Andy Schleck wins stage, cuts overall lead

GRENOBLE, France, July 21 (UPI) -- Andy Schleck, with a daring charge up Thursday's final climb, nearly took the overall lead in the 2011 Tour de France with a victory in the race's Stage 18.

Schleck, who has finished second to Alberto Contador in the general classification each of the last two years, made the final push up the 8,678-foot Col du Galibier alone and was able to hold off all other riders for the win. It was his first Tour de France stage victory this year and third in his career.

He rode the 124.6 miles from Pinerolo, Italy, over three uncategorized climbs to Galibier Serre-Chevalier in 6 hours, 7 minutes, 56 seconds. He then watched as the other leaders pushed up the final several hundred yards.

His brother Frank Schleck was second, 2 minutes, 7 seconds behind, and Cadel Evans third another 8 seconds back.

Only a big push in the final mile allowed Thomas Voeckler, who finished 2:21 behind Andy Schleck, to hold the overall lead but his advantage was cut to 15 seconds over Andy Schleck.

Frank Schleck is third overall 1:08 back of Voeckler with Evans in fourth, 1:12 off the pace.

Friday's Stage 19 is the final mountain stage, encompassing 68 miles from Mondane to Huez in the central French Alps. The route involves serious climbs, a Category 1 over Col du Telegraphe and another uncategorized climb up Col du Galibier, which was also in Thursday's stage, before an uncategorized climb to Alpe-d'Huez over the final 9 miles.