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

[Vision]

They're saying Landis's mistake was to leave his team. I wonder why that was done?

[Eurotwit]

I think it is close to 2.30 now.

[green iguana]

May not matter if they continue to put time into him like this!

[kevkrom]

If Landis can keep from losing more than 2 minutes, he'll probably make that back up in the ITT.

[af_vet_rr]

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?).

Hinault is correct. LeMond was chomping at the bit.

[Eurotwit]

And the gap is increasing rapidly every kilometer.

[Republicain]

Sastre in yellow this evening ?

[Vision]

Landis's body language looks terrible. Arms are straight, head down, mouth wide open with a lot of race left.

[Vision]

I guess so...I still don't have a clear picture where everyone is.

[Eurotwit]

I think Landis is losing his chance on this last climb.

Unfortunately.

[leilani]

I just want to cry. I think it's all over for Floyd.

[commish]

Perreiro is still in the chase group. He still has about a minute on Sastre in the GC. Landis is toast - DAM!

[green iguana]

Probaly back to Pereiro.

[Republicain]

It's definitively over for Landis, even for the podium in Paris

[Vision]

17:03:07 - Valjavec Caught & Dropped By Kloden's Group...
There are now just two riders ahead of Sastre: Rasmussen and Leipheimer.
Sastre is 1'40" ahead of Landis.

[Vision]

It's not looking good, but it's not over yet.

[green iguana]

3:52 down now... this is so sad.

[Eurotwit]

It's more like 4 minutes now.

[BaBaStooey]

Here is the GC situation:

Tête de course - 7:50 ahead of Landis
Rasmussen - 35th at 23:08

Poursuivants (2 coureurs) - 4:27 ahead of Landis
Sastre - 5th at 2:17
Leipheimer - 9th at 6:18

Poursuivants (12 coureurs) - 3:52 ahead of Landis
Pereiro - 2nd at 0:10
Dessel - 3rd at 2:02
Menchov - 4th at 2:12
Kloden - 6th at 2:29
Rogers - 8th at 5:01
Zubeldia - 10th at 6:20
Moreau - 11th at 6:22

[Eurotwit]

Sastre dropping Leipheimer.

Group Kloden 30 seconds behind Sastre. They will catch Leipheimer soon.