Posted on 07/18/2006 10:11:39 PM PDT by nutmeg
I too like the CSC team. Off course I wanted Basso to win this year. So much for that :-)
16:55 CEST 170.5km/11.5km to go
Rogers now sets tempo for the group, with Menchov and Evans on his wheel. Then Kloden, Mazzoleni and Pereiro ahead of Landis.
Although Kloden wasn't with that attack by Menchov, it was crazy for T-Mobile to lead the chase. Argh.
Today's WTF moment!
So why did Kloden and Mazzoleni just bring Landis back up to Rogers?
Why did Rogers leave Kloden?
Rasmussen through 11KM to go -- 5:42 on peleton, 3:38 on Levi. Looks like he will win the stage. Levi will pull a couple minutes and move into 8th on the GC, but not the huge break he was hoping for.
Sastre going, and Landis looks finished.
This is DRAMATIC!
No clue, unless Kloden was supposed to follow but couldn't. Cyclingnews said Rogers sat up a bit after something was said in his earpiece, allowing Kloden to get back up there.
With 10k's to go, this could be decisive.
17:00 CEST 171.5km/10.5km to go
Sastre has a small gap over the rest of the GC group, which now doesn't contain the maillot jaune.
Now Menchov hammers past Mazzoleni with Kloden on his wheel.
Landis doesn't look good. But he's trying to hold it together.
Has T-Mobile attacked him yet?
Looks like Levi is going to stay away and get a few minutes back. A podium place isn't unrealistic for him now.
Everybody pray like you've never prayed before!
Menchov showing signs of weakness as well.
Sastre two minutes ahead of Landis now.
Only Kloden can come close to matching Floyd in the TT.
17:02 CEST
Valjavec is caught by the GC group, which is being led by Mazzoleni.
Menchov's attack went nowhere, and T-Mobile resumes the tempo making. Mazzoleni, Rogers, Kloden, Pereiro, Dessel, Menchov, Evans are all there.
Leipheimer is at 4'00 behind, being caught by Sastre soon.
Landis is six minutes back, and a good minute behind the GC group.
Ruh Roh!
Sastre 1'12" ahead landis
That is the question of the day. I wonder if we have a situation brewing like there was with LeMond back in the day, where he tried to take over his team from (Hinault?).
With Ullrich gone, it was "expected" that Kloden was the new team leader. Maybe Rogers is trying to assert himself as leader instead.
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