There's a Kiwi leading the day's hopeful escape down the Rhone Valley - Hayden Roulston...

The peloton is about nine minutes down as it approaches the pretty hills of Drome-Provence...

Alberto Contador faces one last challenge today - but he looks unbeatable..!

Astana is led by Muravyev with Garmin right behind them - it's going to be a big day..!

Stuart O'Grady takes over the hard work with Saxo Bank now on the front - the deficit is still eight minutes...

There's no time to enjoy the lavender guys - Saxo Bank has accelerated and created gaps in the peloton...

The escape has turned into a crosswind about 10-kilometres from the start of Mont Ventoux, its lead is down to three minutes now...

Fabian Cancellara is putting all his strength to good use as the peloton hits those winds - Sastre, Evans and many other have been blown backwards...

Martin Maaskant is trying to get Garmin up to Cancellara's shoulders, but it ain't coming easy..!

Sergio Paulinho has pulled Armstrong and Contador to the front to apply even more pressure a few minutes before tackling the Ventoux...

Garmin now takes over, with Danny Pate literally sprinting into the wind to keep his men in front...

Astana's Muravyev makes one last big effort as the famed ascent begins - somehow, the escape has survived these accelerations..!

The escape is down to just three men now - Tony Martin, Juan Manuel Garate and Christophe Riblon have three minutes lead with 15-kilometres to go…

One of the original escapers, Jose Ivan Guttierez hands a water bottle to Armstrong as he gets caught on the climb...

Andy Schleck makes his first attack, but is countered immediately by Contador - Armstrong is marking Frank Schleck just behind...

Schleck tries again, with Contador and Nebali staying with him...

Andreas Kloden paces Armstrong with Schleck alongside - they'll catch Contador and Andy Schleck soon...

Franco Pellizotti uses the moment to attack and gain some space with six-kilometres to go...

Jurgen Van den Broeck also jumps away from the Kloden/Armstrong/Contador group...

All this attacking has forced Bradley Wiggins to drop back...

Wiggins has got back just in time to experience another attack from Andy Schleck with four-kilometres remaining...

Pellizotti is dreaming of winning atop Mont Ventoux, but there are still two escapers ahead of him...

Garate has attacked Martin with two-kilometres to go...

With Contador guarding further attacks from the Schleck brothers, Armstrong's podium place is almost guaranteed with two kilometres to go...

Juan Manuel Garate wins stage twenty to the Mont Ventoux - it is the sweetest moment of his life!

Schleck takes 3rd-place about 40-seconds later - with Contador and Armstrong finding reason to celebrate..!

Alberto Contador is just 24 hours away from winning the 2009 Tour de France...