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.
Phil a minute ago "in the middle of an American sandwich"
2 Americans in the group of three you must mean :-)
LEaders have Crested ... 2KM all out flat Sprint to the finish now.
Menchov took it in front of Leipheimer. Landis third.
While a win will be nice, the damage to the tellow jersey/GC has been done already!
WOW, what a finish! Now the wait for Dessel begins. Who will be in Yellow?
Will be interesting to see if Landis gets the yellow.
He just might.
Infact, I think he will make it :-)
I'm pulling for Dessel to maintain a couple o' seconds lead. Don't want Phonak working hard on these next flat stages...
The key number is 4:37. If Dessel is over that, Landis has yellow.
Landis picked up time on Rogers, Kloden, and Sinkewitz, in addition to Dessel. If Dessel still has the lead, it is probably <30 seconds.
Dessel going hard at the moment.
Moreau is in at 2:29.
But, not enough I am sure.
Landis in yellow tomorrow!!!
GOtta give Dessel credit though, he is digging hard!!!
The bonus seconds made the difference I think :-)
Dessel only behind by 3'22" rt now, with a lot of help around him...
Dessel hits 1KN to go at 3:40... Landis may have yellow.
I knew I wore a yellow shirt today for a good reason!
phil - "Frenchman has lost the yellow jersey to an American"
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