MORZINE-AVORIAZ, France – The legendary Col de la Madeleine promises to host an epic battle between the yellow jersey challengers on the Tour de France Tuesday as the race prepares to leave the Alps.

Yet even before the 25.5km ascension of the mountain pass, Australia’s race leader Cadel Evans’ tactical nous could be pushed to the limit.

Evans took possession of the yellow jersey after Sunday’s eighth stage, the first real day of climbing on the race, when yellow jersey rival Andy Schleck attacked in the final kilometer to claim the stage honors.

Saxo Bank leader Schleck is now only 20sec behind the Australian in second overall, with Spain’s reigning champion Alberto Contador in third at 1min 01sec.

Schleck’s attack, which both Contador and Evans failed to counter, showed that perhaps has the edge when it comes to climbing.

However the Luxemburger has indicated that he will avoid trying to take responsibility for the race by taking the yellow jersey from Evans too early — if it boosts his chances later in the race.

“Maybe I would have taken the yellow jersey, but my aim is to have it when the race finishes in Paris,” he said.

“And to do that, we have to go step by step.”

The climb over the Col de la Madeleine on Tuesday’s ninth stage could be the theatre of dreams for some, and cause nightmares for others.

Yet even before then, the peloton will have ample time to suffer.

After an easy 2.1km climb over the Cote de Chatillon at the 16km mark the peloton tackles the category one Col de la Colombiere. It is 16.5km long at an average gradient of 6.7 percent, and will be approached by its most difficult side.

Next up is the Col des Aravais, 7.6km at 5.9 percent, and the Col des Saisies, 14.4km at 5.1 percent, before the long descent to the foot of the Madeleine.

The long 25.5km climb at an average of 6.2 percent makes it the first unclassified (hors categorie) ascent of the race. From the summit at an altitude of 2000 meters, a 21km descent leads the peloton into the Maurienne valley where they still have to race 11 km to the finish.

Contador suggested the main battle on Tuesday will be on the Madeleine.

“It will be a really hard and complicated stage, and we should see the main contenders fight it out on the Madeleine,” said the Spaniard.

After Sunday’s eighth stage, the battle for the yellow jersey is now virtually a three-horse race, especially since the collapse of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong on Sunday.

Perhaps Armstrong, an excellent descender, could be tempted into making amends, and thus reduce his significant deficit of 13:26 to Evans.

Contador said: “It seems he (Armstrong) lost a lot of time, although there’s still a lot of stages for him to attack.”

Article: Justin Davis (AFP)
Photo: CorVos