Posted on 07/18/2006 10:11:39 PM PDT by nutmeg
Stage 16: Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire -182km
Course: If L'Alpe d'Huez does not decide the Tour's likely outcome, then this even tougher day in the Alps should do the job. The survivors first ride the 34km back to the top of the Lautaret, where a left turn takes them another 8.6km at 6.7 percent to the top of the Galibier - the Tour's highest point at 8681 feet above sea level.
After the 35km descent of the Galibier and intermediate Col du Télégraphe, the next 23km is down the Maurienne Valley. Of the remaining 79km, some 47km are uphill, in three separate climbs: the 23km Col de la Croix de Fer, the 6km Col du Mollard and the 18km grind to the finish at La Toussuire. ...) At 4km longer than L'Alpe d'Huez, and at the end of a grueling menu of 17,000 feet of climbing, La Toussuire could well be the "new" Alpe.
History: A stage has never finished at La Toussuire.
Favorites: Given its length, intensity and critical positioning, this stage is almost certain to designate the final podium, so Landis, Evans and Leipheimer will again be vying for ascendancy with Menchov, Sastre, Andreas Klöden and Michael Rogers. It should be spectacular!
Graphics by CyclingNews.com
Where are Menchov, Pereiro, and Evans?
Col means "mountain pass"
Croix means "cross"
Col de la Croix de Fer means "Mountain Pass of the Iron Cross"
Croix = Cross. There is an Iron Cross at the top of this mountain, so the climb is called literally "the Cross of Iron"
Only the sprint points and the finish line have time bonuses.
Doesn't Croix mean cross, whilst col is mountain?
All w/ Landis. There's about 30 in the group.
Levi is now 9th in mountain points, though, with 54.
LEvi crests at 5:33. Waiting for the Peleton.
Isn't col really what we would call a mountain pass I guess (seems like it's also used to refer to the mtn or hill itself though also).
Le Poulet must be flying down that hill. He has opened up an 8 minute lead on the peloton.
Looks like T-mobile and CSC were afraid they might shell their own riders after setting that blistering early pace up the mountain -- when it became apparent Landis was not struggling they backed off.
Looks like everyone is focusing on that last 45 uphill KM. Ugh.
Now the question is -- does the GC attack Levi on the descent or do they let him stay out in front? he is not a threat to Landis (yet), but he is picking off positions quickly.
1. Rasmussen
2. Valjavec +4.05
3. Leipheimer +5.31
4. Casar +5.31
5. Moncoutie +7.51
6. Dessel +8.25
7. Boogerd +8.25
The much-maligned Dessel still hasn't folded.
"Col means "mountain pass"
Croix means "cross"
Col de la Croix de Fer means "Mountain Pass of the Iron Cross""
As a frenchman, I confirm
Landis is starting to pick up some of his teammates on the descent. How long they stay with him on the final climb is the big qustion though, they haven't been with him on any of the climbs so far.
I'll have to defer to the expertise of commish and BaBaStooey :-)
I took German as my third language in high school.
Then you also have the words mont and montagne.
All this French makes my head hurt :-)
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