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 hope Rasmussen will win this stage
Periero is the virtual leader at the moment.
Sastre needs to gain 2:07 on him to be in yellow.
Landis is passed by Karpets and Vila, going backwards. He looks bad today, as bad as a David Hasselhoff music video. He's eight minutes down.
That was Cyclingnews...
It's close to 5 minutes now
Sastre may be blowing himself out with this attack, plus he is not a great TTer.
He got no help from his team either though...
He deserves it. 4km to go and over 3 min - he'll be fine.
Where are you getting these numbers?
Plus there is still tomorrow.
letour.fr
I know... Floyd keeps saying he wants to 'save his team.' For what I wonder? Better use them tomorrow.
Kloden attacking.
Kloden is the big winner here as it stands now. He can put as much as 2-5 minutes or more on every one of these guys in the TT. His main threat is Landis, and Floyd may be falling to far back of him to be a threat.
17:15 CEST
Leipheimer is caught by the group. His effort in vain today. Moreau grabs a can of coke and downs it.
Kloden attacks and Pereiro follows with Evans. Dessel just off the back. Menchov and Leipheimer are dropped.
Kloden needs to put time into Pereiro/Menchov/Dessel if he wants to be on the podium or even win this thing.
Menchov has blown. Kloden is on the attack. Floyd almost needs to Hope Kloden Blows himself out too.
3 km to go for Rasmussen
He's 5:20 behind now. Use the gaps link at the top here:
http://www.letour.fr/2006/TDF/LIVE/us/1600/depeches.html
Dessel is fighting well
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