Races Road Rolland wins on the Alpe d'Huez at end of epic stage By Peter Cossins published 22 July 2011 Andy Schleck rides into yellow as Contador's raid fails Comments Race Home Stages Stage 1 191km | Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts - Mont des Alouettes Les Herbiers Stage 2 23km | Les Essarts (TTT) - Stage 3 198km | Olonne-sur-Mer - Redon Stage 4 172km | Lorient - Mûr-de-Bretagne Stage 5 158km | Carhaix - Cap Fréhel Stage 6 226km | Dinan - Lisieux Stage 7 215km | Le Mans - Châteauroux Stage 8 190km | Aigurande - Super-Besse Sancy Stage 9 208km | Issoire - Saint-Flour Rest Day 1 - Stage 10 161km | Aurillac - Carmaux Stage 11 168km | Blaye-les-Mines - Lavaur Stage 12 209km | Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden Stage 13 156km | Pau - Lourdes Stage 14 168km | Saint-Gaudens - Plateau de Beille Stage 15 187km | Limoux - Montpellier Rest Day 2 - Stage 16 163km | Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Gap Stage 17 179km | Gap - Pinerolo Stage 18 200.5km | Pinerolo - Galibier Serre-Chevalier Stage 19 109km | Modane - Alpe-d’Huez Stage 20 42.5km | Grenoble (ITT) - Stage 21 160km | Créteil - Paris Champs-Élysées View all Stages Contenders Race history Start list Image 1 of 94Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar) dropped Alberto Contador, and Samuel Sanchez to win France's first stage of the race(Image credit: Sirotti)Pierre Rolland takes the victory atop Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: AFP Photo)Andy Schleck in yellow after stage 19(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez wrapped up the king of the mountains classification on Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Pierre Rolland took the first French stage victory of the 2011 Tour de France.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Ivan Basso leads Levi Leipheimer to the line.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez had two things in mind: the win on Alpe d'Huez and the mountains jersey.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Cadel Evans rode another patient, calculating stage to keep his rivals in sight.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Alberto Contador leads the escape group on the Galibier.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck takes over the pace making(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez descended to the lead group on the Galibier(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Pierre Rolland celebrates his Alpe d'Huez triumph(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez came away with the Tour's polka dot jersey(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Contador marks Rolland in the finale of the Alpe d'Huez climb(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Pierre Rolland (Europcar) became the first Frenchman to win on Alpe d'Huez since Bernard Hinault.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Sanchez congratulates winner Pierre Rolland.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Frank Schleck suffers on the stage to Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck is happy with his prize.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Cadel Evans gules himself to the wheel of Andy Schleck(Image credit: Bettini Photo)The Schleck brothers tried to break Cadel Evans but couldn't(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Ivan Basso chasing down the mountain.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)There's no denying that Alberto Contador suffered on the Alpe d'Huez.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Jens Voigt (Leopard Trek) on his way to the finish(Image credit: Sirotti)Pierre Rolland takes a famous win atop Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Sirotti)Pierre Rolland takes a famous win atop Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Sirotti)Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) in the maillot jaune, with 57 seconds on Cadel Evans heading into the time trial(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Pierre Rolland (Europcar) took over the best young rider's classification on Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador head for the podium on the Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck attacks the descent of the Col du Galibier(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Alberto Contador attacked the Col du Telegraphe and pulled away the favourites(Image credit: Bettini Photo)The Liquigas-Cannondale train works for Ivan Basso(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Thomas Voeckler chased alone for ages until he finally gave up (Image credit: Bettini Photo)Cadel Evans went back to the peloton after a mechanical and then led the chase on the Telegraphe.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez made it up to the leaders on the Alpe d'Huez, but faded in the finale.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) takes second behind Rolland(Image credit: Sirotti)Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) takes third on the stage(Image credit: Sirotti)Robert Gesink (Rabobank) hasn't recovered from his injuries(Image credit: Sirotti)Robert Gesink (Rabobank) has had a poor Tour de France(Image credit: Sirotti)David Moncoutie worked hard to keep Rein Taaramae in white but it wasn't enough(Image credit: Sirotti)Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step)(Image credit: Sirotti)Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) salutes the Dutch crowds(Image credit: Sirotti)Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) salutes the Dutch crowds(Image credit: Sirotti)Cadel Evans (BMC) will ride for yellow in tomorrow's TT(Image credit: Sirotti)Peter Velits (HTC-Highroad) hangs on for fourth(Image credit: Sirotti)Cadel Evans (BMC) answered all the attacks from the Schlecks and even tried his own(Image credit: Sirotti)The chasers sprint for the line(Image credit: Sirotti)Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) went out fighting(Image credit: Sirotti)Alberto Contador climbed the Galibier in the presence of Andy Schleck, Rui Costa and Christophe Riblon(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) holds less than a minute over his brother and Cadel Evans(Image credit: Sirotti)Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) on the podium, about to take yellow(Image credit: Sirotti)Pierre Rolland (Team Europcar) wins his first Tour de France stage win(Image credit: Sirotti)Damiano Cunego (Lampre - ISD) had nothing left at the finish(Image credit: Sirotti)Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) lost yellow despite a valiant effort(Image credit: Sirotti)Ten Dam (Rabobank) salutes the Dutch fans on the final climb(Image credit: Sirotti)Simon Gerrans (Team Sky) nears the finish(Image credit: Sirotti)Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) tried to set the Schlecks up on the final climb(Image credit: Sirotti)24 hours after his stage win Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) was in yellow(Image credit: Sirotti)Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) pulls on yellow(Image credit: Sirotti)Samuel Sanchez took over the lead in the KOM competition and will keep itA(Image credit: Sirotti)Contador pushes the pace on the Col du Galibier(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Damiano Cunego is satisfied with his performance in this year's Tour de France.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Alberto Contador was forced to weave through the crazed fans on the Alpe d'Huez(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Andy Schleck claimed the yellow jersey(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Alberto Contador gained only the most aggressive rider's prize for his efforts.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Thomas Voeckler chases alone on the Galibier(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Alberto Contador's only podium appearance in this year's Tour was a most aggressive rider prize on the Alpe d'Huez stage.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Contador keeps an eye on his followers.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Voeckler (Europcar) had no answer when Contador attacked for the second time(Image credit: Sirotti)Thomas Voeckler's stint in the yellow jersey is now over(Image credit: Sirotti)Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) had a difficult day and slipped out of the white jersey(Image credit: Sirotti)Peter Velits (HTC) finished fourth on the stage(Image credit: Sirotti)Rolland ditches Sanchez and Contador(Image credit: Sirotti)Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank) didn't give in without a fight(Image credit: Sirotti)Rolland, Contador and Sanchez near the end of an epic stage(Image credit: Sirotti)Rolland, Contador and Sanchez near the end of an epic stage(Image credit: Sirotti)