Andy Schleck needs Time Trial to validate Galibier Legend, Tour Victory

Andy Schleck's time trial struggles are well known. The Tour de France yellow jersey holder comes in with a slim 57 second advantage over Cadel Evans.

Evans is excellent in the time trials, and Schleck will need to put on an inspiring performance in order to keep his yellow jersey into Paris.

Last year, in a superb effort to get back the yellow jersey from Alberto Contador, Schleck pushed out of the gates blazing. However, Schleck faded in the end, but limited his losses to only 31 seconds.

It was a great effort that if Schleck can duplicate that against Evans, Schleck would win the Tour de France.

By winning the Tour, Schleck would also validate his legendary climb yesterday, where he took time out of the likes of Cadel Evans and Alberto Contador.

Schleck had been criticized by many for his ineffective attacks on the Pyrenees stages that didn't gain him any time on his rivals.

Then, while climbing the Col d'Izoard, Schleck attacked the peloton 60 km out. That surprised peloton and other did not react letting Schleck go, figuring to catch him on the 26 km final climb to Galibier.

However, the Leopard-Trek leader already had two teammates ahead of him who got into the break away. That gave Schleck relief and help through the descent and long valley until the base of the final Galibier climb with a four minute gap.

With 10 km to go, one of the epic chases in modern cycling history occurred with Evans single handily driving the peloton forward to catch Schleck.

Schleck and Evans battled into the final kilometers, with Evans finally closing in on Schleck with 1 km to go.

Schleck ended up getting over two minutes on Evans, and vaulting his way back as a favorite to win the Tour de France.

It was truly an epic attack by Schleck.

However, if Schleck ends up losing the yellow jersey tomorrow to Evans on the time trial, the attack may go down as just a great attack in a final failed bid to win the Tour.

If Schleck keeps the yellow jersey after tomorrow, then the attack will go down as one of the legendary rides to win the Tour de France.

People will talk about how Schleck won the Tour by making a gutsy move to win it all at 60 km and the treacherous Galibier ahead.

More Tour de France Coverage

READ: Schleck takes Tour lead, Rolland wins stage

READ: Andy Schleck Attack Primes him for 2011 Tour de France Victory

READ: Rolland may be next Europcar leader, not Voeckler at Tour de France