Posted on 07/10/2006 8:59:43 PM PDT by nutmeg
10'30" lead now and soon to start the second climb. Looks like a very good chance of a change in the Yellow to me.
In 1990, the Tour went from Lourdes to Pau on Stage 17, which included the Marie-Blanque.
Bob Roll in his book "Bobke II" said that on that day, the stage included the longer and harder HC Col d'Aubisque, but that climb did not shatter the peloton. He said he reallu suffered on the Col de Marie-Blanque (Cat 1), and "the race blew to pieces."
Marie-Blanque is also the climb (and descent into Pau) when Hinault famously put 4 and a half minutes into Greg LeMond back in 1986.
The very next day was when Hinault went on a solo break over the Peyresourde, burned up, and LeMond attacked him up the Super-Bagnères, taking back nearly all of Hinault's lead on him, and eventually winning his first Tour.
So it is possible to attack on the Marie-Blanque and put time into people, even with the descent into Pau to finish the stage.
I wonder if Discovery is positioning to attack? The entire team has moved up to the front of the Peleton behind the T-MO guys.
I think they just might force the rest of the T-Mobile team into picking it up just a little, which would cause the maillot jaune to get squirted out the back of the peloton.
Maillot jaune dropped.
Landis and teammate Pena (another former US Postal team guy) have moved to the front of the peloton.
Dessell Crests first again followed closely by Mercado. All that is left now is the run into Pau. Gonna be an interesting looking GC when this stage is over.
With Gonchar struggling this is a perfect spot for Landis to attack.
Floyd needs to put time into all the T-Mobile guys, not just the yellow jersey.
Looks like Hincapie realizes he cannot afford to lose any more time to Dessell. Disco is definately up there helping T-Mobile now.
Good point. Same with Hincapie -- thus the reason Disco is keeping T-mobile close. I was fixed on Gonchar and not thinking about the fact that 3 other T-Mo's are right there at the top of the charts.
Leipheimer dropping, whilst finally some action up front. The chicken awakens :-)
Landis need not worry about Gonchar. Looks like he'll be 6-7 min behind Dessel in the GC after today.
Is it possible to tell who T-M is organized around - Kloden, Sinkewitz?
Rasmussen takes off but he's just trying to get as many KOTM points as possible to defend his 2005 title.
YEp. The entire Peleton needs to cut as much time into that break as they can on the descent.
Man, at this point Dessell & Mercado are looking good! My guess is that at least those 2, plus Moreni & Vasseur, will end up in the GC top 10. Not sure what happened here - did TMO, et al simply let these guys get away by mistake, or was it a case of them letting the escapees go 'cuz the GC contenders weren't worried about a shakeup this early in the mountains?
I am wondering about some of the guys that have dropped on the climbs today. Are they truly struggling or just not Pushing it since they can catch back up to the peleton on the descent?
Not saying they would lay back intentionally, but maybe just not going all out to remain with the pack to save some for tomorrow's killer stage.
How far are they from Marie-Blanque?
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