Posted on 07/13/2006 11:37:15 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 12: Luchon to Carcassonne - 211.5km
Course: There are no major climbs on this first of three transitional stages between the Pyrénées and Alps, but that doesn't mean it will be an easy day. Stages like this often give rise to long breakaways that succeed, especially when the weather in this southern part of France is hot and sticky. Any break that develops in the hilly opening two-thirds of the stage will need to get at least a 10-minute lead if it has any chance of holding off the pack on the straighter roads and flatter terrain of the final 70km.
History: An almost identical stage from Luchon to Carcassonne in 1962 was won by multi-time French champion Jean Stablinski, who finished 12 seconds ahead of 11 chasers. The last of four stages to finish in Carcassonne was a 77km team time trial from Narbonne won by TI-Raleigh in 1981.
Favorites: This stage is taking place on the French national holiday of July 14, so expect an all-out effort from the home riders, especially Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Télécom), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) and Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole).
Graphics by CyclingNews.com
16:38 - Peloton At 15km To Go...
The peloton is 4’25" behind Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych with 15km to go... pick the winner from the leading quartet because there’s little interest from the peloton in chasing down the escape.
16:34 - 4’20" Lead Now...
With the leaders - Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych - 15km from the finish, they appear destined to fight it out for stage honours. Thunder has just cracked in the skies above Carcassonne and it could be a stormy finish... the leading quartet are now 4’20" ahead. The Phonak team has been given the responsibility of the chasing duties. All they want to do is keep Popovych’s group within a reasonable margin. The sprinters’ squads don’t seem interested in chasing down the escapees.
Much to Robbie's chagrin, I'm sure...
LeMavel should take all the energy he's got left to get across the line first. Even if it means abandoning the tour a couple days from now, winning today would make him famous. I mean like Hillary Duff famous. Famous like that chick who played Tim Allen's wife on that one show.
Famous like that chick who played Tim Allen's wife on that one show.
More bad news for Ullrich Apparently, Jan Ullrich had been working with the Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes for longer than assumed so far. In it’s Friday edition the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung published documents from the investigation of the Spanish authorities, showing that Ullrich used doping products leading up to and during the 2005 Tour de France.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung secured a so called “road book” from the office of Fuentes in which the dosage and duration of medication for Ullrich is documented in detail. The road book shows that Ullrich took a mix of hormones, insuline, cortisone, testosterone, as well as a unit of his own prepared blood during the first week of the 2005 Tour de France.
Popo just took off!
The Italian and the Spaniard follow. French dude may have just seen his potential Bastille Day famousness vanish faster than you can say "Où au nom de Bernard Hinault ai-je mis mon goldfish?"
Looks like it will be a good day for Discovery!
Le Mevel has been dropped from the lead group. Now 15 seconds back. Popo has attacked twice, Friere once. At the moment Ballan seems to be content with just reeling them back in. 5Km to go.
Popo is relentless! He just took off again!
Commish, I think they 'have the negatives' on everyone, lotsa doping charts like that, and their racing/training schedules. If they offered amnesty to a few riders the entire house of cards would fall, IMHO.
ANd POPO IS OFF AGAIN!!! He wants that 20 Seconds!
Popovych just kept attacking.
I think his succesful attack must have been his fifth or sixt or something :-)
This is the sort of thing that might put Lance's Ukrainian buddy on the podium in Paris, unless he cracks in the Alps.
That's too bad for the sport. Makes Lance's victory last year all the sweeter.
"Ullrich Seeks to Unseat Armstrong - Tour de France 2005"
Ballan and Friere seem more concerned about each other instead of working together. Looks like Popo will make a huge GC jump today. Garauntee Floyd marks him ALL DAY tomorrow.
Winner winner chicken dinner!
Now we wait and see if Dessel tries to attack late and grab Yellow on Bastille day. Also, we get to see how much time Popo gets back.
Will almost put him in the Top 10, thinking 11-12th.
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.