France has its first stage win of 2011, just two days from Paris, after a phenomenal ride from Europcar's Pierre Rolland saw him first over the finish at Alpe d'Huez on Stage 19.
Rolland climbed the 21 hairpin turns of Alpe d'Huez in superb fashion, winning by 0'14" from Samuel Sanchez to claim the white young riders' jersey to boot.
However, it was a bittersweet day for the French public and Rolland's Europcar team, who saw their team leader and home favourite Thomas Voeckler lose the yellow jersey to Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.
The riders go into Saturday's individual time trial with Schleck (Leopard Trek) leading his brother Frank by 0'53" and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by 0'57" in the race for the yellow jersey, and it looks like the winner of this year's race will be decided between the three in the time trial on the streets of Grenoble.
Elsewhere, Alberto Contador reminded everyone of his class with a gutsy ride which saw him take third on the stage, behind fellow countryman Sanchez.
Contador rode aggressively almost from the start, attacking in the first 20km of the stage, and again on the 21 hairpin turns of Alpe d'Huez - traditionally a climb which decides the destination of the Tour's yellow jersey.
But Contador didn't have enough left in the tank when Rolland attacked with only 3km to go, and trailed in third. The second place earned by Sanchez at Alpe d'Huez also meant the Euskaltel rider claimed the 2011 King of the Mountains title.
Barely 15km had elapsed in the 109.5km stage before the first attack ensued, as last year's winner Alberto Contador broke from the peloton up the first climb of the day, a Cat 1 to Col du Telegraphe.
Andy Schleck immediately closed the gap and remained on Contador's wheel, and the pair maintained a lead over the peloton for the majority of the stage.
But Contador's move spelled trouble for Thomas Voeckler. The man in yellow, who was aiming to retain the lead in the general classification for an 11th successive day, was unable to respond, and slipped to over two minutes behind with 28km left on the stage.
However, powered by the indefatigable Cadel Evans, who led two superb chases on Stages 17 and 18 to keep himself in the hunt for the yellow jersey, a group of nine including Voeckler closed the gap on the leaders prior to the ascent to the finish at Alpe d'Huez.
Evans's courageous ride was all the more impressive given a technical problem with his bike which severely held him up on the climb up to Col du Galibier. The Australian halted on the hors categorie ascent with what looked like a gear problem, losing around half a minute while swapping his bike, before receiving a push from a bystander.
And as the riders ascended to Alpe d'Huez, while a tiring Voeckler dropped back through the pack, Evans brilliantly rode on, catching Schleck and Contador at the head of the race.
Contador's final attack split the leaders, with only Rolland and Sanchez giving chase, while the Schlecks and Evans all crossed the line together 0'53" behind winner Rolland.
It sets up a potentially thrilling Stage 20 in Grenoble, and with Evans marginally the better time triallist of the yellow jersey contenders the 2011 Tour is set to go right down to the wire.
Stage 19 result:
1. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) 3h 13' 25"
2. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) + 00' 14"
3. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Sungard) + 00' 23"
4. Peter Velits (HTC - Highroad) + 00' 57"
5. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) + 00' 57"
6. Thomas de Gendt (Vacansoleil) + 00' 57"
7. Damiano Cunego (Lampre) + 00' 57"
8. Frank Schleck (Leopard Trek) + 00' 57"
9. Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) + 00' 57"
10. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Cervelo) + 01' 15"
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