15:07 - Honchar Dropping Back...
The pace of the peloton is still being set by riders from the T-Mobile team. As the bunch ascends into the clouds, the yellow jersey has slipped to the back of this group... which is about 9’00" behind Mercado and Dessel on the Col de Soudet.
15:09 - Mercado Attacks At Summit...
Mercado has attacked at the front of the stage. Dessel has chased him down in the clouds at the top of the Col de Soudet where crowds are spilling onto the road.
15:10 - Dessel Leading Now...
Dessel has dropped Mercado now. The AG2R rider has a lead of about 50 meters near the summit of the first ’hors category’ climb of the 2006 Tour.
15:11 - Dessel Leads Over Summit...
Dessel has added 20 points to his tally in the climbing classification by leading Mercado over the summit.
TMO dropping Honchar.
Will they be riding for Kloden?
Looks like the Polka Dot jersey will change hands tonight. Pineau has dropped from the Peleton, and unless he mounts a miraculous charge before the next climb, he is getting zero pts today.