Posted on 07/12/2006 9:40:51 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 11: Tarbes to Val d'Aran/Pla-de-Beret - 206.5km
Course: Any Pyrenean stage that goes over the mighty mountain passes of Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde and Portillon merits the greatest attention from the race favorites - even though this one then continues into Spain for another 40km to finish on the long, but gently graded climb to the Pla-de-Beret summit. If this Tour is going to be a free-for-all, then climbers who want to shoot for the polkadot jersey or a high GC placing must attack on this challenging day. So look for likely KOM candidates to infiltrate the breaks that are bound to form on the narrow, winding roads that precede the Tourmalet. If GC contenders wait until the final climb (13.5km at 5.4 percent) before making a move, they will end up gaining (or losing) very little time.
History: This is the first time that a Tour stage will finish at Pla-de-Beret, but stage 8 of the 2003 Vuelta a España completed a similar course (except for the Tourmalet). At the Tour, the Tourmalet stage in this more difficult west-to-east direction (18.4km at 7.7 percent) has almost always caused major upsets.
Favorites: A stage finishing in Spain has to motivate the Spanish riders. Should a breakaway succeed, look for the Euskaltel team's Iban Mayo, Gerolsteiner's Georg Totschnig or Rabobank's Rasmussen, whereas a larger group arriving at the foot of the Pla-de-Beret will favor Valverde.
bizarre
The men in the lead group are:
Landis: 5th, 4:45 behind
Kloden: 9th, 5:35 behind
Evans: 11th, 5:37 behind
Menchov: 16th, 5:58 behind
Sastre: 18th, 6:12 behind
Boogerd: 44th, 9:27 behind
Leipheimer: 58th, 10:28 behind
They just want to dope test the bicycles.
They're only 2:45 ahead of the yellow jersey. Floyd needs to move his butt or no yellow until the Alps.
So what's the penalty for an infraction? Dropped to the back of the peloton like an 'illegal' sprint? Or booted? I can just imagine the finish for 5th:
"No, you take it."
"No, you take it, I insist!"
Menchov & Boogerd are the only teammates left in the group of 7, all others are on their own.
LOL
The final battle just started.
The lead group is down to seven riders - Landis, Liephiemer, Kloden, Evans, Menchov, Sastre and Boogard.
Its clear that Rasmussen and Boogerd are working for Menchov.
3:10 now... could easily be a change in the yellow.
Kloden is gone.
They are five now.
"I can't believe he passed me for 5th! If I hadn't had to dodge that damned butterfly!"
Boogerd is done for today
Boogerd has done his job today. Five remain. Nice going, T-Mobile.
I am shocked, with his strength I was beginning to think this stage was Boogards for the taking.
Levi is going for it!
Come on Floyd, feel free to pull away any time now..
17:01 - Boogerd’s Time Is Over...
Menchov has bolted into the lead. It’s an attack that has immediately dropped Kloden. There are now just four riders in the lead group: Menchov, Sastre, Landis and Evans.
17:00 - Menchov Looking Comfortable...
Rabobank had the weight of numbers at the start of the final climb. Rasmussen sacrificed his chances and now Boogerd is doing likewise in favour of helping Menchov rise up the rankings.
Levi! Levi! Levi! Guy has some stones..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.