Greig Leach

Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) went out on the attack on the first climb of the day up the Port de la Bonaigua, surprising the whole of the peloton and putting Chris Froome's team into a bit of bother. However, by the time they were near the top of the long climb, Contador was already sliding back through the ranks of the main body of the race. As he came along side Tour veteran, Frank Schleck (Trek-Segafredo) the man from Luxembourg reached out to let the Spaniard know just how impressed he was with the attempt. Little did any of us know at the time, that this could have been Schleck saying goodbye to the man who has won all three of the Grand Tours. Even before the next climb of the day, Contador pulled over to the side of the road and pulled out of the 103rd Tour de France. He was said to have awoken with a fever this morning. Perhaps the attack with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was a final test to see if he would be able to continue, the answer must have been, "No."