Posted on 07/17/2006 7:53:12 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 15: Gap to L'Alpe d'Huez - 187km
Course: There's no more spectacular finish than the 21-turn, 14km climb to L'Alpe d'Huez. This year it comes at the end of an already demanding 187km stage that climbs the hors-cat Col d'Izoard (14km at 7 percent) at 86km and Cat. 2 Col du Lautaret (12km at 4.4 percent) at 134km.
Then comes more than 30km of mainly descending roads, which will likely see the race come back together before the assault on the Alpe (14km at almost 8 percent).
History: This is the 25th time a Tour stage has finished at L'Alpe d'Huez since it was inaugurated - while still a dirt road - by Fausto Coppi winning a 266km stage from Lausanne in 1952. Coppi propagated the yellow-on-the-Alpe, yellow-in-Paris myth, which held true for Van Impe (1976), Thévenet (1977), Hinault (1979, 1981, 1982), Fignon (1983, 1984), LeMond (1986), Delgado (1988), Induráin (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995), Ullrich (1997) and Armstrong (1999, 2003, 2004). In fact, there were only five times it wasn't so: 1978, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 2001.
Favorites: L'Alpe d'Huez is a mountain with a spectacular quality that has created (and broken) reputations. With twice Alpe stage winner Lance Armstrong retired, who will be the star to emerge? Almost certainly, the fight for this prestigious victory will be between the five riders who dominated the Pla-de-Beret summit finish in the Pyrénées: Cadel Evans, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre. That climb did not particularly suit Evans or Leipheimer, so expect these two to fight it out on the Alpe, probably with Landis just behind.
Graphics by CyclingNews.com
Landis attacking again.
Kloden's teammate is much further ahead.
16:25 CEST
Landis, Kloden, Leipheimer and Sastre are now together, coming up to Merckx. But Landis attacks up to his teammate!!
Landis and Merckx have hooked up. They've dropped Kloden
True. Will Levi & Landis work together?
Phonak twin powers activate!
Only if Levi can keep up!
Kloden, Leipheimer, and Sastre are digging hard..
BTW: I think we just saw the "brother of a chicken"
He just about caused a major accident there.
What an idiot!!!
16:27 CEST
The maillot jaune is at 2'57, while Landis and co are 1'57 behind the three leaders: Schleck, Cunego and Mazzoleni. A mad Norwegian or Luxmebourg fan almost brings everyone down in front.
29 seconds to go to yellow.
It was the same guy that pured water on the tv reporter a little while back.
Moron!!
Tête de course (3 coureurs)
Schleck, Mazzoleni, Cunego
Poursuivant
Lobato
Poursuivants (2 coureurs)
Zabriskie, De la Fuente
Poursuivants (6 coureurs) - 1:49 behind
Landis, Hincapie, Leipheimer, Kloden, Sastre, Merckx
Peloton
Maillot Jaune
Menchov
Hincapie has been caught by Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden.
Groupe Landis just dropped Hincapie
16:30 CEST 181.5km/5.5km to go
Landis is now the virtual maillot jaune, as he has 1'30 on Pereiro. Strategy critics can now be quiet.
16:29 - Hincapie Dropped...
Hincapie could not maintain the tempo of Merckx, Landis, Kloden, Sastre and Kloden who have just ridden ahead of the Discovery Channel rider.
George is out of gas. Gave it a good ride today, though.
Dessel (3rd on GC) is now also attacking the peloton...trying to save his podium spot
Menchov and Cadence are apaprently just 10 seconds behind Landis now.
Just as Kloden is attacking.
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