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
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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