Tour de France: Stage 16 Live Thread (Wed, July 19, 2006) Galibier, Croix de Fer, La Toussuire

VeloNews.com ^ | July 19, 2006 | VeloNews.com

[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

[commish]

25 KM to go. Final Climb is 16KM. Rassmussen 7:10 on peleton, Levi 2:30.

[Steve_Seattle]

Per Velo news: "Casar has now been reabsorbed by the peloton . . . "

Sounds like a line from a sci-fi novel.

[commish]

This descent is horrible. I know it (by car), and it's very difficult

ROFL Velonews just referred to the roads as nothing more than "Well Paved Goatpaths".

[Eurotwit]

Seems like Rasmussen at least got down in one piece.

[Eurotwit]

You'd think Leipheimer as a former skiier should excell on the downhill sections.

[BaBaStooey]

Le Tour has never been to La Toussuire before, so for information I direct you to some of the weekend warriors who have climbed it:



There are 18 kilometres of climbing from the valley to small Alpine ski resort of La Toussuire. The vertical climb is just over 1,100 metres and will take the riders through the hamlets of Fontcouverte, Villarembert and le Corbier on their way to the ski resort. The climb is never as steep as the Alpe d'Huez with three kilometres over the 18 around nine percent. Most of the climb is between six and seven percent.

[af_vet_rr]

ROFL Velonews just referred to the roads as nothing more than "Well Paved Goatpaths".

LOL. A lot of those roads probably are based on old goatpaths - I've driven on a few where I was bothered.

[leilani]

YES! Too bad he didn't bring his poles to beat away those drunk Norwegians!

[commish]

Rassmussen passes through 20KM to go. about 7:30 up on Peleton. 2KM togo before he starts the final climb. As good a climber as he is, this stage is his.

[Eurotwit]

I am telling you. They must be Swedes pretending to be Norwegians :-P

[commish]

Peleton at 6:47. Levi down to 2:02 ahead of Peleton as they hit the climb.

[commish]

Damn dyslexia.. 2:20 for Levi not 2:02

[leilani]

What exactly would Norwegian disguise consist of? (I'm thinking ahead to Halloween)

[green iguana]

This should be good. Who will attack first?

[commish]

What exactly would Norwegian disguise consist of? (I'm thinking ahead to Halloween)

Don't know exactly, but I am sure it involves Alcohol and horns.

[green iguana]

16:40 CEST
Now Leipheimer and Valjavec are on the climb, with the American leading. Rasmussen is not going as well as he was, looking a bit ragged. Still a lot of climbing to come before he can celebrate.

[Eurotwit]

You could take this as a starting point.

[commish]

And Rasmussen is struggling, gap is down to 6:20. Wonder if he used himself up on the other climbs?

[commish]

SEE I told you it involved alcohol and horns!!!

[luv2ski]

I think this is going to go down as the Tour of the skinny, little guy.