Yesterday's race to and up the Alpe d'Huez is likely to be remembered as a legendary stage, especially as in Pierre Rolland it featured a French win for the first time this Tour and on top of the famous Alpe. The racing by the favourites started on the lower slopes of the Col du Télégraphe when Contador attacked. Cadel Evans was unlucky to have had a mechanical problem soon after and lost time when he had to change bikes. However, despite the best efforts of Alberto everything came back together at Bourg d'Oisans at the foot of the Alpe d'Huez. Contador attacked again got away and looked to be heading for the stage victory having passed Pierre Rolland, team mate of Thomas Voeckler, who had been allowed to attack just before the start of the climb. However, as Contador started to fade, Samuel Sánchez and Rolland caught Contador. Soon the Frenchman proved to be stronger than the two Spaniards and Pierre rode away for a famous first Tour stage victory.

Cadel Evans and the two Schlecks finished together with Andy taking the Yellow as Thomas Voeckler had been unable to follow the pace of the leaders up the Alpe. Even so he has done an amazing job defending Yellow since he won the jersey in Saint-Flour.

Mark Cavendish and most of the rest of the field just failed to make the cut but were reinstated. However, the riders all lost 20 points off their Green Jersey totals. Mark Cavendish now has 280, Rojas 265 and Gilbert 230 points. Mark should still win the Green but it is not quite as comfortable for him as it was before these two brutal Alpine stages.

Stage 20 Gap to Gap Individual Time Trial 42.5k

So it is has come down to time trial to decide the outcome of the 2011 Tour. Andy Schleck has 53 seconds on brother Frank and 57 on Cadel Evans, who starts as favourite to overhaul Andy. However, in the Bordeaux time trial last year Andy did much better than expected, so it could well be very tight. I'd like to see Cadel win but Andy Schleck might just hang on.

'Sculpture' from the finishing line of last year's time trial at Pauillac

The Schleck brothers have three days in the Alps to save their Tour. If they can't break the stalemate then their ambitions will be swept away in the Grenoble Time Trial by Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans. To ensure victory for either Andy or Frank they need to put in at least two minutes to their principal rivals. Not forgetting that Thomas Voeckler still leads the race by 1.49 from Frank Schleck. I'll happily admit that I undersestimated Voeckler's ability when I thought he would lose the Yellow Jersey yesterday. He raced as a champion – sadly the others, especially the Schlecks, didn't.

The Schlecks had their team ride at the front for the last 60k of the race. For all of their efforts they had a gain of just two seconds by Andy Schleck. If, an unlikely event, I was in the Schlecks' Leopard-Trek team, I would want to know why I had been asked to expend all that energy when they weren't prepared to put in a full bloodied attack on the climb to Plateau de Beille. The two brothers seem far too cautious and timid – afraid to really go for it. Contador had difficulty responding to an early tentative attack by Andy Schleck but they failed to press their advantage, so Alberto remains in contention.

The Schlecks claim it will be different in the Alps. Maybe? But it is also possible that Contador will have recovered some form, will attack and put some time into his rivals. After the way Voeckler responded to all the moves on the final climb, one can't discount him anymore although he is traditionally not a strong time trialist.

Today's stage from Limoux to Monpellier (192.5K) ought to be one for the sprinters, so logically another win for Mark Cavendish providing he has recovered from yesterday's bad day. If not Cav this time, then I'd go for Rojas. There is just one short 4th category climb just to the west of Saint-Chinian, otherwise it is pretty flat. The sprinters will surely want to catch any breakaway before the end as this will be their last chance before the finish in Paris.

The course passes around the south of Carcassonne, so not really possible to highlight Domaine O'Vineyards, which is to the north of Caracassonne but I will include a photo of Ryan O'Connell, one of Languedoc's leading wine producer bloggers.

Ryan O'Connell@the 2010 European Wine Bloggers' Conference in Vienna 

Yesterday saw a remarkable win by the big Norwegian rider Thor Hushvod on a day when the overall favourites bided their time in an intermediate mountain stage. Thor managed to climb up over the hors category Col d'Aubisque in third place. Losing only a fraction over two minutes to his fellow escapee – Jeremy Roy. Possibly tired after being the escape the day before over the Tourmalet, Roy was caught easily within the last two kilometres. Roy did have the consolation of taking the Polka Dot Jersey – best climber.

No change to the overall standings although Philippe Gilbert underlined his abilities as an all round rider by moving up to 9th place overall – 4.35 mins behind Thomas Voeckler but less than three behind Frank Schleck. In the Green Jersey both Rojas and Gilbert nibbled at Cavendish's lead. Cav is currently on 264 points, Rojas has 251 and Gilbert 240. Mark and HTC were too casual over the intermediate sprint with Mark losing out to Rojas. Then as both Rojas and Gilbert are better climbers they picked up a few additional points at the finish. Fortunately mountain stages carry fewer points at the finish so Cav didn't lose too much. However, his Green Jersey could be under threat from Rojas today as the intermediate sprint (20 points for first place) comes after the first mountain climb – the 2nd category Col de Portet d'Aspet, which is short but steep – 4.3k at 9.7%.

Today's stage – 168.5 kilometres from Saint Gaudens to the Plateau de Beille – is crucial for the overall favourites. There are six climbs starting with the 2nd category d'Aspet, then Col de la Core (1st), Col de Latrape (2nd), Col d'Agnes (1) and Port de Lers (3) before the final showdown to the finish on the top of the Plateau de Beille (H) 15.8k at 7.9%. I expect that there will be a gradual attrition over the earlier climbs before the favourites fight it out on the climb to Beille. Hopefully the attacks will start earlier than they did at Luz Ardidenon on Thursday, so that some significant time gaps open up.

Can the Schlecks take time from Evans? Will Contador attack and recover some time? What of Basso and Cunego? Although leader Thomas Voeckler and his Europacar team will fight hard to hold on to Yellow, I can't see it happening. Whatever, it has been great to see Voeckler first take Yellow and ride so well to keep hold of it.