectacle.

What ensued was a battle reminiscent of Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault in 1986 as maillot jaune wearer, Contador, metered every twitch and refused to cede a single second to Schleck. Though Schleck could never be confused with the Badger, or Contador for Lemond for that matter, Schleck worked relentlessly to shake the Spaniard from his wheel. The Luxembourger never laid down a massive attack, such as the one that saw him drop his chain on Stage 15, which might have disappointed some fans, but he would nonetheless garner his second stage win in this year's Tour.

Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha) rounded out the day's podium in third.

Stage 17 Results
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha

Tooting His Own Horn

Those who envisioned Chris Horner in the top ten of the General Classification as well as being the highest placed Team RadioShack rider by Tour's end certainly have cause to celebrate.

The 38-year old, who was left off of last year's Tour de France squad, solidified his place on the GC by finishing 1:45 in arrears to Schleck and Contador.

General Classification After Stage 17
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:08
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:03:32
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:03:53
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:05:27
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:06:41
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:07:03
8. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:09:18
9. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:10:12
10. Christopher Horner (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:10:37

Jersey Leaders After Stage 17
maillot jaune - Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 18 -Salies-de-Béarn to Bordeaux (198km)The sprinters will finally be able to stretch their legs after biding their time in the comfort of the autobus.

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

On undoubtedly the hardest climbing stage of the 97th Tour de France, which featured the infamous "Circle of Death" in the Col de Peyresourde, Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and Col d'Aubisque, the finale came down to a bunch sprint among nine gamely but tired breakaway companions.

Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) proved to be the fastest at day's end, but sentiments were certainly with the former 7-time Tour champion, Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack), who looked to push the sun back up into the sky just one more time in his illustrious cycling career.

The winning selection, which included Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Ruben Plaza Molina and Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Christopher Horner and Armstrong (Team Radioshack), Quick Step teammates, Carlos Barredo Llamazales and Jurgen Van De Walle, and Fedrigo formed shortly before the ascent of the Tourmalet, although Armstrong, Horner and Barredo were among the the day's initial escapees at the 5km mark.

After the group cleared the final climb of the day, the Col d'Aubisque, Barredo attempted to go solo. Ultimately 44km proved too great a distance as the Quick Step rider was caught within the final 5km and did not contest the sprint finish. The move; however, forced Team RadioShack and Caisse d'Epargne to expend more energy than they had hoped for in the chase.

Inside the flamme rouge, Armstrong was one of the first to take out the sprint. But after seeing Fedrigo fly by and finding his own tank empty, a disappointed Armstrong sat up to take in the finale of what would most likely be his final attempt at Tour glory.

Fedrigo would pip countryman Casar and Spaniard Molina at the line to win the epic and claim his third Tour de France victory of his career.

Stage 16 Results
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
2. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
3. Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne

General Classification After Stage 16
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
2. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 0:00:08
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:00
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:13
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:39
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:05:01
7. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:05:25
8. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:45
9. Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:07:12
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions - 0:07:51

Jersey Leaders After Stage 16
maillot jaune - Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Rest Day #2; Thrusday - Stage 17 -Pau to Col du Tourmalet (174km)

Sprinting is a rough and tumble business. It is not for the faint of heart nor is it for those who lack intestinal fortitude.

Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Transitions), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Robbie McEwen (Omega-Pharma Lotto), among others are first to come to mind when searching for that type of swashbuckling mentality in the professional peloton.

But there are also those sprinters like Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia) and Julian Dean (Garmin-Transitions) who carry as much bravado, but are rarely seen because of their roles as lead-out men.

Though Cavendish would garner all the well deserved accolades after taking the eleventh stage in the 97th edition of the Tour de France, his third win of this year's race and 13th overall in his career, the more significant story of the day lay in how he got to the podium.

In the chaotic build-up to the sprint finish, Renshaw broke out the kitchen sink to ensure his sprint leader's safe passage to the line. The relatively unseen and quiet Renshaw would throw a haymaker of a headbutt in the direction of Dean to prevent the Garmin-Transitions' rider from impeding his path. The scuffle ultimately opened up the hole to which Cavendish slid through, but it also left HTC-Columbia without a valuable piece in the lead-outs and in the hills as Renshaw was thrown out of the race for his actions.

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) would take second and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) third.

Stage 11 Results
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions

Bing Me

Follow the Tour de France with one the more interesting mashables of social networking tools, Twitter and Bing.

General Classification After Stage 11
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:00:41
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:45
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:58
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:03:59
7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:04:22
8. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0:04:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:08
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:05:09

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) climbs back into the lead of the maillot vert , while Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step) reclaimed the maillot pois-a-rouges.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 11
maillot jaune - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
maillot à pois rouges - Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 12 -Bourge-de-Péage to Mende (210.5km)
Another hilly day. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com

This post sponsored by Bing

Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Atlanta – Team Type 1 will send a mix of proven climbers and the most successful rider with Type 1 diabetes in professional cycling to China for the Tour of Qinghai Lake.
King of the Mountains champions Thomas Rabou (Amgen Tour of California) and Davide Frattini (Redlands Bicycle Classic) will be joined by Javier Megias, one of four riders on the Team Type 1 men's professional squad who has Type 1 diabetes. Megias was a top 10 finisher at last month's TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship and placed second on Stage 5 at the Tour de Beauce in Canada.

"Javier's form is getting better and better," Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said. "He's beginning to show big progress."

Rounding out the rest of the team's six-man roster for the nine-stage, 724-mile (1,166 kilometers) race are Tour of Maroc stage winner Valeriy Kobzarenko and Scott Stewart and Martin Verschoor. The race begins Saturday with a criterium that does not count toward the overall classification.

Team Type 1 Assistant Director Michael Carter, who will direct the team in China, said as a UCI “2.HC” category event, the Tour of Qinghai Lake is the most important race – outside of the Tour de France – at this time of year. It is also one of the hardest.

"The high altitudes and extreme temperature fluctuations impact the riders like no other race in the world," Carter said. "This is truly a 'tough man’s race,' not just to win, but also just to finish."

Team Type 1 experienced a wealth of success over the weekend in Northern California, with Ken Hanson repeating as champion Saturday at the San Rafael Twilight Criterium and Shawn Milne winning the Lodi Cycle Fest criterium on Sunday.

In China, Team Type 1 will look to Kobzarenko for the overall classification, while also hunting for stage wins.

"We will rely on Frattini, Megias and Rabou to be strong on the long, arduous climbing stages," Carter said. "For the field sprints, we will look to Verschoor and Kobzarenko. However, the team will rally behind whomever shows the best conditioning."

Allar sprints to 2nd at Iron Hill Twilight; Cash and Roettger contest NRC's Grand Cycling Classic

Erica Allar set her sights on the USA Crits Series overall leader’s jersey after finishing third at Athens Terrapin Twilights. Allar raced Athens, the first of the five races that make up the women’s series, in April. Three months later, she sprinted to second at the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium in West Chester, PA and snagged the leader’s jersey. “I’m excited have the jersey,” said Allar. “I can’t pretend I didn’t want to win the race, but the jersey was the main objective. I’m happy to have the jersey heading into Presby [Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium] which is a hometown race.”

“The crowds were absolutely phenomenal,” noted Allar. “There were thousands and thousands and thousands of people out there tonight. It was awesome.” The women’s field treated the spectators to fireworks. The New Zealand National Team, Bike NZ, brought four riders to the race. “They had the numbers,” explained Allar, “I believe they were the pursuit team. It was pretty apparent that they wanted to get someone off the front, and with their track racing background, I knew that if they got someone off solo, they could stay away. This put solo riders like myself on the defensive.”

The four-corner criterium covered .8 miles with a long home and back stretch separated by two short one-block stretches. “The course was not a sleigh ride,” commented Allar. “The short blocks kept the pace very high, and turns three and four were pretty technical. Especially turn three.”

Allar reports that she went from the gun. Her initial goal was to keep the pace high in an effort to thin out the field. “On the first lap, I went to the front, and I drilled it,” said Allar. “It was an aggressive move.” Allar reports that she remained active throughout the race as she covered repeated attacks from Bike NZ and various solo riders. “Unfortunately because Bike NZ had the numbers, I couldn’t cover absolutely everything,” she said. “I covered and covered and covered some more. Lauren Ellis (Bike NZ) got off the front while I took a moment to recover, so I wasn’t able to cover that particular move. In the end, that was the move that stuck.

In the race for second, Allar took control of the final lap. She lead through the final two turns. “I felt that it was necessary to go through corner three first,” explained Allar. “It was so technical. The final stretch was well over 300m, so I held off winding up until I saw Sarah Caravella (Team CARD) moving up on the right. That’s when I knew to kick it for the [field sprint] win.” Caravella rounded out the podium for third.

Two races remain in the USA Crits Series. Erica Allar will look to defend the leader’s jersey with a full Team Vera Bradley Foundation squad at Presbyterian Hospital Invitation Criterium in Charlotte, NC. The women’s edition of USA Crits Series concludes at Chris Thater Memorial in Binghamton, NY.

While Allar put her stamp on the USA Crits Series, Carrie Cash and guest rider (and team designer) Chris Roettger turned their attention the NRC circuit. The Grand Cycling Classic in Grand Rapids, MI drew a small but formidable field that included four riders from TIBCO, Cath Cheatley (Colavita-Baci) and Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom).

Cash described the race as “active, aggressive and fast-paced.” Attacks were frequent but no break gained more than ten seconds. “We could always see the break going into a turn,” explained Cash. “Each break was within striking distance. We wanted to be in moves but with just us, we had be selective with what we could cover. Chris [Roettger] went with Meredith [Miller] (TIBCO) once, and that got shut down pretty quickly. Later she launched on her own, and Meredith brought her back. Jo [Kiesanowski] (TIBCO) timed her attack perfectly, and when Cath [Cheatley] joined her, I knew that we might have just seen the winning move go up the road.”

Cash’s instincts were right. The breakaway duo of Kiesanowski and Cheatley proved to be the right combination, and the field began to prepare to sprint for third. Cash describes a chaotic finish. “With two to go, I moved into the top five,” said Cash. “Meredith lit it up on the front and peeled off after the final corner. Laura [Van Gilder] launched with 300 meters to go. Nicole [Freedman] (Wheelworks Racing) had attacked with three turns to go. I thought we soaked her up going into the last turn, but she was on the right side all way against the barriers. I somehow just missed her.”

Van Gilder won the field sprint for the final podium spot. Freedman narrowly beat out Cash for fourth place. Cash ended the day in fifth. Roettger took eighth.

With the sprinters handling the big criteriums of the day, three other Team Vera Bradley Foundation riders contested local races. Carla Swart won the road race at the Piney Flats Omnium in Piney Flats, TN. Alison Powers and Anne Samplonious went fourth and fifth at the North Boulder Criterium in Boulder, CO.

Next on the NRC calendar for the team will be the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, OR on July 20-25.

Clayton Barrows, Jackie Simes, and Lauren Ellis winners this past weekend

Athens, GA - From an American main street to America's Main Street, USA CRITS rolled through two cities for a back-to-back weekend of criterium action. Top USA CRITS racers battled it out in West Chester, Pennsylvania and on Pennsylvania Avenue for crucial USA CRITS Series points.

At the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, Clayton Barrows (AXA/Equitable) and Lauren Ellis (BikeNZ) came out on top, while Jackie Simes of Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita won the Capital Criterium. Team Vera Bradley Foundation's Erica Allar took over the lead in the women's overall previously held by Tiffany Pezzulo (Treads.com/DFT), while Barrow's took the men's lead away from Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's).

At the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, small breaks tried to get away in the women's race with none sticking until after the halfway mark, when Ellis took a flyer off the front. Ellis could not be drawn back in and maintained about 30 seconds on the field all the way to the finish. Allar won the field sprint for 2nd place and Sarah Caravella (Team CARD) finished on the podium for a second time at Iron Hill to finish 3rd.

The men's Iron Hill Twilight is notorious for breakaways lapping the field and this year was no exception. A break of 13 rode away from the field and lapped the peloton just after the halfway mark. Included in the breakaway was 2008 Iron Hill winner and 2009 USA CRITS winner Mark Hekman, current overall leader Clayton Barrows, Jamis-Sutter Home teammates Annibal Barrajo and Guido Palma, Bahati Foundation's Bobby Lea, and Kelly Benefit Strategies' Scott Zwizanski.

Another break of ten riders, which included eight of the original breakaway members, took off and was able to stay away to the finish of the race. 2007 and 2008 USA CRITS Overall Champions Frank Travieso (Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita) and Yosvany Falcon (Bahati Foundation) were the two riders who were not in the original breakaway but were able to make the second selection and help their teammates in the final sprint. With one lap to go Jamis and Bahati Foundation set-up a leadout, with Travieso winning the sprint to the line, but it was Barrows who won the race. Hekman got caught in a crash in the last turn but was able to hold off the charging peloton for an eighth place finish.

"I love West Chester. I love this crowd. And you gotta love a race who's title sponsor is a beer brewery," said an ecstatic Barrows after the race. Barrows completed his podium climb with a second, third, and first place finish over the last three races. Lea came in second and Palma rounded out the top three.

Iron Hill Twilight Criterium Women's Results
1. Lauren Ellis (BikeNZ)
2. Erica Allar (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
3. Sarah Caravella (Team CARD)

Women's USA CRITS Overall Leaders presented by Champion System
1. Erica Allar (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
2. Tiffany Pezzulo (Treads.com/DFT)
3. Kacey Manderfield (Cycle Loft)

Women's Maxxis Best Young Rider presented by Cyclingnews.com
Kacey Manderfield (Cycle Loft)

Women's Sportsbase Online Lap Leader presented by VeloNews
Lauren Ellis (BikeNZ)

Iron Hill Twilight Criterium Men's Results
1. Clayton Barrows (AXA/Equitable)
2. Bobby Lea (Bahati Foundation)
3. Guido Palma (Jamis-Sutter Home p/b Colavita)

The Capital Criterium brought the traveling circus that is USA CRITS to the most famous street in the country. With the Capitol serving as an impressive backdrop and temperatures swelling to 100 degrees, this was going to be a hotly-contested race. A small break was established after the mid-race prime but was caught with only 5 or 6 laps to go but not before Lea and Simes launched themselves out of that breakaway to never be seen again by the field.

The two lone riders were able to stay away and sprint to the finish mano y mano. Lea would have to settle for second for the second time in two days as it was Simes who took the win and appropriately placed the first-family of American cycling on the podium 75 years after his grandfather, Jackie Simes, Jr. won the National Capital Open.

Travieso won the field sprint, beating out friend and former teammate Falcon. Jamis-Sutter Home ended up placing three riders in the top five. Chad Andrews, voice of the USA CRITS, asked Travieso if he was disappointed with his result. "Are you kidding? We won the race, and I placed third," said Travieso. "It was a perfect day." Current USA CRITS Overall Leader Barrows finished 16th on the day.

Capital Criterium Men's Results
1. Jackie Simes (Jamis-Sutter Home p/b Colavita)
2. Bobby Lea (Bahati Foundation)
3. Frank Travieso (Jamis-Sutter Home p/b Colavita)

Standings after 5 events:
Men's USA CRITS Overall Leaders presented by Champion System
1. Clayton Barrows (AXA/Equitable)
2. Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's)
3. Neil Bezdek (Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's)

Men's Maxxis Best Young Rider presented by Cyclingnews.com
Isaac Howe (Mountain Khakis fueled by Jittery Joe's)

Men's Sportsbase Online Lap Leader presented by VeloNews
Hilton Clarke (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis)

Next up:
Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium (Men's points-earning event only)
July 17, 2010
Boise, ID

Presbyterian Hospital Invitational (Men and Women)
August 7, 2010
Charlotte, NC

To say that Team Radioshack has had a less than stellar performance at the 97th Tour de France, may be a bit of an understatement. With Lance Armstrong's role roughly reduced to a supporting one and with Levi Leipheimer losing more time to Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) and former teammate, Alberto Contador (Astana), the American squad has had little, if anything, to cheer about.

However, that all changed on Wednesday as Sergio Paulinho took the two-up sprint victory over Vasili Kiryienka (Caisse d'Epargne) and won the 179km Stage 10 from Chambery to Gap.

Involved in a six-man break that the peloton was more than content to let go, Paulinho, Kiryienka, Dries Devenyns (Quick Step), Pierre Rolland (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Mario Aerts (Omega Pharma-Lotto), and Maxime Bouet (AG2R La Mondiale) built a lead that breached the 11 minute mark at one point in the race.

As the group neared the finale in Gap, the hopes of a French victory on Bastille Day were quickly dashed as first Bouet and then Rolland finally cracked. Belarus' Kiryienka; however, proved to be a tougher nut to crack. The Caisse d'Epargne rider would stay with Paulinho to the bitter end before he too succumbed and was outmaneuvered by the Portuguese rider.

With thumb entrenched firmly in mouth, Paulinho cruised easily across the line for a much needed stage win.

"This is a victory we've been looking for for a while, after all the bad luck we had in the first week," said Paulinho afterward. "I hope this victory gives morale back to our team."

Stage 10 Results
1. Sergio Paulinho (Por) Team Radioshack
2. Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne
3. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step

No real movement in the top end of the General Classification, but Robbie Hunter (Team Garmin-Transitions) crashed during Stage 10 of the 2010 Tour de France. He was examined at a local hospital and x-rays show that he sustained a small radial head fracture to his elbow. He plans to start Stage 11.

General Classification After Stage 10
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:00:41
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:45
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:58
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:03:59
7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:04:22
8. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0:04:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:08
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:05:09

Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) reclaims the polka-dot mountains jersey, while Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) holds onto the green points jersey by a slim margin.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 10
maillot jaune - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 11 - Sisteron to Bourg-lès-Valence (184.5km
After several days of climbing, the sprinters will once again have their day in the sun. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com.

Photo: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Française des Jeux's Sandy Casar won the ninth stage of the 97th Tour de France from Morzine-Avoriaz to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, but his victory was not without some anxious moments as a show of strength by the top two contenders almost ruined the 31-year old Frenchman's day.

A group of 10 including current mountains and points jersey leaders, Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) and Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team), Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), Cyril Gautier (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne), José Ivan Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne), Christophe Moreau (Caisse d'Epargne), Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Anthony Charteau (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Johannes Frohlinger (Milram), formed the day's initial selection early during the 204.5km stage. The group was later joined by Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini) to make it a dirty dozen.

But with difficult passes of the Col de la Colombière, Col des Aravis, Col des Saises, and Col de la Madeleine still remaining along the route, the group eventually whittled down to the fabulous five of Casar, Caisse d'Epargne teammates León Sánchez and Moreau, Cunego, and Charteau.

The quintet worked well together and nearly make it to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne alone to contest for the day's placing, but vicious attacks by Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Alberto Contador (Astana), not only relegated other would be contenders farther behind, but also enabled the trio to bridge the gap to the leaders.

The Olympic champion, Sanchez, was the first to make contact. He would help drive the break and put Moreau into serious difficulty, leaving the Frenchman in no-man's land. But with Contador and Schleck closing fast behind, Moreau found new life and company to help shepherd him to the finish line.

In the closing meters, the quintet surprisingly grew into an octet before Casar, Leon Sanchez, and Cunego finally restored some order and took the top three placings.

Stage 9 Results
1. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
2. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
3. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

For all of his aggression in the high mountains, Schleck displaced a pained Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who gamely dealt with a fractured left elbow, atop the General Classification.

General Classification After Stage 9
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana - 0:00:41
3. Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi - 0:02:45
4. Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 0:02:58
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto - 0:03:31
6. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack - 0:03:59
7. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank - 0:04:22
8. Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne - 0:04:41
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha - 0:05:08
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo - 0:05:09

Despite being in a tie with Jerome Pineau for the mountains competition, Anthony Charteau will wear the maillot pois-a-rouges on Stage 10.

Jersey Leaders After Stage 9
maillot jaune - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
maillot vert - Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
maillot à pois rouges - Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
maillot blanc - Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

Next: Stage 10 -Chambéry to Gap (179km)
A medium mountain stage could once again favor a breakaway or even bring out the sprinters. Follow our LIVE Tour de France coverage on LIVESTRONG.com.

Photo: Pascal Pavani/AFP/Getty Images