Tour Tidbit du Jour - 7/23/2011

It was bound to happen, but Thomas Voeckler delayed the loss of the yellow jersey as long as he could, and surrendered it to Andy Schleck on Alpe d'Huez. However, his trusted mountain companion, Pierre Rolland, won the stage and took on the young rider's jersey, not only saving French pride by winning the country's lone stage victory, but also securing a podium jersey in Paris with a fine defense in today's individual time trial. Voeckler wore the yellow jersey on ten stages, equaling his jersey count from 2004. Also, Rolland was the first Frenchman to win a mountain-top finish at Alpe d'Huez since Bernard Hinault in 1986.