Sánchez rebounded to turn in another strong ride on Alpe d'Huez in stage 19. He, along with Contador and Pierre Rolland formed the leading group on the way up the climb. Contador, who had been riding out front much of the stage after an early attack, faded first and finished the day in third place. Rolland eventually rode away from Sánchez for the stage win, but Sánchez' second place on the day moved him up to seventh overall, and back into the mountains classification lead. Sánchez, as well as Contador, moved up a place in the stage 20 individual time trial. Damiano Cunego, who had been in fifth place and is considered a poor time trialist, had a bad race against the clock even by his standards, losing two minutes to most of the race's top overall riders and more than three to the stage winner. This moved him up to sixth place overall, the position in which he concluded the race the next day, while also finishing as mountains classification winner.