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.
George dropped? Aargh! This is carnage.
Love the tagline!
I hope it is just a case of Hincapie laying back for the final climb, I can't believe he would have blown already. But, considering how quickly Discovery has been shed on all the climbs today, one has to wonder about the entire teams fitness and preparation. No way it is an intentional "show" of weakness.
MAYO HAS ABANDONED!!!!
That makes more sense - it's Azevedo in the Landis bunch (Kloden my butt!) not Hincapie.
Azevedo (DSC) Sastre & Schleck (CSC) Rogers and Kloden (TMO) Moreau (A2R) Boogerd and Rasmussen (RAB) Totschnig, Leipheimer and Fothen (GST) Evans (DVL) Landis (PHO) Zubeldia (EUS) Parra (COF) Simoni (SDV)
Interesting, Dessel & Mercado are among the attardés, glad to see Mercado being left behind, I thought he was a real slug yesterday for not taking his turns with Dessel at the end, then sprinting for the win...
Two years in a row... Euskatel will have a new leader soon.
I think someone was confused because Azevedo is wearing the number 1, not Hincapie.
Discovery decided that instead of naming someone the leader, they would just issue their numbers 1 through 9 in alphabetical order.
Was that DSC's choice, or a change by the Tour?
I believe it was Discovery's choice.
In 1987 La Claire Vie named a leader for the #1 when LeMond couldn't participate due to his hunting accident.
That'll teach 'em for smokin' crack at breakfast. LOL.
It would seem likely that Landis can put close to five minutes into the yellow jersey on the final climb. If Landis can finish with the lead group (assuming there is a group), he looks to be in good position to regain the jersey. If not, he should be really close...
Landis has put 2:17 into the Yellow with one huge climg left. I have to believe, especially in light of his comments earlier about today being the day to make a move, that Floyd is planning an attack on the Puerto De Beret. He may just be in Yellow tonight.
Letour.fr is now calling it the "Kloden/Landis group"
16:06 - Hincapie’s Group 5’00" Behind
At the top of the 4th climb, Hincapie’s group was 5’00" behind the stage leader.
Hincapie's almost four minutes behind Landis/Kloden & Co. It seems doubtful he can catch on with even a great descent.
I doubt they will be slacking upfront :-)
LAndis is leading the descent/chase. Won't be long until they catch De La Fuente, he is struggling, looks like he shot his load on this last climb. He will have his moment in Polka Dots tonight, but that will be all.
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