Tour de France 2010 - part two - Big Shots

Tour de France 2010 - part two

Friends and rivals Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck gave cycling fans one of the all-time great battles in the 2010 Tour de France, with Contador winning by the fourth-smallest margin in Tour history. Just 31 seconds separated the pair in a three-week race that covered over 2000 miles. The race saw five stage wins by British sprinter Mark Cavendish, chaos on the cobbles in stage 3 (see link for part one below), the last ride of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, and a duel on the Tourmalet that will be remembered for generations. Perhaps the best part of the Contador-Schleck rivalry (both men topped the podium in last year's Tour as well) is that they're both young and should treat us to more battles for years to come. ( 34 photos total)

Overall leader Alberto Contador (right) and rival Andy Schleck waged an epic battle on the slopes of the Tourmalet pass in dense fog during stage 17 of the Tour de France July 22. Neither man could drop the other despite ferocious attacks. (AP Photo/Bernard Papon/POOL)

Fabian Cancellara (right) and Thor Hushovd (left) look at a postman performer joking on Cancellera's bike July 9 prior to the start of stage 6 between Montargis and Gueugnon. (PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images) #

The bike of Fabian Cancellara gets checked by a team mechanic July 9 near the end of stage six. (PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images) #

The peloton passes near La Chapelle-Saint-Andre during stage six July 9. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) #

A clown encourages riders as the peloton passes July 9. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) #

Daniel Lloyd of Cervelo TestTeam carries water bottles to teammates in stage six July 9 in Gueugnon. Stage six was the longest in this year's Tour. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

A boy chases the peloton in Gueugnon July 9. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Team employees wait with food for riders in the feed zone July 9 in Gueugnon. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Sylvain Chavanel gets a cooling spray by his team director during stage seven between Tournus and Station des Rousses July 10. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) #

Rui Costa fights with Carlos Barredo (foreground) July 9 at the end of stage six. (Lauten, Daniel Sannum/AFP/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck celebrates on the finish line as he beats Samuel Sanchez July 11 on stage eight between Les Rousses and the Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images) #

Cyclists read the morning papers before they depart Morzine Avoriaz for the start of stage nine July 13 . (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

A helicopter follows the peloton during stage nine July 13. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) #

Damien Monier crosses the finish following the end of stage nine July 13. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Fans cheer Andy Schleck (in the leader's yellow jersey), Jerome Pineau (in the best climber's polka dot jersey), and Thor Hushovd (in the best sprinter's green jersey) as they wait for the start before stage ten July 14. (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck, wearing the leader's yellow jersey, speeds down Noyer pass during stage ten between Chambery and Gap July 14. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) #

Fans watch the peloton pass July 14 in Gap. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck looks at a lamb during a photo opportunity before the start of stage 11between Sisteron and Bourg-les-Valence July 15. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) #

The peloton crosses a bridge during stage 12 between Bourg-de-Peage and Mende July 16. (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images) #

Fans cheer as Alexandre Vinokourov rides up a final climb to place third on stage 12 July 16 in Mende. The stage, which started in Bourg-de-Peage, included the La Croix Neuve pass which is nearly 1.2 miles in length with an average gradient of more than 10%. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Motorcycles lead the peloton during stage 13 between Rodez and Revel July 17. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) #

The peloton rides in a canyon during stage 14 between Revel and Ax Trois Domaines July 18. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) #

The peloton passes a field of sunflowers during stage 14 July 18. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images) #

AG2R team rider Christophe Riblon celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win stage 14 in Ax-3 Domaines July 18. (REUTERS/Francois Lenoir) #

The peloton cruises through the Mas d'Azil cave during stage 15 between Pamiers and Bagneres-de-Luchon July 19. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) #

A woman applauds as the peloton passes during stage 15 between Pamiers and Bagneres-de-Luchon in the Pyrenees region July 19. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) #

Andy Schleck (left) and Alberto Contador (in the leader's yellow jersey) duel up a climb during stage 16 July 20 in Pau. The stage, between Bagneres-de-Luchon and Pau, featured four major climbs including the Col du Tourmalet. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Fans cheer the peloton near the top of the Col du Tourmalet during stage 16 July 20. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck (left), Alberto Contador (center) and Jose Ivan Gutierrez speed down Aubisque pass during stage 16 in the Pyrenees region July 20. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) #

Sheep join the peloton during stage 17 between Pau and the Tourmalet July 22. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel) #

Spectators run alongside Andy Schleck (in white) and Alberto Contador as they climb the Tourmalet in dense fog during stage 17 July 22. (AP Photo/Bernard Papon/POOL) #

Andy Schleck (left) checks on rival Alberto Contador during a series of attacks on the Tourmalet July 22. Schleck accelerated 15 times during the epic duel, but could not ride Contador off his wheel. (REUTERS/Frederic Mons/Pool) #

Stage winner Andy Schleck (left) and overall leader Alberto Contador embrace after their epic battle on the Tourmalet pass July 22. Unable to gain time on Contador in the last mountain stage, Schleck's chances for overall victory slipped away. (AP Photo/Bas Czerwinski) #

Mark Cavendish hugs a coach at the finish line July 23 in Bordeaux after winning stage 18. Cavendish won five stages in the 2010 tour. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck rests and is comforted by a member of his team at the end of the individual time-trial and 19th stage. He failed to catch winner Alberto Contador on the windy course and had to settle for second place in the Tour. (NATHALIE MAGNIEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

Andy Schleck (left) congratulates Alberto Contador at the start of the 20th and final stage from Longjumeau to the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 25. (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) #

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Tour de France 2010 - part two