Posted on 07/02/2010 11:30:15 AM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Gap is now 3:50 between the Armstrong group and the Peleton as they close in on the base of the Col de Aubisque
Gap is now 4:30 as they go through the feed zone and prepare for the final climb. There is almost 60KM of racing after the crest of Aubisque, so there probably won’t be any major attacks from the GC contenders.
Eurosport now seems to think they are going to let the Armstrong breakaway go. None of them are GC threats and it appears that AC and AS have agreed to take it easy today and let the Tourmalet sort things out Thursday.
Gap is now up to almost 6 minutes as the peleton is taking it very easy at the moment.
Armstrong group is on the climb to Col d’Aubisque. Gap is now up to 6:30 on the peleton. Break has 9 riders, none a real threat to the GC. Lance has Horner with him in the break.
Le Tour just listed who all has a stage win in the breakaway. One of them has 4 times as many as the rest combined....hahaha
I would understand if someone else in the breakaway took the win from Lance, but I hope they don’t.
Armstrong group is at 6:50 now as the approach the extremely steep section up to Col du Solour. This is the toughest part of the climb grade wise. Once the crest Solour there is a very short downhill, and then the final 5 or so KM at 7% to the top of Aubisque.
After that it is a 61 KM descent to the finish line.
The general consensus across all the live blogs and TV is that the Peleton is just going to let the break go away and let Armstrong have one last moment in the sun. here is hoping Lance can pull out the stage win, but there are a couple good sprinters in the group that could give him a run at the end.
Gap now 7:30 and continuing to grow.
A couple of the riders in the break are around 15 mins behind, so the peleton may start reeling this in if the cap approaches 10 Min.
Armstrong attacks out of the breakaway. he is attempting to spread the group out. Lance sure looks like he is planning to try and shed these guys and run away on the descent.
Group now down to 5 riders.. Moreau and Horner have been dropped about 30 sec back now.
Lead group is now Armstrong, Fedrigo, Barredo, Cunega and Plaza. Still 7:30 over the peleton. Approaching the crest of Col du Solour, then a short descent and then final climb to Aubisque.
Over the top of Solour and on the small descent before the final climb. gap to the Peleton is now 7:50, and the 4 that were shed are now about 1 minute back.
The 5 in front slowed a little and let the trailing 3 catch up. One rider was shed completely and is fallking furthur back. Peleton is cresting Col du Solour at 9 Minutes back
Moreau tops Aubisque first and now has moved to within 15 points of the Polka Dots.
The breakaway is still together as they start the 20 KM descent. Latest time break is 9:22 and Peleton is still well down the Aubisque.
In the Peleton Astana and Saxo bank are pulling at the front and not pushing the pace. No attacks from anyone.
Peleton crests at 9:42 back of the Armstrong group. Now for the 60 KM race to the finish line.
Carlos Barredo has attacked at the bottom of the descent and has opened a little gap from the other 8 riders. Gap back to the peleton is hovering at 9:20-9:30
16:22 - Barredo Leads By 20”
Barredo is insisting with his solo attack. He is 20” ahead of the eight other escapees with 42km to go.
16:19 - Barredo On The Attack (Again)
Barredo is doing all he can to get rid of his escape companions. He has attacked with 45km to go and none of the eight others are interested in trying to chase him down...
16:16 - Casar Catches Lead Group
There are now nine in the lead group as Casar has caught Armstrong, Horner, Barredo, Van de Walle, Fedrigo, Moreau, Plaza and Cunego.
Barredo lead is 40 seconds with 35KM to go, but the other 8 are starting to chase in ernest now.
Some speculation now that Lance may be planning his own attack and TT run at around 25 KM to go. Will be interesting to see if he tries to bridge. Barredo is now almost 50 seconds ahead.
25 KM to go, Barredo’s lead now down to 30 seconds. Peleton at 9 minutes back.
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