Tomorrow could be a huge day for someone. While the finish is a long 35+ KM downhill and flat, the stage starts out with a punishing Cat 1, followed by another Cat 1 and two HC’s.
I could see someone attacking hard right out of the gate tomorrow and opening an advantage.
Just my thoughts, but tomorrow sets up perfectly for someone with ‘balls’ to have a long solo ride out front.
of course with Tourmelet looming in Stage 17, they mey back off and rest the legs too.
Just a thought, Lance has tweeted a few times this past week that he is still looking for a stage win and has been purposely ‘Saving his legs”... I wonder if we could see him try to ‘Ride off into the sunset” tomorrow?
Quite the battle for the 3rd podium position, too
Overall after Stage 15:
1. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 72h 50’ 42”
2. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 72h 50’ 50” + 00’ 08”
3. SANCHEZ Samuel 181 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 72h 52’ 42” + 02’ 00”
4. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 72h 52’ 55” + 02’ 13”
5. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 72h 54’ 21” + 03’ 39”
6. GESINK Robert 195 RABOBANK 72h 55’ 43” + 05’ 01”
7. LEIPHEIMER Levi 25 TEAM RADIOSHACK 72h 56’ 07” + 05’ 25”
8. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 77 KATUSHA TEAM 72h 56’ 27” + 05’ 45”
9. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 72h 57’ 54” + 07’ 12”
10. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 72h 58’ 33” + 07’ 51”
11. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 72h 58’ 40” + 07’ 58”
12. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 72h 59’ 01” + 08’ 19”
13. SASTRE Carlos 91 CERVELO TEST TEAM 72h 59’ 44” + 09’ 02”
14. BASSO Ivan 41 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 72h 59’ 57” + 09’ 15”
15. KLÖDEN Andréas 24 TEAM RADIOSHACK 73h 01’ 56” + 11’ 14”
16. LÖVKVIST Thomas 37 SKY PRO CYCLING 73h 02’ 51” + 12’ 09”
17. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 73h 03’ 16” + 12’ 34”
18. DE WEERT Kevin 133 QUICK STEP 73h 04’ 49” + 14’ 07”
19. GADRET John 85 AG2R LA MONDIALE 73h 05’ 06” + 14’ 24”
20. PLAZA MOLINA Ruben 168 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 73h 05’ 29” + 14’ 47”
Interesting comment about Lance, commish.
Tourmelet is on the menu for Stage 16, as well. They climb it twice this year from different routes, of course.
I’m waiting to see what Lance and Andy have to say about what happened today.
So far everyone seems to have a pretty negative impression of AC’s move.
I like this statement, “Contador just gained a great chance to win, but he lost the chance to win greatly.”