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.
The four stage leaders are now less than 5km from the top of the Col d’Aspin. They are 5’30" ahead of the peloton. In between the leading quartet and the yellow jersey’s group is Voeckler who was 2’55" behind at the last check.
14:09 - Climbing In The Big Chainring...
Simon Gerrans is currently leading the peloton (5’25" behind the Camano’s quartet). The Australian and his AG2R colleagues have their chain on the big chainring as they climb the Col d’Aspin...
Strong showing by Voeckler.
I kinda warmed to him watching his desperate and valiant defense of the yellow jersey a couple of years ago.
2:11 PM Voeckler
Feisty little fella that he is, is still chasing on the Aspin. He is 2:11 behind the four leaders.
2:14 PM The four leaders
Are 5:01 ahead of the peloton, with 104km - and four Cat.1 climbs - remaining in today's stage. (errr, I think that's 3 to go, dudes...)
2:16 PM Voeckler closing
The leaders are 2.5km from the top of the Aspin and Voeckler is about 1:50 behind them. He may catch on the descent, which is immediately followed by the 9.7km Col de Peyresourde.
Well into leilani's meatgrinder!! LOL
Where are you located, leilani? Still no state flag on that profile?
The leaders are working well together, w/ just short attacks at the summits go gain a few extra climbing points.
Ah, yes! Today we separate the men from the boys! (I hope this stage lives up to its profile!)
Leaders are in the feedzone in the valley between climbs 2 & 3, etiquette precludes attacks there.
Agr2 doing a lonely job in front of the peloton.
I wonder if/when other teams might try something.
I will be severly disappointed if nothing of substance happens today.
My Uncle, the last of the NOLA relatives moved to Houston in 2000 to be closer to my sibs, but I like to go back there quite a bit (haven't done so since Katrina). My older sis & the 2 nieces spent Spring Break in NOLA, was glad to hear that the College Inn is rebuilding! Haven't heard about one of my other special favs, tho - Liuzzas's....
The attack isn't going to survive the Peyresourde AND the Portillon.
Someone currently in the peloton is going to win today's stage.
Even if that isn't the case, no one in the break is going to make a mark on GC today. Someone in the peloton will attack to put time into the yellow jersey.
Euro, BaBa's right - 'something of substance' will happen today - the favourite for overall GC will emerge. Maybe a couple, but there will be only 2-3 pretenders to the throne left after today, I'm guessing.
I hope so.
I skipped todays workout just in order to be able to watch this from start to finish :-)
2005 Stage 15: Last year, the race went over the Peyresourde and the Portillon in reverse order, before ending on the climb up to Pla-d'Adet, which George Hincapie won.
Lance also used the finishing hill that day to put more time into Ullrich, Rasmussen, Vinokourov, Leipheimer, Landis, Evans, and Mancebo. Basso was able to stay with him, but he was the only one.
I skipped todays workout just in order to be able to watch this from start to finish ...
right
King of the fjords!
More like king of the sofa :-)
1986 Tour de France, Stage 13: The Category 1 Col de Peyresourde was where Bernard Hinault lost the 1986 Tour to Greg LeMond. True, the Badger was the first across the top of the mountain, and he was the eventual KOTM winner, but it was a solo break while wearing yellow.
LeMond caught Hinault at the bottom of the Peyresourde. Hinault was completely gassed. LeMond attacked up the HC Super-Bagnères, won the stage, and took back nearly the entire 5:25 advantage Hinault had on him before the stage began (all but 40 seconds).
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